Business

Bunker Holding Group extends 20-week paid parental leave globally across offices in 34 countries

New parental leave policy builds on the recent efforts of Bunker Holding’s sustainability reporting, says the world’s largest bunker supplier.

Published

2 years ago

October 14, 2022

Admin

Bunker Holding Group has as of August 2022 extended a 20-week paid parental leave to all employees worldwide across offices in 34 countries, boosting the time parents can spend with their new-born child, said the firm on Thursday (13 October).

“The bunker industry being a rather conservative industry, parental leave has historically been viewed as maternity leave. At Bunker Holding we have set out to change this, and seeing as 72 percent of Bunker Holding Groups workforce is male, this new policy is going to benefit a lot of new fathers, who previously may not have felt they could prioritize family at the cost of office time,” says Pernille Græsdal Beck, Executive HR Business Partner, Group HR of Bunker Holding, and adds:

“However, not only the men will benefit from this new policy, as they can spend more time with their baby. Our goal is this will promote equal opportunities for female workers as well, as increasingly their male counterparts in the office too will enjoy an extended parental leave away from their work life.”

Bunker Holding Group employs 1,600 people across the globe and for the first time, everyone will be offered 20 weeks of paid parental leave to engage with their family.

New parental leave policy sparks joy

Among Bunker Holding’s employees, the revised parental leave policy is already benefitting men, who are taking their leave, as they can now look forward to the fact that they will no longer experience a pay cut during their parental leave while enjoying an extended time off with their family.

General Manager of Bunker Holding’s Singapore office, Michael Ekdal Jacobsen, who will soon be going on parental leave, sees the initiative as very positive and is proud to be employed by a company that takes responsibility for its employees.

“I think it is such a strong move that Bunker Holding is now offering 20 weeks of paid parental leave for both mother and father. Especially for people sitting outside Denmark this is very much out of the ordinary. For me personally, I will definitely jump on the opportunity to increase my leave,” Michael Ekdal Jacobsen says and adds:

“This first time around your baby is precious and being able to enjoy that, not only with the approval and encouragement of my workplace but also with their financial support, is paramount.”

As well as receiving full pay during the parental leave, pooled bonuses of the offices are continuously awarded to the employee, minimising the cost and increasing the incentive to take one’s leave in full.

Adding to the ESG agenda

The new parental leave policy builds on the recent efforts of Bunker Holding’s sustainability reporting, increasing the Group's commitment to not only the environment but also the diversity, equality, and inclusion agenda.

“Adding the parental leave policy to Bunker Holding Group is a natural extension of our commitment to the diversity, equality, and inclusion agenda outlined in our newly publicised Sustainability Report,” says Pernille Græsdal Beck, who is also weighing in on the ESG Council of Bunker Holding Group.

“For the past several years, Bunker Holding Group has gone through a modernisation process, wanting to stay the best workplace in the industry, helping us attract the qualified labour force of tomorrow. Our new parental condition is one of the steps we have taken in evolving as a wholehearted and inclusive company.”

Photo credit: Bunker Holding Group
Published: 14 October, 2022

LNG Bunkering

China: Ningbo Zhoushan Port completes first LNG bunkering operation for 2025

Bunkering vessel “Hai Yang Shi You 302” supplied more than 10,000 cubic metres of LNG bunker fuel to containership “MSC Adya” at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port port on 5 January.

Published

3 days ago

January 10, 2025

Admin

China: Ningbo Zhoushan Port completes first LNG bunkering operation for 2025

Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Zhoushan Area on Wednesday (8 January) said Ningbo-Zhoushan Port successfully completed its first LNG bunkering operation for the year.

Bunkering vessel Hai Yang Shi You 302 supplied more than 10,000 cubic metres (m3) of LNG bunker fuel to containership MSC Adya at the port on 5 January.

Zhejiang Seaport International Trading, the bunker supplier for the operation, successfully obtained the Zhoushan Anchorage LNG bunkering licence in June 2024, extending refuelling services from dock to sea.

The company’s services cover Meishan, Chuanshan, Daxie and other port areas.

As China's first river-sea LNG transport and bunkering ship, Hai Yang Shi You is currently placed permanently at Ningbo Zhoushan Port, providing a variety of bunkering methods such as ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore.

Zhejiang Seaport International Trading will continue to expand the scope of bonded LNG bunkering operations and new alternative fuels such as green methanol, ammonia and biofuels in the Zhoushan Area.

Photo credit: Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Zhoushan Area
Published: 10 January, 2025

Business

Shandong Port Group bans US-sanctioned tankers from entering its ports

Group has prohibited ports to dock, unload or provide ship services to vessels on the Office of Foreign Control list managed by the US Department, according to a Reuters news report.

Published

3 days ago

January 10, 2025

Admin

Shandong Port Group bans US-sanctioned tankers from entering its ports

China’s Shandong Port Group has reportedly blocked tankers affected by US sanctions from entering its ports, according to an exclusive news report by Reuters on Wednesday (8 January).

Citing a notice from the port, which was issued on 6 January and shared to Reuters by traders, the Group has prohibited ports to dock, unload or provide ship services to vessels on the Office of Foreign Control list managed by the US Department.

In another notice released on 7 January, the ban came after sanctioned tanker Eliza II unloaded at Yantai Port in early January.

Shandong Port operates major ports on the east coast of China including Qingdao, Rizhao and Yantai, which are major terminals for importing sanctioned oil.

The traders said the ban could slow imports into China, the world’s largest oil importing nation, and increase shipping costs.

Photo credit: Shandong Port Group
Published: 10 January, 2025

Business

US DoD designates COSCO Shipping and CNOOC as ‘Chinese military companies’

COSCO Shipping has responded that the company and its subsidiaries ‘have consistently adhered to local laws and regulations, maintaining strict compliance in all international operations’.

Published

3 days ago

January 10, 2025

Admin

China: Cosco Shipping and bp to explore collaboration into methanol bunker fuel

The US Department of Defense (DoD) on Tuesday (7 January) has added China’s state-owned shipping company COSCO Shipping and two of its subsidiaries to its list of companies for allegedly having links to the Chinese military.

The subsidiaries are COSCO SHIPPING (North America) and COSCO SHIPPING Finance.

DoD released the update to the names of "Chinese military companies" operating directly or indirectly in the United States in accordance with the statutory requirement of Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The Department said it will update the list with additional entities as appropriate.

Updating the Section 1260H list of "Chinese military companies" is an important continuing effort in highlighting and countering the People’s Republic of China's (PRC) Military-Civil Fusion strategy, DOD added.

The list also included other Chinese shipping-related companies such as shipbuilders China Shipbuilding Trading and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, oil company China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), CNOOC China and CNOOC International Trading.

Shipping container manufacturer China International Marine Containers (CIMC) was also included on the list of companies.

In a response to the move, COSCO Shipping said it has noted the recent inclusion of the company and its subsidiaries to the sanctions list.

“COSCO Shipping and its subsidiaries have consistently adhered to local laws and regulations, maintaining strict compliance in all international operations,” it said on its website.

“We remain committed to facilitating global trade and providing high-quality commercial shipping and logistics services to clients worldwide, including agricultural producers, manufacturers, energy firms, retailers, and exporters in the United States.”

“We emphasise that none of the aforementioned companies are ‘Chinese military companies’. We will engage with U.S. authorities to clarify this matter. This designation does not impose sanctions or export controls, and our global operations will continue uninterrupted.”

Photo credit: COSCO Shipping
Published: 10 January, 2025