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Corporate & Social Responsibility

CSR

V.Group operates internationally and is conscious of the need to act in a responsible way.

Our approach to Corporate & Social Responsibility (CSR) encompasses many initiatives and is based on a commitment to maintain high standards in everything we do. We are mindful of the ever increasing risks we face and the need to invest in improving the capabilities of our staff ashore and afloat as well as in the management systems they deploy. Our belief is that we must continue to work hard to embed a culture which believes in doing what is right for our clients and the wider communities we serve, the environment and for our staff. In other words, there is always room for improvement.

Our reputation to date has been built on a strong foundation of honesty and transparency – in our day to day business affairs and when we must deal with incidents involving serious threats to people, property and the environment. We are committed to protecting our reputation and that of our partners in the years to come.

Our policy is that gifts or hospitality are not to be accepted or offered, regardless of their value, in circumstances which could be construed as influencing decision making in any way because in many countries they might be viewed as bribes. Employees are prohibited from receiving, directly or indirectly, anything of a significant value in connection with any transaction entered into by the Company, other than salary, wages or ordinary compensation. Equally the offering of anything of significant value in connection with any transaction entered into by the Company is prohibited.

V.Ships Seafarers’ Charter:
V.Ships seeks to provide the highest standards of service to its customers and, to achieve this, the company fully recognizes the vital role that its sea staff play. The Seafarers’ Charter confirms how any seaborne member of staff can expect to be treated.

V.Ships, therefore, recognizes:

  1. The right to a safe and secure workplace that complies with safety standards
  2. The right to fair terms of employment
  3. The right to decent living and working conditions on board
  4. The right to health protection and welfare measures and other forms of social protection
  5. The full implementation of the above rights

Furthermore, V.Ships confirms its commitment to ensuring that:

  1. Employment is offered to seafarers free of charge
  2. A workplace free of discrimination of any kind is provided
  3. Wage payments and allotments are paid in a timely fashion and measures are in place to verify this
  4. All seafarers receive wages to which they are contractually entitled
  5. Every effort is made to relieve seafarers at the time stipulated in the contract of employment and that measures are in place to achieve this
  6. Recruiting offices provide a welcoming environment and courteous disposition towards all seastaff
  7. Shorebased employees treat all seastaff with respect at all times and that this respect is reciprocated to promote harmony on board
  8. There is follow up of any complaint from seafarers alleging non-compliance with this Charter
  9. There is commitment to improving seafarers lives at sea and ashore as an ongoing priority

If you are not treated in accordance with the provisions of the charter you may contact the following email address and your complaint will be investigated: Seafarers-charter@vships.com. A copy of our Seafarers’ Charter can be downloaded here. The latest issue of V.News for Crews is also available here.

Seafarer criminalization
The lengthy detention including a period of imprisonment of Captain Jasprit Chawla and Chief Officer Syam Chetan in South Korea after the vessel under their command, Hebei Spirit, was hit by a crane barge off the west coast of Korea in early 2007, has heightened V.Ships’ awareness of the increasing instances of seafarer criminalization.

Together with like-minded industry associations, V.Ships is committed to clear the names of Capt Chawla and C/O Chetan following their release in early June 2009 and to campaign to ensure that seafarers should enjoy the same rights as other professionals in the event of an incident or accident. V.Ships will work through the ship managers’ trade association, InterManager, in this regard.

Lifetime of Careers
This recently started umbrella programme involves many initiatives geared towards ensuring that people starting their employment with V.Ships are given every opportunity to progress their career through the ranks and via shore-based employment. Further information of the Lifetime of Careers programme will be provided in the near future.

Additional CSR initiatives
In addition to the above, individual V.Ships Offices participate and/or sponsor different events and initiatives, the latest being:

No Finish Line 2010 – 20th to 28th November in Monaco. V.Ships Monaco has sponsored this event as well as a team of 20 staff plus 1 dog entered the competition. V.Ships registered 766 kilometers (equal to €766) for the “Children & Future” Association.

Mission to Seafarers Charity Cycle Ride – 3rd October – MSD Team of 5 cyclists volunteered to enter this competition that has raised over £1,000.

White Water Rafting in aid of Seafarers UK - . 11th September 2010 - The event was in aid of Seafarers UK, an umbrella charity formerly known as the King George’s Fund for Sailors which makes grants to various charities which support seafarer’s and ex seafarers. Over £2500 were raised for Seafarers UK.

Monaco Green Team - to implement "Green" initiatives in the office and to obtain ISO 14001:2004 certification for the Monaco Cargo Department and its managed vessels. The initial audit for ISO 14001 certification took place in April 2010 and in December we successfully completed the final audit and a certificate will be issued shortly.

The Green team consists of:

  • Girish Lele: Chairman
  • Federico Gorla: Environmental officer
  • Cecile Abry: Deputy Chairman and Environmental officer
  • Kanazir Ljubia: Technical environmental officer
  • Support team:
    • Didier Gibelin
    • Elisa de Leo
    • Myriam Ceccaldi
    • Elvio Romano
    • Fulvia Gaggero