More stringent maritime environmental regulations are here to stay
ACL has been incorporating process improvement into every company operation for over 50 years. By utilizing a cooperative team effort by customers, suppliers, employees and management, ACL’s goal is to continually enhance the quality of the transportation service that we provide.
Security
ACL has dedicated staff to work with various government agencies, ocean terminals and other transportation suppliers to enhance security levels and ensure compliance with the new regulations. In the U.S., ACL is a certified member of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Program. ACL has also implemented a Hazardous Security Plan as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration. ACL also participates on security committees with the U.S. Coast Guard’s Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System receiving their AMVER Award.
ACL is well advanced in carrying out security assessments and implementing the requirements of the IMO International Ship & Port Security Code (ISPS) by receiving their International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC). In Canada, ACL is a certified participant in the Canadian Partners In Protection Program. In Europe, ACL has increased its container seal discipline and is working with ports, terminal operators and intermodal transport suppliers to ensure that the transport chain is secured.
Sustainability
Atlantic Container Line is a sister company of the Grimaldi Group of Naples, Italy. We therefore follow the same Corporate Social Responsibilities and are committed to the Grimaldi Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility Standards. The Sustainability Report published by Grimaldi shares a company-wide, vision-based prospect of sustainability as a shared value.
This report is used as a tool that is aimed at providing more about the Grimaldi Group business model, not only economically, but also with a wider view of tangible and intangible effects.
This page will go into more detail on the emissions measurement programs in effect today and show you how ACL compares with the rest of the North Atlantic trade. We shall provide you with our exact numbers and how to verify them. We shall also tell you how ACL actively participates in the initiatives of organizations that measure the impact of shipping on the environment.
ACL’s environmental numbers lead the North Atlantic trade today in the categories that matter:
- Best Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) scores, an IMO measurement of emissions
- Perfect scores on every Flag State Inspection in 2023 and 2024
- Lowest sulfur dioxide emissions
- Lowest EU ETS (Emissions Trading System) costs
- Zero containers lost at sea in over 40 years
Our scores in each of these categories have hard numbers backing them up and not just general statements that sound nice but say nothing.
We invite you to join us in making our world a cleaner place for the generations to come.
Quality
ACL is one of a handful of carriers that double up on classification societies
Ship classification societies maintain technical standards for the construction and operation of ships. They carry out regular surveys of ships in service to ensure compliance with those standards.
ACL is unique on the North Atlantic in that we employ not just one but two classification societies—RINA and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)— to double the scrutiny on our vessels to ensure the highest quality and adherence to the relevant standards.
Why does ACL double up on classification societies?
ACL operates the largest combination container RORO ships in the world. To have one ship out of service would cause us significant commercial damage. With two classification societies monitoring our vessels, ACL gets a second layer of inspections, keeping them constantly under the microscope.
The latest ABS Customer Fleet Summary for ACL issued on November 11, 2024, clearly shows that ACL’s fleet scores significantly outperform the other vessels that ABS has been monitoring in every category over the last three years.
ACL does its own ship management and our experienced team of marine engineers and safety-quality-environmental experts manage all aspects of ACL’s marine operations. Our performance speaks for itself: no vessel downtime for repairs between five-year drydocks.
The International Safety Management Code (ISM) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) provides international standards for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention. ISO 9001 addresses product or service quality. ISO 14001 specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system. All ACL vessels are certified under ISM and hold both ISO SS-EN 14001:2015 Environmental Management and ISO BS EN 9001:2015 Quality certificates.
To maintain their operating licenses, all vessels must undergo regular inspections by both the Flag State Authority of the vessel and the Coast Guards of the countries where the vessel calls. A vessel’s score on inspections is an indication of the carrier’s attention to safety and quality. Higher focus on safety and quality generally leads to fewer accidents and breakdowns.
ACL has the unique distinction of being the only carrier on the Atlantic with a perfect record of ZERO flag state detentions and deficiencies on all inspections of our ships during the last two years. This ensures no inspection delays in port and one of the most reliable schedule performances on the Atlantic.
An October 2024 snapshot comparison of the 2023-2024 Port State Control Inspection history for all transatlantic container and RORO vessels can be seen in the chart below. Only ACL has a PERFECT score for its ENTIRE fleet. This information is publicly available on the Paris MOU website.
Qualship 21 Certificates
The U.S. Coast Guard has recognized ACL’s commitment to quality, safety and the environment by awarding all of ACL’s vessels with Qualship 21 certification. Qualship 21 requirements include standards such as:
- No vessel detentions in previous 3 years
- No marine violations or marine casualties in previous 3 years
- Successful flag state inspections in previous 2 years
Less than 20% of the vessels that operate in the U.S. trades meet the strict Qualship 21 eligibility requirements. No major carrier has achieved this status for their entire fleet of vessels except ACL.
Environment
IMO Emissions Regulations
Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) is a technical standard established by the IMO for existing vessels and must be certified by the International Air Pollution Prevention/International Energy Conservation Code (IAPP/IECC).
CO2 Emissions of engines must be approved under EEXI in order for the ship to maintain its operating license. The emissions reduction percentage rises every year.
| ACL Fleet | Required EEXI | Attained EEXI | Approval Date | Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Star | 12.53 | 7.86 | 2022 | ✓ |
| Atlantic Sail | 12.53 | 7.92 | 2021 | ✓ |
| Atlantic Sun | 12.53 | 7.59 | 2021 | ✓ |
| Atlantic Sea | 12.53 | 7.56 | 2021 | ✓ |
| Atlantic Sky | 12.53 | 7.90 | 2021 | ✓ |
Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII)
Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) is an annual calculation based on the ship’s consumption and distance travelled and declared to the International Maritime Organization Data Collection System. It becomes more stringent every year as the emissions levels for compliance are reduced.
As seen in the chart below, ACL’s “B” rating for its entire fleet scores well above the CII minimum standard and is close to the CII top rating (A) for its vessel type. The upgrades planned for 2025 should move us up to the top of the class.
| ACL Fleet | ACL CII Score | ACL Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Star | 5.78 | B |
| Atlantic Sail | 6.21 | B |
| Atlantic Sun | 5.50 | B |
| Atlantic Sea | 5.72 | B |
| Atlantic Sky | 5.65 | B |
What Changes Can a Carrier Make for a Vessel to Reach a ‘C’ Grade or Above?
- Slow steam to burn less fuel and reduce emissions – leads to schedule and economic impact issues (more ships),
- Carry less cargo and sail higher in the water, burning less fuel and reducing emissions – leads to vessel inefficiency and economic impact issues,
- Make hardware changes to the engine – expensive and uneconomical on an older vessel, or
- Scrap the vessel and replace it with one that meets the emissions standards.
This situation explains some of the large increase in newbuilding orders – as carriers try to achieve fleets that meet the increasingly higher emission reduction standards. Meanwhile, only ACL has its entire fleet scoring in the “GREEN” category.
Sulfur Dioxide Emissions
All ACL vessels are equipped with Scrubber Technology. Scrubbers reduce sulfur emissions even more than Low Sulfur fuel. Vessel particulate matter is reduced by 60%. The discharge becomes an IMO Compliant by-product that is collected in a tank and discharged ashore when operated in closed loop service.
Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), used by vessels without scrubbers, achieves a 0.5% sulfur output, the level mandated worldwide outside ECA areas by the IMO 2020 Regulation.
ACL’s Alfa Laval PureSOx Scrubbers achieve less than 0.1% sulfur output-5 times less–than any carrier burning VLSFO. ACL’s PureSOx Scrubbers release even less Sulfur dioxide than MGO (Marine Gasoil) fuel.
ACL’s entire vessel fleet has a sulfur emissions performance that no other Atlantic carrier can match. ACL exceeds by a wide margin all the international requirements for sulfur emissions. ACL has qualified for Clean Air Incentive rebates in all the ports offering such programs.
EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS)
The European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS) became active for shipping January 1st 2024 and is part of the EU’s program to reduce GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The emissions scope of the regulation will cover CO2, methane and nitrous oxide emissions.
Why Are ACL’s ETS Costs Lower?
- ACL’s emissions are lower
- ACL’s cargo intake efficiency: Cars + Project & RORO cargo + Containers give ACL better utilization, reducing ETS cost per cargo unit.
- ACL’s Port Rotation (North America, Liverpool, Hamburg, Antwerp, Liverpool, North America) gives ACL a much shorter EU international voyage compared to other carriers.
