The Northwest Seaport Alliance has signed on to participate in Green Marine, North America’s largest voluntary environmental certification program for the maritime industry.
Green Marine encourages its participants—ship owners, ports and terminals—to reduce their environmental footprint related to air quality, greenhouse gases, spill prevention, stormwater treatment, noise and other community impacts and environmental leadership.
More than 50 environmental groups and government departments/agencies support and help shape the Green Marine environmental program, along with representatives from academia and the marine industry.
“Before forming The Northwest Seaport Alliance, the ports of Seattle and Tacoma worked closely together on environmental initiatives—along with our Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy partner, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority,” said Jason Jordan, director of the alliance’s environmental and planning team. “Becoming a member of Green Marine enhances our ability to exchange information about environmental programs and successes with an even larger marine community.”
The certification program aligns with the goals of the clean air strategy to reduce port-related emissions in the Georgia Basin Puget Sound air shed.
"Green Marine aims at continuously improving the environmental performance of its participants and the joining of a leader in sustainable development such as The Northwest Seaport Alliance reinforces the principle that has guided the program from day one, which is of always raising the bar higher," said Green Marine Executive Director David Bolduc. "We are also delighted to see how the Pacific Northwest marine industry is responding positively to the Green Marine certification, especially since our U.S. office is located in Seattle."