The first meeting of the BIMCO ESG Network in 2026 was held on 14 April and marked the Network’s 10th meeting since its establishment. The meeting brought together BIMCO members from across the global shipping industry to exchange perspectives on environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics and to discuss BIMCO’s draft guidance on best practice for ESG metrics, which is currently out for stakeholder consultation. The secretariat introduced the draft guidance – which is a voluntary, nonmandatory reference tool, designed to support shipping companies in structuring discussions around ESG metrics in a way that reflects the realities of maritime operations. It was emphasised that the document is guidance, not a standard, and does not introduce new reporting requirements or mandatory KPIs. Nor is it intended to replace or duplicate existing regulatory or voluntary reporting frameworks. So what is the guidance? The draft guidance is based on a review of sustainability reporting practices and relevant regulations across the shipping industry, including companies operating both within and outside the scope of EU legislation. In preparing the guidance, the linkages and synergies between ESG metrics currently used in practice and mandatory regulatory requirements were explored, with a view to supporting global consistency and practicality. Its primary objective is to organise and disseminate existing best practice, providing a practical, shipping specific reference that can sit alongside established regulatory and voluntary frameworks already used by companies. Discussions during the meeting reflected the wide range of regulatory, commercial and operational contexts in which shipping companies approach ESG reporting. Participants shared perspectives shaped by different reporting frameworks, stakeholder expectations and geographic scopes, underlining the importance of flexibility and professional judgement when applying ESG metrics in practice. Drawing inspiration from th