Social Care and Investment in Public Welfare
Public Welfare Investment Strategy
Shih Wei has long been committed to social participation. Guided by the principle of “together for good”, we continue to support disadvantaged groups and regard social engagement as a lasting commitment to give back to society. Since 2021, the Company has further aligned with the UN SDGs, engaging in social initiatives through diverse approaches to drive positive cycles and sustainable development.
To deepen practice of “together for good”, we established four pillars for social investment, Happy Learning, Environmental Protection, Local Engagement, and Cultural Heritage, and gradually built Shih Wei’social investment strategy. Each year, the Chair convenes the Corporate Social Impact Team to coordinate implementation. In addition to long-term, recurring programs, proposals are discussed and, upon the Chair’s approval, a variety of activities are organized to mobilize employees and business partners. Results are reported regularly to the Board to ensure delivery and expand social impact.
Given the characteristics of the maritime industry, Shih Wei has no physical operating sites at ports or terminals overseas, which makes deep local community engagement challenging. We therefore collaborate with the After School Association, Taiwan and sponsor the Wutai Base in Pingtung as a starting point for caring for rural communities. Wutai Township has only one elementary school located in a remote mountain area with inconvenient transport, it faces a shortage of educational resources and lacks after-school tutoring. We support the Association’s after-school center to provide hot meals, homework guidance, and a nurturing learning environment, while fostering awareness and transmission of Rukai culture, offering a safe space for children to learn and grow.
Shih Wei has extended this care to more bases. In early 2024, earthquakes in Hualien and frequent typhoons caused severe impacts. To provide art-based healing and sustain public attention on Hualien, the Company partnered with three Hualien bases to host the “Little Picassos Painting Contest”, giving children a platform to showcase their talents and incorporating their works into this Sustainability Report. Looking ahead, we will continue to cultivate the Wutai base and surrounding communities, balancing Rukai cultural inheritance with local development to realize the vision of sustainable co-prosperity.
On environmental protection and biodiversity, since 2008 Shih Wei has voluntarily reduced speed to 10 knots or below in designated areas to protect North Atlantic right whales and has selected environment-friendly anti-fouling paints during vessel’s drydocking to reduce ecological impacts. We promote waste reduction at source, minimize wastewater and waste generation, and discharge shipboard waste in compliance with regulations. All vessels (excluding the passenger ship) have implemented ballast water management and obtained relevant certifications to conserve marine biodiversity. The Company also sets an annual target of at least one beach- or mountain cleanup event to encourage employee participation and fulfill our environmental commitments.
| Social investment pillars | Strategy Description | Visions | Targets | Target Group | Social impact |
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| Happy Learning | Collaborate with the After School Association to sponsor the Wutai Base in Pingtung and provide diverse sponsorship for other bases so that children can learn happily and grow well. |
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| Environmental Protection |
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| Local Engagement | Participate in nearby community public affairs; care for rural communities and disadvantaged groups; respond to local needs and promote local development through concrete actions. |
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| Cultural Heritage |
Expanding from sponsorship of the Wutai base, collaborate with local communities, schools, and NGOs to preserve Rukai culture and promote inter-ethnic harmony.
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Public Welfare Achievements and Highlights
2024 Types of social investments
Unit: NTD
| Type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Charitable Giving | 172,204 | 13.98% |
| Community participation | 149,002 | 12.10% |
| Business promotion | 135,975 | 11.04% |
| Educational support | 774,457 | 62.88% |
2024 Total Value of ESG-Related Project Investments
Unit: NTD
| Item \ Year | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Direct expenditures on social impact projectts | 1,231,638 |
| Monetized value of corporate volunteer hours | 250,174 |
| Monetized value of in-kind donations | 77,730 |
| Management costs | 3,676,746 |
Highlight Projects
Happy Learning and Local Engagement
Since 2021, Shih Wei Navigation has cooperated with After School Association of Taiwan and adopted the secret base for children in Yuanxiang in Wutai Township, Pingtung County under the concept of common good and accompanied the disadvantaged children to learn and grow. The specific actions taken in 2024 include the followings.
- Partnered with the After School Association to continue sponsoring the Wutai Base in Pingtung.
- Procured 88 honey date gift boxes from the Association’s Gaoshu Base farm in Pingtung
- Donated 55 Mandarin dictionaries to the Association
- Donated 82 sets of the “Be a Sea Turtle” board game to the Association（For details）
- Sponsored the fruit program for the Wutai base
- Worked with 3 Hualien bases to organize a painting contest, encouraging children in rural areas to create bravely and express creativity; continued the “Dream Gifts” activity allowing participating children to write down wishes that employees then sponsor. Selected artworks were incorporated into this Sustainability Report’s design.（For details）
Introduction of our strategic partner- After School Association of Taiwan
The Association was founded under the leadership of director, Nien-Jen Wu, and has made long-term cultivation in cities, counties, and towns, providing free after-school tutoring for economically disadvantaged schoolchildren in primary and middle schools. It is hoped that the folk forces can be combined to accompany children along the way in education. Currently, there are 80 “secret bases” countrywide, providing services all around Taiwan.
Environmental Sustainability
Beach Cleanup Action
- Organized two Elite Squad cleanups at Waimushan Coast, with 39 participants.（For details 03/25、8/16）
Circular Economy Response
- Donated 2nd hand items from employees to Hualien 5 Way House and supported Dashuigou 2nd hand Shop.（For details）
- Responded to the ASUS Foundation “Refurbished Computers for Hope” initiative by donating decommissioned IT equipment, reducing about 3.654 tCO₂ emissions, equivalent to about 304.472 trees not felled. (Source: ASUS Foundation)
- Destroyed 2,010 kg of confidential documents using water pulping, which reduced 0.7236 tCO2e compared with traditional incineration.
- Co-ran New Year and Mid-Autumn charity sales with stakeholders. Proceeds were donated to Yoshi Care Association, Homeless Taiwan Association, and Wanderers’ Lodge Association.（For details）
- Donated 2nd hand warm clothing to the Bali Conservation Center of the Animal Protection Association.（For details）
Support for Environmental Advocacy
- Marked World Oceans Day with the 3rd Seafarer’s Perspective Photo Contest.（For details）
- Marked World Sea Turtle Day with an internal sea-turtle board-game activity, and donated the game to 81 bases,
benefiting > 2,000+ children under the After School Association.（For details） - Participated in the BWBS Program（For details）
Cultural Development
- Sponsored the 70th Maritime Day event of the National Chinese Shipowners’ Association.
- Sponsored the National Taiwan Ocean University Alumni Association.
For more details, please refer to our company’s sustainability report.