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Spanish firm Cepsa has been recognized for the PR campaign for its Reina Sofia Project in Huelva, Spain, which has resulted in a reduction in mooring hours and fuel consumption for ships. The company won the 2016 IPRA Golden World Award in the technology category for the project's communication programme.

The IPRA Golden World awards, presented by the International Public Relations Association, are considered to be one of most prestigious corporate communication awards in the world. In this edition, there were over 2,000 nominations in the various categories.

The Reina Sofia Project is a concept developed and patented by Cepsa, installed in 2015 at the Port of Huelva, based on a pioneering loading and unloading system for petrochemical products. The Quay Reel system by Techflow Marine Ltd and Cepsa consists of a specialized set of hoses that allows different products to be loaded simultaneously, while also enhancing the flow of the pump.

According to Cepsa, the system enables loading and unloading times to be reduced by between 50 and 60 percent, saving more than 2,160 hours of mooring time a year and reducing the occupation of port facilities by 20 percent.

The technology is said to have provided improvements in operational efficiency, safety, and environmental impact. In the first year, Cepsa says the reduction in mooring hours has meant that ships have consumed 625 tonnes less of fuel, cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2,000 tonnes. Furthermore, the possibility of any fuel spillage into the sea is said to have been reduced to a minimum due to a new hose coupling security system.

A link to further details about the Quay Reel tanker loading and unloading system has been provided below.

www.techflowmarine.com/products/quay-reel-loading-system/

"Having the ability to convey through the media the innovative, sustainable, advanced and complex nature of a project like this one to institutions and society has been a challenge for the communication team. The program's success stems from integrating the communication into the project since its inception, from our understanding of the needs and goals of the business and the trust and collaboration that it has given us throughout the process. That the programme has won this prestigious award is a motivation to continue working seamlessly with Cepsa's business and functions, with a clear service orientation," said Teresa Manueco, Head of Communications, Foreign Institutions and Corporate Responsibility at Cepsa.