FLORIDA: South Florida’s leading economic hub Port Everglades has become the first Florida seaport to sign up for Green Marine, the largest voluntary environmental program for the maritime industry in North America here the other day.
Green Marine helps ports, terminal operators and shipping companies reduce their environmental footprint through a program involving 11 performance indicators such as air emissions and prevention of spills.
Participants must show annual improvement in measurable ways to keep their Green Marine certification. All results are independently verified and made public.
“We have two major environmental projects underway at Port Everglades, so the timing is perfect for us to partner with Green Marine,” Port Everglades chief Steven Cernak said in announcing the port’s participation. “They have a proven track record in assisting program participants to significantly increase their environmental performance.”
The Broward seaport now is creating 16 acres of mangroves and wetlands to replace nine acres to be used in extending the turning notch for its Southport piers.
It also recently renovated its Cruise Terminal 4 to include high-efficiency lighting and air conditioning systems as well as wind and solar-powered lights in the parking lot. The terminal aims for Leadership in Energy and Environemntal Design certification through the U.S. Green Building Council, port officials said.
Based in Quebec in Canada, Green Marine has earned a reputation for challenging participants to go beyond regulatory compliance. More than 85 port authorities, terminal operators, ship owners and shipyards now participate in its environmental program.
U.S. seaports signed up also include New Orleans, Milwaukee, Seattle and Mississippi’s Gulfport, among others.
Port Everglades ranks among the world’s top three busiest cruise ports, a leading U.S. container port and the top South Florida port for petroleum products. It had roughly $153 million in operating revenue in the year ended Sept. 30, 2014.
