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.
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Industry success stories
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.
The Port of Sept-Iles is Committed to Sustainable Shipping
With the expansion of industrial activities related to l’Aluminerie Alouette and the iron ore industry, the Port of Sept-Isles has (since 2004) supported rail infrastructure projects designed to connect the port with the North Shore rail network, and allow for the establishment of a ferry-rail service and a barge service for transporting alumimum (this now being recognized as an ideal model of shortsea shipping in the St. Lawrence / Great Lakes corridor). In this respect, the Port of Sept-Iles and CN received an award of excellence on May 27th from l’Association québécoise du transport et des routes for their development of a ferry-rail service that provides a combination of rail and marine transportation to communities on the North Shore and in Labrador. Globally, the service provided by these ferry-rail initiatives and the Alouette Spirit barge translates into ten fewer trucks on route 138 (the only highway serving the North Shore) every hour, and 25,000 fewer tonnes of GHG emissions every year.
THE PORT OF TORONTO CONVERTS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY
The Toronto Port Authority (TPA) participated in Earth Hour 2010 to bring attention to the need for everyone to do their part in order to fight climate change. On Saturday, March 27, 2010, starting at 8:30 pm, the TPA turned off or dimed lights and shut down achinery that were not essential for security or public safety throughout the Port of Toronto and invited photographers and video-camera operators working for local media to record the change in the Toronto skyline during Earth Hour.
The TPA's commitment to fighting climate change and reducing carbon emissions does not end with Earth hour. The TPA has deployed a long-term sustainability action plan to fight climate change and protect the environment. In 2010, the TPA began to purchase 100 per cent of its electricity for all operations from renewable sources such as wind and hydro through Bullfrog Power. For more information, visit the Port of Toronto's website.
ÉNERGIA AWARDS: A DOUBLE COUP FOR ALUMINERIE ALOUETTE
Aluminerie Alouette was honoured at the 19th annual Énergia Awards in Montreal on November 13th, winning two trophies in the Integrated Management and Transport categories. The company transported 220,000 tonnes of aluminum ingots on the Alouette Spirit in 2007 (a barge which launched in 2005), thereby alleviating congestion along route 138 and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This project was the result of a partnership between McKeil Marine and Logistec Stevedoring, both of whom are Green Marine participants. Aluminerie Alouette also won SODES’ St. Lawrence Award in 2006, not only for putting the Alouette Spirit into service, but also for its overall leadership in the project.
CROISIÈRES AML TREATS ITS WASTE WATER AT SEA
Croisières AML, Premier Tech Environmental and the naval architecture firm NAVTECH have implemented a unique and promising waste water treatment system. First of all, a primary treatment process separates liquids from solids, with the latter retained in a reservoir and the former flowing into the treatment system, where large amounts of bacteria nourish themselves on the impurities found in the waste water. The water then flows through a membrane with openings that are 1,500 times finer than the thickness of a single human hair. The end result is filtered water that, although not potable, can serve a variety of other purposes such as supplying toilets or urinals. It is worth noting that the performance of this system far exceeds the latest waste management standards.We take this opportunity to remind you that the day-cruise category is not currently included in the GreenMarine environmental program. Nevertheless, one of GreenMarine’s priorities is to include day-cruises in the “participants” membership category by adapting the environmental program to reflect the environmental realities of this sector.
FEDNAV AND CSL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL STEP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Two Green Marine participants, Fednav and CSL Group, showed again their leadership in environmental matters this week. For its part, Fednav made the decision to communicate its environmental policy to the public, with a view to demonstrating its commitment to the environment in all areas where it does business. Meanwhile, CSL Group publicly communicated both its environmental policy and its first annual report on the environment, thereby allowing the general public to see how its performance on environmental matters has evolved. These two initiatives are a first for our industry and clearly show that the environment remains a priority issue for the St. Lawrence – Great Lakes maritime sector.
ÉNERGIA AWARDS: A DOUBLE COUP FOR ALUMINERIE ALOUETTE
Aluminerie Alouette was honoured at the 19th annual Énergia Awards in Montreal on November 13th, winning two trophies in the Integrated Management and Transport categories. The company transported 220,000 tonnes of aluminum ingots on the Alouette Spirit in 2007 (a barge which launched in 2005), thereby alleviating congestion along route 138 and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This project was the result of a partnership between McKeil Marine and Logistec Stevedoring, both of whom are Green Marine participants. Aluminerie Alouette also won SODES’ St. Lawrence Award in 2006, not only for putting the Alouette Spirit into service, but also for its overall leadership in the project.
CROISIÈRES AML TREATS ITS WASTE WATER AT SEA
Croisières AML, Premier Tech Environmental and the naval architecture firm NAVTECH have implemented a unique and promising waste water treatment system. First of all, a primary treatment process separates liquids from solids, with the latter retained in a reservoir and the former flowing into the treatment system, where large amounts of bacteria nourish themselves on the impurities found in the waste water. The water then flows through a membrane with openings that are 1,500 times finer than the thickness of a single human hair. The end result is filtered water that, although not potable, can serve a variety of other purposes such as supplying toilets or urinals. It is worth noting that the performance of this system far exceeds the latest waste management standards.We take this opportunity to remind you that the day-cruise category is not currently included in the GreenMarine environmental program. Nevertheless, one of GreenMarine’s priorities is to include day-cruises in the “participants” membership category by adapting the environmental program to reflect the environmental realities of this sector.
FEDNAV AND CSL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL STEP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Two Green Marine participants, Fednav and CSL Group, showed again their leadership in environmental matters this week. For its part, Fednav made the decision to communicate its environmental policy to the public, with a view to demonstrating its commitment to the environment in all areas where it does business. Meanwhile, CSL Group publicly communicated both its environmental policy and its first annual report on the environment, thereby allowing the general public to see how its performance on environmental matters has evolved. These two initiatives are a first for our industry and clearly show that the environment remains a priority issue for the St. Lawrence – Great Lakes maritime sector.
THE PORT OF MONTREAL OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC
TheMontreal Port Authority held a very successful open house on August 31st. Entitled “Port in Your City”, the event provided the general public with an opportunity to discover the port’s facilities, visit port areas that are not normally accessible to the public, and better understand the strategic and economic importance of the port’s activities. More than 100,000 people participated in the event.
AIR EMISSIONS INVENTORY AT THE PORT OF MONTREAL
TheMontreal Port Authority is carrying out an inventory of the air emissions linked to its activities. This study, which is being done in collaboration with Transport Canada, Environment Canada and Green Marine, will establish an inventory of all emission sources related to cargo handling equipment and to rail, truck, ship and tug activity. The inventory will cover major air contaminants, greenhouse gases and certain toxic particles. This project is part of Green Marine’s larger effort to strengthen the maritime industry’s environmental performance, and the methodology used by the Port of Montreal will be provided to other ports and terminals that are Green Marine participants. The inventory is scheduled to be completed by March 2009.
CSL ROLLS UP ITS SLEEVES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!
To mark the occasion of World OceansWeek, some thirty employees from CSL Group joined forces to clean the shores of Ile Charron, thereby demonstrating an exceptional commitment to both the environment and their community. The group cleaned approximately 2.2 kilometres of shoreline and collected more than 1,000 pounds of garbage. The trash, which was put into 42 garbage bags and 15 recycling bags, included bottles, corks, cans, cigarette butts, fishing lines and construction materials.
STANDARDS THAT ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD
On May 5th and 6th, the Canadian Seaway, the U.S Seaway and Fednav (all three of which are Green Marine participants) organized a demonstration of a ballast water inspection at the St. Lawrence Seaway’s St. Lambert Lock. This media event drew particular attention to the fact that the regulatory regime for ballast water management that is currently in place in the Great Lakes is among the most rigorous in the world. The event also showed that ballast water inspections are only one of the measures that Transport Canada, the United States Coast Guard and the two Seaway corporations have implemented in order to control aquatic invasive species. Other measures revolve around ballast water exchange procedures, and include such requirements as the need to maintain detailed documentation regarding ballast operations, and the need ensure that ballast water exchange takes place in very deep waters.
TRANSPORT QUEBEC LAUNCHES A PROGRAM TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS
Transport Quebec recently unveiled a new aid program designed to promote the reduction (or avoidance) of greenhouse gas emissions. The program has two components, one which applies to projects that incur infrastructure expenses, and the other which applies to projects that do not incur such expenses. Eligible projects are those that result in a reduction or avoidance of GHG emissions, either through better integration of transportation modes, or through the use of marine or rail transportation. Funding levels vary from $250 to $500 per tonne of GHG emissions that are reduced or avoided over the life of the project. More information on this program can found on the Transport Quebec website at www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca.
TRANSPORT CANADA ANNOUNCES ECOFREIGHT FUNDING TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS
Transport Canada will award $2.4 million to eight projects under its Freight Technology Demonstration Fund, with a view to helping the cargo transportation sector reduce its emissions of greenhouses gases and other air pollutants. Fifteen other projects will be awarded $3.7 million under the Freight Technology Incentive Program. One GreenMarine participant to benefit from this program is la Compagnie de gestion de Matane (COGEMA), which will receive $337,000 for a pilot project to test a common rail fuel injection system that will be installed on the diesel engine of a ferry. This electronic fuel system will not only lead to a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions, but will also increase the engine’s performance capabilities.
Bunge and its environmental monitoring system
Green Marine is pleased to spotlight the environmental initiatives undertaken by Bunge of Canada, a grain terminal located in the Port of Quebec. Since 2007, Bunge has been using a new environmental monitoring system, which is essentially a database that allows the company to concretely identify and track all of its environmental tasks - from renewing permits, to obtaining maintenance records for its anti-dust equipment, to determining which dust-prone sectors need to be cleaned. The system also maintains an archive of such data, and this has proven to be a very useful tool for environmental audits and for providing a historical overview. Moreover, the system requires each of thirty environmental issues to be annotated on a regular basis, which helps to ensure monthly follow-up of such issues. In 2008, as part of its sustainable development efforts, the terminal also implemented a training program for its employees on the environment, health, and controlling infestations.
An initiative to improve the health of the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes
Green Marine is pleased to highlight a U.S. initiative designed to improve the health of the St. Lawrence–Great Lakes, in which several Green Marine participants and supporters are also involved. The Great Ships Initiative (GSI) is a collaborative effort designed to address the problem of aquatic invasive species introduced into the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system by ships. The primary means by which this is accomplished is through independent research and the use of environmental technology, financial incentives and consistent basin-wide harbor monitoring. The GSI will also support early and effective implementation of ballast water treatment on ships that visit the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system from abroad by offering financial incentives for early installation, as well as technical assistance for the effective operation of such equipment.
Trois-Rivières Port Authority environmental policy
Green Marine takes this opportunity to highlight the recent efforts of the Trois-Rivières port community, which led to the Port Authority’s adoption of its own environmental policy this past August. The policy involves the entire port community and is accompanied by an implementation guide to help users identify priorities, establish appropriate targets and formulate action plans to achieve such targets. The policy is based on a collaborative approach between the Trois-Rivières Port Authority and its users, and aims to reduce the environmental impact of the port’s operations by progressively improving its practices and facilities.
A green project
Green Marine also encourages environmental initiatives such as those undertaken by the Hamilton Port Authority this past summer, which involved paving jetty number 15 and installing a grease and grit interceptor at the site. As a result of this effort, a formerly dusty gravel lot populated with old warehouses has now been fully paved and graded, and fitted with a grease and grit interceptor through which storm water can flow. Given the size of the site, the unit has a diameter of eight feet and a depth of over 12 feet! An annual maintenance program will ensure that the unit functions properly for many years to come. Both the paving and the interceptor uni will improve water protection at Hamilton Harbour and reduce the amount of dust created by truck traffic at the port.