The Port of Sept-Îles

The Port of Sept-Îles will award a reduction on port dues to sea-going vessels certified by the Green Award Foundation effective from the 1st of January 2012.
With this decision the port of Sept-Îles, which aims at minimizing adverse environmental impacts and reducing environmental risk, affirms its commitment to the principles of its environmental policy.

The Port of Sept-Îles authority intends to provide a 10% reduction on the standard harbour fees for all ships certified by Green Award.

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.

During an official ceremony on the 17th January 2012, Jan Fransen (Managing Director, Green Award) handed over the Green Award flag and board to the port of Sept-Îles. From left to right: Mr. P.D. Gagnon (President and CEO, the port of Sept-Îles), Ms. M. D’Auteuil (Director, Sustainable development, the port of Sept-Îles), Mr. M.C. Soucy (Chairman of the Board, the port of Sept-Îles) and Mr. J. Fransen (Managing Director, Green Award foundation)

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.