The Hamilton Port Authority (HPA) has announced that Hamilton-based McKeil Marine Limited is the recipient of the 2013 HPA Environmental Excellence Award, recognizing the company’s dedication to environmental stewardship.
“We are very pleased to recognize McKeil’s commitment to the environment with this year’s Environmental Excellence Award,” said HPA President & CEO Bruce Wood. “McKeil is a company that thrives on innovation, and brings that spirit to every aspect of its business.We are very proud to have McKeil as a Hamilton Port Partner, and we greatly value the company’s leadership on environmental matters.”
McKeil Marine is a committed and enthusiastic supporter of numerous environmental initiatives aimed at protecting water quality, reducing fuel consumption, and trimming the carbon footprint of its marine fleet.
McKeil was one of the first companies in North America to install a leading-edge fuel optimizing technology on three vessels in its growing fleet. The installation produced a fuel savings of more than 30%, along with significantly reduced pollution and CO2 emissions.
McKeil Marine is also a founding member of Green Marine, an industry-leading program to improve environmental performance in the maritime sector. “We are constantly seeking new opportunities to find efficiencies in the operation of our fleet,” said McKeil president Steve Fletcher. “Reducing our carbon footprint and passing on savings to our customers combine for very positive impact.We’ve demonstrated our ability to streamline customer supply chains in current cargo movements and work hard to continually devise new ways to further this effort.”
McKeil has selected the Bay Area Restoration Council (BARC) to receive a $5,000 donation on the company’s behalf, provided as part of the award through HPA’s environmental trust fund. BARC has been a leading voice in the effort to restore and protect Hamilton Harbour since 1994.
“Industrial environmental stewardship has been a key aspect of Hamilton Harbour remediation, and we congratulate McKeil Marine Ltd. for its leadership at the
waterfront and on the water,” said Chris McLaughlin, Executive Director, BARC.“We are honoured to have been chosen, and this gift will support the child and youth educational programming that helps BARC ensure the next generation has the knowledge and skills to continue to ‘bring back the Bay’ and keep it that way.”
The Fuel Optimizing System, used by McKeil Marine to minimize the fuel consumption and air pollution and also maximize the ships’ profitability, was designed and installed by Pronova Systems Inc. of Laval, Quebec. “We applaud the vision of McKeil’s leadership, and the input of its knowledgeable team in helping customize the system that meets the needs of McKeil’s fleet, and produces excellent results,” said Stefan Stan, President of Pronova Systems.
McKeil Marine Limited is a tug and barge operator servicing the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, East Coast and Canadian Arctic. Since 1956 the company has provided innovative marine solutions for customers in transportation and project services. Headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario, McKeil Marine also has offices in Montreal, QC and St. John’s, NL.
The Port of Hamilton is the largest Canadian port on the Great Lakes in terms of both size and cargo handled. The Hamilton Port Authority’s strategic vision is to be the Great Lakes port of choice.