Three more tankers win 'Green Award'

Three more tankers have successfully obtained the Green Award, and three certificates have been renewed, announced the Green Award Foundation.

The Green Award was established 1994 on the initiative of the Rotterdam Municipal Port Management and the Dutch Ministry of Transport and since 2000 has been completely independent.

The three tankers joining the scheme are two 116,000 dwt aframaxes from Arcadia Shipmanagement Co Ltd – Aegean Harmony and Aegean Nobility and the 306,000 dwt VLCC Ellinis from Chandris (Hellas) Inc.

The renewed certificates were given to Novoship (UK) Ltd, Bergshav AS. and BP Shipping Ltd.Green Award certificates recognise high-quality seagoing vessels that are considered extra safe and extra clean, a benefit for the ports that receive them.

Every year checks are made to the vessels to see if they still meet the requirements. Ports are then encouraged to offer those vessels incentives.

Currently, ports in the Netherlands, Belgium, Lithuania, Spain, Portugal, South Africa and New Zealand, give Green Award vessels a premium incentive based on port dues.

Port Metro Vancouver has also joined the list of ports acknowledging the Green Award by announcing a reduction in port dues for certified ships.

Vessels registered under the scheme are eligible at the Bronze level under the Differentiated Harbour Due Program, which represents 26% savings over the basic harbour dues rate, a port report said.

Port Metro Vancouver marked its official participation in the scheme last month during the 50th American College Personnel Association conference in New Brunswick, Canada.

Vancouver is the first port in the Americas to adopt the Green Award, according to a spokesperson at the port.

Our participation in this program is a clear demonstration of our commitment to environmental responsibility, said Captain Gordon Houston, president and CEO of Port Metro Vancouver.

The Green Award Foundation also announced a two-day seminar in Dubai in January 2009 to celebrate the Green Award's 15th anniversary.

The seminar, to be held from January 19-20, is to allow an exchange of ideas between “Green Award certified shipowners, ship managers and external parties about the future of quality shipping.

The Green Award Committee and Board of Experts currently includes representatives from BIMCO, INTERTANKO, IACS, OCIMF, the US Coast Guard, the North Sea Foundation, Bureau Veritas, HELMEPA, The Nautical Institute, and other associations, ports and shipping concerns.