Green Marine sustainability conference highlights Washington maritime community's industry-leading practices and innovations May 29,2015
Seattle – The Washington Maritime Federation joined with Green Marine – the top environmental certification program for the North American marine industry – to host the annual Greentech 2015 conference. With the theme “Sustainability at Work in Marine Transportation,”the conference featured local companies and speakers at the forefront of building a more sustainable maritime sector.
“Washington State’s maritime sector is a global leader in sustainability,” said Joshua Berger of the Washington Maritime Federation. “As new opportunities emerge, it is important that the sector remains well coordinated in the adoption of industry-leading voluntary standards, best practices and emerging technologies to help build a more sustainable future.”
Comprised of labor, business and maritime organizations across the state, the Washington Maritime Federation works in partnership with local and national organizations to highlight leadership from within, support business and workforce development and advocate for balanced regulation and incentives. Our members, with stakeholders across the state, are leading towards a sustainable maritime transportation system with:
· Increased design and manufacturing in the commercial and recreational market for solutions such as propulsion, coatings, composites, energy storage and more.
· The most advanced architectural, engineering and design teams working on vessels around the world.
· Maritime businesses and organizations working in concert, and beyond, environmental regulation to ensure best management practices and increased use of clean technology.
· Ports, maritime and logistics companies recognized as international leaders for sustainable operations and practices.
· Workforce training and education with a focus on the next generation of green jobs within the maritime industry.
“Green Marine is pleased to bring GreenTech to Seattle”, comments Dr. Eleanor Kirtley, Green Marine’s West Coast Program Manager. “We are highlighting the innovative actions of marine business in the region in a competitive and transparent performance based process”.
Examples of Washington’s industry-leading commitment to sustainability can be scene across the maritime sector:
RECREATIONAL BOATING
The Clean Boating Foundation is working towards cleaner waters in Washington state. Partnering with boaters, boatyards, environmental groups, the Washington state Department of Ecology and scientific experts, CBF is a voluntary, market-driven effort to improve Puget Sound and the rest of our waters. They encourage boaters to choose environmentally-preferable products and practices and to use certified Clean Boatyards. CBF works with Washington boatyards to go above and beyond their legal requirements and showcases those businesses that act as true stewards of the environment.
FISHING
Blue North recognizes, accepts and embraces its responsibility as a steward of sustainability in everything it does. The company’s prime product – Alaska longline, or hook-and-line, cod – has been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), designated as a “Best Choice” by the Monterey Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, created a producer partnership with FishWise and has been given the Environmental Defense Fund’s highest rating. Blue North is going a step further by building an innovative, state-of-the-art “green” boat that will be one of the most environmentally friendly fishing vessels in the world.
TUG AND BARGE
Harley Marine Services has won numerous environmental stewardship awards including for their headquarters on Harbor Island in Seattle. The LEED Gold building features among others, rainwater harvesting, solar power, low VOC appliances, natural light assisted by smart LED lighting systems and an educational marine habitat pool in the atrium. The Harley & Lela Franco Maritime Center is significant for the maritime industry because it is an outward demonstration to the greater Seattle community, and of the industry’s environmental awareness and responsiveness.
SHIPPING
Saltchuk, a family owned transportation and distribution company, is headquartered in Seattle, WA. With approximately 7,500 employees in six lines of business ranging from maritime services to air cargo, Saltchuk is the largest privately held company in Washington state. Saltchuk is proud of the investments its companies have made in clean technology and alternative fuels that have set new standards in reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality in the transportation industry. Businesses such as TOTE which is converting its entire domestic cargo ship fleet to run on clean-burning natural gas, recently christened the world’s first LNG-powered containership. Foss built and operates the first Hybrid Electric Tug boats and Interstate Distributor Co was the first trucking company in the Pacific Northwest to introduce LNG tractors to their fleet. To learn more about the Washington maritime sector’s commitment to sustainability, please visit: www.martitimefederation.com/resources
Washington Maritime Federation
The Washington Maritime Federation is comprised of labor, business and maritime organizations across the Puget Sound that are committed to keeping middle class communities strong, and supporting the long term commercial viability of our ports and industry in a global marketplace. For more information, please visit www.maritimefederation.com.