Cargill’s Eman Abdalla takes helm at Sea Cargo Charter

Eman Abdalla, global operations and supply chain director at Cargill Ocean Transportation, has been elected chair of the Sea Cargo Charter, a framework developed to measure shipping emissions against decarbonisation benchmarks.

“Stepping into the role of chair at this pivotal new chapter is both an honour and a responsibility,” said Abdalla, adding: “At a time when credible, climate-aligned action is no longer optional, the Sea Cargo Charter is evolving into a leadership platform — driving transparency, accountability, and real climate impact across global shipping. Together, we can steer the industry toward a more sustainable future.”

Abdalla is replacing Trafigura’s Rasmus Bach Nielsen, who took on the role in May 2023.

In stepping down, Bach Nielsen said: “I’m ambitious on behalf of the Sea Cargo Charter. Shipowners and charterers need to be unified, and by continuing to build our member base, we can build even stronger baselines for the industry.”

Developed by the Global Maritime Forum, the Sea Cargo Charter was launched in October 2020. The initiative offers a uniform baseline and allows charterers and shipowners to examine whether their activities align with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) greenhouse gas emission targets. The green movement represents over 20% of global seaborne trade and currently has 37 signatories onboard, comprised of bulk cargo owners from a variety of segments, commodity traders and shipowners.

Engebret Dahm, chief executive of Klaveness Combination Carriers, was elected vice chairman, and Kartik Kathavate, head of fuel optimisation at Maersk Tankers, as treasurer.