Fourteen marine carriers are being recognized by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority with Blue Circle Awards for their voluntary efforts to reduce air emissions in the Port of Vancouver.
Twelve shipping lines and two cruise lines are the recipients of the eighth annual Blue Circle Awards, which recognize marine carriers that excel in environmental stewardship and attain the highest participation rates in the port authority’s EcoAction program.
Image courtesy of Port of Vancouver
Since 2007, the port authority’s EcoAction program has recognized a variety of fuel, technology and environmental management options that make ship operators eligible to receive discounted harbour dues rates. Earlier this year, the port authority added new incentive criteria to the EcoAction program to include harbour dues rate discounts for quieter ships, making Canada the first country in the world with an underwater noise reduction incentive.
“Creating impactful environmental change takes shared leadership, commitment and collaboration,” said Robin Silvester, president and chief executive officer at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “We are proud to honour fourteen marine carriers with a Blue Circle Award this year to recognize their efforts above and beyond regulatory requirements to reduce air emissions. Congratulations to the 2016 award recipients.”
The 2016 Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Blue Circle Award recipients are:
- CMA CGM
- Disney Cruise Line
- Evergreen Line
- Grieg Star
- Hamburg Süd
- Hapag-Lloyd
- Hyundai Merchant Marine
- “K” Line
- Mediterranean Shipping Company
- NYK Line
- Princess Cruises
- The China Navigation Company
- United Arab Shipping Company
- Yang Ming
Blue Circle Award Highlights:
- “K” Line and Princess Cruises have been awarded for each year since the inaugural awards in 2009.
- Hapag-Lloyd has been recognized seven times.
- Grieg Star has been recognized six times.
- Disney Cruise Line has received an award for every year it has homeported in Vancouver.
- CMA CGM, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Mediterranean Shipping Company have been a recipient four times consecutively since 2013.
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority initiatives focused on building and maintaining a sustainable gateway have been widely celebrated. The Port has been recognized for sustainability performance by Corporate Knights, MarCom and Clean Tech50.
Recipients will receive awards at a presentation later this spring.
The Blue Circle Awards recognize marine carriers that excel in environmental stewardship and attain the highest participation rates in the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s EcoAction Program. The EcoAction program recognizes a variety of fuel, technology and environmental management options that are eligible to receive discounted harbour due rates. Vessels may qualify for one of three levels in the EcoAction program: Gold, Silver or Bronze. Shipping lines can apply for the program at each call or provide an annual declaration for their vessels. Offering vessels a user-friendly financial incentive to improve environmental performance of ocean-going vessels is one way the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority works together with customers and industry stakeholders to promote economic prosperity through trade while protecting the environment.
Source: Port of Vancouver