Health & Safety

Health & Safety Valiant Shipping S.A. is committed to provide quality, safe and efficient sea transportation, in accordance with national and international laws, rules and regulations, focusing hugely on the environmental protection and safeguarding. Additionally, the Company ensures it’s employees and any third party associated, with a safe working environment within the bounds of respect, dignity and courtesy.

Valiant Shipping S.A. operates under a Safety Management System in compliance with the IMO, ISM code resulting to Valiant’s Management System (VMS).

The compliance of Valiant Shipping S.A. with all of the above standards is certified by RINA Classification Society.

Valiant’s approach to Maritime Health, Safety, Quality, Security, Environment and Energy (HSQE) issues, is primarily proactive rather than reactive. Compliance to existing rules and regulations is one the company’s top priorities.

Valiant Shipping S.A. is incorporating key ‘imperatives’ and ‘goals’, as defined by IMO. The Company has established a task force to implement specific actions, plans, processes, and new systems to address the everchanging environmental requirements ensuring more sustainable practices. Priority is always given to constantly training, educating and supporting seafarers in order for them to cope with the everyday challenges.

Valiant Shipping S.A values deeply one of it’s greatest assets, if not the greatest: people. The Company’s crewing offices, very meticulously examine and monitor crew members’ health conditions before embarkation and issue the relative certificates. The Company also provides global 24/7 telemedicine support for its crew onboard and ashore.

Environmental Impact

Nowadays maritime transport faces more challenges than the years before. Like any other industry, the maritime sector must adapt to the needs of modern world and carry out its activities with respect to the environment. Therefore, one of the main challenges of maritime transport is to implement innovative solutions to protect the marine environment. The use of fuel produces exhaust gases - nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and particulate matter (PM) that all vastly contribute to global warming and environmental contamination. Unregulated oil and bilge water discharges, leakage and waste fluids are only some of the parameters that harm sea and marine life.

Washed off grease from mooring operations, chemicals used for deck cleaning, preparing the ship’s surface for painting and painting itself are only some of the everyday operations that can jeopardize international waters and threaten indigenous species.

On 24/04/19, Valiant Shipping S.A. completed the first accredited assessment of the MRV monitoring plan for our fleet. The assessment was performed by RINA and it was conducted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/757 (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from shipping activities), also known as MRV Regulation.

Valiant Shipping S.A. has been amongst the pioneers in shipping industry to meet international legislative requirements at early stages. The strategy behind this quest was to:

  1. Increase ships’ efficiency and high quality and ensure high quality and regular maintenance.
  2. Implement a proper waste management and garbage plan.
  3. Reduce emissions according to IMO regulations
  4. Prevent oil spills by limiting faulty equipment, human errors, and illegal dumping.

Valiant Shipping S.A. has clearly stated HSQE (Health, Safety, Quality & the Environment) goals, in line with the Company’s policy of 0 accidents, 0 harm to people, 0 harm to the environment.

Our top priorities are the health and safety of our personnel and 3rd parties eventually involved in our operations, the protection of the environment and the integrity of the goods transported.

Everyone who works for Valiant Shipping S.A. is responsible for getting HSQE right.

The Valiant Management System (VMS) provides a systematic approach to meeting environmental requirements across the organization and identifies significant performance areas, establishes objectives and targets, monitors and records achievements - with the overall aim of minimizing damage to the environment through our operations. The VMS and related procedures apply to all activities related to the Valiant operated fleet and associated support activities, such as chartering, commercial, design, project management and risk assessment.

Valiant Shipping S.A. environmental management process commences with an annual review of the environmental impacts of its operations under the Management Review meetings. The Company’s Environmental Representative assesses various aspects identified through sources such as sea and land-based observations, supplier / customer / regulatory feedback and technical journal reviews. Both normal and emergency operations are gauged in terms of their environmental impact. Targets, objectives and timelines, as well as specific actions, are approved by the Top Management.

Measurable objectives and targets are set and assigned to responsible personnel throughout the Company, together with specific actions, procedures and deadlines. Objectives and targets are updated and tracked at management review meetings. Procedures are in place to identify, examine, evaluate and record all relevant national and international environmental legislation and other requirements pertaining to Valiant’s VMS.

Standing instructions to our shipping agents through our operations department, require them to supply Valiant vessels with local environmental regulations applicable to the port being visited and applicable to such matters as the disposal of shipboard wastes.

The VMS incorporates all environmental legal and other requirements necessary for Valiant’s activities. The VMS is updated on a regular basis. Details of new or impending environmental legislation are discussed at regular management review meetings.

At all stages, we involve Valiant’s employees in policy making related to environmental issues.

Vessel environmental impact

Energy Efficiency

Shipping is the most efficient means of cargo transportation. However, in absolute terms, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from global shipping are significant and are rising due to the increase in global trading of goods. Greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide (CO2) methane (CH4) - trap the infrared radiation released by the earth’s surface and keep the planet warmer at a temperature of 33°C (91°F). The increase in CO2 from human-induced activities is widely accepted to increase the earth’s temperature. CH4 has approximately 21 times the global warming potential of CO2.

[The main sources of GHGs created by Valiant arise from fuel combustion and Cargo Holds venting (98% from combustion and 2% from Cargo Holds venting).]

Valiant’s strategic objective is to preserve the industry-leading position on climate change prevention, by combining energy efficiency technics, both onboard and ashore, and new technologies to achieve a ‘0’ carbon footprint.

Ashore

Onboard

Voyage Management

Valiant has sought to further improve its energy efficiency through active voyage management: weather routing and speed optimization, and use long-range weather forecasting to plot the course and speed of it’s vessels.