To the casual observer, it looks a lot like status quo. In US bank Wells Fargo Securities' latest “scorecard” of shipowners’ adherence to corporate governance standards, the top-rated companies from its last report six months ago in May are still on top, and the list of stragglers continue to bring up the rear.

This could beg the question: despite Wells Fargo’s intense focus on an issue that appears to be growing in importance to investors as well, is much really changing?

Michael Webber is not a casual observer.