The US Port of Galveston has joined Green Marine, a voluntary environmental program for North America’s maritime industry.
“Joining Green Marine will help us identify and implement best practices, manage our environmental initiatives, measure our progress and strive for continuous improvement,” Rodger E. Rees, port director and CEO, explained.
“Sharing new technologies and best practices with other Green Marine members is another benefit that we’ll tap into,” he added.
According to Rees, the port will look for opportunities to integrate new sustainability practices like solar power as it implements its new 20-year strategic master plan. The port is seeking Green Marine certification as a standardized process to benchmark and measure progress in its environmental performance.
“We’re pleased to welcome the Port of Galveston and applaud them on their plans to seek Green Marine certification to … demonstrate their commitment to greener practices,” David Bolduc, Green Marine’s executive director, said, welcoming the initiative’s newest member.
Established in 2007, Green Marine environmental certification program addresses key environmental issues through 12 performance indicators that include greenhouse gases, air emissions, spill prevention, waste management, environmental leadership, and community impacts – some applicable to shipping activities, others to landside operations. The certification process is rigorous and transparent with results independently verified every two years. Each company’s individual performance is made public annually.
There are currently more than 130 ship owners, port authorities, terminals and shipyards from coast to coast in Canada and the United States participating in the Green Marine program.
Situated at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, the Port of Galveston moved 4 million tons of cargo in 2018. As the fourth busiest US cruise port, it welcomed almost 1 million cruise passengers in 2018.
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