Eighteen-month process begins in October

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has been selected as one of five US port organizations to participate in an 18-month environmental management program.

Established by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and the Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), the Port Environment Management System (EMS) Assistance Project assists seaport authorities develop and maintain state-of-the-art environmental management systems.

'The Georgia Ports Authority affirms its commitment to reduce consumption and emissions, improve efficiency and the environment,' said GPA's Executive Director Doug J. Marchand. 'Participating in this program is another example of our good stewardship of the environment.'

This is the third round of the EMS Assistance Project, which was established in 2005. The project provides organizations training on management processes and procedures, so they can better analyze, control and enhance the environmental consequences of activities. The rigorous assistance program is divided into four phases, to be completed over an 18-month span. Each phase begins with an intensive workshop that prepares participants to train and lead port-based EMS implementation teams through completion of the EMS.

"AAPA is pleased to continue to offer the Port EMS Assistance Project for port authorities that are seeking to use an environmental management system approach to enhance their environmental performance," said Kurt Nagle, AAPA's president and CEO. 'The GPA exemplified outstanding capabilities during the interview process, and we are eager to begin working with the GPA on this valuable project.'

This program works in accordance with the GPA's ongoing mission of good environmental stewardship. In June, the GPA announced it had converted its fleet of yard cranes, trucks and other equipment to cleaner-burning ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) and cut emissions by 10%. Also, earlier this year the GPA announced its environmental initiatives with projects to improve efficiency and the environment, including completing its Container Berth 2 Upgrade, installing electrified refrigerated cargo racks and transferring its ship-to-shore cranes to electric power.

EMS Assistance Project participants were selected based on top management involvement, organizational support and the ability to share experiences with peers, entities similar to their own and affiliated organizations. The other port organizations participating include South Carolina State Ports Authority, Port of San Diego, Port of Long Beach and California United Terminals. All participants in this round will be working to create environmental management systems.