Green Award Topics June 2003

 

Hans de Goeij thanks Siyabonga Gama


Green Award in South Africa

For Green Award, the Conference of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) in Durban was a successful event.

Green Award Committee-member Pieter Struijs was appointed President of the IAPH during the 23rd IAPH World conference in Durban. Green Award has made many interesting contacts with several decision makers in ports and harbors. It is expected that more news will be revealed.in the next Newsflash.

During the closing dinner of the IAPH Conference, host and 3rd Vice President Mr. Siyabonga Gama, offered Green Award the opportunity to hand over Green Award Plaques to the harbor masters of Richards Bay, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Cape Town and Saldanha.

In his speech, Mr. Hans de Goeij, Managing Director of Green Award, underlined the importance of promoting quality shipping and took the opportunity to thank the National Port Authorities (NPA) for giving support as an incentive provider to Green Award certified vessels that are calling South African ports. The agreed incentive for crude oil and product tankers is 5% port dues rebate in all South African NPA ports if vessels are not already enjoying a 5% rebate in terms of the double-hulled / SBT scheme.


Hellespont Alhambra

Hellespont Metropolis

 



Hellespont Steamship Corporation

Recently, the office of Hellespont Steamship Corporation in Piraeus, Greece withstood the test of the Green Award audit and received the Green Award Office Certificate, which is valid for another 3 years. A reaction from Hellespont:

"It has been proven that the Hellespont Group has a strong relationship with the Green Award Foundation, as over three million gross deadweight has passed through the certified vessel list of Green Award since 1995.

We believe that the third party verification of the ship's and shore staff's ISO/ISM accreditation beneficially distinguishes our operations to our clients and port authorities, and verifies how our organisation approaches industrial transportation and its dedication to safety.

Throughout the years, Hellespont has benefited from substantial port dues rebates from several ports worldwide. Admittedly, due to the size of Hellespont's vessels, these ports are few. However, we strongly hope that these few destinations that can accommodate such vessels will continue to increase in the list of Green Award ports".

For and on behalf of Hellespont Steamship Corporation,
Spyros Vlassopoulos

www.hellespont.com
managers@hellespont.com

 

 

Capt. Sutherland and Hans de Goeij

  

Sullom Voe and the Green Award Foundation

On the occasion of his retirement, Captain G.H. Sutherland, Port Director of Sullom Voe and member of the Board of Experts of Green Award, wrote following article.

"As I retire from my position as Port Director at Sullom Voe and also from the Board of Experts of the Green Award, I am proud that Sullom Voe is a participating port in the Green Award Scheme. I also take pride in my own involvement with the Green Award Foundation and all that has been achieved in the last few years.

However, it is disappointing that Sullom Voe remains the only UK port offering a discount to vessels with a Green Award Certificate. So why does Sullom Voe offer a financial incentive to Green Award vessels amounting to 5% of payable ship dues?

There are several reasons and these are set out below:

1. The main reason is that Sullom Voe demands very high standards from all involved in its operations. This is necessary because the port is required to handle some of the largest tankers in the world in a pristine environment which supports major seafood industries but which is subject to very severe weather from time-to-time.

2. The management at Sullom Voe did not believe that a rigorous regulatory regime was sufficient to encourage the standards sought from all ship operators and charterers. Whilst regulation is necessary, performance is likely to be improved where incentives are available to encourage compliance.

3. It was also firmly believed that good operators who strive to meet high standards should be rewarded for their efforts.

4. It is also certain that freedom from accident or incident results in effective economy of operational cost. As our American friends have remarked "If you think this is expensive try an accident!" High standards of operation generally reduce exposure to risk and mishap. Consequently it is reasonable to reduce the cost to those who set and meet high standards.

5. Whilst a variety of ship-vetting and quality control schemes exist, the Green Award is a rating scheme which measures standards on a pass or fail basis. At the same time the system established by the Green Award is itself open to detailed external accreditation.

6. The Green award system is accredited by the Nautical Institute which is wholly independent, focused upon operational performance and widely acknowledged for its reputation in setting internationally recognised standards of excellence in ship operation in other areas.

7. There has not been a single serious incident involving a Green Award vessel at Sullom Voe since the incentive was introduced in 1997. The only reportable incident was promptly and effectively handled which reinforced the confidence in the system.

8. Since 1998 the number of Green Award vessels trading to Sullom Voe has varied between 10% and 17% of total arrivals. These are encouraging figures which demonstrate a commitment by owners and charterers to avail themselves of the incentives on offer to those who meet high standards.

For all the above reasons I commend the Green Award Certification system to all Port Authorities who wish to encourage quality tonnage to use their facilities and thereby reinforce their efforts to protect the environment. It would be particularly rewarding to see other UK ports following the example set by Sullom Voe and the Shetland Islands Council."
 



Daniel Termont (l), Hans de Goeij, Jan Fransen

 

Roger Holt, secretary general of INTERCARGO

 

  

Ghent official Green Award Incentive Provider

During a well-attended press conference, Ghent's Alderman Mr. Daniël Termont received a Green Award plaque from Mr. Hans de Goeij, to mark the occasion of the official participation of Ghent. Mr. Roger Holt, secretary general of INTERCARGO, expressed in his speech the appreciation of the Dry Cargo Ship Owners for the initiative from the Port of Ghent. As from May 1st., Ghent will reward Green Award tankers and bulk carriers with 6% discount on port dues.

The speech of Mr. Holt:

" It gives me great pleasure to be with you here today. On behalf of my Chairman, Mr. Frederick Tsao, and the Executive Committee of INTERCARGO, I should like to congratulate the Port of Ghent on being the first Belgian port to achieve the status of a Green Award Incentive Provider.

Over many years, you have established your position as a dominant European dry bulk port with a movement of nearly 24 million tonnes of bulk cargo per annum. This is no small achievement. Once again you have demonstrated the pioneering spirit of this region and you have overcome the many obstacles which accompany any new initiative.

The Green Award programme under the able leadership of Mr. Hans de Goeij, Managing Director, and his dedicated team, demands support from all sides of the industry and we are delighted that Ghent has picked up the challenge in Belgium.

INTERCARGO is a direct entry International Association representing quality Dry Cargo Shipowners around the world - some 800+ ships. We are delighted to be aligned with Green Award and the high standards which it sets.

We have been asked on many occasions: 'What would be your ideal incentive to encourage quality in the dry bulk industry?'

Our reply is always the same. 'You have the answer - it is called Green Award. Encourage your ports to attract good quality ships into their terminals and harbours and allow those Owners who meet the standards to be able to improve their results through cheaper voyage costs by reason of the incentives provided.'

INTERCARGO has been actively involved with establishing Green Award for Bulk Carriers and I am currently a member of the Board of Experts. Whilst Green Award started with a clear focus on the tanker industry, it is now entirely appropriate that Green Award should be looking at the dry bulk sector.

It is well known that bulk carriers over the years have had a poor reputation with regard to maintenance, structural failure and loss of life. The casualty reports which we have produced over the last 10 years for bulk carriers greater than 10,000 dwt show a substantial improvement in the casualty trend line. There are still structural failures and fatalities but the constant strengthening of the rules and regulations covering the operation of bulk carriers is having the desired effect.

I have noted that Ghent is an ISO accredited port - you are to be congratulated for that important initiative and we would like to see every port and terminal operated to that standard. There is still much work to be done in this area world-wide and to assist in providing reliable data, we keep an ongoing record of port safety for our members.

In conclusion, you have demonstrated clarity of purpose and by your action as a Green Award Incentive Provider you are making a positive statement. You are giving practical application to the business of Corporate Governance and we congratulate you.

INTERCARGO wishes you every success for the future and we trust that your hope for reduction in maritime incidents within the port area will materialise through your policy of attracting quality Owners. Well done and thank you for listening to me".


Dr. Ian White from ITOPF in front of a picture of Thor Heyerdahl
(c) Thirud-Scandinavian Oil-Gas Magazine

  

Thor Heyerdahl Award

Green Award, winner of the very first Heyerdahl Award in 2001, congratulates the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Ltd, (ITOPF) on winning the prestigious Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environmental Award for 2003.

Launched in 1999 by explorer Thor Heyerdahl and the Norwegian Shipowners' Association, the Award recognises organisations or individuals who have provided outstanding services for the benefit of the marine environment. Other current sponsors of the Award are Det Norske Veritas, Gard Services and Assuranceforeningen Skuld.

At a ceremony in Oslo City Hall on 3 June, Mr Terje J K Andersen, President of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association and Chairman of The Awarding Committee, praised the role that ITOPF plays in providing advice and assistance, without charge, to government authorities all over the world in dealing with accidental spills of oil and other substances from ships. He stated that ITOPF is "a brilliant example of knowledge management and knowledge sharing".

www.itopf.com
www.heyerdahlaward.com

   

Hamburg stops Green Shipping project

The Port of Hamburg, Germany, has decided to stop the incentive system "Green Shipping" as per June 1st, 2003.

The model was implemented in 2001 and promoted the environmentally friendly behaviour of the seagoing vessels: a rebate on port dues was given if there was evidence that they had implemented a specific environmental managementsystem on board (ISO 14.001 or Green Award) or if the shipowners could prove that TBT-free antifouling or bunker oil with a maximum sulphurcontent of of 1,5% was used. The official press release in the German language can be found here.

Eagle Albany

Photo: Peter van Hattum

  

Recently certified vessels

New certificates

  • British Endeavour / BP Shipping Limited
  • Eagle Vermont / American Eagle Tankers Inc. Ltd.

Renewed certificates

  • Al Tahreer / Kuwait Oil Tanker Company S.A.K.
  • British Hawk/ BP Shipping Limited
  • Eagle Albany / Neptune Shipmanagement Services Pte Ltd.
  • Eagle Otome / Neptune Shipmanagement Services Pte Ltd.
  • Lucky Sailor / Eastern Mediterranean Maritime
  • Tove Knutsen / Knutsen OAS Shipping A/S
  • Tromsø Confidence / Unicom Management Services Cyprus Ltd
  • Tromsø Trust / Unicom Management Services Cyprus Ltd

Withdrawn certificates (due to trade-change or change of ownership)

  • Stena Constellation
  • Stena Convoy
. The complete list of certified vessels can be found here.

 

 

The purpose of Green Award is to promote clean and safe shipping through the certification of ships
(oil, product tankers and dry bulk carriers of 20,000 DWT and above).

For more information:
Bureau Green Award
Telephone + 31 10 21 70 200
Fax + 31 10 28 29 762
E-mail info@greenaward.org