61 specifications are tailored to reflect the strategic importance of sustainability. We’ve put a model in place to monitor the implementation of Ambassador’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets. I chair the ESG committee, which aims to ensure the business is effectively directing the implementation of a plan in a way that builds and fosters trust. How does the size of your business impact on your ability to carry out sustainability initiatives? PD: Being a family-run business, we have more control over our sustainability ambitions and how we achieve these goals. The smaller size of our company gives us more scope to develop in key areas, such as sustainability, and to ensure our team is environmentally aware. JR: While cost considerations may be associated with sustainability initiatives, we firmly believe that investing in the environment and local communities aligns with our core values as an expedition yacht-style cruise brand. One advantage of being a smaller cruise brand is that our size allows us to collaborate closely with local suppliers and purveyors, fostering stronger partnerships that promote sustainable sourcing and support local economies. Ultimately, our size enables us to embrace change proactively and act decisively, ensuring that sustainability remains at the heart of everything we do. CT: As a regional cruise line, the welfare of the destinations we visit is vitally important to us. The medium size of our vessels ensures a smaller environmental footprint whilst still allowing us to follow all current regulations. We also adhere to international regulations and CLIA guidelines for the protection of the environment. Our sustainability initiatives are driven by both our wider interest in the local communities we visit and our relationships with key stakeholders. While we may be a smaller cruise operator, we contribute to the communities we visit in so many other ways than purely financial such as through educational and welfare programmes. CV: As sustainability is embedded into the operation of our business, Ambassador has clear environmental goals which are supported by our investors. We are ahead of the industry in that we won’t operate any of our ships unless they are in the top 10-15 per cent of the most environmentally sound vessels in the world. We are still relatively small by way of a core shoreside team, meaning that our agile business management model sees costeffective decisions being made quickly and any changes implemented promptly. What external initiatives have you joined to help you become more sustainable? PD: In 2019, we installed free water stations across our fleet as part of City to Sea’s ‘Refill’ campaign. We also removed single-use plastic cutlery, replaced plastic laundry bags with linen ones and use ropes to secure items during rough seas, rather than plastic. We also partner with marine charity ORCA’s Cruise Conservationist programme; the project uses data collected on our cruises to monitor whale and dolphin populations around the world. Plus, we have invited experts from environmental charity Project Seagrass to explain how seagrass plays a crucial role for wildlife, communities and climate stability in our new Earth Room onboard Bolette. JR: We collaborate with reputable partners like L’Occitane and Vero Water, who share our values and contribute to our sustainability efforts through ecofriendly products and advanced technologies. Looking ahead, Atlas Ocean Voyages continues to review additional opportunities and explore partnerships to further our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. We are dedicated to identifying external initiatives that Both Ambassador Cruise Line and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have partnered with conservation organisation ORCA to collect data on whale and dolphin populations around the world ROUNDTABLE
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