Coast Guard Honors Protectors of Marine Environment
The U.S. Coast Guard announced the seven recipients of the 2010 Biennial Rear Adm. William M. Benkert, Marine Environmental Protection Award for Excellence, during an awards program at the American Petroleum Institute Tanker Conference held in San Diego.
The award recognizes companies involved in marine facility or vessel operations that have demonstrated sustained excellence and outstanding achievement in protecting the marine environment. It also encourages innovations in operations, maintenance, cargo handling, refueling, training, and provides a means for award recipients to share their successful methods and techniques with others in industry.
Receiving the 2010 Biennial Rear Adm. William M. Benkert, Marine Environmental Protection Award for Excellence are:
• Alaska Chadux of Anchorage Alaska, received the Osprey award in the category of special small.
• Norwegian Cruise Lines, of Miami; Marathon Petroleum Company, of Nashville, Tenn.; and Holland America, of Seattle, received the Gold award. Norwegian Cruise Lines and Holland America were in the foreign vessel category and Marathon Petroleum Company was in the large facility category.
• Pacific Whale of Wailuku, Hawaii, and General Dynamics NASSCO, of San Diego, received the Bronze award in the category of large vessel and large facility, respectively.
• Eagle Marine Services of San Pedro, Calif., received honorable mention in the large facility category.
“I commend the maritime industry for their sustained efforts to minimize the environmental impacts of their operations,” said Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area. “Given the global economic downturn, their work over the past two years is particularly noteworthy.”
