OCE-B.05.A - Spills and Hazardous Incidents Reporting
Does the company report regularly on spills and hazardous material incidents?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Spills and incidental discharges of oils and other hazardous substances into marine
waterbodies can profoundly impact ecosystems. The environmental consequences are not solely
dependent on the spill volume, but also the location and extent of contaminant spread, the
harmfulness and durability of the contaminant and the vulnerability of the affected environment.
Large accidental oil spills account for about 10–15% of all oil entering the ocean globally each year.
Spills and incidental discharges can occur wherever substances are extracted, transported or used, as
well as through ship collisions, and they are more prevalent than commonly perceived. Although most
spills are minor, such as those during ship refuelling, they can still inflict significant damage, especially
in sensitive environments such as beaches, mangroves and wetlands.
Reporting on spills and incidental discharges of hazardous substances is mandatory in the ocean
economy, but requirements vary across countries and regions. Companies are responsible for
reporting the spilling of oil, chemicals and other hazardous substances into coastal waterways, as the
environmental and economic damages from these incidents can persist for decades (SDGs 14.1, 14.2).
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must report on the number or volume of significant spill[1] incidents or incidental discharges/year (e.g. TNFD F.C2.0:Number and aggregate volume (m3) of oil spills and discharged fuel waste (as defined by MARPOL)
AND the location of spill/discharge.
It is accepted if the company reports having a certification that assesses environmental impacts caused by spills and incidental discharges of oil/fuel and hazardous substances. ONLY IF THE TOPIC IS COVERED.
[1] Significant spill: spill that is included in the organization's financial statements, for example due to resulting liabilities, or is recorded as a spill by the organization (GRI-306). The value can vary depending on the company, but in general a spill is considered significant if above 10 m3.
For example:
ISO 14001:2015 (only if this topic is covered)
MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships)
OSPAR Convention
waterbodies can profoundly impact ecosystems. The environmental consequences are not solely
dependent on the spill volume, but also the location and extent of contaminant spread, the
harmfulness and durability of the contaminant and the vulnerability of the affected environment.
Large accidental oil spills account for about 10–15% of all oil entering the ocean globally each year.
Spills and incidental discharges can occur wherever substances are extracted, transported or used, as
well as through ship collisions, and they are more prevalent than commonly perceived. Although most
spills are minor, such as those during ship refuelling, they can still inflict significant damage, especially
in sensitive environments such as beaches, mangroves and wetlands.
Reporting on spills and incidental discharges of hazardous substances is mandatory in the ocean
economy, but requirements vary across countries and regions. Companies are responsible for
reporting the spilling of oil, chemicals and other hazardous substances into coastal waterways, as the
environmental and economic damages from these incidents can persist for decades (SDGs 14.1, 14.2).
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must report on the number or volume of significant spill[1] incidents or incidental discharges/year (e.g. TNFD F.C2.0:Number and aggregate volume (m3) of oil spills and discharged fuel waste (as defined by MARPOL)
AND the location of spill/discharge.
It is accepted if the company reports having a certification that assesses environmental impacts caused by spills and incidental discharges of oil/fuel and hazardous substances. ONLY IF THE TOPIC IS COVERED.
[1] Significant spill: spill that is included in the organization's financial statements, for example due to resulting liabilities, or is recorded as a spill by the organization (GRI-306). The value can vary depending on the company, but in general a spill is considered significant if above 10 m3.
For example:
ISO 14001:2015 (only if this topic is covered)
MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships)
OSPAR Convention
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Not Applicable
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report