A division of Crowley Maritime Corp. received the Department of Ecology's (Ecology) highest award today for excellence in tank-vessel marine safety and environmental stewardship.
The Exceptional Compliance Program (ECOPRO) Award recognizes Crowley's Marine Transport Corp. subsidiary for its fleet of four articulated tug barges (ATBs). A specially equipped tug locks into a notch in the double-hulled barge's stern to create a single, hinged vessel. The set-up reduces the chances of the barge breaking loose and spilling oil, and provides a higher overall level of safety, reliability and efficiency.
The voluntary spill-prevention program for tanker and tank-barge fleets requires member companies to meet 26 marine safety standards, among the world's most stringent. The standards include operating procedures, personnel policies, management programs and marine safety technology.
"By meeting our toughest voluntary standards, Crowley demonstrates a firm commitment to the environment," said Dale Jensen, who manages Ecology's spill prevention, preparedness and response program, and presented the award in Seattle today. "Achieving membership in ECOPRO places Crowley among the international elite of tank-vessel owners and operators."
"We are very appreciative of this special recognition and of the work done by Ecology to raise environmental protection standards for the whole industry," said Thomas Crowley, Jr., Crowley Maritime's chairman, president and chief executive officer, who accepted the award for the company. "Crowley has operated in Puget Sound since 1923, and it's special to us because we live and work here. We have always believed that high environmental standards benefit our company."
Crowley ATBs regularly transit Puget Sound with refined petroleum products that are delivered to petroleum terminals up and down the West Coast. The company has six more ATBs under construction or on order, which feature even more technological and environmental safety improvements.
Crowley joins five other tanker and tank-barge operators from around the world that have earned ECOPRO recognition from Ecology since 1999. Tankers and tank barges operated by ECOPRO members undergo Ecology inspections and companies must renew their membership every three years.