Safety & Environment

Safety & Environment

Responsible environmental management is a strategic priority for ARA Bergen Shipping B.V.. The Company understands the social significance of this issue, adequately assesses and seeks to minimize environmental risks, and ramps up outlays in environmental preservation initiatives. Seeking to meet the strategic objectives and discharge the Company’s obligations relating to the environmental safety, ARA Bergen Shipping B.V. has set up an integrated system for industrial safety management, where environmental safety is one of the key aspects.

Environmental safety activities are controlled using the environmental safety management system that complies with the requirements of international standard ISO 14001. In 2016, ARA Bergen Shipping B.V. successfully passed an independent audit that demonstrated compliance of the Company’s environmental management system with ISO 14001:2015. With a view to enhance environmental safety performance, the Company continuously improves its business processes within the management systems and coordinates with different stakeholders.

This allows ARA Bergen Shipping B.V. to consistently move on from damage relief efforts to the assessment of potential environmental risks and introduction of efforts intended to prevent the environmental impact of business operations.

Protection and Industrial Safety

A systemic approach to control over compliance with the orders of the State Fire Control authorities of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Europe was organized, as a result whereof 99% of violations of fire safety requirements were remedied without any capex outlays for such remediation.

In 2015, Company’s costs for assuring the fire safety of its facilities totaled 2.9 billion rubles. In order to implement a uniform approach to organization of the process of training Company employees in fire safety measures, Company Regulation “Training Company employees in fire safety measures” was developed and enacted

Environmental Protection

Given the acquisition of the company assets, development of cooperation with international partners and expansion of operations on the continental shelf, the Company’s scale of operation, impact and responsibility that underpinned the strategy project has changed dramatically. In view of the above, it was resolved to update not only this project, but also the Company’s environmental safety policy. It became one of the priorities for development of ARA Bergen Shipping B.V. environmental activities for the year 2013 together with environmental risk assessment subject to expanded scale of operation.

ARA Bergen Shipping B.V. developed the project “Environmental Safety Strategies until 2021”, with a view to identifying priorities, activities and vehicles that would help step up the Company’s environmental activities in line with international industry standards. In order to prepare this document, the Company analyzed its current operations, best international practices, including experience of partner companies, and objectives related to implementation of new projects.