Port Everglades wins environmental kudos

South Florida’s Port Everglades won The National Association of Environmental Professionals’ (NAEP) 2020 Environmental Excellence Award, the North American Marine Environment Protection Association’s (NAMEPA) 2020 Marine Environment Protection Award for Ports and the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 2020 Award of Excellence.

“Port Everglades consistently integrates the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability into our core business strategy,” said Jonathan Daniels, chief executive and port director, Port Everglades.

“We are leading the way in port sustainability practices and putting the port on the environmental map by giving our attention to a diverse set of air, land, sea and wildlife concerns simultaneously.”

Green kudos

For the port, the awards are all welcome national recognitions for its Port Everglades Comprehensive Environmental Management Program.

Over the years, it has proactively invested millions of dollars in building and maintaining its infrastructure to protect and improve the surrounding environment, while facilitating its business activities.

Initiatives have included creating a formal internship programme to provide relevant on-the-job training and work experience for local university environmental students.

Other initiatives have included making sure all new buildings constructed at the port are designed to be U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.

The port has also been proactive in retrofitting diesel service trucks, forklifts and boat engines with energy-efficient clean technology engines and maintaining a fleet of hybrid and electric pool vehicles.