Green Award Topics February/March 2003

• Green Award in Japan
• Article, published by The Japan Maritime Daily
• New incentive provider: Amsterdam Port Authority
• Green Award and Helmepa
• New incentive provider: Gauss
• Recently certified vessels
  
• Green Award News archive
  

(click here for the Japanese text)

Green Award in Japan

In January, J.L. de Goeij (Managing Director), J.A.A.J. Fransen (Deputy Managing Director) and M. Shinohara (Business Consultant) visited Japan. Firstly, they gave a presentation at a symposium in Tokyo concerning incentive schemes. Secondly, they visited several Japanese authorities and other relevant maritime organisations in order to encourage Japanese supporters for the Green Award Scheme.

Impressed by the colourful, rich culture of Japan, Green Award would like to thank the Japanese hosts for their assistance and hospitality. Green Award felt very welcome and was very glad to have the possibility to visit the ports of Chiba, Kawasaki, Yokohama and Nagoya. Further on, interesting meetings were arranged with e.g. the Ship & Ocean Foundation, IAPH, Japan Shipowners Association, Japanese Shipping Exchange, the Japan Association of Ports and Harbours and the Dutch Embassy. And, very important too, Green Award got the chance to explain the benefits of the Green Award scheme to several major Japanese shipowners.

The presentations and discussions have had promising results. Green Award felt that the Japanese quality philosophy and the safety and environmental awareness match the standards, developed by Green Award. Therefore, Green Award is ready to welcome the Japanese Maritime World in her quality scheme.

More information -in the Japanese language- about the Green Award system can be found here.

Article, published by The Japan Maritime Daily

"Incentive Scheme for Quality Shipping - Green Award
45 ports in 7 countries participate

Registration covers 12% of the global tanker fleet
On the 9th of January, Mr Hans de Goey, Managing Director of Green Award Foundation (Bureau located in Rotterdam, The Netherlands) spoke at the "International Symposium on the Promotion of Quality Shipping", which was held in Tokyo by the Institute for Transport Policy Studies. "Green Award Foundation scheme (founded in 1994) offers a de-facto reduction of port charges to the certified ships at 45 ports in 7 countries, and as of this month Amsterdam also joined" says Mr. de Goey. "At the end of 2002, 12% of the global tanker fleet was registered with the scheme. "

Mr. de Goey speaks in Tokyo
There are many incentives around the world like "Green Award". Mr. de Goey pointed out the importance of the co-operation among them in the form of "MEGA Platform" , which is a global scale alliance to protect the maritime environment, and called out the participation of the Japanese shipping related institutions and the shipowners in the scheme of Green Award.
The objective of the Green Award Foundation is to promote the safety of the seas and the protection of maritime environment to the management of shipping companies and the crew. This independent non-profit organisation issues a three-year valid "Green Award Certificate" (GA Certificate) to the shipowners and the vessels. At the same time they work on the enlargement of the incentive providers, such as port authorities and maritime service providers.
Based on this scheme, which began in 1994, Rotterdam Port gives the certified vessels 6% worth of incentive on the port charge each time the vessel enters the port. The shipowners do not only enjoy a decrease in the operating expenses by the incentive, but can also expect lower insurance premiums and better corporate image. At the same time, the port authorities receive the merit of increase in safety and efficiency. "There are more cases that charterers require GA Certificate to shipowners to use it as proven quality" says Mr. de Goey.
The requirements for the certification are set out by the Foundation but they also incorporate the international maritime guidelines such as International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) 9002 and the standards provided by International Maritime Organisation (IMO). After an audit at the ship owner's/manager's office is passed, an inspection on the vessel takes place. If it fulfils the requirements, the GA Certificate is issued. The certification is at present available only for oil tankers and bulk carriers of 20,000 deadweight tons or above. Presently incentives are given at 45 ports in 7 countries (South Africa, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, UK, Germany and Lithuania). A total of 224 certificates were issued up to now, and due to the vessels sold or scrapped, the active certificates are 165. "We would like to take off the bulker certification this year. There are also requests for certification for container ships." says Mr. Jan Fransen, the Deputy Managing Director of Green Award Foundation.

Mr. C. Oudendijk, Director Shipping Amsterdam Port Authority

Hans de Goeij, Cor Oudendijk and Jan Fransen

On January 28th, Amsterdam Port Authority received the official Green Award Panel.
As per January 1, 2003, Amsterdam is a Green Award Port

Speech of Mr. Cor Oudendijk

"I am proud of the fact that Amsterdam became an associate member of the Green Award Foundation and in this way contributes to an environmental friendly behaviour of seagoing vessels. The more ports join, the more the environment wins. Eco-catastrophes as the recently sunk tanker Prestige must be prevented. That is only feasible if also international ports work together.

The establishment of the Green Award Foundation in 1994 is a good initiative from this point of view. The fact that Amsterdam joined just now is a result from the fact that at first the Green Award certificate was meant just for crude oil tankers. This type of ship hardly ever calls the Amsterdam port.
With the introduction of the certificate for dry bulk carriers Amsterdam, as an important dry bulk port is the first port to recognize this certificate. Yearly over 45 million tons dry bulk goods are imported and exported in this port. It is of great interest to us to bring these goods to shore safe and well. In exchange we give a financial benefit in the form of a 6 percent rebate on the port fees.

The membership and the discount arangement fit perfectly in the policy of the port Authority where environmental care is an important issue. When one enters the harbour area one notices the windmills that provide us with 'green power'. Furthermore the port authority uses environmental friendly soil sanitation and stimulates ecological high-quality plant arrangements in the public spaces of the port area. And these were only examples to which we now may add the membership of the Green Award Foundation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the environment is a good course to strive for. Here in Amsterdam the port flourishes and is still grows with a commodity exchange of over 70 million tons and a growing number of companies settle here. We also keep a watchful eye on a healthy and comfortable work climate for the 38.00 people working here. Membership of the Green Award Foundation is a very desirable development for Amsterdam that we will surely promote with others. Together with the Foundation Amsterdam will stimulate various nautical service providers in the region to acknowledge the certificate in favour of safety in the port of Amsterdam and at sea."

(Special thanks to M. Dekker Roos)

Helmepa

Helmepa presented to its members the new Training Program for 2003 addressed to officers and staff of member companies. The program titled "Refreshing the Knowledge on Pollution Prevention, Maritime Safety and Vessel Security" consists of 22 four-day seminars with 23 topics each. Main fields of the syllabus are the latest developments adopted by the maritime legislation.

The 160 representatives of member-companies attended the presentation of Mr. Frank Wall, Chairman of the IMO Working Group for the amendments to Chapters V and XI of SOLAS. The speaker analyzed in detail requirements and measures for the protection of vessels and crews from terrorist acts, as well as the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code submitted to IMO.

During this event, Mr. Jan Fransen, Deputy Managing Director of Green Award, presented the Chairman Nikolas P. Tsakos with the Green Award Plaquette, with which Green Award rewards vessels after relevant inspection. Mr.Fransen referred to the importance with which Green Award regards its cooperation with Helmepa, this unique organisation for the information, education and motivation of the people in shipping and schoolchildren (Helmepa junior).

http://www.helmepa.gr

GAUSS mbH
Gauss, (Gesellschaft für Angewandten Umweltschutz und Sicherheit im Seeverkehr mbH), Institute for Environmental Protection and Safety in Shipping grants a 7% discount on all fees for advanced training courses, seminars and events to employees of shipping companies and ships which hold a valid GREEN AWARD certificate. To date the GAUSS training programme comprises courses on:Maritime Environmental Protection & Safety, Maritime Waste Management, Oil- and Chemical Tanker, Cargo Securing, Medical Refresher for Nautical Personnel, Tanker Course for Personnel of Multi Purpose Vessels and On Board Fire Fighting for Fire Brigades.

For the granting of the discount a copy of the according certificate has to be presented together with the application form.

http://www.gauss.org

New certificates

• Al Samidoon / Kuwait Oil Tanker Co. S.A.K.
• Al Salheia / Kuwait Oil Tanker Co. S.A.K.

For more information:
Bureau Green Award
Tel. + 31 10 2170200
Fax + 31 10 2829762
e-mail info@greenaward.org