Numerous SIU-contracted companies were among the organizations recently honored for environmental safety by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA).
The host organization on Nov. 13, 2019 presented Certificates of Environmental Achievement to 61 companies, representing 1,565 vessels, for a combined total number of 14,008 years without a reportable environmental incident. According to the CSA, “The average number of years operating without incident for ships and vessels that received awards is 8.95 years. Two hundred and fifty-seven of the vessels have logged 16 or more years of environmental excellence.”
The yearly event took place in Washington, D.C.
SIU-contracted companies receiving certificates included Alaska Tanker Company, Crescent Towing, Crowley Maritime Corporation and several of its subsidiaries, Marine Transport Management, E.N. Bisso & Son, Keystone Shipping, Matson Navigation, OSG Ship Management, Patriot Contract Services, American Ship Management, Seabulk Tankers, Seabulk Towing, TOTE Services and two affiliated companies, and U.S. Shipping Corp. The U.S. Military Sealift Command and U.S. Maritime Administration also were recognized for the safety of their respective SIU-crewed vessels.
Admiral Charles W. Ray, Vice Commandant, United States Coast Guard, participated in the award ceremony and congratulated the recipients and the industry as a whole for their extraordinary performance. Mr. D. Lee Forsgren, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, also addressed the attendees and expressed his congratulations to the participants on their exceptional environmental performance.
CSA President Kathy J. Metcalf said, “These awards celebrate the dedication to environmental excellence of our seafarers and the company personnel shore-side who operate our vessels to the highest standards. In today’s world, it seems our industry only gets front-page news when spills or other environmental problems occur. It is encouraging to see how many vessels go for years achieving environmental excellence. It should be clear to the American public that we in the maritime industry take our stewardship of the marine environment very seriously. Safe and environmentally responsible operations is a culture fully embraced by the maritime industry as a whole and as evidenced by the performances of the award recipients recognized tonight.”
The awards are open to all owners and operators of vessels that operate on oceans or inland waterways. The CSA Board encourages all operators and owners to take advantage of this opportunity to recognize their crews and shore-side operating personnel and encourages all operators and owners to consider participating in next year’s program. Participation guidance is available on CSA’s website which is located at (www.knowships.org).
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