The shipping industry has made significant progress in respecting human rights through regulatory improvements, industry initiatives, technological advancements and increased advocacy.
However, working conditions, welfare and lack of legal protection remain an ongoing concern.
Many maritime workers spend a great deal of their time in international waters, out of reach of authorities on land.
This adds to the fragmentary nature of shipping, which continues to pose challenges owing to varying regulations and enforcement standards across different jurisdictions.
Our commitment
We consider a sustainable business as one that serves an enduring purpose in society and carefully considers the diverse forms of value it can create for all stakeholders in every decision it makes.
With safety at the heart of everything we do, the support and safeguarding of seafarer rights are an essential part of our shipping activities.
Our partnerships
Anglo American has been a member of the Maritime AntiCorruption Network (MACN) since 2015, a global business network committed to the elimination of corruption in the maritime industry.
It comprises shipping companies, industry stakeholders and other partners collaborating to tackle issues relating to bribery and corruption challenges in the sector.
Members are expected to adhere to the network’s Code of Conduct, which sets out anti-corruption standards and practices.
Additionally, there are requirements for members to implement internal policies and guidelines, with the intent of preventing any form of corruption in their operations.
Being a member of the MACN provides Anglo American with access to the network’s risk-assessment tools and training materials, thus facilitating continuous enhancement of our risk-management procedures.
Additionally, the MACN’s collaborative efforts with organisations such as the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization strengthen our advocacy for robust anti-corruption measures at both global and national levels.
We are also a partner to the Mission to Seafarers, which is committed to the welfare and support of seafarers worldwide.
The organisation offers a comprehensive range of services, including welfare support, advocacy for seafarers’ rights, emergency response assistance, and the operation of seafarer centres in over 200 ports across 50 countries.
Our shipping team is also able to utilise the Mission’s established network of seafarer centres, and its visits to vessels, which allow us to gather further knowledge of human rights compliance on board.
Our processes
All new potential counterparties to the ocean freight chain are evaluated based on our shipping team’s internal review and data obtained from dedicated maritime-risk rating agencies.
Additionally, vessels, operators and owners are examined, based on past safety performance and compliance track record, including adherence to the Maritime Labour Convention and seafarers’ rights.
As part of the Know Your Counter-party process, our Marketing business has developed specific questions relating to seafarers’ rights, requesting potential counterparties to provide information and tangible evidence relevant to understanding the management of potential issues.
After the initial onboarding, the process is refreshed and executed on an annual basis.
Additionally, every vessel presented to our shipping desk by our chartering or commodity teams must undergo a thorough vetting procedure to ensure compliance with a comprehensive set of maritime regulations and adherence to human rights standards on board.
Combined with this, our safety and technical operations team actively visit chartered vessels when in port or anchorage to conduct inspections, support external audits and engage with crew.
