EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP FOR THE PORT OF QUÉBEC DUE TO ITS ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

05/31/2016

Québec, May 31, 2016 – The President and CEO of the Québec Port Authority (QPA), Mario Girard, is proud of the results achieved in the Green Marine program, which recognized the environmental efforts made in recent years by bestowing the "Excellence and leadership" level on our organization.

This award follows the implementation of the Port of Québec’s development action plan. The plan, which covered the years 2014 and 2015, had first undergone a consultation process and a benchmarking exercise on industry best practices, and focused on three main objectives:

• To be recognized by the community for exemplary management of its territory
• To constantly improve its environmental performance everywhere in the Port of Québec
• To develop and maintain a port-city relationship that is respectful of the community 

"Integrating the principles of sustainable development in the QPA’s operations was becoming essential to the development of our organization, our place in the community and our continued existence. We are very proud of the results we achieved through this action plan", said Mr. Girard.

For the Québec Port Authority, responsible management of the environment is both an ethical obligation and a corporate priority. The QPA recognizes that the long-term future of the port and the communities where it conducts its activities depends on the performance of its facilities and operations. Several initiatives were therefore implemented to improve the QPA’s environmental performance. Although it is proud that the actions undertaken in recent years were reflected in the excellent results obtained in the Green Marine program, the QPA is aware that a sizeable challenge remains: maintaining that level of performance and leadership.

Green Marine: advancing environmental excellence

Green Marine environmental program offers a detailed framework for maritime companies to first establish and then reduce their environmental footprint. Participants in the "ship owners, ports, seaway corporations, terminals and shipyards" categories have to demonstrate year-over-year improvement in measurable ways to maintain their Green Marine certification. The main objectives of this voluntary environmental program for the maritime industry in Canada and the United States are as follows:

• Improve the marine industry’s environmental performance through a continuous improvement process
• Build strong relationships with seaway stakeholders
• Heighten understanding of the marine industry’s activities and environmental benefits

The program requires each participant to complete Green Marine’s annual self-evaluation. The results determine the participant’s ranking for each performance indicator on a 1-to-5 scale. Level 1 corresponds to the monitoring of regulations, while Level 5 indicates leadership and excellence. Reports are verified by an independent third party every two years to ensure the program’s rigour and integrity. The process is also transparent, as all results are made public every year.

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For additional information

Marie-Andrée Blanchet
Québec Port Authority
Tel.: 418-648-3640
[email protected]