The following is the text of a news release from the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA):
(SOUTHPORT, Conn.) — Joseph Hughes, chairman of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association, announced that Port of Quebec and Harley Marine Services are the recipients of NAMEPA’s 2016 Marine Environment Protection Awards for ports and corporations, respectively. The awards will be presented at NAMEPA’s Awards Dinner to be held on Oct. 27 at Pier A in New York City. The dinner caps the afternoon North American World Maritime Day conference.
“We are very honored to receive NAMEPA’s 2016 Marine Environment Protection Award for ports,” said Mario Girard. “On behalf of the port’s team, I welcome this award as a recognition of the tremendous work we have put forward in order to achieve our vision of a sustainable port.”
“We are thrilled and honored to win this award. We take great pride in the work we have done to cultivate the best environmental stewardship possible. Harley Franco, our founder and chairman’s original vision and commitment for environmental stewardship has been clear from the inception of the company,” said Deborah Franco, vice president of quality/risk management at Harley Marine Services. “Our programs involve every component and entity of Harley Marine’s family of companies. Every individual has an opportunity to truly make a difference and take pride in the results.”
The NAMEPA Marine Environment Protection Award is given in recognition of an individual or organization’s efforts in environmental stewardship as exemplified by a commitment to a program which has specific objectives set for environmental performance and improvement, and which is innovative and goes beyond minimum environmental compliance. Eligible candidates include members of the commercial maritime industry, government agencies, educational organizations, associations and individuals. Submissions are judged by the organization’s board of directors against the criteria behind the award.
Other recipients of NAMEPA’s 2016 awards include the National Ocean Council for government agencies; Ocean Conservancy for nonprofits; Maritime Academy Charter School of Philadelphia for maritime education; OBOCS’ onboard oil containment system for innovations; NOAA’s chemical aquatic fate and effects database for environmental products; NAMMA (North American Maritime Ministry Association) for seafarers’ foundations; Wells Fargo for financial services, Jack Buono for individuals, and Nicky Pappadakis for lifetime achievement. The late U.S. Rep. Helen Delich Bentley will receive a special posthumous lifetime achievement award.
The first NAMEPA Marine Environment Protection Award was presented eight years ago posthumously to the founder of the MEPA movement, George P. Livanos, who created HELMEPA over 33 years ago due to his interest and concern for the marine environment. Since then, award recipients have included Maersk, CLIA, Teekay, BSEE, Joe Cox, the American Salvage Association, Maritime Academy of Toledo, Jack Gallagher, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, MarAd and Fednav.
The NAMEPA Awards Dinner will follow the North American World Maritime Day conference featuring Rear Adm. Linda Fagan of the U.S. Coast Guard. Other invited speakers include Dr. Sandra Whitehouse of the Ocean Conservancy, Jan-Willem van den Dijssel of Cargill, the recently retired Jack Buono of SeaRiver Maritime, INTERCARGO’s Chairman Emeritus Nicky Pappadakis, and Michael Webber of Wells Fargo.
Tables for the NAMEPA Awards dinner, and tickets for the conference, may be obtained by going to www.namepa.net/upcoming-events/ or by calling (203) 255-4686. Admittance is by reservation only and is limited.
