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The port of Seattle presented its first ever Green Gateway Partners Awards this week. The awards recognize the comprehensive environmental achievements of the port's cruise and containership operators. The award winners are APL Ltd., Maersk Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, Matson Navigation, and COSCO.

"Each of the companies recognized have demonstrated that you don't have to choose between the environment and the economy," said Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani. "We are proud to have customers and partners who succeed in both areas."

The name of the awards - Green Gateway Partners - compliments the port of Seattle's role as the Green Gateway for maritime trade between Asia and the American Heartland. A study released in 2009 showed that for cargo originating in much of Asia and bound for a wide range of destinations across the United States, routes through Seattle resulted in lower carbon emissions than other routes.

"These awards show the commitment of the Port and its customers to building Puget Sound's Green Gateway for trade and tourism," said Commissioner Gael Tarleton.

"Seattle's role as the Green Gateway is about much more than air emissions and maritime cargo. Through a variety of initiatives aimed at enhancing air and water quality, reducing waste and increasing recycling, the port and its partners at the Seaport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport advance sustainability across the board," the port of Seattle said in a statement.

"This award recognizes that everyone involved in global trade is responsible for a healthy environment," said Earl Agron, VP of Environmental Affairs at APL, who received a gold award. "We are grateful to the Port of Seattle and its CEO, Tay Yoshitani, for making that point clear."

The Green Gateway Partners Awards set as a minimum requirement participation in the port's At-Berth Clean Fuels program (ABC Fuels) or use of shore power. These and other environmental activities are assigned point values. Depending on the number of points earned, Green Gateway Partners can achieve one of three recognition levels - gold, silver or bronze. The awards and scoring system were carried out by a third party.

ABC Fuels

Vessels participating in ABC Fuels agree to use low sulphur fuel (0.5% or less) in their auxiliary engines while docked in Seattle. In exchange, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency helps defray the cost of the more expensive low sulphur fuel by providing participating vessels with $2,250 for each port call.