At APM Terminals we’re very aware that the life of seafarers can be hard. We’re here to help our shipping line customers as well as landside stakeholders experience ease of doing business. But we’re also keen to help the communities in which we operate.

Our standards of corporate social responsibility mean we prioritise the safety and welfare of colleagues and partners, but we go further – to boost livelihoods, support education and provide essential infrastructure. We do this not because it’s better for business but because we want to be the best terminal operator in the world – for all stakeholders. Lifting the standard of responsibility for our stakeholders means we care for children, the environment and animal life in our CSR outreach, with a special focus on supporting entrepreneurship for women, small businesses and artisans.

Fishing for improvements

Community efforts in and around Pipavav include the 425 fishers in nearby Jafrabad who recently received solar-powered fish dryers, giving these independent workers a cleaner, more efficient and eco-friendly means of drying their haul. To help them boost their incomes and better support their families and the development of their communities, we’ve also supported the fishers to gain better market access and to improve their bargaining power through the formation of Sagarmitra, a Fisheries Producer Company.

Beyond this – at Shiyalbet, Divlo and Thavi – APM Terminals Pipavav has distributed 827 first aid boxes, 227 ice boxes, 256 pairs of gloves, 230 sets of solar boat lights, as well as protective boots, crates, vessel GPS units to enhance safety at sea, and more. It is estimated that the equipment and the impact of the project has increased the yearly income of fishermen and -women by 10-15%.

Schools and training

Other CSR activities in the region include the provision of sanitation units at a girls’ school in Rajula, the construction of three classrooms at a boys’ school in Sanghavi , software for a medical centre, participation in household water connection at Mota Liliya as well as disaster relief and rehabilitation work for poor and marginalised families.

To help eradicate poverty, APM Terminals Pipavav has helped 24,000 villagers and 4,000 students in Rampara-2, Bherai, Kadiyali, Pipavav Dham, Shiyalbet, Padar, Devpara, Thavi and Diwlo by providing outdoor and indoor playgrounds, a mobile science and mathematics lab, library support in 28 schools, Smart classrooms in 10 schools – all of which has contributed to a 31% increase in school enrolment from 50% to 81%. In addition, community satisfaction relating to the projects has been scored at 9.43 out of 10 – and we’ll keep working to earn those last 0.57 points.

While we offer helping hands to our communities, we applaud the individual effort shown by students who take every opportunity to achieve results, improving their lives and prospects. To date, 2,585 young people have gained skills, work placements and completed leadership training at Gujarat Maritime University, in customs related roles, nursing, electrical and computer training. Of these, 1,305 were women, who are often under-represented in the employment market.

Construction and care

This year, APM Terminals Pipavav has also supported the deepening and desilting of water bodies and the construction of check dams and has participated in beach cleanups. An annual kitchen garden project provides support to more than 300 underprivileged households, all of which has resulted in a 15-20% increase in the income of small and marginalised farmers. Small farmers also benefit from the mobile veterinary unit supplied by APM Terminals Pipavav, which has treated approximately 26,000 livestock in a single year.

All of these initiatives at Pipavav reaffirm our global commitment to sustainable development and community empowerment in our 60 terminals worldwide.