West Coast Marine Environment Issues Explored at Long Beach Conference

Queen Mary venue for Industry Event

The historic cruise liner Queen Mary, berthed in Long Beach, will be the site of a marine environment protection conference on February 23rd exploring issues and changes occurring on the West Coast and impacting shipping throughout the world. Hosted by NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association), the event will feature presentations on greening the waste stream, marine mammals, emissions, and oil spill response. The conference, entitled “The Winds of Change on the West Coast” is part of NAMEPA’s Environmental Intelligence in Shipping Series, and will be held aboard the Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach, beginning at 0800hrs on February 23rd with coffee and registration.

Invited to set the stage for the event is Richard D. Steinke Executive Director for the Port of Long Beach, who will review shipping’s role in globalization and its contribution to local economies. Following will be presentations by the EPA, California State Land Commission, the United States Coast Guard, NOAA, Aquarium of the Pacific, Sea Research Foundation, National Marine Sanctuaries, CARB, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, Royal Caribbean Cruises, APM Terminals, Overseas Shipholding Group, APL, Blank Rome Maritime and the Chamber of Shipping of America.

“The winds of change are indeed blowing on the West Coast and throughout North America,” stated NAMEPA Founding Chairman Clay Maitland. “Providing a forum for discussing these changes sweeping across the marine environment is essential to developing a dialog and understanding about the impact of these changes on the environment and commerce.”

The luncheon keynote speaker will be RADM Brian Salerno of the USCG who will review with delegates how the Deepwater Horizon accident affects the entire shipping community. At the end of the day Joe Cox, President of the Chamber of Shipping of America, will moderate a conference wraparound and open dialog on the way forward.

Registration is open to all at the following rates: $150 for NAMEPA members, $200 for non-members, $125 government rate. To register, please contact Rosemary Lambert [email protected] or +203 255 4686. Copies of the program and registration form may be found at www.namepa.net.

The North American Marine Environment Protection Association was officially launched in 2007. In keeping with the mission of MEPAs worldwide, its aim is to increase environmental awareness and motivation of the human element within shipping and land-based industries that have a vested interest in preservation of the marine environment. Specifically, NAMEPA has the goal of educating the seafarers, port communities, and the wider public and school communities about the critical importance of the world’s oceans to mankind and the maritime industry’s role and actions to preserve it. NAMEPA is a maritime industry led initiative to “Save the Seas”, and welcomes members who share this mission. For more information, go to www.namepa.net .