The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority recently awarded 23 marine carriers and terminal operators with a Blue Circle Award for their voluntary efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions in the Port of Vancouver.
This is the 8th consecutive year Disney Cruise Line has been awarded the Blue Circle Award for their voluntary efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions while the Disney Wonder is in the Port of Vancouver. It should also be pointed out that Disney Cruise Line has been a recipient of this award for every year it has homeported in Vancouver.
The Disney Wonder is able to turn off it’s engines and plug into to shore power technology pulling the energy required to run the ship while docked from the port’s electrical grid. Plugging the ship in, eliminates air emissions and powers the ship’s normal operations, such as lights, A/C, etc., with energy that has already been generated from renewable sources in Vancouver like hydro power and wind power.
Three of the Disney Cruise Line ships, the Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy, are able to utilize shore power when it’s available at ports of call around the world.
Disney Cruise Line along with Princess Cruises were the the only two cruise line recognized and they join the fourteen shipping lines, four coastal marine operators, and three terminal operators which were the recipients of the 10th annual Blue Circle Awards.
The awards recognize industry partners that excel in environmental stewardship and attain the highest level of participation in the port authority’s EcoAction Program and Energy Action Initiative.
“We are committed to reducing the impact of port operations on the environment and on our neighbouring communities, and are proud of the environmental leadership demonstrated by our terminal, shipping, and industry partners,” said Robin Silvester, president and chief executive officer at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “We are honoured to recognize 23 recipients with a Blue Circle Award this year for their efforts above and beyond regulatory requirements to conserve energy and reduce air emissions. Congratulations to the 2018 award recipients.”
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. In 2018, the port authority expanded its industry-leading EcoAction Program to increase the number of underwater noise-reducing options and updated the air emissions reduction options eligible for discounted harbour dues.
The 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. The goal of this program is to protect the energy security of Vancouver’s growing port by reducing energy waste.
2018 Blue Circle Award recipients in EcoAction Program category:
- Alliance Maritime
- BC Ferries
- China Navigation
- CMA CGM
- Disney Cruise Line
- Evergreen Line
- G2 Ocean
- Hamburg Süd
- Hapag-Lloyd
- HMM
- “K” Line
- MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company
- North Arm Transportation
- ONE – Ocean Network Express
- Pacific Basin Shipping
- Princess Cruises
- Saam Smit Towage
- Seaspan ULC
- TORM
- Westwood Shipping Lines
2018 Blue Circle Award recipients in Energy Action Initiative category:
- Cascadia Port Management Corporation
- Neptune Terminals
- Viterra Pacific Elevators
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority initiatives focused on building and maintaining a sustainable gateway have been widely celebrated. Disney Cruise Line’s seasonal homeport for Alaska has been recognized for sustainability performance by Corporate Knights, MarCom and Clean Tech50.