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Nineteen port customers recognized with Blue Circle Awards for voluntary efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions at the Port of Vancouver
Vancouver, B.C. – Yesterday, at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s virtual Annual General Meeting, thirteen shipping lines, four coastal marine operators and two terminal operators were recognized for their voluntary efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions at the Port of Vancouver.
The port authority’s Blue Circle awards were presented to port customers that excel in environmental stewardship and attain the highest level of participation in the port authority’s voluntary environmental programs such as the EcoAction Program and the Energy Action Initiative.
“We applaud our port terminal, shipping, and industry partners for their voluntary efforts to go above and beyond to follow environmental best practices, and in 2020 they did this during an exceedingly challenging year,” said Robin Silvester, president and chief executive officer at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “Congratulations to all 2020 Blue Circle award recipients on your leadership to conserve energy and reduce air emissions at the Port of Vancouver.”
Since 2007, the port authority’s EcoAction Program has provided discounts of up to 47% on harbour dues for ship operators who follow environmental best practices. In 2020, over 750 vessels were awarded with an EcoAction discount, saving nearly $1.6 million in harbour dues.
The Energy Action Initiative is a joint program operated by the port authority in partnership with BC Hydro that helps terminal operators and port tenants enhance their energy conservation practices. In 2020, the initiative helped implement seven energy conservation projects on port lands, resulting in annual energy savings of 1,400,000 kWh for the port tenants.
2020 Blue Circle Award recipients in the EcoAction Program category:
Shipping Lines
- COSCO SHIPPING
- Evergreen Line
- Fednav Ltd.
- G2 Ocean Shipping Canada Limited
- Hapag-Lloyd
- HMM
- “K” Line
- MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (Canada) Inc.
- ONE – Ocean Network Express
- Pacific Basin Shipping (Canada) Ltd.
- SM LINE
- Westwood Shipping Lines
- Yang Ming
Coastal Marine Operators
- BC Ferries
- North Arm Transportation
- SAAM Towage Canada
- Seaspan ULC
Terminal Operators:
- Cascadia Port Management Corporation
- Viterra Pacific Elevators
2020 Award Highlights:
- “K” Line and Westwood Shipping Lines have been awarded every year since the inaugural awards in 2009.
- Hapag-Lloyd has been recognized eleven times.
- HMM and Mediterranean Shipping Company have won this award for eight consecutive years since 2013.
- Evergreen Line has won this award for six consecutive years since 2015.
About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is the federal agency responsible for the stewardship of the Port of Vancouver. Like all Canada Port Authorities, we are accountable to the federal minister of transport, and operate pursuant to the Canada Marine Act with a mandate to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver, while protecting the environment and considering local communities. The port authority is structured as a non-share corporation, is financially self-sufficient and does not rely on tax dollars for operations. Our revenues come from port terminals and tenants who lease port lands, and from port users who pay various fees such as harbour dues. Profits are reinvested in port infrastructure. The port authority has control over the use of port land and water, which includes more than 16,000 hectares of water, over 1,500 hectares of land, and approximately 350 kilometres of shoreline. Located on the southwest coast of British Columbia in Canada, the Port of Vancouver extends from Roberts Bank and the Fraser River up to and including Burrard Inlet, bordering 16 municipalities and intersecting the traditional territories and treaty lands of several Coast Salish First Nations. The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest port, and the third largest in North America by tonnes of cargo. Enabling the trade of approximately $240 billion in goods with more than 170 countries, port activities sustain 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada.
About the Blue Circle Awards:
The Blue Circle Awards recognize marine carriers and terminal operators that excel in environmental stewardship and attain the highest participation rates in the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s EcoAction Program and Energy Action Initiative. The EcoAction Program recognizes a variety of fuel, technology and environmental management options that are eligible to receive discounted harbour due rates. Ships may qualify for one of three levels in the EcoAction Program: Gold, Silver or Bronze. Marine carriers and operators can apply for the program at each call or provide an annual declaration for their vessels. Energy Action Initiative is a joint program with BC Hydro that helps terminal operators and other port tenants enhance their energy-conservation practices and save costs. Offering user-friendly financial incentives to improve environmental performance and energy management 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.
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