Atlant Ocean Racing Spain, the new owner of the Volvo Ocean Race, has pledged to develop the competition’s sustainability programme ahead of the next race in 2021.

The organisation, led by Richard Brisius, Johan Salén (who were appointed as president and vice-president of Volvo Ocean Race last November) and Jan Litborn, will take over the stewardship of the race from Volvo Group and Volvo Cars, the co-owners of the event for the past 20 years.

According to a Volvo Ocean Race spokeswoman, the change of ownership will have “no impact” on the sustainability programme for the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/18, and the new owners will “work with key stakeholders to develop the sustainability programme in the future”.

Volvo Ocean Race works with several sustainability partners, including 11th Hour Racing, the Mirpuri Foundation, Volvo, AkzoNobel, Ocean Family Foundation, Stena Recycling and Bluewater, on a range of environmentally-friendly programmes.

Combating plastic sea pollution, minimising footprint of race villages and maximising impact at host cities is among the work Volvo Ocean Race does with its partners. It is also a supporter of the United Nation Environment’s Clean Seas programme.

“We are in this for the long run and we are determined that the race will go from strength to strength as a sustainable premier world event,” said Brisius. “I look forward to being part of evolving this unique race by co-operating together with the teams, cities, Volvo and all our key stakeholders.”

Volvo will remain as sponsor of the 2021 race despite the ownership change.