Leading shipping companies are joining forces to combat ocean plastic pollution through the launch of the Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS): a new industry alliance driving measurable reductions in plastic and operational waste at scale.
Founded by Seven Clean Seas (SCS), an ocean impact organisation, MACS unites founding members including Berge Bulk, X-Press Feeders, and others from across the global maritime value chain.
Clean Seas to tackle ocean plastic
Our oceans underpin global trade and face mounting plastic challenges
Oceans carry around 90% of global trade and provide livelihoods for more than 2 million seafarers worldwide. Yet they face unprecedented pressure, with 14 million tonnes of plastic entering and damaging marine ecosystems every year.
While the maritime sector contributes only a small fraction of this pollution, even isolated cargo losses or poor waste handling on board or quayside can have serious consequences which could be prevented, especially with plastic pellets, films and light packaging. By advancing best practices, innovation, and collaboration across the value chain, the industry can play a pivotal role in reducing plastic leakage and protecting the very waters it relies on.
A pivotal moment for maritime sustainability
MACS builds on the IMO’s established Plastic Marine Litter Action Plan and responds to the growing global sentiment for coordinated, industry-wide action on plastic pollution.
As scrutiny around environmental and community impact intensifies, MACS creates a unified front for maritime players to reduce plastic use, share best practices, and inspire change across adjacent sectors with even larger plastic footprints.
Collective action for measurable impact
MACS builds on SCS’ track record of tackling plastic pollution at its source. Operating in some of the world’s most polluted coastal regions, SCS develops holistic certified recovery projects that not only recover ocean plastic but also deliver fair employment and community impact on the ground.
The Association brings maritime leaders together to tackle two core objectives of ocean plastic recovery at scale and waste reduction across the maritime value chain, with the initial focus for 2026 on three key areas:
Sustainable procurement and material use;
Vessel waste measurement and reduction;
And improved portside waste reception.
These efforts align directly with the IMO’s 2030 Action Plan. It also marks a key milestone in SCS’ mission to recover 100,000,000 kilograms of plastic and improve 200,000 lives by 2030, proving how targeted collaboration can drive systemic change and inspire far-reaching environmental progress.
“Seven Clean Seas has always believed in collective action as the most powerful lever for change,” said Tom Peacock-Nazil, Founder & Chairman of MACS. “With MACS, we’re providing the maritime industry with the tools it needs to make measurable progress against plastic pollution. Not in isolation, but together.”
Driving systemic change through collaboration
Founding members Berge Bulk, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), X-Press Feeders, and Britoil Offshore Services represent a cross-section of the global maritime sector, from bulk carriers and ship management to offshore operations. Their participation reflects a shared commitment to operational excellence, environmental leadership, and data transparency.
“At Berge Bulk, the oceans are at the heart of our business, so we have always felt an obligation to protect them and a responsibility to keep them clean,” said Michael Blanding, Head of Sustainability & Communications. “Our long-standing work with SCS has already delivered tangible results, and through MACS, we’re proud to help lead a united industry response that can achieve change at scale.”
Francis Goh, Chief Operating Officer of X-Press Feeders, added, “As a global shipping company, we recognise the responsibility we have to safeguard the oceans that sustain global trade. Our collaboration with SCS goes back several years and joining MACS is a natural extension of our sustainability journey which goes beyond reducing emissions to also address the waste and plastic challenges facing our shared environment. Together with our peers, we can make practical, lasting improvements across the maritime ecosystem.”
“Our work begins and ends with the sea, and with that comes a responsibility to protect it,” said Florent Kirchhoff, Chief Executive Officer of Britoil Offshore Services. “Through this partnership with MACS, Britoil aims to advance responsible operations through collaboration, reflecting our shared care for the oceans and the ingenuity that drives us to find solutions for a better future.”
Elena Pantazidou, HR Director & Board Member of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, commented, “At Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, we believe that safeguarding our oceans is not just a responsibility but a commitment to future generations. Joining forces as a founding member of the Maritime Association for Clean Seas reflects our dedication to driving sustainable practices across the maritime industry.”
MACS welcomes members who wish to play an active role in shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future for the maritime industry and the oceans that sustain it.
About Seven Clean Seas
Seven Clean Seas is an ocean impact organisation on a mission to become the world’s largest preventer of ocean plastic pollution. Started in 2018 as a grassroots movement and officially founded in 2019 in Singapore, Seven Clean Seas works to remove plastic waste from the environment while creating social benefits through the provision of fair and direct employment in heavily polluted coastal communities. For more information, visit sevencleanseas.com.
About Berge Bulk
Berge Bulk is one of the world’s leading independent dry bulk owners and has an outstanding record for its reliable, safe and efficient delivery of commodities around the world. Starting out with 12 vessels in 2007, the company now owns, operates, and manages a fleet of over 100 safe and fuel-efficient vessels, equating to an owned carrying capacity of more than 15 million deadweight tonnes. For more information, visit bergebulk.com.
About X-Press Feeders
X-Press Feeders, which was founded in Singapore in 1972, is the world’s largest independent common carrier. As ‘The Global Common Carrier’, our mission is to provide the best feeder
solutions and be the feeder carrier of choice. X-Press Feeders as an independent common carrier does not own, lease, or operate any containers. We provide transportation services only to container operators and not to proprietary cargo interests or the general shipping public, allowing us to act as a trustworthy and completely impartial contractor. X-Press Feeders operates a fleet of more than 100 vessels, calling at more than 180 ports worldwide. X-Press Feeders aims to achieve net zero emission by 2050 and be the ‘Greener Feeder Carrier of Choice’. We are the world’s first feeder carrier to operate containerships powered by green methanol. For more information, visit x-pressfeeders.com.
About Britoil Offshore Services
Britoil Offshore Services has cultivated a legacy of excellence over nearly four decades, specializing in anchor-handling, towing, and sea transportation services. With a fleet of over 60 Offshore Support Vessels and strategic hubs in Singapore, Dubai, and Genoa, the company supports major energy projects across Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Americas. Partnering with leading IOCs, EPCs, and renewable energy developers, Britoil’s highly skilled workforce delivers safe, reliable, and efficient offshore solutions that power the global energy sector. For more information, visit britoil.com.sg.
About Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) is an integrated maritime solutions provider. Managing a fleet of 670 vessels, 40,000 crew and 2,000 shore-based employees enable the delivery of safe, reliable and efficient ship management services through a network of 10 ship management, 28 crew service and six wholly owned maritime training centres across the world. Alongside comprehensive ship management services, BSM offers a suite of complementary maritime solutions that are customised to meet individual customer requirements. As a member of the Schulte Group, BSM benefits from its 140+ years of experience in the shipping industry. For more information, visit www.bs-shipmanagement.com.
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