Draft for Consultation: Ship Lifecycle Principles

Background

Shipping is the backbone of the global economy, with over 80% of the world’s trade by volume being transported by sea. Human rights issues arise across the entire lifecycle of a ship – from design, finance and ordering, through building and operation, to breaking/recycling. However, to date, maritime industry sustainability initiatives have generally prioritised environmental issues, with little focus on human rights risks and responsibilities.   

The Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), Rafto Foundation and the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) published a briefing in 2019 that sets out human rights risks and good practice steps in the Ship Lifecycle: Embedding Human Rights from Shipyard to Scrapyard. Building on that document, the three organisations have developed a set of draft 'Ship Lifecycle Principles' (SLPs) to contribute to raising human rights standards across all shipping operations. 

• The SLPs address a wide range of actors - including shipowners, ship operators, charterers, shipyards, ship recycling facilities, ports, cargo customers, as well as businesses that provide goods and services to the sector - financial institutions (banks, investors, insurers), classification societies, goods and service providers, manning and recruitment agencies.

• The SLPs aim to become a recognised benchmark for all companies, workers, communities and organisations involved in the shipping sector.  All actors throughout the ship lifecycle can use the SLPs to guide their own actions and policies and to understand the responsibilities of other businesses in the ship lifecyle with whom they do business, to adopt due diligence, legal contracting, and engagement, to address these human rights risks.  

• The SLPs are based on relevant international standards – the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) as well as other international human rights standards and other relevant maritime standards. They complement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and help businesses identify the human rights often most at risk at each stage of the lifecycle and provide direction on addressing these risks.  

• We are not developing a pledge of commitment or reporting mechanism around the SLPs – instead they are a working tool to be used by companies and others in the sector (see FAQs).

• The SLPs will eventually be accompanied by a resource bank of practical tools tailored for the main actors to assist them in their efforts to ensure respect for human rights across their operations. Tools may include codes of conduct, due diligence guidance, scorecards, example contract clauses and so on, tailored for each actor to facilitate effective implementation and management of human rights impacts.  

Consultation Documents

• Draft Ship Lifecycle Principles – please feel free to add specific comments, use track changes or send an email to make suggestions.  
• Draft Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Particular Questions to Consider

• Do you think the SLPs cover relevant issues sufficiently or are there gaps?  What other issues would you suggest?
• Is it clear how the SLPs can be used by all parties from the SLPs or do we need to add more in the Introduction or the FAQs?  
• Can you point us to other resources, reference frameworks or examples that would be useful in developing guidance to accompany the SLPs?
• Are you interested in discussing the SLPs or human rights and shipping further or in supporting the follow up work on guidance?  If so, please let us know in your consultation response.

Timing

Please respond by Friday 26th February 2021 to: Francesca Fairbairn francesca.fairbairn[at]ihrb.org