Shipping’s big names join Achilles Business Advisory Group designed to bring collective weight to due diligence, sustainability and risk management

Achilles, a global leader in supply chain risk and performance management, has hosted the first meeting of its Business Advisory Group, bringing together maritime leaders during Nor-Shipping 2025.

Representatives from Odfjell, Bernard Schulte Shipmanagement, BW LPG, Neptune Lines, SeaSourcing (Anglo-Eastern and Seaspan Corporation) and Stolt met in Oslo to affirm their commitment to collaboration on ESG principles in their maritime supply chains.

Each of the companies will sit on the group’s board to share insights on non-financial reporting and best practices on compliance with European regulation and global standards designed to promote transparency and accountability.

Øistein Jensen, Chief Sustainability Officer, Odfjell, said:

“Our involvement in the Business Advisory Group aligns to Odfjell’s commitment to advancing sustainable practices across the maritime industry. Through industry collaboration and contributing our insights, we aim to shape a more transparent and responsible supply chain, supporting the industry’s collective journey towards greater sustainability and compliance with evolving regulations.”

Rick Ackermann, Head of Procurement, BW LPG, said:

“At BW LPG, we view procurement as a strategic lever for driving sustainability across the maritime value chain. Being part of the Achilles Maritime Network’s Business Advisory Group allows us to work collaboratively with other industry leaders to raise the bar on supplier transparency, risk management, and ESG performance.”

Rasmus Schmidt, Head of Procurement Excellence of Sea Sourcing, said:

“Sea Sourcing is committed to advancing sustainable procurement practices across the maritime industry. Our involvement in the Achilles Maritime Network’s Business Advisory Group allows us to collaborate with industry leaders to standardize supplier qualification processes, enhance ESG compliance, and drive transparency throughout the supply chain.”

The organisations recognise the value of the Achilles Maritime Network, embedding ESG principles within their core business enhances compliance and also that that sustainability goes hand in hand with maintaining healthy bottom line performance.

As regulatory and stakeholder demands for transparency increase, many businesses face challenges collecting, validating and reporting ESG and other data. The Achilles platform provides a unified means of demonstrating that supply chains are compliant to OECD guidelines, EU regulation and Norway’s Transparency Act.

In addition to supporting buyers, this initiative also aims to make ESG reporting and sustainability screening easier and more efficient for suppliers. By streamlining data requests and reducing duplication across clients, Achilles helps suppliers demonstrate their compliance once, share it securely with multiple buyers, and focus on delivering real improvements. Achilles is widely recognised as a market leader in supplier engagement, helping thousands of suppliers around the world contribute to more transparent and resilient global supply chains.

Dr Paul Stanley, CEO of Achilles, thanked the group members for their commitment:

“The Achilles Maritime Network is powerful platform for shaping practical, scalable solutions that help the entire sector operate more responsibly and efficiently. By leveraging the group’s collective expertise, we aim to foster a more responsible and efficient procurement ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.”