Green initiatives on the horizon

Stephen Fraser, president and chief executive officer at Horizon Lines, said: “Our approach emphasises environmental excellence through conservation techniques, waste stream management, system upgrades and voluntary compliance.”

The company has been pursuing a number of initiatives. In the marine environment area, these initiatives include vessel management controls, low sulphur diesel fuel usage and marine terminal pollution mitigation planning.

Horizon has also focused on reducing transportation emissions through improvements in vessel fuel consumption and truck efficiency, the use of alternative fuels and the development of more fuel-efficient transportation solutions.

Additionally, the company is pursuing a long-term, sustainable approach to logistics management that should benefit all stakeholders. Examples include working to reduce empty backhaul miles through logistics network optimisation and research into the feasibility of using containers built from recycled materials.

In 2011, the company received recognition from the Chamber of Shipping of America for environmental excellence.

The company owns or leases a fleet of 20 U.S.-flag containerships and operates five port terminals linking the continental United States with Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.