Port Metro Vancouver Announces 11 Blue Circle Award Winners

VANCOUVER, May 9 /PRNewswire/ – Port Metro Vancouver is proud to honour 11
recipients of its Blue Circle Award for 2010.  Launched last year, this
award recognizes the most eco-friendly vessels that call at the Port.

The Blue Circle Award acknowledges industry commitment to Port
sustainability by recognizing the extraordinary environmental
achievements of ships that participate in Port Metro Vancouver’s EcoAction Program for Shipping. The program offers a financial incentive for cruise and shipping lines
to reduce ship emissions.

“Port Metro Vancouver continues to make sustainability a top priority,”
said Robin Silvester, President and Chief Executive Officer of Port
Metro Vancouver. “Our EcoAction Program provides an important financial
incentive that encourages cleaner ships to our gateway. We are pleased
to honour those who achieve excellence in reducing air emissions with
our Blue Circle Award. ”

As a global leader in Port sustainability, Port Metro Vancouver is
committed to working with its customers, governments, and industry to
continue to achieve reduced air emissions and a smaller carbon
footprint.

Port Metro Vancouver’s emissions reduction programs have attracted
international acclaim, having been awarded the Globe 2010 ecoFreight
Award for Sustainable Transportation and nominated for the
International Sustainable Shipping Award.  Shore power at Canada Place
represents a key initiative that has contributed to the success of the
Port’s Air Action Program. Port Metro Vancouver anticipates a 40 per
cent increase in shore power-enabled ships during the 2011 cruise
season.

The 2010 Port Metro Vancouver Blue Circle Award recipients are:

        --  APL (Canada)
        --  Grieg Star Shipping (Canada) Ltd.
        --  Hapag-Lloyd (Canada) Inc.
        --  Holland America Line
        --  "K" Line
        --  Maersk Line
        --  Princess Cruises
        --  Regent Seven Seas Cruises
        --  Seaboard International Shipping Co. Ltd.
        --  Silversea Cruises
        --  Westwood Shipping Lines

About the Blue Circle Award:

Under Port Metro Vancouver’s EcoAction Program for Shipping, vessels
that qualify will be eligible to receive the Blue Circle Award, a
recognition reserved for only the highest emissions reduction
achievements.

The Blue Circle Awards honour gold, silver or bronze ratings based on
efforts to reduce air emissions, depending on the quality of fuel used
and overall emission reductions. Vessel operators can apply for the
program at each call or provide an annual declaration for their
vessels.

Learn more about the Blue Circle Award and the EcoAction Program for
Shipping.

SOURCE Port Metro Vancouver