Port of Montreal an environmental leader according to Green Marine

MONTREAL, June 13, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Port of Montreal is upholding its level of environmental excellence, as evidenced in Green Marine's 2011-2012 Progress Report on its environmental program. The results were unveiled as part of the fifth annual GreenTech Conference on Green Technologies and Innovation held in Quebec City on May 29 and 30, 2012.

Also in its fifth year, the program evaluates participants on a scale of one to five across nine main environmental issues, such as aquatic invasive species, greenhouse gases, spills and leakages, conflicts of use (noise, dust, odour and light pollution), etc. According to the 2012 Progress Report, the Port of Montreal maintained its high ratings in all the categories measured in the "Ports & St. Lawrence Seaway" section. Sylvie Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the MPA, said that she is encouraged by these results and commends the efforts and actions implemented by her team.

The participants, which include shipowners, ports and terminals on the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, registered an overall performance average of Level 3.0, compared to an overall rating of Level 2.7 in 2010.

To consult the results of Green Marine's 2012 Progress Report, visit its website, at: www.green-marine.org

The thoroughness and transparency of the Green Marine program's certification process earned it the Prix Environnement on June 7, 2012 at the Grands prix d'excellence awards gala held by the Association québécoise du transport et des routes (AQTR).

"I heartily congratulate the Green Marine team for its vision and dynamism, as well as all the organizations and companies in the marine shipping industry who participate in the environmental program, in a spirit of continuous improvement and respect for the environment," stated Sylvie Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority.

The Green Marine initiative is also benefiting from growing international influence, as indicated by the prestigious Green Shipping Initiative of the Year award that it received at the Sustainable Shipping Awards 2011 held last July in London.

As at May 10, 2012, Green Marine had 161 members made up of 67 participants, 54 partners and 40 supporters.

Although a voluntary initiative, Green Marine participants agree to undergo a rigorous external audit every two years, conducted by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance. The Montreal Port Authority is one of the founding members of Green Marine.

About the Port of Montreal
Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montreal is a major diversified transshipment centre that handles all types of goods - containerized and non-containerized cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk. A leading container port on the Atlantic, it is served by seven of the ten largest container shipping lines in the world. Strategically located in North America's heartland, it provides first class access to the markets of Quebec, Ontario and the U.S. Northeast and Midwest. The Port of Montreal handled 1,362,975 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in 2011, representing 12,471,002 tonnes of cargo. The Port also handled 10,760,649 tonnes of liquid bulk products, 3,431,811 tonnes of dry bulk products and 1,741,035 tonnes of grain in 2011. The Port of Montreal owns its own rail network, operated directly on the piers. It is connected to both national railway networks and a highway network. The Port also operates a passenger terminal that welcomed 38,031 passengers and crew members in 2011. All the other terminals are managed by private stevedoring companies. Port activity supports 18,200 jobs and generates $1.5 billion in economic spin-offs per year.

About Green Marine
The Green Marine environmental program targets specific environmental issues, including greenhouses gases, cargo residues, conflicts of use (noise, dust, odour and light pollution), the prevention of water and soil pollution and environmental leadership. While Green Marine is a voluntary initiative, participants agree to undergo an external audit of their results conducted by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance. Membership in Green Marine has more than doubled since its launch, and now stands at 161 members consisting of 67 participants, 54 partners and 40 supporters, from sea to sea in Canada and the United States.

Image with caption: "Lyne Martin, Director of Environment, Montreal Port Authority, is receiving, in the name of the Port, a certificate from David Bolduc, Director of Green Marine, on May 29, 2012, at Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. (CNW Group/PORT OF MONTREAL)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120613_C8674_PHOTO_EN_15135.jpg

For further information:

Michèle Beaubien
Director of Communications
[email protected]
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.port-montreal.com