Sustainability and ESG

At ICG, our team is at the core of our success. We take immense pride in our high-achieving and customer-centric workforce. Our workplace is characterised by trust and collaboration, where we encourage our team members to collaborate vertically, horizontally, across the organisation. We actively promote positive challenges to the status quo, always striving to deliver improved performance.

Passionate Dedication

Our people are passionate about their work, and their unwavering commitment to delivering excellence is a strategic pillar that underpins our successful execution of our strategy.

Our Holistic Culture

We are dedicated to providing our team members with a holistic culture that encompasses safety, health, well-being, development, reward, and recognition. The ICG Social Committee plays a pivotal role in fostering a more positive and engaging work environment. This, in turn, boosts morale, leading to increased productivity and alignment of interests.

Continuous Development

We believe in hiring for potential and ensuring that our team members reach their full potential through challenging and meaningful work. As a “Learning Organisation,” we actively support a growth mindset through our Learning & Development Policy and Talent Review Process. We’ve cultivated a culture of engagement that nurtures and supports ongoing development and upskilling.

Leadership Focus

Leadership is central to our success, and we have tailored Leadership Programs for individuals identified through succession planning. These programs help them progress within the organisation and develop into effective leaders.

Health and Wellbeing

The health and wellbeing of our team members are of utmost importance. We support them with flexible work practices and family-friendly policies. Throughout the year, we organise events that not only focus on physical health but also address the equally critical aspect of mental health.

Reward and Recognition

To recognise and reward the dedication and high achievements of our team, we offer competitive salaries along with a range of incentives. This ensures that our team members feel valued and appreciated for their contributions to our business.

Reward and recognition are not only linked to our Talent Review Process but is actively acknowledged throughout the year.

Psychological Safety

Psychological Safety and Inclusivity

At ICG, we prioritise creating a safe and inclusive work environment where our team members can thrive. We foster a “speak up” culture, encouraging everyone to voice their opinions, challenge the status quo, and express themselves without fear of retribution. Respect and dignity are fundamental principles that underpin all our business practices.

Empowering Our Team

We have robust policies in place, including Bullying & Harassment, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Dignity & Respect, and Whistleblowing, to provide our employees with the means to speak up against inappropriate behaviour or processes. These policies ensure that every team member has a voice and a process for addressing any concerns.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

We firmly believe that a diverse workforce is a key driver of our competitive edge in the industry. Our commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion runs throughout our organisation. While our gender ratio may not yet be perfectly balanced, we acknowledge that the maritime industry has historically been male dominated. We are dedicated to improving the representation of women at ICG through policy enhancements and recruitment processes.

Progressive Changes

In recent years, we’ve made significant strides in addressing gender balance. Our efforts have resulted in a more balanced representation of women on our Board, with females now constituting 33% of our Board members and across the Group, we have increased our gender balance by 2% year on year to 41%. We are committed to ongoing progress in this area, recognising the importance of gender diversity.

Diversity & Inclusion

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

At ICG, we are unwavering in our commitment to fostering a positive working environment where every employee is respected, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. We firmly believe that a diverse workforce enriches our organisation with a wide range of skills and experiences, enhancing our creativity and competitiveness.

Our Guiding Principles

To attract, recruit, develop, and retain the best talent, we have built our approach on three core principles:

Diversity: We recognise and celebrate each person as a unique individual. Our success hinges on our ability to embrace diversity, valuing every individual’s contribution. By working collaboratively, we aim to deliver exceptional service to our staff and stakeholders.

Equality: We actively promote equality of opportunity by removing barriers, eliminating bias, and ensuring equitable access for all individuals.

Inclusion: We cultivate a workplace culture where differences are not merely acknowledged but cherished. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone can develop in alignment with ICG’s values of impartiality, honesty, integrity, and objectivity.

Our Vision

Our aspiration is to become an organisation where every individual feels engaged, respected, and deeply connected to our collective success. At ICG, we are dedicated to being a fully inclusive employer, which includes supporting our workforce in achieving a positive work-life balance. To this end, we facilitate hybrid working arrangements for our staff, ensuring that both their needs and our business objectives are met.

Safety First

Safety is, and always will be, our utmost priority.

Managing Physical Risks

Given the inherent risks in our operations, from handling containers to loading and unloading ships, ensuring the safety of our staff and customers is paramount. We instil a robust safety culture within our organisation through various measures:

• We keep our safety statements updated annually, ensuring they encompass all our policies and procedures.
• All staff receive training in high-risk areas.
• Specialised training is provided based on risk levels.
• We conduct drills and exercises to assess the efficacy of our systems and enhance resilience.

Supporting Safety Initiatives

We are proud supporters of the Dublin Safe Port initiative, a city-wide safety program aimed at continuously improving safety culture and practices for all workers in Dublin Port. This initiative includes safety awareness campaigns, training, and other activities, fostering a safer working environment for the long term.

International Safety Standards

On our ships, we adhere to the International Safety Management System (ISM) code, a globally recognised best practice in international shipping.

Inclusive and Safer Work Environment

Our RTG electrification program has made our cranes safer. These upgraded cranes can now be controlled remotely from a secure office-based centre. This not only enhances safety by eliminating the need for staff to be in the yard but also opens opportunities for individuals who may have been excluded from these roles.

Efficiency and Safety

Last year, we modernised our digital booking system for hauliers. Our app-based system allows for virtual orders and collections, enabling “Just in Time arrivals” of hauliers to our terminals. This has significantly reduced congestion and idling times in the port area, enhancing efficiency and safety for all parties involved.

Dealing with Dangerous Goods

We only transport goods that are legally classified as dangerous goods if they meet all international, national and local laws and guidelines in full, such as the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. The potential danger posed by cargo is assigned a classification based on various characteristics, such as its physical and chemical properties, reactivity and stability, and toxicological and environmental information. By implementing special measures, we ensure that their transport is safe for our employees, the ship, the cargo and the environment.

LTIF statistics

Our LTIF (Lost Time Injury Frequency) statistics are set out in Employee Health and Safety and Diversity and Inclusion, our LTIF which measures the number of recordable workplace incidents resulting in lost days over a year per million hours worked saw an increase of 1.67 LTIF over the period. The LTIF for land of 8.2 is above our target thresholds of <5 which is disappointing. We are working with our key contractors to investigate the underlying causes and address these issues. Our target thresholds are split over Land and Sea with LTIF on land <5 and LTIF at sea <3.5. We remain acutely aware that our workspaces are inherently high risk and continually ensure that safety awareness is always to the forefront of how we operate.

All reported safety incidents are investigated internally to ensure all necessary steps are taken to improve and to prevent reoccurrences. Where required, we also report incidences to external authorities and co-operate fully with any inquiries.

Health

Our Commitment to Health

The health of our customers, employees, and contractors is of utmost importance to us. We are unwavering in our commitment to comply with all health regulations mandated by regulatory authorities. Our goal is to minimise the risk of illness within our sphere of operation.

Rigorous Food Safety Measures

Onboard our vessels, we have implemented Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems in all food handling areas. These systems are designed to identify, monitor, and control critical points in food preparation to ensure the highest standards of safety and hygiene. We subject ourselves to regular third-party inspections to validate the effectiveness of our food safety protocols, providing an additional layer of assurance to our customers and stakeholders.

Society

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

At ICG, our commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) remains unwavering. We take pride in being active members of the local communities in which we operate. Over the past year, we have continued our support for charitable partners through our CSR program.

Support for Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team (DWMRT)

ICG has a long-standing partnership with the Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team (DWMRT). This dedicated team shares our commitment to the safety of our communities. Irish Ferries plays a crucial role in assisting the DWMRT by providing transport services for rescue dogs, volunteers, and essential equipment needed for critical search and training operations in Ireland.

Contributions to Good Causes

We extend our gratitude to our customers who also contribute to important causes. Onboard our Irish Ferries vessels, we conduct collections to support the Royal National Lifeboat Association (RNLI), the largest charity dedicated to saving lives across the seas of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. Additionally, our customers contribute to the Irish Heart Foundation by choosing healthy meal options onboard. A percentage of proceeds from these specially marked heart-healthy meals on our menu is donated to the Irish Heart Foundation.

Support for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Association

Over the past year, we have continued to support the Irish Whale and Dolphin Association in their vital monitoring work. We provide assistance to the association by facilitating their onboard activities, including viewing exercises aimed at monitoring the behaviour and populations of whale and dolphin species around our coastline.

Involvement in St. Patrick’s Festival

ICG proudly supports the St. Patrick’s Festival in Ireland and offers transportation services for some of the participating bands and acts traveling from the UK to the event. The festival continues to be a highlight of our visitors trips to Ireland and a great event for all the family.

Special Assistance Passengers

At ICG, we are dedicated to providing assistance to passengers who may require special support through our Special Assistance Program. This program is designed to offer individualised assistance to passengers with unique needs, such as reduced mobility or other special requirements. Our commitment to inclusivity includes the following provisions:

Wheelchair Access: We provide wheelchairs for passengers’ use within our ports and on our ships to ensure comfortable mobility.

Dedicated Seating: Our ships offer dedicated seating areas to accommodate passengers with special needs, ensuring a comfortable and accessible journey.

Specially Adapted Cabins: On the majority of our cruise ferries, we have specially adapted cabins designed to meet the needs of passengers with unique requirements.

Assistance Animals: Registered assistant animals are welcome on our passenger decks, ensuring that passengers have the support they need.

Last year, our Disability Officer handled just under 1,400 customer cases for special assistance. Each request is handled with meticulous planning to anticipate and address the specific needs of the individual, ensuring a seamless and accommodating experience.

Sunflower Lanyard Scheme

One of the special programmes that we have become involved in, is the Sunflower Lanyard scheme, being the first Irish Travel operator to do so. This discreet lanyard enables our specially trained crew members to readily identify passengers who may require extra assistance, additional time, or specialised aid. We are committed to finding innovative ways to ensure that all customers can enjoy our services comfortably.

Supporting Tourism and Local Economies

Irish Ferries collaborates closely with state tourism agencies in Ireland, including Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, as well as tourism source markets in Wales (Visit Wales) and France (Normandy Tourism and Cotentin Tourism). We are enthusiastic about showcasing the finest offerings from our local artisan producers to delight our customers in our onboard restaurants. Our commitment to sourcing local and sustainable products includes:

Local Suppliers: We partner with local seafood suppliers from Howth, Irish beef and dairy producers, and breakfast meat suppliers from counties Kilkenny and Cork. All our food products are Origin Green certified, reflecting our dedication to sourcing from independently monitored and verified producers under Ireland’s pioneering food and drink sustainability program.

Irish Beverages: We promote Irish beverages, including both well-known brands and craft beers and spirits from smaller producers. Our coffees are sourced from a Dublin-based roastery known for its carbon-neutral production. All coffees and teas served onboard are fair trade certified.

Local Support: For our new Dover-Calais route, we work with local UK-based suppliers, including our coffee supplier engaged in social projects supporting farmers in Guatemala, Tanzania, and Peru.

Wine Selection: Our onboard wines come from a distributor in Cherbourg, offering a diverse selection from large and small French wineries. We actively promote local French wines through special wine tasting events in partnership with our Cherbourg partner.

Plant-Based Options: We offer a wide variety of plant-based food and drink options in all our cafés and restaurants to cater to diverse dietary preferences.

Our commitment to supporting local producers and sustainability is an integral part of our dedication to offering high-quality experiences to our customers while contributing positively to local economies and communities.