Environment: Green Marine, Long Beach, West Coast Ports

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The annual environmental performance review of Green Marine indicates that the maritime transportation industry continues to exceed regulatory requirements by a substantial margin. The Port of Long Beach was as the "Best Green Seaport" in the world at the 28th Annual Asian Freight & Supply Chain Awards hosted in Shanghai by Cargonews Asia. Representatives from seven U.S. West Coast ports recognized the need to incorporate sustainable attributes into port planning, design, construction and post-construction operations and recently developed a compendium of sustainable design and construction guidelines.

Green Marine’s Latest Environmental Report Card 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 during the annual GreenTech 2014 conference June 10-12 in Saint John, New Brunswick. The 2013 performance report also reflects how shipowners, ports and terminals are taking concrete environmental actions, notably to improve air quality in their port communities.

Green Marine is a voluntary marine industry initiative founded in 2007 with the goal of achieving levels of environmental performance that exceed regulatory requirements in areas such as air/land/water emissions. More than 80 shipowners, port authorities, terminals and shipyards in Canada and the United States are participating in the program. Results are independently verified every two years, and each company’s individual results are published.

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 Greg Wight, Green marine’s chair of the board.

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 percent of the ports and terminals have established a plan for the prevention of water and soil pollution
• 78 percent 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 percent of the ports, terminals and shipyards restrict vehicle engine idling to improve air quality in their port communities. 

Green Marine and AAPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2013 for the purpose of advancing the environmental sustainability of port and terminal operators. This month, Green Marine signed a similar agreement with the Association of Canadian Port Authorities.

Long Beach Named ‘Best Green Seaport’ Worldwide by Cargonews Asia

The Port of Long Beach was recognized Tuesday, June 17, as the "Best Green Seaport" in the world at the 28th Annual Asian Freight & Supply Chain Awards hosted in Shanghai by Cargonews Asia.

"This is an honor to be named the AFSCA’s Best Green Seaport. The Port of Long Beach has made great strides in reducing air pollution and improving water quality, and we are committed to doing even more," said Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President Doug Drummond.

"Green Seaport" honors ports that have "demonstrated compliance with green freight transport regulations and environmental standards; investment in green initiatives, technology and action plans; incorporation of environmental requirements in strategic planning; use of a policy on reducing fuel emissions from freight handling operations; and ongoing training of staff in green initiatives and in measures to lower carbon footprints."

The awards are based on an annual poll of professionals in freight transportation services. Awards also are given in other categories, including best shipping lines, container terminals, air cargo terminals, airports and rail haulers.

Click here to learn about the Port of Long Beach's environmental programs.

West Coast Ports Unveil Sustainable Design & Construction Guidelines

Representatives from seven U.S. West Coast ports recognized the need to incorporate sustainable attributes into port planning, design, construction and post-construction operations and recently developed a compendium of sustainable design and construction guidelines.

The group valued collaboration with diverse port authorities to create sustainable practices that could be applicable to all. Many ports have gone "beyond compliance" and are defining sustainable industrial development through implementing management systems, guiding principles and policies. However, these systems and principles differ from port to port, making it impossible to develop a one-size-fits-all solution.

Staff from the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver USA, San Diego, and the International Institute for Sustainable Seaports (I2S2) agreed to collaborate and form a technical committee, the Joint West Coast Ports Technical Committee. I2S2 is a partnership between the Global Environment & Technology Foundation, a 501 c (3) not-for profit and the American Association of Port Authorities

The guidelines are limited to the design and construction phases for major port infrastructure projects. They are intended to be specific enough to apply to West Coast ports yet flexible enough to be used by ports elsewhere.

The Technical Committee committed to develop the Sustainable Design and Construction Guidelines in order to: 

• Define sustainable marine industrial development at the project level.
• Allow flexibility and adaptability by individual ports.
• Build upon the sharing of best practices, keys to success, and lessons learned for implementation.
• Identify options and opportunities to implement sustainable attributes that are considered "beyond compliance".
• Establish objective guidance and measurement of port sustainability.
• Provide a consistent approach to sustainable maritime industrial development across the enterprise.
• Establish a common language that is understood by internal and external port stakeholders.
• Enhance the overall efficiency, productivity, and environmental performance of each port without disadvantage or limitation to the other ports. 

The guidelines were developed over a series of in-person meetings and conference calls during an eighteen-month timeframe. The end result was a significant amalgamation of best practices and sustainable attributes incorporated into an Excel-based data tool. Click here for the Tool and How-To Guide.