The Eco-Action program recognizes Green Marine participants’ efforts
The program provides recognition and financial incentives (such as reduced port fees) to all vessels – including coastal freighters and tugs – that use cleaner fuel or emissions-reducing technology while calling on or operating within the port. The Eco-Action program recognizes the environmental assessments and efforts being done by Green Marine participants to minimize emissions. One way to attain Eco-Action’s Gold category, for example, is to meet Green Marine’s top Level 5 standard for reducing sulphur oxides and a Level 2 or higher achievement for all other emission-reduction criteria. Eco-Action is part of PMV’s goal of reducing overall emissions – an objective it tracks by conducting a Comprehensive Air Emissions Inventory every five years (with the last report published for 2010).
Shore power arrives at the Port of Halifax
The Port of Halifax will be the first port in Atlantic Canada to implement shore power for cruise ships, beginning with the 2014 cruise season. Shore power is a highly effective way to reduce marine diesel air emissions by enabling ships to shut down their engines and connect to the electrical grid in order to provide necessary power while docked. This initiative represents the second shore power installation for cruise ships in Canada. This project represents a $10-million cooperative initiative: Transport Canada will contribute up to $5 million to the project. The Province of Nova Scotia and the Port of Halifax will each contribute an additional $2.5 million. Once installed, shore power at the Port of Halifax will have immediate benefits by decreasing cruise ship idling by 7%, and will contribute to improved air quality and human health. This percentage is expected to increase over time as more ships equipped for shore power use the facilities. The 7% reduction represents an annual decrease of approximately 123,000 litres of fuel and 370,000 kg of greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions.
Desgagnés receives recycling certification
The MV Camilla Desgagnés has been awarded the highest distinction under the ICI ON RECYCLE! (Here we recycle) program—Performance Level 3 attestation, Silver echelon. The award constitutes official Québec government recognition, instituted by RECYC-QUÉBEC to acknowledge outstanding efforts by industries, businesses and institutions that have implemented responsible in-house garbage management measures. The Camilla Desgagnés is the first ship to receive Performance Level 3 attestation due, primarily, to the efforts of its crew but also land-based support staff and Groupe Desgagnés management. The many measures targeting awareness, at-source reduction, reuse and recycling enabled it to reach a reuse and recycling rate for garbage generated by ship operations of 84.2%. As a result, this ship, which services the Canadian arctic, has been able to significantly reduce the amount of garbage destined for landfill sites and, consequently, reduce its environmental footprint. This outstanding achievement by the MV Camilla Desgagnés is one of the many components of Groupe Desgagnés’s strategic plan designed to increase the rate of recycling garbage generated by the company’s operations, as required by the Green Marine environmental program’s new garbage management performance indicator.
Fednav adds six ships to its fleet
Fednav Limited recently announced the addition of six new vessels to its fleet. The environmentally advanced vessels will be built in Japan and are destined to become the flagships of Fednav’s fleet of over 80 ships. Located near Nagasaki, Japan, Oshima Shipyard will build the 35,000-ton bulk carriers, which are specially equipped for navigating in ice. As highly flexible vessels well suited to international trade, their size is adapted to the St. Lawrence Seaway where they will service, among others, ports along the Great Lakes. The new vessels represent a major step forward in terms of environmental benefits. With their advanced design and more efficient engines, they will consume 20% less fuel than vessels built by Oshima Shipyard 10 years ago, ships already among the most efficient of their time. This will contribute significantly to Fednav’s objectives of reducing GHG emissions in its fleet on a continuous basis. The fuel-efficient engines will also reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by approximately 20%. All of the vessels will receive the CLEAN-DESIGN notation from the DNV classification society. The six additional vessels will be delivered between 2015 and 2016, as part of a series of 21 new ships added to Fednav’s fleet since January 1, 2012. .
CSL christens its first Trillium Class vessels and orders two more
The first CSL Trillium Class vessels were named upon their completion at the Chengxi Shipyard in China. The Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin and the Baie St. Paul are waiting to be painted and should navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway by the end of the season. On June 19, CSL also announced an order for two new gearless bulk vessels, bringing the number of Trillium Class ships to be built as part of its major fleet expansion program for the Great Lakes market to six. These two new vessels will be built at the Yang Fan shipyard in China and should be operational in spring 2014. CSL Trillium Class focuses on environmental performance, is equipped with proven technology and high-quality coatings, and offers a high degree of automation. The new bulkers will be Seaway max size and feature an EPA Tier II main engine.
