The Port of Sept-Îles joins the Green Award Foundation

With this initiative, the Port of Sept-Îles aims at minimizing adverse environmental impacts and also affirms its commitment to the principles of its environmental policy.
The Port of Sept-Îles will thus award a 10% reduction on port dues to all vessels certified by the Green Award Foundation, effective from January 1, 2012.

Mr. Jan Fransen, managing director of the Green Award Foundation, has welcomed the Port of Sept-Îles and said, “Ports joining the Green Award scheme promote sustainability, quality and safety in port. We are delighted to see the Port of Sept-Îles becoming our new incentive provider. We hope that more ports will follow the Port of Sept-Îles’ example whereby the mutual advantages can be developed further: ports receive more quality ships and ship-owners who want to invest in cleaner, safer ship management are in turn rewarded for this. This is a perfect example of a joint industry tool to Corporate Social Responsibility.”

“The Port of Sept-Îles is very proud to become the third North American port to join the international Green Award program. The sustainable development of our port is of utmost importance to us and this program provides us with the means to promote and encourage environmentally sound practices on the part of ship management and crew members,” declares Pierre D. Gagnon, Port president and chief executive officer.

The Green Award Foundation has as its objective, the stimulation of safety and environmentally aware conduct of ship-owners, crew and ship. Green Award since 1994 has focused on the worldwide certification of sea-going vessels that go above and beyond the set standards in cleanliness and safety. Sea-going vessels 20.000 DWT and above (crude oil tankers, dry bulk carriers and LNG carriers) are evaluated on their technical condition, quality of the crew and the management onshore. Those that comply with the criteria receive the Green Award certificate, which, subject to annual verification, is valid for three years. This in turn, is rewarded by ± 30 ports in 9 countries with a reduction on port dues, encouraged by approximately 227 sea-going vessels certified by Green Award. Amongst other Green Award incentive providers, there are nautical service providers and banks. Since recently the scheme is also open to European inland navigation barges.

The Port of Sept-Îles is the most important ore handling port in Canada. Open year-round, the port is characterized by its deep waters and 10 km wide semi-circular bay. Each year, nearly 25 million tons of merchandise is handled, comprised mainly of iron ore, alumina, aluminum, petroleum coke and limestone. Sept-Îles’ port facilities play a vital and strategic role in the operation of a number of businesses from the region’s primary sector. The port’s annual economic impact is estimated at nearly $1 billion, with some 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. Port activity at the Port of Sept-Îles therefore remains a significant source of wealth creation in Quebec and Canada.

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A remarkable year of growth and recognition

SEPT-ÎLES, January 17, 2012 – The Port of Sept-Îles is pleased to announce today the initial observations from a remarkable year. The port registered growth of close to 4% with a volume of 26 million tons handled, a level not seen at the port since 1981. The port also made national headlines by hosting the annual conference of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities and obtaining North American recognition as the first entirely Green Marine port.

Increased iron ore shipments totaling 22.8 million tons accounted for most of the growth. The Pointe-Noire terminal also boasted an impressive 49% increase in activity, reaching a record 9.4 million tons. Infrastructure expansion was also outstanding, as increases to the capacity of the Relance and Pointe-Noire terminals were delivered spectacularly on budget, on time, and accident free. These projects, announced in 2009, made for record investments totaling $63 million.

In August, the Port of Sept-Îles hosted the Annual Conference of Canadian Port Authorities under the theme, “Ports—Linking Natural Resources to Canada’s Prosperity,” with ministers Denis Lebel and Serge Simard in attendence. Over 200 delegates attended and were entirely won over by the city’s hospitality. Last held in Sept-Îles 20 years ago, the conference generated economic spinoffs estimated at half a million dollars.

In November, the Port of Sept-Îles became the first port in North America to get all its partners—terminals and users—to sign on to the Green Marine environmental program, a voluntary marine industry initiative bringing together over 140 Canadian and American members, including some sixty participants (ship owners, ports, terminals, and shipyards). Getting all the Port’s partners on board with Green Marine is a demonstration of the maritime industry’s willingness to pool its efforts and work together to continue improving on its excellent environmental performance.

In addition, at the end of the year, the Port of Sept-Îles became the third in North America to join the international Green Award program, which seeks to recognize and encourage vessels certified for environmentally sound practices and cutting-edge environmental technology by offering discounts on harbor fees.

“With a projected volume of 34 million tons in 2012,” said Pierre D. Gagnon, Port president and CEO, “we expect to reclaim our position as Canada’s second largest port. A number of challenges await us again this year, as we begin construction of a multi-user berth to meet the growing needs of current and future users. State-of-the-art, high-performance facilities remain a priority for us so our partners can be more competitive and efficient.”

“These remarkable results for 2011 have everything to do with the fruitful partnerships we’ve built with our many customers and users, as well as the federal government,” added Carol Soucy, chair of the board. “We would like to express our gratitude for our partners’ invaluable support throughout the year.”

ABOUT THE GREEN AWARD FOUNDATION
www.greenaward.org

The Green Award Foundation is a neutral, independent organization that has been certifying ocean vessels all over the world since 1994. It is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The mission of the Green Award is to promote safe and environmentally friendly behavior on the part of ship management and crew by achieving international acceptance, regulation, and coordination of Green Award certification as well as by respecting international conventions and legislation and applying new technical developments.

ABOUT GREEN MARINE
www.green-marine.org

Green Marine’s environmental program targets a number of issues including greenhouse gases, cargo waste management, conflicts of use (noise, dust, odors, and luminous pollution), and environmental leadership. While Green Marine is a voluntary initiative, participants agree to undergo a rigorous external audit to validate and reinforce the credibility of environmental program results. The environmental program is open to all companies operating in the marine industry in Canada or the United States. Green Marine won the prestigious Green Shipping Initiative of the Year at the 2011 International Sustainable Shipping Awards in London and has earned the support of a number of government ministries and environmental groups, including the World Wildlife Fund.

ABOUT THE SEPT-ÎLES PORT AUTHORITY
www.portsi.com

With a full range of high-performance equipment, the Port of Sept-Îles is North America’s leading iron ore port and will now become Canada’s second largest in terms of annual volume handled, with close 34 million tons expected in 2012.Sept-Îles’ port facilities play a vital and strategic role in the operation of a number of businesses from the region’s primary sector. The port’s annual economic impact is estimated at nearly $1 billion, with some 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. Port activity at the Port of Sept-Îles therefore remains a significant source of wealth creation in Quebec and Canada.

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The Port of Sept-Îles hands out its 25th Gold Headed Cane

Sept-Îles, January 2nd, 2012 – The M/V Bet Fighter, a Isle of Man registered vessel, sailing from Gibraltar, was the first ship to arrive in Sept-Îles this year, at 7:40 on January 2nd, 2012. The vessel arrived empty and will set sail again January 3rd with 165 000 m.t. of iron ore from the Iron ore Company Rio Tinto destined for China.

During a short ceremony on board the vessel, Manon D’Auteuil, Eng., Director Environment and Sustainable Development of the Port of Sept-Îles, presented Captain Vadym Smelsky with the prestigious Gold Headed Cane bearing the Port of Sept-Îles insignia.

Several gifts were presented to the Captain by Sony Aucoin, Superintendant Operations, representative of the Iron Ore Company Rio Tinto. Jean Masse, councillor of the town of Sept-Iles joined the group to welcome them.

This tradition, now in its 25th year, marks the arrival of the first ship of the year to call the Port. To be eligible, the vessel must come directly from a foreign Port and be bound for a destination outside the country without making any other calls at a Canadian Port.

For its 25th anniversary, the gold headed cane has been transformed allowing recipients to receive a more contempory version of this much sought after prize.

Through the choice of its different components and its renewed design, it showcases the region’s industrial pillars that do business via the port infrastructures.

Taking its inspiration from a 3D version of the Port of Sept-Îles logo, the new polished and anodized aluminum cane recalls the blue highway with style. It supports an iron ore rock whose brilliance is reflected in a half sphere of acrylic.

The distinctive component of gold has not been neglected in the new concept. The seven stars of the Port logo which represent the seven islands in the Bay of Sept-Îles have been reproduced in 10 carat gold on the band of the cane. The cane’s shaft which is made of dark rosewood brings warmth and prestige to the creation.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES

With a full range of high-performance equipment, the Port of Sept-Îles is North America’s leading iron ore port in terms of annual volume handled, with nearly 30 million tons. Sept-Îles’ port facilities play a vital and strategic role in the operation of a number of businesses from the region’s primary sector. The Port’s annual economic impact is estimated at nearly $1 billion, with some 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. Port activity at the Port of Sept-Îles therefore remains a significant source of wealth creation in Quebec and Canada.

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