Panama Canal Launches Green Award System
The Panama Canal has announced the launch of the Green Connection Award, a new initiative to recognize customers who demonstrate excellent environmental stewardship.
According to MANA,The Panama Canal will evaluate eligible candidates based on specific environmental factors, such as the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), Environmental Ship Index (ESI), amount of nitrous oxides they emit due to engine performance, vessels powered by LNG and the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions they reduce by using of the Panama Canal compared to alternate routes.
The decision to establish the Green Connection Award is in line with the Canal’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, it said in announcing the new scheme. Over the last 101 years, the Canal has directly contributed to the reduction of 650 million tons of CO2 emissions. As a result of the shorter traveling distance and larger cargo carrying capacity that the Expanded Canal offers, it estimates that it will reduce an estimated of 160 million tons of CO2 emissions in the next 10 years.
The first Green Connection Award will be given to the first LNG ship to transit the expanded Canal early next week.