Port's international collaboration delivers better air quality

METRO VANCOUVER, Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Port Metro Vancouver and two Washington State ports continue to make significant progress in the cross-border effort to reduce port-related emissions in the Georgia Basin - Puget Sound air shed, according to the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy 2010 Implementation Report.

Through the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, Port Metro Vancouver and the ports of Seattle and Tacoma are collaborating on ways to improve air quality and reduce contributions to climate change in all aspects of port operations.

"By working with our port colleagues, both locally and across the border, Port Metro Vancouver is really making a difference in reducing air emissions that affect air quality and climate change," said Robin Silvester, president and CEO of Port Metro Vancouver. "Continuous improvement in our environmental performance is good for our communities, and our customers and stakeholders."

The three Pacific Northwest ports have made significant improvement in the first three years of the strategy by focusing on clean air goals for ships, cargo-handling equipment, rail, trucks, harbour craft and port administration through cooperative relationships with customers, tenants, and regulatory agencies.

In support of the Northwest ports' common goals, Port Metro Vancouver is taking a direct role through its EcoAction Program, Blue Circle Award, Truck Licensing Program and the award-winning shore power installation at Canada Place. These initiatives demonstrate how Port Metro Vancouver leads the way for other ports to address air quality and climate change.

"It's encouraging to see Port Metro Vancouver take a leadership role through their innovative programs and initiatives," said the Honourable Terry Lake, British Columbia's Minister of the Environment. "The Port is helping to move the marine industry in British Columbia in the right direction."

2010 regional combined port results:

• Ships: 44 per cent of ships calling frequently used low-sulphur fuels or electrical shore power to meet the performance measure.
• Cargo-handling equipment: 62 per cent of diesel-powered equipment met the performance measure through retrofits, replacements and use of low-sulphur fuels.
• Trucks: 98 per cent of drayage trucks met the measure through outreach, engine retrofits or incentive programs.
• Rail: Partner agencies replaced engines, added idle- and friction-reduction technologies and used low-sulphur fuels.
• Harbour craft: Despite technical challenges, made progress through replaced engines, shore power connections, resurfaced hulls and low-sulphur fuels.
• Administration: Made progress through conservation programs, hybrid vehicle fleets and commute-trip reductions.

Read the 2010 Implementation Report.

Port Metro Vancouver's emissions reduction programs have received international acclaim, having been awarded the Globe 2010 ecoFreight Award for Sustainable Transportation and a nomination for the International Sustainable Shipping Award.

Port Metro Vancouver trades $75 billion in goods annually with more than 160 trading economies, generating across Canada an estimated 129,500 jobs, $6.1 billion in wages, and $10.5 billion in GDP.

SOURCE Port Metro Vancouver