The Port of Montreal is upholding its level of environmental excellence, as evidenced in Green Marine’s 2011-2012 Progress Report on its environmental program. The results were unveiled as part of the fifth annual GreenTech Conference on Green Technologies and Innovation held in Quebec City on May 29 and 30, 2012.
Also in its fifth year, the program evaluates participants on a scale of one to five across nine main environmental issues, such as aquatic invasive species, greenhouse gases, spills and leakages, conflicts of use (noise, dust, odour and light pollution), etc. According to the 2012 Progress Report, the Port of Montreal maintained its high ratings in all the categories measured in the “Ports & St. Lawrence Seaway” section. Sylvie Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the MPA, said that she is encouraged by these results and commends the efforts and actions implemented by her team.
The participants, which include shipowners, ports and terminals on the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, registered an overall performance average of Level 3.0, compared to an overall rating of Level 2.7 in 2010.
The thoroughness and transparency of the Green Marine program’s certification process earned it the Prix Environnement on June 7, 2012 at the Grands prix d’excellence awards gala held by the Association québécoise du transport et des routes (AQTR).
“I heartily congratulate the Green Marine team for its vision and dynamism, as well as all the organizations and companies in the marine shipping industry who participate in the environmental program, in a spirit of continuous improvement and respect for the environment,” stated Sylvie Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority.
The Green Marine initiative is also benefiting from growing international influence, as indicated by the prestigious Green Shipping Initiative of the Year award that it received at the Sustainable Shipping Awards 2011 held last July in London.
As at May 10, 2012, Green Marine had 161 members made up of 67 participants, 54 partners and 40 supporters.
Although a voluntary initiative, Green Marine participants agree to undergo a rigorous external audit every two years, conducted by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance. The Montreal Port Authority is one of the founding members of Green Marine.