Short sea shipping (SSS) is recognized as efficient, safe, and low-polluting. SSS is the ideal solution to traffic congestion, safety, and preservation problems as well as environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions.
up for action by targeting six priority issues to reduce
the environmental impact of its activities to a minimum.
Action
The marine industry plays a major role in supporting and developing the economy in the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes region and recognizes that its activities also have an impact on the environment. That’s why the local marine industry has decided to go a step further by joining forces to address six environmental issues:
- Aquatic invasive species
- Pollutant air emissions: sulphur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
- Greenhouse gases (GHGs)
- Cargo residues
- Oily water
- Conflicts of use in ports and terminals (noise, dust, odors and light)
Green Marine proposes three tools to help member businesses achieve even more effective environmental management, including training, research and development, and the adoption of an environmental management system.
Each year, Green Marine participants evaluate their environmental performance by means of of a self-evaluation guide, which is based on the above-noted criteria for each environmental issue in which they are involved. The global results arising from this porcess are conveyed to the general public thorugh an activity report developed by Green Marine.
| LEVEL | CRITERIA |
| 1 | Compliance with applicable regulations and adherence to Green Marine guiding principles |
| 2 | Systematic use of a specific number of best practices |
| 3 | Integration of best practices into an adopted management plan and specific understanding of the issue’s impact |
| 4 | Introduction of new technologies |
| 5 | Excellence and leadership |
Participants that have fulfilled the requirements of the program receive the Green Marine seal of certification, which they may use to show their commitment to continuous environmental improvement. Participants may use the may use the "certification in process" seal while they await their official certification during the first year of the program's implementation.
Pending seal of certification
|
Official seal of certification
|
the St. Lawrence Economic
Development Council
