Lerwick Port lands environmental certification

The Authority’s objectives include continuously improving its environmental performance, while preserving the balance in the harbour between commercial, recreational and environmental interests, as well as maintaining a sustainable and commercially viable port serving the Shetland Islands and a range of industries.

Sandra Laurenson, the Port Authority’s chief executive said, ‘Given our commitment to the environment in our Strategy & Business Plan, and to continuous improvement, we are all delighted to have attained certification, particularly at the first attempt and, we believe, as the first in the Scottish port industry. Our staff are to be congratulated on their successful efforts.’

The Authority’s development of documents and practices has been led by Gary Cooper, its systems compliance manager. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Shetland assisted the project at the outset by funding a specialist environmental consultant who helped set up the system.

BSI’s assessment of the Authority commented that the depth of system implementation was of particular note.

Receiving the presentation, Gary Cooper said, ‘Certification is a very important requirement of working in today’s industries. Our customers, especially those in the offshore oil industry, are increasingly requesting confirmation that the port’s environmental status matches the high standards in their own operations.

‘We also now demonstrate a matching environmental standard in securing and undertaking offshore decommissioning projects at the Greenhead base where the operator, Peterson SBS, already holds certification.’

BSI Management Systems is one of the world’s largest independent certifiers of management systems.