• First Japanese company Green Award certified
• Green Award celebrated 10th anniversary in London
• Green Award Luncheon Seminar
• Green Award rewarded by Helmepa
• Special edition Lloyd's List
• Green Award incentives at Spanish ports on hold
• Green Award workshop in Dubai
• Green Award Annual Report 2003
• IMPA Congress 2004
• Mare Forum Conference 2004
• Recently certified vessels
• News archive

Mr. Struijs (left) hands the certificate over to Mr. Matsumoto

M/T Stena Conductor

First Japanese company Green Award certified

The Tokyo-based Iino Marine Service Co., Ltd., has been certified by the Green Award Foundation. The company withstood the Green Award audits successfully and is the first Japanese company that shows objective evidence of the high quality of its environmentally friendly and safe management.

The scope of the certification includes the office organisation of Iino Marine Service Co. Ltd. and the first oil tanker, M/T STENA CONDUCTOR. The certificates were handed over by Mr. P. Struijs, chairman IAPH and founder of Green Award, during an official ceremony in Rotterdam on 8th October.

Mr. Matsumoto, President of Iino Marine Service Co. Ltd., explains that the initiative to have the organisaton and oil tankers certified by Green Award fits in the strategic aim to supply quality tankers that excel in functionality and safety. The stable and safe transportation of crude oil has been Iino Lines' primary goal for more than half a century.

The certification of the first Japanese ship manager is a remarkable milestone for Green Award. Mr. Fransen, Deputy Managing Director of Green Award is confident that Iino sets an example and that 'the ball starts rolling in Japan'.

www.iino.co.jp

Green Award celebrates 10th anniversary in London

To mark the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Green Award Foundation a reception was organised at the IMO Building on 11 October 2004. The Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, the Chairman of the Green Award Foundation and the Head of the IMO/MEPC Delegation of The Netherlands invited the IMO/MEPC Delegation and several external guests for this reception.

Immediately after the conclusion of the first day of the MEPC meeting, several speeches were addressed to Green Award. Reference was made to Green Award's past, present and future. Green Award felt flattered by all the compliments given and noted of the advice to continue the efforts to promote quality shipping.

After the speeches, a reception was held. The Green Award Foundation is delighted that we could welcome about 400 people. The Green Award Foundation and the Ministry of Transport, Water Management and Public Works of The Netherlands, as co-founders, jointly hosted the reception.

Green Award Luncheon Seminar

On the occasion of the Green Award's 10th anniversary a luncheon seminar was held at the offices of Intertanko/Intercargo in London. Mr. R.E. Malone, CEO BP Shipping, shed light on why BP Shipping is a firm supporter of Green Award and Mr. J. Fransen and Mr. H. de Goeij gave a presentation on Green Award

Dr. P. Swift, Managing Director of Intertanko, opened the seminar and stressed the importance of the recognition of quality tonnage. He indicated that there was no doubt about the important role of Green Award in the effort to lift shipping standards by using independent Green Award inspections.

Mr. R.E. Malone gave an impressive speech and indicated that BP Shipping is a firm believer in the Green Award process and the operational and financial benefits which stem from it. BP Shipping has been associated with Green Award since 1999, when BP obtained certification of three vessels as one of several initiatives to focus BP's attention on environmentally sound operations. He recognises that Green Award is an important tool to constantly "lift the bar".

Green Award is very happy with the outcome of the presentations and is particularly pleased with the engagement of the industry representatives present which was demonstrated by the question and answer session. The seminar was attended by representatives from across the industry.

After the seminar, Mr. R. Holt, Secretary General INTERCARGO, co-host of the seminar said: "Green Award has a good and powerful message which can be put together in a very interesting presentation. There is clearly much work to be done with owners, charterers, port authorities, flag states and insurance interests. INTERCARGO will continue to support your efforts in the dry bulk carrier sector. We must take notice of the concerns from the industry and we were particularly pleased that you are addressing the issue of the frequency of inspections. The pressure put on crew time in port is having a negative effect on operational efficiency and morale and the ISPS Code has done nothing to help the situation. This must continue to be taken into account in the Green Award inspection programme so that quality ships can be rewarded in a quick and easy system".

Mr. R. Holt,
Secretary General INTERCARGO

Dr. P. Swift,
Managing Director INTERTANKO

Mr. Mitsatsos (left) hands over the Award to
Mr. De Goeij

Green Award rewarded by Helmepa

Capt. D.C. Mitsatsos, Helmepa, took the opportunity to congratulate Green Award on the 10th anniversary and handed over the Helmepa Award, that says:

"Helmepa, the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association and its Members, 13.500 seafarers, 500 Greek-owned vessels and 170 companies and organisations from within world shipping congratulate Green Award Foundation, Helmepa's associate member, on its 10th anniversary".

What is Helmepa?
It is the joint initiative of the Greek seafarers and shipowners to declare in 1982 in Piraeus that they voluntarily undertake the responsibility to eliminate ship generated marine pollution and enhance safety at sea.

The objective of the initiative is to instill and nurture environmental consciousness throughout the shipping industry so as to compliment the requirements of the legislation for pollution prevention and safety at sea. And this is because the Greek seafarers understood that even the most widely accepted international conventions and national laws cannot be effectively implemented until every sector of the shipping industry is committed to the joint effort. Such a commitment, they declared, would be effective only through a concerted voluntary effort to educate, inform and motivate all, from shipowner to the last seafarer.

Special edition Lloyd's List

Lloyd's List published a special edition on October 11th to mark the tenth anniversary of Green Award.

The overview and introduction by Michael Grey includes a series of articles looking at how Green Award works, the people behind it, why and where Green Award was established, its legacy and impact. It also includes an examination of the quality incentives and new initiatives.

Mike Corkhill looked at the views of classification societies and the insurance industry. He also charted Green Award's history to date and sought the views of owners on receiving Green Award certification. Helen Hill reported on the opinion of Mr. Struijs on behalf of the Rotterdam Port Authority and Julian Parker, chairman of the Green Award Board of Experts, discussed the role of Green Award and that of the Nautical Institute in auditing and setting standards. The report also includes the piece by IMO secretary-general E. Mitropoulos, published in the latest Green Award annual report.
Prof. M. Shinohara reported on the effect of his and Green Award's efforts in Japan.

Green Award is very proud of this special report and would like to thank all related parties that contributed to this successful initiative.

Green Award incentives at Spanish ports on hold

Over the last few months, Bureau Green Award has received several complaints from certificate holders. It appears that ports under the jurisdiction of Puertos del Estado are currently not granting Green Award certified vessels a premium. Unfortunately, no clear reasons for this were given.

Due to the the disappointing and de-motivating effects, especially for the crew of the Green Award certified vessels, the management of Green Award decided to travel to Madrid in order to seek clarification from the management of Puertos del Estado.

During a pleasant meeting we were informed that it was a political decision to review the incentive scheme in Spanish ports in accordance with developments at the EU in Brussels. This means that the authorities in Madrid, together with the local port authorities, will review the EMAS, ISO 14001 and GREEN AWARD. It is the intention to determine if an integrated incentive scheme is feasible. An outcome is not expected before the end of 2004. Meanwhile, the political configuration has changed in Spain which implies a delay in further decisions.

The Green Award management will, of course, keep in touch with the Puertos del Estado, in order to keep informed about progress made. Green Award hopes and believes that fruitful cooperation with Puertos del Estado will result in a satisfying situation in 2005.

Green Award workshop in Dubai

Green Award will be presenting a workshop entitled "Safety and Environmental Behaviour of Management, Crew and Ship" during the Offshore Arabia Conference and Exhibition 2004 in Dubai.

The workshop is scheduled on the 27th and 28th November (two days before the conference) with a focus on the human element and what can be done to enhance the quality of the people managing shipping companies, the seafarers and the ships themselves in addition to addressing safety and protection of the marine environment.

The workshop and conference are organised by Saudi Aramco and Regional Clean Sea Organization (RECSO)

For more information, please refer to http://www.offshorearabia.ae/

click here or on image to download PDF-file

Annual report 2003

The year 2003 was a remarkable year in the 10-year history of Green Award. Contrary to previous years, Green Award faced a decreasing number of certified vessels.

Although we had to cope with a reduced number of vessels and with that a loss of income, we are confident that following positive facts will contribute to a full recovery in 2004. Our trust is based on

• A growth of the number of participating ports
• An extension of the number of certificate holders
• A large number of applications for vessels for 2004
• An improvement of the quality standard of the Green Award vessels
• An improvement of the knowledge and skills of the Geen Award staff
• An upgrading of the Green Award Requirements
• An increasing attention for and interest in the Green Award scheme from ports and shipowners in for example Greece, Japan and Canada.

Based on actual facts, we are confident that we will realise a full recovery in 2004. We have 165 certified vessels and 15 applications in process.

International Maritime Pilot's Association (IMPA) Congress
Istanbul 27 June - 2 July 2004

Green Award Managing Director Hans de Goeij was one of the guest speakers during the biannual IMPA Congress organised by the Turkish Maritime Pilot's Association in Istanbul.

During a session chaired by Michael Grey, Mr. De Goeij expressed Green Award's thoughts about navigation in sensitive areas such as the Black Sea, Turkish Straits, Aegean Sea and the Baltic. Other elements of the Geen Award requirements were highlighted, for example items with a relation to safety: emergency response system, passage planning, quality of crew, fuel quality and voluntary use of pilot services.

Green Award is very pleased with the support of incentive providers like pilots. All IMPA members, other than those already participating members, have therefore been invited to join the Green Award scheme as an incentive provider.

From IMPA's website:

"Hans de Goeij, spoke on behalf of Green Award on "the link between the environment and the trade mentality", and said that his organisation provides a quality certificate on safety and environment, with the award being supported by the IMO. The Green Award Foundation is independent and not a profit making organisation and that they have agreements with 50 ports in eight countries, Goeij said. "These ports give incentives to vessels that carry our certificates. There are discounts in fees and incentives in pilotage services," he said."

http://www.impahq.org

Mare Forum Conference 2004

Maritime Transportation of Energy from Russia and Central Asia.
Challenges and Opportunities

Set for the first time in the Russian Federation, the location of this Mare Forum was St. Petersburg, a major energy and shipping centre.

This conference focused on the problems and solutions attached to the maritime delivery of energy from Russia and Central Asia, the challenges and opportunities of its title given equal prominence. It was held against a background of spiralling oil prices, rapidly increasing energy exports from Russia and a growing realisation that these sources were likely to be as important as the Middle East in the mid-term future. Nor was it possible to forget that the economic renaissance and prosperity of Russia was closely bound to the development of its energy industry and moreover, the development of an infrastructure that would carry that energy into world markets; the ships, ports and pipelines necessary for that exploitation and delivery.

Mr. Hans de Goeij contributed to the program with a presentation on Green Award.

A whole range of discussion points emerged from this valuable conference. Six in particular might commend themselves to policy-makers for further study. One of the conclusions fits seemlessly with the Green Award philosophy: "Perceptions of ship quality need to be crystalised and notable reassurances given on the quality of Russian controlled (as opposed to owned) tonnage."

The growing interest in Green Award in the Baltic area, especially by Maritime Authorities of the Russian Federation underlines the growing confidence in Green Award in this part of the world.

www.mareforum.com

Astro Cassiopeia

Recently certified vessels

New certificates

• Stena Conductor / Iino Marine Service Co. Ltd.
• Iran Hamoon / National Iranian Tanker Company
• Knock Muir / V. Ships Norway AS
• Astro Cassiopeia / Kristen Navigation*