Jan Fransen (left) and Capt. John Mavrides

Many people attended the ceremony

M/T SEAOATH

Green Award reaches 200 mark

For the first time in its 12 year existence, Green Award has 200 ships on its list of certified ships. In recognition of this milestone Green Award Managing Director Jan Fransen handed over the 200 th Green Award certificate in a ceremony during the Posidonia Exhibition in Athens.

Ship #200 is M/T SEAOATH (105.000 DWT), managed by the Athens based company Thenamaris Ships Management. Following many other Thenamaris vessels M/T SEAOATH has met the stringent Green Award requirements related to quality, safety, environment, management and technical aspects.

Thenamaris has been a firm supporter of Green Award since the start in 1994 and has currently 14 ships certified by Green Award. Thenamaris counts high environmental, safety and management standards among its top priorities and believes that the benefits that result from having Green Award-certified ships go well beyond reductions in port dues and other services charges.

Thenamaris was presented with the special Green Award certificate in a ceremony during the Posidonia Exhibition at the stand of ABS on June 7 th. M/T SEAOATH is classed by ABS, known for being committed to creating and upholding the highest safety and environmental standards and procedures.

Capt. John Mavrides, Manager Safety and Quality Department, has accepted the certificate on behalf of Thenamaris Ships Management.

 Mr. Fransen’s speech can be downloaded here.

Green Award logo restyled

The Green Award logo has been restyled: less green and more blue, which stands for sea, reliability and professionalism.

The aim of having less green in the logo is also to make clearer that the scope of Green Award is wider than protection of the environment only. Green Award looks at environment, safety and quality.

Also, continuous improvement is symbolised in the Green Award logo on which Poseidon and his trident are prominent. Poseidon is gazing sternly at his environment, the sea. Through his requirements, represented by his trident, he safeguards the environment which is symbolised by the colour green. Blue for reliable and safe operations and red for the human element. The waves represent the dynamic character of Green Award and the working area, the sea.

First SECA (Sulphur Emissions Control Area) in force

As from 19th May 2006 the Baltic Sea is indicated as a SECA, the first one of its kind and is expected to be followed by several other areas over the next ten years. The next area will be a great part of the North Sea and is expected to be in force in 2007.

When sailing in a SECA, ships are required to reduce engine emissions to the equivalent of 1.5% sulphur content in marine fuel. This can be achieved by applying scrubber technology, using a low sulphur content fuel or blending of marine fuels. Also studies on emission trading are still in progress as an alternative (www.seaat.org).

Green Award has long anticipated that emission standards would be put in place. Again, with the introduction of the first SECA’s, the Green Award requirements on emissions, amongst other requirements will be revised. The new revisions are expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of this year.

Without going in detail Green Award will motivate the introduction of an ‘emissions footprint’ for each participating vessel. A full emissions footprint will deal with SOx, NOx, CO2 and particulate matter. Such a footprint will give the shore based management an awareness of the impact of their ship operations and will assist them in setting policies that aim for a reduction in emissions. In addition to an environmental point of view, Green Award will pay extra attention to “change over” procedures and fuel oil testing merely from a safety point of view.

Information about SECA: www.imo.org

Old Naval College

Green Award surveyors attended OCIMF course

OCIMF facilitated the Green Award surveyors to upgrade their knowledge and skills related to the OCIMF Ship Inspection Report (SIRE).

SIRE is one of the most significant safety initiatives introduced by OCIMF. This programme was originally launched in 1993 to specifically address concerns about sub-standard shipping. The SIRE Programme is a tanker risk assessment tool of value to charterers, ship operators, terminal operators and government bodies concerned with ship safety.

As the Green Award requirements have links to the SIRE program, Green Award is very happy that its surveyors had the opportunity to attend the excellent course ‘Ship Inspector Training and Accreditation Procedures’. The course was held in The Old Naval College, Greenwich University London.

www.ocimf.com

Dr. Joe Borg

Gijón

Gijón, 1-2 June 2006: AMRIE Conference

AMRIE (the Alliance of Maritime Regional Interests in Europe) is an independent not-for-profit organisation and policy research institute, established in 1993 as an initiative of Members of the European Parliament.

The overall objective of AMRIE is to develop and promote a European integrated maritime strategy.

The conference was intended to address the framework and implications of the EU Maritime Policy. Dr. Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, gave a keynote speech on The Green Paper Approach which outlined ideas for an EU Maritime Policy.

Green Award was represented at this conference. Jan Fransen, Managing Director of Green Award, delivered a presentation giving a ‘Stakeholders’ viewpoint.’ Mr. Fransen advised the attendees to bear in mind that there are instruments which create a network of preference for quality shipping, like Green Award.

The conference which was organised in co-operation with Puerto de Gijón brought together local and European policy-makers and specialists.

www.amrie.org

Vancouver, 5 June 2006: Transport Canada’s Marine
Transportation Workshop

Transport Canada’s Marine Safety department is currently conducting a research into implementation of the Green Ship Strategy in Canadian Ports.

A workshop was organised by Transport Canada to discuss elements that will be included in the departments 2007-2009 Sustainable Development Strategy. Key industry representatives, regulatory agencies and environmental experts provided their views on an issue paper that was prepared for the workshop.

Jan Fransen delivered a presentation on the ‘Green Award’ program that provided useful information for the experts to consider in their deliberations. Interest continues in Canada to implement the Green Award program, but further study has been proposed.

www.tc.gc.ca

Changes in fleet

The complete list of certified vessels can be found here.