At the North American Marine Environment Protection Association’s annual Awards dinner, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (which includes Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises), the world’s second largest cruise company, was the recipient of NAMEPA’s 2011 Marine Environment Protection Award. The award was presented following NAMEPA’s seminar on Corporate Risk Management, which focussed on the need of the maritime industry to evaluate risk in a challenging operating environment.
"It is an honor to be recognized by NAMEPA for our commitment to protect, conserve and support the environment. This award is for all the many Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. employees both on shore and on our ships for all of our brands, Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International, who work tirelessly to protect the marine environment. They are fully committed to caring for the unique and beautiful places we visit throughout the world," said Michele Nadeem, VP Global Corporate Communications, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. when accepting the award on behalf of the company.
The NAMEPA Marine Environment Protection Award is given in recognition of an individual or organization’s efforts on behalf of preserving the marine environment 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, and individuals and submissions are judged by the organization’s Board of Directors against the criteria behind the award.
Comments from the judges included “RCCL's efforts to educate their passengers through their comprehensive program "Save the Waves" program deserves special attention”, “Save the Waves program is changing "Hearts and Minds"...and preserving the marine environment for future generations to enjoy”; “RCCL's robust fuel consumption reduction and waste recycling programs have yield excellent results in reduced in GHG and shoreside disposal”; “RCCL’s commitment and efforts in protecting the environment clearly follow the ABCs...Above Basic Compliance.”
The first NAMEPA Marine Environment Protection Award was presented three years ago posthumously to the founder of the MEPA movement, George P. Livanos who created HELMEPA over 30 years ago due to his interest and concern for the marine environment. In 2009, the NAMEPA Award was presented to the United States Coast Guard and last year to liner company APL.