OCE-B.05.E - Spills and Hazardous Incidents Risk Assessment
Does the company conduct risk assessments for spills and hazardous material incidents and/or demonstrate that its operational policies aim to keep these risks as low as possible?
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:
This element is **met** if the company:
- Proves it has conducted a risk assessment for spills and hazardous material incidents** **
OR
- Demonstrates that its operational policies are aligned with keeping these risks as low as possible.
Companies should be assessing what factors lead to more/worse spills, and ensuring their operational policies are aligned to keeping these risks as low as possible. Even things like the flag that ships are registered under should be considered, as this is a key factor relevant to risk.**1(https://indexalliance.sharepoint.com/sites/Circular/Gedeelde%20documenten/Ocean/R.%20Methodology/Ocean%20Spotlight%20Scoring%20Guidance/Ocean%20Spotlight%20Scoring%20Guidance%20for%20AT%20May%2025.docx#_ftn1)**
1(https://indexalliance.sharepoint.com/sites/Circular/Gedeelde%20documenten/Ocean/R.%20Methodology/Ocean%20Spotlight%20Scoring%20Guidance/Ocean%20Spotlight%20Scoring%20Guidance%20for%20AT%20May%2025.docx#_ftnref1)[Mandating responsible flagging practices as a strategy for reducing the risk of coastal oil spills - ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X14000149)
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:
This element is **met** if the company:
- Proves it has conducted a risk assessment for spills and hazardous material incidents** **
OR
- Demonstrates that its operational policies are aligned with keeping these risks as low as possible.
Companies should be assessing what factors lead to more/worse spills, and ensuring their operational policies are aligned to keeping these risks as low as possible. Even things like the flag that ships are registered under should be considered, as this is a key factor relevant to risk.**1(https://indexalliance.sharepoint.com/sites/Circular/Gedeelde%20documenten/Ocean/R.%20Methodology/Ocean%20Spotlight%20Scoring%20Guidance/Ocean%20Spotlight%20Scoring%20Guidance%20for%20AT%20May%2025.docx#_ftn1)**
1(https://indexalliance.sharepoint.com/sites/Circular/Gedeelde%20documenten/Ocean/R.%20Methodology/Ocean%20Spotlight%20Scoring%20Guidance/Ocean%20Spotlight%20Scoring%20Guidance%20for%20AT%20May%2025.docx#_ftnref1)[Mandating responsible flagging practices as a strategy for reducing the risk of coastal oil spills - ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X14000149)
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Not Applicable
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report