Europort’s ‘Green Route’ rewards effort

Europort 2013 confers the Green Route status on exhibitors offering demonstrable commitment to a sustainable maritime industry. Recognition entitles exhibitors to acknowledgement on the organiser’s floor plan, highlighting their standing as ‘green innovators’.

Platform Clean Shipping is a partnership including the Holland Shipbuilding Association, Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (Marin), Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), North Sea Foundation, Port of Rotterdam and Royal Association of Netherlands’ Shipowners.

“As a partner in the Platform Clean Shipping we stimulate companies within the maritime sector to reduce their emissions while staying competitive”, says Martin Dorsman, managing director of the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners.

The Platform Clean Shipping jury made its selection based entirely on merit, with the final list featuring large corporations and smaller independent companies able to show sustainability as a guiding principle. The Green Route recognises environmentally responsible products or services, but also companies demonstrating an environmental ‘vision’, research-led initiatives, independent accreditation, or corporate responsibility on environmental issues.

“The Green Route is a great way to draw attention to companies committed to reduce the emissions of seagoing merchant and offshore vessels. It allows visitors to find a variety of companies displaying their sustainable products, while others show how they have implemented sustainability in their corporate strategy”, concluded Mr Dorsman.

“The criteria used for selection were searching and exhaustive, says Raymond Siliakus, Europort 2013 exhibition manager. “In line with pressing industry themes on innovation, the jury focused on practical steps in achieving enhanced efficiency today as much as on the technology, investments and attitudes that will shape the future of a sustainable maritime and offshore industry for tomorrow.”