A proliferation of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) reporting requirements on climate change is making it complicated for shipping companies to ensure they tick all the right boxes.

But mandatory reporting standards appear to be drawing nearer as the industry and its rule-makers move towards a higher degree of transparency and better alignment of ratings.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a global non-profit investors' organisation that has already targeted "marine transportation" companies", is just one of several initiatives requiring detailed information that companies may have to deal with.