Our Roles in the UN Sustainability Development Goals

About 90 % of ammonia produced is used in fertilizers, to help sustain food production for billions of people around the world. Several Solvang vessels transported ammonia worldwide in 2022.

Our ethylene fleet transports raw material for essential industrial processes, like the  manufacturing of food packaging, which makes it possible to minimize food losses.

This statement is supported by our health policy and is one of the main focus areas in Solvang’s «Living the Vision programme».

Our officers and crew members must have the physical and mental strength to meet challenges that confront them every day. We know a healthy lifestyle contributes to well-being, and therefore it has a high priority at Solvang.

We want all employees aboard our vessels to take care of their bodies and minds. Appropriate ergonomics, sufficient exercise and healthy meals are important for the body’s machinery. For us, health is an important component in ensuring satisfactory performance.

The quality of our service is totally dependent on education and training of our seafarers. Solvang is actively supporting the NSA cadet programme in Manila and arranges inhouse officer and crew conferences where courses and training are important parts of the programme.

Solvang «Living the Vision» programme is an-on-the job HSEQ training programme which comes in addition to the flag state’s mandatory training.

International shipping is male dominated, but Solvang employs people according to knowledge, skills and attitude, not gender.

Women and men have equal opportunities to qualify for all types of jobs and positions, and they have equal opportunities for promotion. Working conditions are deemed to be good. Salaries reflect the individual’s qualifications, regardless of gender. 

Solvang aims to be an industry leading provider of LPG and petrochemical tonnage to our clients in the safest, cleanest and most cost-effective manner.

LPG used in industry and households is one of the cheapest and simplest energy sources available.  Propane can be used as cooking fuel or fuel for engines with the same after treatment as ordinary gasoline or diesel. 

As part of our industry, Solvang makes a valuable contribution in transporting this energy source around the world. 

One of Solvang’s main goals is to have happy, motivated and proactive employees, and this is not possible without good working conditions.

One of our main goals is to provide profits for our owners. Our employees receive decent salaries. This provides further growth in the country of residence, through spending and taxes.

MLC is an integral part of our quality system, and all our vessels sail under the Norwegian flag  (NIS) where the laws and regulations secure compliance with all legal standards.

Solvang has a long story for cooperation with both industrial, academic and research organizations and started a programme for green shipping for the future back in 2010.

We are an active partner in Smart Maritime, a Norwegian Centre for Research Based Innovation for improving energy efficiency and reducing harmful emissions.

Solvang follows a well-to-wake philosophy, which means we avoid exchanging fuel oil for a  distillate bunker fuel when possible. Life cycle efficiency is our pledge. Such a transfer would  lead SOx and other substances in fuel oil to be emitted into the atmosphere from other  sectors, like coal and oil power plants burning the residuals for power generation. 

If a Solvang owned vessel is to be recycled, the vessel will be recycled in compliance with:

• The Hong Kong Convention.
• The guidelines to the Hong Kong Convention to be issued by the International  Maritime Organization;

and

• The EU Ship Recycling regulation (1257/2013)

Solvang´s full-scale shipboard carbon capture storage and utilization programme holds the  potential to capture 70 % of the carbon emissions from fuel oil operation.

Performance monitoring is a critical tool when assessing the efficiency of Solvang´s innovations. In 2008, Solvang initiated the in-house programme for vessel performance  monitoring. We have collected and reported environmental performance, systematically  deploying our findings into continuous improvement of operations into environmental  operations, and into newbuildings. Competence, knowledge and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) are key elements in Solvang’s climate actions.

As part of our sustainability work Solvang has identified and assessed all effluents to the sea. The effluents are rated as significant or non-significant, and programs for monitoring and controlling are in place. This is an important part of our ISO 14001 certificate and compliance.     

Our obvious goals are to reduce operational discharges as much as possible and achieve zero spill caused by accidents.

All vessels have approved ballast treatment plant and biofouling plan, all discharges from the EGC are measured 24/7, and the EGC has water treatment in open loop.

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Exhaust emissions from our engines is the main source to influence on life on land. Our assessments have shown the following significant aspects:

• CO2  (global warming)
• SOX  (cloud formation and acid rain)
• NOX  (cloud formation and acid rain, ground level ozone)
• Particles  (visible smoke, health risk)
• THC  (global warming, ground level ozone, health risk)
• CO  (health risk)

Solvang has established programs for monitoring/controlling and reducing emissions related to all these aspects.

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Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms. 

Solvang has introduced ”Ethical Guidelines” comprising our core values, responsibility for an  ethical and conscientious relationship with stakeholders, and a ”Supplier code of conduct”  embracing the UN Global Compact.

Solvang is also a member of the Maritime Anti‐Corruption Network (MACN) and will comply  with the good corporate practices in the maritime industry described in their operating charter.

International shipping brings people together from all parts of the world. Solvang is a good example of this.

International shipping has a lot of positive effects that rarely make it to the media headlines.  Solvang’s goal is not only to be in compliance with rules and regulations, but to contribute to  a high standard for quality shipping around the world. The world trade depends on shipping – and we strive to increase our positive impact on our surroundings.