Green Marine's Latest Environmental Report Shows Improvement

This sixth year of evaluating the environmental performance of Green Marine participants shows that the maritime transportation industry continues to go well beyond regulatory compliance. Green Marine unveiled its participants’ 2013 results last night during GreenTech 2014. The annual conference is being held in Saint John, New Brunswick, from June 10th to 12th. The report card also reflects how shipowners, ports and terminals are taking concrete environmental actions, notably to improve air quality in their port communities. 

The 2013 global average of the participants continued an upward curve and reached 3.1 on a scale of 1 to 5. (Level 1 shows regulatory compliance and Level 5 illustrates excellence and leadership). Reaching Level 3 is demanding: participants must benchmark their environmental impacts and have implemented best practices and management plans. ‘’These results show our members’ commitment to sustainability with the global average continually improving since Green Marine’s inception in 2007 despite a more stringent program, additional performance indicators, and several new participants joining the program,’’ said Mr. Greg Wight, Green Marine’s Chair of the Board. 

‘’Green Marine offers a detailed framework for maritime companies to reduce their environmental footprint and has proven its effectiveness to inspire participants to go beyond regulatory compliance,” said Mr. Jamie Fortune, Chief Operating Officer for Ducks Unlimited Canada, one of 40 Green Marine supporters that have endorsed Green Marine and help to shape the environmental program. 

Green Marine is certifying participants from all over Canada and United States, including the East Coast, the West Coast, the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. The 2013 performance report includes individual results for all participants and is available at www.green-marine.org. 

GreenTech is also an opportunity for Green Marine to hold its Annual General Meeting. Two new directors were elected to the corporation’s Board of Directors: Mr. Ron Tursi, CEO of TBS Shipping Services/Roymar Ship 
Management, an international shipowner based in New York City; and, Mrs. Linda Styrk, Managing Director, Seaport Division, at the Port of Seattle. 

Green Marine requires participants to adopt practices and technologies that will have a direct impact on the improved sustainability of their operations. This year’s global average of 3.1 translates into tangible results: 

67% of the ports and terminals have established a plan for the prevention of water and soil pollution 

78% of the shipowners have equipped their vessels with recycling bins and trained crews to respect 3R-RD (reduce at source, reuse, recycle, and reclaim and properly dispose of – preferably by composting) which has 
contributed to a reduction of waste at source 

54 participants have completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, which represents 67% of all participants 

93% of the ports, terminals and shipyards restrict vehicle engine idling to improve air quality in their port communities.