TRAINING and education programs were key among many diverse initiatives helping the American P&I Club (API) improve its baseline score in its Sustainability Report 2025, just the second report since the inaugural edition in 2022.
Based on the 10 principles of the United Nations Global Compact, the baseline score measures the company’s performance on human rights, labour practices, environmental management and good governance overall.
“The Club’s progress since its inaugural report appears rooted mainly in its growing training and education activities (both internal and member-facing), intensified governance and compliance focused practices and policies, increased partnerships, greater charitable activities, and enhanced employee engagement,” the New York-based API noted on the report’s release in the past week.
API highlights its performance on gender equality, noting its appointment in 2022 of CEO Dorothea Ioannou, “the first female CEO of an International Group [P&I] club’s management company in the 170 years of P&I club history”.
Prominent initiatives in this space include the Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment (SASH) awareness initiative which was recognized by SAFETY4SEA for “for providing information and comprehensive guidance on SASH prevention for crew aboard.”
API is a member of Women in Shipping and Trading Associations and “the Club’s alignment with WISTA International is global, across all management offices with executives often holding leadership positions within various National WISTA Associations around the world”.
“The Club also actively supports Maritime SheEO, an organization with a wide array of activities, services and initiatives aimed at fostering an environment enabling women leaders in maritime,” API adds.
Safety initiatives contributed to API’s improving sustainability performance, with programs like the Good Catch initiative, a cornerstone of its safety awareness efforts.
“Since 2022, the Club has published over 100 alerts, animations, and short videos under this program, all designed to foster a proactive safety culture at sea,” API notes.
Also playing a role in API’s improving sustainability performance are mental health initiatives, notably two key guidance documents, Addressing and Managing Seafarer Mental Health Challenges, developed in collaboration with The Seamen’s Church Institute and Seafarer Wellness Programs, a tailored guide to fostering holistic wellbeing on board.
Better office housekeeping is also part of the story. Reusable water bottles for staff, extending the life of IT equipment from three to five years and composting the coffee grounds are among the many simple initiatives helping API improve its sustainability.
API is formally known as American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. and was established in New York in 1917. It is the only mutual Protection and Indemnity Club domiciled in the Americas and is regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services. In its own right or through partnerships, it has regional offices in London, Piraeus, Limassol, Hong Kong and Shanghai.