Green marine
In an effort to track improvements in environmental performance, BC Ferries has joined Green Marine.
The corporation was certified both as a terminal operator and ship owner at the end of May by the globally-recognized initiative for shipyards, ship operators and ports. Certification is voluntary but helps participants step in the direction of reducing their environmental footprints by striving to improve and exceed regulatory compliance.
“At BC Ferries, we are proud to sail in the pristine coastal waters of British Columbia and we have an obligation to protect the environment and reduce the footprint of our operations,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ president and CEO, in a press release Tuesday, June 9. “Joining Green Marine and achieving this certification reinforces our existing commitment to the environment and ensures we will continue to look for ways to apply best practices and be a leader in sustainable marine transportation.”
“As one of the largest ferry operators in North America, BC Ferries plays a key role in showing how sustainable operations are within reach,” added David Bolduc, Green Marine’s executive director. “Joining Green Marine clearly reflects a strong commitment toward the greening of their operations. It will also significantly help us achieve our objective, which is to improve the environmental record of the marine industry in general.”
The press release detailed the performance indicators tracked by Green Marine. For ships, the organization tracks “greenhouse gases, air emissions (SOx, NOx, PM), oily water and garbage management.” For terminals and shipyards it tracks “greenhouse gases, community impacts, environmental leadership and spill prevention.”
By joining Green Marine, BC Ferries now has a tool with which to measure its performance and will receive feedback from the organization to help it keep improving its environmental program.
Readers can visit Green Marine online for more information.
Military alert
19 Wing Comox is reminding anyone near the water’s edge this summer, particularly around Texada Island, to be on the watch for flares and smoke canisters.
The Search and Rescue specialists use the area as an active pyrotechnics range, usually for training crews in the safe and efficient use of high intensity parachute flares and marine smoke markers.
Flares set off during training exercises can easily be seen as they illuminate the night sky, while smoke markers help rescuers detect and come to the aid of people at sea.
With the warmer weather and more people around the shoreline, occasionally these devices wash up. While they are designed to sink after use, if found on the shore they should not be mishandled.
19 Wing asks that people do not pick up these devises, and instead call 1.866.488.0889 to report the finding. Alternatively, people can notify their local RCMP office. Arrangements can then be made for safe disposal.
On aeronautical maps, Texada Island Range is marked as CYA 124M, while on marine charts it is marked as Area WI.
