Swire Shipping has joined the Achilles Maritime Network to improve supply chain transparency and bring procurement practices in line with emissions reduction goals. The platform provides independently verified supplier data that can highlight lower-carbon options, reduce duplication in compliance checks and support wider decarbonisation efforts.
The Singapore-based operator owns 27 container and multipurpose vessels deployed on 12 liner services linking more than 400 ports worldwide. It is the latest shipping company to join the initiative. Its membership raises the number of vessels covered by the network to over 2,200, according to Achilles, a provider of supply chain risk management solutions located in Oxfordshire in the UK.
The platform, first developed in Norway in 1990 to improve safety and compliance in the oil and gas industry, has since expanded into shipping. It offers buyers and suppliers access to independently verified data, enabling improved due diligence, reduced duplication, and greater alignment with environmental, social and governance (ESG) expectations.
Swire Shipping’s procurement and sustainability teams will gain access to Achilles’ database of prequalified suppliers, a tool designed to reduce duplication in vetting processes and ensure adherence to international best practices.
Julia Ivanova, Head of Procurement at Swire Shipping, said: ‘At Swire Shipping, we strongly believe in the imperative of acting with integrity and accountability to achieve our long-term objectives. The opportunity to make the procurement process more efficient while increasing transparency helps us to demonstrate our credentials in internal and external reporting.’
The decision builds on Swire’s broader involvement in maritime decarbonisation initiatives, including its membership of the Global Maritime Forum since November 2023. The company has been positioning itself to align with investor and regulatory demands for robust ESG compliance and carbon management.
Craig Rodgerson, CEO of Achilles, said the addition of Swire ‘is a clear demonstration of how much the network is growing beyond the first movers to more companies who value integrity and sustainability in their supply chains.’
Other members of the Achilles Maritime Network include Stolt-Nielsen, BW LPG and Odfjell, which joined last year. Øistein Jensen, Odfjell’s Chief Sustainability Officer, posted on LinkedIn at the time that Odfjell’s involvement ‘aligns with Odfjell’s commitment to advancing sustainable practices. Through industry collaboration and sharing 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.’
For shipping companies, participation in the Achilles Maritime Network provides independently verified information on suppliers, supporting both compliance requirements and reporting to investors, regulators and customers.
