Portsmouth Port wins prestigious international environmental award
A focus on green issues now and in the future has brought a major international award to the Commercial Port of Portsmouth.
Long before it became necessary and fashionable to push environmental management and green credentials, managers at Britain's best connected ferry port were building a solid framework of responsible operations and social responsibility.
Their reward is the prestigious ISO 14OO1 title which is the International Standard for Environmental Management. This recognition sits alongside other top awards in recent years for Quality, Information Security and Health and Safety.
John Feltham, Systems and Standards Compliance Manager at the Port, said: “This is the final piece of the jigsaw for the Port, and completes a series of approvals that recognise the high standards shown every day at Portsmouth Commercial Port. Of course, getting an award like this is only the beginning. We know that these approvals are not ours to keep. We have to work hard to earn them and keep them. This commitment exists at all levels within the Port.”
ISO14001 is rigourously enforced by British Standards to make sure the day to day activities of the Port are the subject of continuous environmental impact assessments. Other aspects of the business, including the management of waste and monitoring of water and energy consumption, are also regularly checked.
Environmental awareness is evident not only in this award but also in the design for the Port's new terminal, which is currently under construction. The building will use the latest ‘green’ technologies to lessen its impact on the environment. 'Wind catchers' on the roof will be used to help air condition the main public areas, with thermal energy from the sea pumped into the terminal for heating. Every detail of the building reflects a desire to improve eco performance – the toilets, for example, will be flushed using salt water.
For further information, visit: http://www.portsmouth-port.co.uk/
Published: 25/06/2010
