As part of the continuing effort to build upon current environmental initiatives, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has instituted a policy for managing port operations with consideration for best environmental practices and procedures.
While the GPA has completed several environmental projects over the years, the purpose of the Environmental Policy is to formalize guidance as to how the port will operate with respect to the environment.
“Efficient cargo movement is our job, and this policy establishes the framework by which we will evaluate our operations and determine how we can operate in an even more environmentally-friendly manner,” explained Doug J. Marchand, GPA’s Executive Director. “As our environmental programs evolve at our facilities, this new policy will be considered in present and future decisions.”
The GPA is one of five North American ports chosen to participate in the Environmental Management System program sponsored by the American Association of Port Authorities. GPA’s new policy states that the Authority will meet or exceed environmental regulations; measure and continually improve performance; minimize pollution from port operations; and communicate its performance to the community.
“Further improving our environmental performance is good business and can improve the bottom line,” said Stephen S. Green, GPA’s Chairman of the Board. “The Authority is committed to conducting our operations in an environmentally responsible manner, and this policy will help us better achieve that goal.”
The GPA is in the process of instituting an environmental management system at its Garden City Terminal, the largest single terminal in North America. Additionally, the port has recently completed several projects reducing its environmental impact including the construction of 34 electrified refrigerated racks and the electrification of its ship-to-shore cranes reducing diesel fuel consumption by 2.1 million gallons per year; retrofitting container handling equipment with engine exhaust enhancements, which reduced diesel emissions on this equipment by 25 percent; and converting fleet of container handling equipment to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), which cut emissions on this equipment by an additional ten percent.
