{"id":11531,"date":"2018-04-18T08:41:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-18T07:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portstrategy.nfdtesting.uk\/greenport\/2018\/04\/18\/baltimore-taking-the-lead-in-environmental-stewardship\/"},"modified":"2018-04-18T08:41:00","modified_gmt":"2018-04-18T07:41:00","slug":"baltimore-taking-the-lead-in-environmental-stewardship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/news\/greenport-congress-greenport\/baltimore-taking-the-lead-in-environmental-stewardship\/","title":{"rendered":"Baltimore: Taking the lead in environmental stewardship"},"content":{"rendered":"

Firstly, can you please tell me in a nutshell the port\u2019s and the MDOT\u2019s approach to the environment, how high is it on the agenda?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Both the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Port Administration value being good environmental stewards. From land and water, air quality, energy performance, and environmental compliance, MDOT integrates the environment into all aspects of their transportation system.<\/p>\n

The Port Administration is committed to meeting our obligations for improved air and water quality, reduction of impacts to the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay and sound environmental management for dredging projects. We are working to reduce diesel emissions, manage stormwater in a responsible manner, become more energy efficient and offset environmental impacts from port operations with green projects that meet stewardship goals and provide community benefits.<\/p>\n

Why is the GreenPort Americas Congress such a good fit for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are very proud to host the first North American GreenPort Congress. This gives us the opportunity to not only share our successes and lessons learned, but to hear from others about their successes. It\u2019s a very unique opportunity to hear from international experts and learn about the latest trends, emerging technologies and best practices in port\/maritime environmental initiatives.<\/p>\n

What is the most important environmental project that the port is currently working on?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to call one of our projects the most important, but we are particularly proud of our efforts at improving water quality by treating stormwater runoff, developing programmes aimed at reducing air emissions associated with port activities, examining how climate change could impact our marine terminals and our nationally-renowned innovative and beneficial reuse dredging programme.<\/p>\n

What are the port\u2019s other environmental projects?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are also very active with reducing overall energy consumption, evaluating the conversion of algae to a biofuel for use in a fuel cell, tree planting as a means to improve air and water and installing stormwater vaults for adaptation to climate change, as we have seen an increase in the frequency and severity of rain events.<\/p>\n

How do these projects fit in with the overall environmental strategy of the port and the region?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our mission is to stimulate the flow of waterborne commerce through the State of Maryland in a manner that provides economic benefit to the citizens of the State. We want to accomplish economic growth in a sustainable manner, meaning protecting the health and wellbeing of our citizens and the environment.<\/p>\n

What is driving American ports to clean up their act, how much is regulation driven and how much is driven by the port?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Times change. Focuses change. Years ago, the term carbon footprint was not well known. As an industry, we are all much more educated and knowledgeable about our impacts on the environment.<\/p>\n

Most of the Port of Baltimore\u2019s efforts are driven by the commitment to provide an economic stimulus for Maryland and its citizens AND doing it in a sustainable manner. We know that to ensure the Port of Baltimore\u2019s future growth, we must take steps to protect it by growing sustainably. Our legacy for future generations is to provide a thriving port and family-supporting jobs that do not adversely impact the environment and the health or quality of life of the citizens.<\/p>\n

Can you tell us about the port\u2019s\/region\u2019s environmental strategy going forward?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We want to grow sustainably. We have instituted many different initiatives and programs to make this happen. We are improving the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, by treating stormwater run-off, planting trees and grasses, creating wetlands and restoring streams and shorelines.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re reducing air emissions from port activities by replacing older diesel equipment with clean diesel, electric or alternate fuels. We are shrinking GHG emissions by reducing fuel consumption at Port of Baltimore marine terminal facilities and we are also preparing for climate changes by implementing enhanced resiliency when undertaking new construction or complete rehabilitation of existing facilities. Lastly, we are also increasing recycling and reducing our waste to landfills.<\/p>\n

Why should people attend the GreenPort Americas Congress?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because this will be the BEST GreenPort Congress ever! We have unbelievable programme sessions on air emissions, water quality and innovative environmental best practices and exciting speakers from the US, Europe, Australia, Japan and other locations.<\/p>\n

We will happily provide some great tours too. Attendees can visit Poplar Island, a long-eroded island in the Chesapeake Bay now fully restored to its original acreage by using sediment dredged from Port of Baltimore channels. They\u2019ll also be able to visit our Masonville location, a brownfield once the home of a ship-breaking operation and debris dumping site that today is a converted to a green space where children and adults come for hands-on environmental activities and bird-watching.<\/p>\n

Baltimore is great city to visit with wonderful dining, entertainment and cultural experiences. Plus, stay after the GreenPort Congress and watch the running of the Preakness Stakes, one of the world\u2019s most famous horse races and member of the Triple Crown. Washington DC is also less than an hour away. See you in Baltimore!<\/p>\n

BOX OUT \u2013 Congress speakers<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

STOP PRESS: <\/strong>Raymond Fitzgerald, chief operating officer of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) and Chairman of ARC will take the keynote address at the first GreenPort Americas Congress event.<\/p>\n

Taking place in Baltimore from 16 to 18 May 2018, the conference will be hosted by the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore, the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Department of the Environment.<\/p>\n

Mr Fitzgerald is responsible for shipping and land based business activity throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa.<\/p>\n

He is also Chairman of the ARC Group, the US flag transportation and logistics group, where he served as president and CEO from 2007 until 2011. Previously, he spent 13 years with the Crowley Maritime Group.<\/p>\n

WWL, headquartered in Norway, is one of the largest roll on\/roll off carriers in the world and is a valued, important customer of the Maryland Port Administration.<\/p>\n

Other keynotes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Patrick Verhoeven, chairman of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH), will deliver a keynote speech on day two of the conference, in addition to moderating a session centred around sister ports working together on greening their ports.<\/p>\n

Mr Verhoeven has more than twenty years of experience in leading international port and shipping organisations, offering valuable insight and knowledge to delegates.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Kurt Nagle, president and chief executive officer of The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), will speak on the second day of the conference.<\/p>\n

Mr Nagle has 30 years of experience in Washington, DC, related to seaports and international trade, and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer for AAPA since 1995.<\/p>\n

During session eight of the conference Mr Nagle will discuss environmental performance measurement, covering the monitoring and reporting of environmental practices and the challenges\/opportunities of improving performance in ports, terminals and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n

For more information on the programme and to register for the conference visit http:\/\/www.greenport.com\/congressamerica<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In May the GreenPort Congress heads to the Americas for the first time. The host port is Baltimore which considers itself an exemplary environmental steward. Anne-Marie Causer talks to Barbara McMahon, manager of safety, environment and risk management for the MDOT Maryland Port Administration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"sponsor":[],"class_list":["post-11531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-greenport-congress-greenport"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11531\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11531"},{"taxonomy":"sponsor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sponsor?post=11531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}