Japanese port Kitakyushu joins Green Award scheme

Japan’s Port of Kitakyushu said it will embrace the Green Award scheme. A discount of 10% is offered to all Green Award certified LNG carriers from the 4th of November.

Addressing Kitakyushu’s efforts in achieving excellence in the environmental performance, Kyushu District Transport Bureau (a governmental agency of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) said, “The decision of the Port of Kitakyushu to participate in the “Green Award programme” as the first East Asian port, symbolises the strong manifestation of the City of Kitakyushu, which was selected as one of the cities for the “FutureCity” Initiative by the Government of Japan. We hope that the port will take a leadership in further spreading safer and more environmentally-friendly maritime transport throughout East Asia.”

The Kyushu District Development Bureau also welcomed the fact that Port of Kitakyushu had joined the Green Award scheme as the first port in East Asia and pointed out that “the importance of environmental initiatives increases”. They stated, “It is hoped that the Port of KITAKYUSHU’s participation in the programme will further contribute to the enhancement of the ports’ safety and the reduction of environmental burden.”

Presenting a certificate of recognition for the outstanding contribution of the city of Kitakyushu to the environmental protection to mayor Kenji Kitahashi, Green Award’s Chairman Pieter Struijs emphasized the importance of a global network of Green Award ports. He said, “These ports show their commitment to the highest safety and quality practices and try to attract quality shipping through rewarding Green Award vessels with incentives. Corporate Social Responsibility is not mere empty words for Green Award ports. Today the port of Kitakyushu is joining this global network.”

It is not a coincidence that the port of Kitakyushu becomes the first port in East Asia that supports Green Award. Kitakyushu was selected by OECD as a model for its Green City Program. The city together with the port authority constantly works towards retaining its “green” city status and improving safety in port. And Green Award is a reliable indicator of high quality ships and a tool to demonstrate ports’ dedication to the highest standards of safety, quality environmental protection.

Green Award is a quality mark for sea-going and inland navigation vessels that go beyond international conventions and regulations in terms of ship layout and equipment, quality of operations and management. The Green Award scheme brings together ship managers and ports or private companies that evince their leadership in sustainability and in practicing their CSR principles.

The first Japanese port joining the Green Award scheme is a significant milestone. Ports in Asia, as growing shipping market, and in Japan in particular, as a major importer of LNG, play a vital role in environmental and safety awareness in the region.

Press Release, November 5, 2014; Image: Port of Kitakyushu