Houston, Texas, May 24, 2018 – On Wednesday night, the Panama Canal was honored as a nominee for the 2018 Lloyd’s List Americas Awards’ Environment Award in recognition of its pioneering Green Connection Environmental Recognition Program and related initiatives. Representatives from the Panama Canal Authority were among a series of key maritime figures celebrated at the gala event last night in Houston, Texas.
The Environment Award, presented by London-based maritime industry publication Lloyd’s List, acknowledges exceptional programs working to reduce pollution in the marine environment caused by maritime sources. Alexis Rodriguez, Environmental Protection Specialist, attended the gala on behalf of the Panama Canal.
“We are honored to be recognized for our Green Connection Environmental Recognition Program’s impact on emissions reductions,” said Rodriguez. “We look forward to fostering a future for sustainable shipping and remain committed to innovating and incentivizing the industry to join us.”
As part of its commitment to sustainability, the Panama Canal launched the Green Connection Environmental Recognition Program in June 2015 to recognize customers who demonstrate excellent environmental stewardship and encourage others to implement technologies and standards that reduce their carbon footprint. The program consists of three components: the Green Connection Award , the Environmental Premium Ranking and the Emissions Calculator . Together, the three tools bolster the program’s work promoting emissions reductions by recognizing and incentivizing vessels that comply with the highest environmental performance standards.
This nomination follows the Canal’s almost 105-year history of offering shippers an unparalleled environmental route. Its all-water passage requires fewer cargo movements compared to freight transportation via air, truck or rail. And given the shorter traveling distance and larger capacity it offers, the Panama Canal reduces fuel consumption and therefore emissions, generating less GHG compared to other routes.
About the Panama Canal Authority
The Panama Canal is run by an autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the ACP’s website: http://www.pancanal.com or follow us on Twitter @thepanamacanal.
About the Panama Canal Expansion
The Panama Canal Expansion is the largest enhancement project since the Canal’s opening in 1914. Considered and analyzed for a decade with more than 100 studies, the Expanded Canal provides the world’s shippers, retailers, manufacturers and consumers with greater shipping options, better maritime service, enhanced logistics and supply-chain reliability. The Expansion included the construction of a new set of locks on the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the waterway, creating a third lane of traffic and doubling the cargo capacity of the waterway. While the expanded locks are 70 feet wider and 18 feet deeper than those in the original Canal, they use less water due to water-savings basins that recycle 60 percent of the water used per transit. In line with its commitment to customer service, the Panama Canal will continue to provide the world with value for another century and beyond.
