The accolade in question is the Blue Circle Award, created by the Port of Vancouver to spotlight members of the local port community that join the program.
Vancouver, June 2021. SAAM Towage Canada was one of 19 companies honored by the Port of Vancouver with the Blue Circle Award for voluntary participating in its environmental programs, such as EcoAction and Energy Action.
The CEO of SAAM Towage Canada, Sander Bikkers, commented that “being part of this voluntary initiative promoted by the port authority demonstrates our commitment to taking actions that contribute to the sustainability of our operations. For several years we have been making an effort to streamline our processes and strengthen our environmental policies, which primarily focus on using energy efficiently and reducing atmospheric emissions.”
The Blue Circle Award recognized thirteen shipping lines, four coastal operators—including SAAM Towage—and two port terminal operators. The companies focus on following best environmental practices, standing out for their environmental management and efforts to reduce emissions.
Since 2007, the EcoAction Program has provided discounts of up to 47% on berthage fees for companies implementing environmental best practices. In 2020, more than 750 vessels received this benefit, saving almost CAD$1.6 million.
The “Energy Action” initiative is operated jointly by the port authority in partnership with BC Hydro. It assists terminal and port operators with reinforcing their energy savings practices. In 2020, the initiative helped implement seven energy efficiency projects in port areas, which translated into annual savings of 1,400,000 kWh.