Thursday, April 23, 2015

Crowley Receives FMC Earth Day Award

By Mark Edward Nero

Crowley Maritime Corp. was honored April 21 with the 2015 Federal Maritime Commission Chairman’s Earth Day Award in recognition of the organization’s companywide environmental stewardship initiatives.

The FMC Chairman’s Earth Day Award is given annually and highlights technologies, programs or practices of the maritime transportation industry that, through efficiency or innovation, benefit the environment.

This year’s announcement was made during a Professional Environmental Management Association luncheon held in Seal Beach, Calif. FMC Chairman Mario Cordero is expected to present a plaque commemorating the award to Crowley during a future recognition ceremony in Washington DC.

“Crowley has been chosen for its broad commitment to active environmental efforts across their lines of business and throughout the company,” Cordero said.

Crowley’s efforts have included ordering two new LNG powered ships; participation in the spill protection program of the State of Washington’s Department of Ecology; and membership in the Trident Alliance, a coalition of ship owners advocating robust enforcement of fuel sulfur restrictions.

“We understand how our jobs may impact the environment and also what we can do to minimize those impacts,” Crowley Vice President Charlie Nalen said. “Taking the initiative to reduce negative impact not only helps the environment, but also is in the best interest of our customers, the communities in which we work and our employees.”

The Earth Day Award looks to emphasize efforts that provide a reduction in environmental harm, emissions or pollutants, and increase public awareness of the maritime transportation industry’s work to protect the environment.

Recent past winners of the award include the CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, the Port of Long Beach, Maersk Line and the Port of Los Angeles.