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The Port of Seatle has signed on as a participant in Green Marine, the largest voluntary environmental program for the maritime industry in North America. The US port becomes the first U.S. port outside of the Great Lakes region to join Green Marine.

Green Marine is a transparent and inclusive program that addresses nine key environmental issues including air emissions, community impacts (noise, dust, light) and environmental leadership. The program encourages its participants - ship owners, ports, terminals and shipyards - to reduce their environmental footprint by taking concrete actions.

In a statement, Port of Seattle said: "Green Marine relevance and credibility is proven through its growing number of supporters: more than 40 environmental groups and government departments/agencies have endorsed and helped shape the environmental program, along with representatives from the academic sector and the marine industry."

"Green Marine's goal of continuous improvement is also at the core of our commitment towards sustainability", remarked Port of Seattle CEO, Tay Yoshitani. In 2007, he communicated his vision for the future: to become the cleanest, greenest, most energy efficient port in the nation. The port markets itself as the 'Green Gateway' - offering the lowest carbon footprint for cargo shipped by sea and then rail from Asia to the Midwest.

"Our tagline, 'Where a sustainable world is headed' communicates that goal and the port's many environmental programs are designed for real benefits to the community and a competitive edge for our customers", added Linda Styrk, Seaport Managing Director at the Port of Seattle.

The Port of Seattle is also working with Port Metro Vancouver and Port of Tacoma to address port-related contributions to air quality and climate change in the Georgia Basin Puget Sound air shed through the Northwest Port's Clean Air Strategy.

"Being the 8th largest U.S. port in 2012 in terms of TEUs while implementing proactive measures to reduce its environmental footprint, Port of Seattle plays a key role in showing how sustainable port operations are within reach and that is exactly the message and vision Green Marine wishes to convey to all marine industry's stakeholders," stated Green Marine Executive Director, David Bolduc.

He cited the 25-year environmental goals set by Port of Seattle in 2011, such as reducing air pollutant emissions by 50% from 2005 levels, as best practice examples to be shared with other Green Marine participants.