Vessel charterer service provider Cargill has unveiled a plan to make its dry bulk shipping activities safer, more efficient and sustainable.

The plan forms a part of the company’s first corporate responsibility report designed for its ocean transportation business, which aims to reduce gross greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2020 across Cargill’s global operations.

Prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative, the report offers an update on the company’s 2017 progress.

The report is the result of a comprehensive materiality assessment carried out by Cargill along with its stakeholders on its operations in mid-2017.

Based on the assessment, Cargill’s ocean transportation business aims to improve its operations in the fields of climate change and health, safety and well-being, as well as ocean health and biodiversity.

Cargill ocean transportation business president Jan Dieleman said: “Cargill is taking a holistic approach to sustainable development and to our obligations as a responsible global citizen.

“We are relatively pleased with our fleet performance this year.

“The whole team at Cargill is committed to achieving a significant improvement in coming years.”

“We know vessel efficiency can vary considerably due to a host of external factors but the whole team at Cargill is committed to achieving a significant improvement in coming years.”

Cargill’s ocean transportation business cut its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 5.7% last year and intends to achieve a 15% reduction by 2020.

Dieleman further noted: “Sustainable shipping can only become a reality if the entire industry pulls in the same direction.

“The hard work certainly lies ahead of us and we will embrace it.”

Cargill is currently involved in the chartering of over 650 dry bulk and tanker vessels annually.

The company’s ocean transportation business is a freight-trading business that offers bulk shipping services to global customers.