Hovertravel has become the first UK domestic ferry to earn Green Marine Accreditation in Europe.
Brendan Beattie, Hovertravel’s Marine Safety and Environmental Officer, said: “We’re delighted to gain Green Marine accreditation and to be the first domestic ferry in the country to achieve this. This shows that transport companies in general, and ferry companies specifically, can make changes which will have numerous benefits for them, the community and the environment.”
Green Marine is the leading environmental certification program for Europe’s maritime industry. It is a voluntary initiative that helps its participants to improve their environmental performance beyond regulations. Green Marine targets key environmental issues related to air, water and soil quality, and community relations.
To obtain the Green Marine certification, Hovertravel agreed to strict external verification conditions. The company must submit its results to third-party verification for an initial verification within every two years, and every subsequent two years, by using a Green Marine accredited verifier. This verification process includes on-site visits and verification of the company’s documented proof/justification.
The awarding of Green Marine Accreditation is acknowledgement of the efforts of Hovertravel’s sustainability initiative, Hover Green. This initiative recognises that it has a responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements. Hovertravel is committed to reducing its environmental impact and continually improving environmental performance as an integral part of its business strategy and operating methods. In January of this year Hovertravel certified to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard, which is independently verified by the British Assessment Bureau.
