This third year of evaluation provides strong evidence of the environmental program's effectiveness in motivating a large segment of the maritime industry to undertake concrete action to protect the environment. The global average attained by participants continued on its upward trend, rising from 2.0 in 2008 to 2,5 in 2009 to 2,9 in 2010. The steady increase in global averages over a three years period clearly illustrates the positive effect that a voluntary program with clear performance goals can produce.
Results for virtually all issues covered by the program improved in 2010. The highest progress rate was achieved for the management of cargo residues by shipowners and for the demonstration of environmental leadership by ports authorities.
In order to draw meaningful comparisons of participants' progress from 2008 to 2010, new participants were excluded from the main 2010 averages.
Although Green Marine is a voluntary program, the results reported by participating companies are subject to a rigorous external verification process every two years.
Trois-Rivières – A Model for City / Port Relations!
On May 19, the Trois-Rivières Port Authority (TRPA) will officially inaugurate Phase 1 of its infrastructure modernization project entitled Cap Sur 2020. This represents a historic turning point for Trois-Rivières, as it reconciles its dual roles as a city with a port and a port within a city.
A key goal of the Cap Sur 2020 plan is to minimize the impact of the port’s activities on the environment by improving the port’s interface with its urban surroundings.
For example, one kilometre of Notre Dame Street has now been integrated into the port’s territory. As a result, the heavy traffic generated by the port’s activities has been diverted away from residential areas and the downtown core, and redirected towards the industrial sector located in the western part of the port’s facilities. Not only has this change facilitated access to the port and improved traffic flow, it has facilitated compliance with security regulations.
In order to enhance the port’s visual impact, the TRPA has installed 625 metres of decorative fencing around the port territory that is closest to downtown. Moreover, by transferring and re-organizing the land that is located between the City and the Port, the public now has access to an uninterrupted, two-kilometre stretch of shoreline along the Saint-Laurent and Saint-Maurice Rivers. In all, 12 percent (or 41,000 square metres) of the port’s territory is used for recreational activities and as public spaces.
Together, the TRPA and the city have redefined what a port can and should be. This has been an unprecedented cooperative effort involving more than 280 meetings between the region’s main economic, community and port stakeholders. It is an effort which has increased the port’s productivity and capacity, strengthened its competitive position, and most importantly of all, resulted in an unprecedented degree of integration between the port and its surrounding community. Phase 1 of Cap Sur 2020 plan has not only changed the port’s physical facilities and installations, it has fundamentally redefined the very concept of what it means to be a port.
Empire Stevedoring Co. ltd. reduces GHG and air pollutant emissions thanks to brand new high-performance equipment
Empire Stevedoring Co. Ltd., which specializes in cargo ship loading and unloading, has replaced two of its mobile container handling machines acquired in the 1970s by more effective, state-of-the-art, low-pollution models at its Montreal terminal.
The company’s goal was primarily to reduce fuel consumption to lower GHG emissions and the main air pollutants resulting from its container handling activities.
The company estimates that the purchase of these Linde C400/5 will reduce fuel use by 43% from its old Marathon Letourneau Letro Porter model 2582 CH (Letro) equipment. A comparison of the two machines’ other emissions also shows the following reductions: 43% in GHG, 87% reduction in hydrocarbons, 47% in carbonmonoxide (CO), 64% in nitrogen oxides (NOx),43% in sulphur dioxide (SO2) and 80% in suspended particulate emissions.
Acquisition of the new machines was partly subsidized by Transport Canada under the Freight Technology Incentives Program, which is designed to help purchase and install proven technologies that can reduce air pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This contribution enabled Empire to halve its equipment repayment schedule compared to the initial estimate. Empire has purchased two more similar machines, keeping only one of the older models for special projects.
Marine Terminal Uses Jellyfish Filtration System to Treat Storm Water
Federal Marine Terminals in Thorold, Ontario, a major operator of port cargo facilities in the Great Lakes region, has installed the Jellyfish fine sediment filter system as an integral part of its environmental protection plan. The system is being used to prevent untreated storm water run-off from entering nearby waters.
FMT’s Thorold location houses a large coke pile that previously threatened the safety of local waterways, including the adjacent Welland canal. The Jellyfish system’s ability to filter neutrally buoyant particles made it an ideal tool for treating storm water run-off at this site.
Run-off from the site’s coke pile is collected in a single catch basin, and pumped via a low-pressure line to a Jellyfish unit for filtration. The system’s ability to capture particles sized 4-microns or greater made it a clear choice for this site.
In addition, Jellyfish’s internal pre-treatment process allows for the capture of floatable hydrocarbons, ensuring that any oils on this portion of the site are also kept out of the environment.
For more information on the Jellyfish fine sediment filter system, visit Imbrium online at: www.imbriumsystems.com.
