Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has been assisting Anglo American with its sustainable maritime transportation strategy, the first phase of which has culminated in January 2023 with the loading of first cargo for m.v. ‘UBUNTU HARMONY’. The vessel is the first in a series of ten 190,000 deadweight LNG dual-fuelled bulk carriers constructed, or under construction, at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., destined for use by Anglo American.

Anglo American, a leading global mining company is targeting carbon-neutrality for its controlled ocean freight, and to halve its Scope 3 emissions, by 2040. In 2019, WFW were approached to assist Anglo American with this strategy. From the initial planning, WFW have been involved at every stage throughout, advising Anglo American on its various options and all aspects of vessel ownership and employment; shipbuilding; LNG procurement and fuelling; technical management, insurances and vessel operations; and financing.

The WFW team that advises Anglo American is led by Simon Petch, supported by Robert Platt, Heike Trischmann, Richard Stevens, David Osborne, Katie Shiels, David Handley, Hollie Pickering, Becky Zhu, Emily Hartland, Emma Petersen, Chloe Konstantinides, and Florence Bell in London and Singapore.

Lead Partner Simon Petch commented: “It has been a great pleasure working with the Anglo American teams and their commercial advisers, Clarksons, on such an important project, and it has been a superb opportunity for WFW to showcase our credentials in so many areas of the maritime industries from sustainability to sanctions; future-fuels to finance, and everything in between”.