Americas News
Panama Canal Reaffirms Environmental Commitment at MEPC 71
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) today said that it reaffirm its committent to reducing shipping emissions and promoting environmentally friendly shipping practices at the International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) 71st session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 71) last week.
"Taking IMO’s new strategy into account, the Panama Canal remains committed to reducing its impact on the environment to combat global warming, as we have since the Canal was inaugurated 102 years ago," said Alexis Rodriguez, Environmental Protection Specialist at the Panama Canal.
ACP says that, in the expanded canal's first 12 months of operation, the route has contributed to a reduction of more than 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide - a more than 35 million tonne reduction when combined with the Panamax Locks.
"In addition to providing the same shorter route, the Expanded Canal's wider, longer and deeper lane has allowed more than 1,500 Neopanamax vessels to transit over the past year, providing greater cargo carrying capacity and requiring less cargo movements, thereby reducing costs, fuel consumption, and emissions," said ACP.
Last year, Ship & Bunker reported that ACP had launched a new environmental initiative, known as that Green Connection Award, which is given to carriers that make efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by meeting or exceeding IMO environmental standards and/or other globally held standards.
"More than 85 vessels have been honoured with a Green Connection Award and more than 275 vessels have qualified for the Environmental Premium Ranking since it was implemented in January 2017," said ACP.
