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'Green' Tenant Recognized by Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners

Thursday, 03 September 2009
Contact: Barbara Moreno (619) 686-6216

Port of San Diego tenant Hornblower Cruises and Events received a special recognition at the Board of Port Commissioner’s meeting on September 1. The company was commended for their partnership with the Port and their promotion of Port tenants’ environmental stewardship efforts. The recognition came at the start of Green Port Month at the Port of San Diego.

On July 15, Hornblower launched their "Green Tour" of San Diego Bay. The daily cruise highlights environmental projects of Hornblower Cruises and Events, the Port of San Diego and the San Diego Port Tenants Association. Guests learn about local habitat restoration efforts, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building projects and clean energy ventures, such as the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina on Harbor Island, which uses fuel-cell technology.

Hornblower Cruises has partnered with the Port to provide their vessel, the Newport Hornblower, as a living laboratory in an EPA-funded study of copper-free paints that aims to minimize boating impact in the bay.

This is the first year a tenant has been recognized in this way.

"I'm so pleased that Hornblower is promoting an environmental message to the public as part of their tours around San Diego Bay. This really helps our mission at the Port to protect and enhance the Bay's unique and diverse environment,” said David Merk, Director of the Port’s Environmental Services Department.

“We are grateful for the special recognition from the Port of San Diego for Hornblower’s “green” initiatives & environmental projects. But as we say on our daily harbor tours, we are especially proud of the exciting environmental stewardship culture being cultivated by the Port of San Diego, and other enthusiastic port tenants,” said Jim Unger, Vice President of Hornblower Cruises and Events.

Unger said he plans to mount his plaque of recognition onboard the Adventure Hornblower.

The Green Port Program, established in early 2008, unifies the Port’s environmental sustainability goals in six key areas: water, energy, air, waste management, sustainable development, and sustainable business practices. Significant progress has been made in each area.

• Water: One area of focus within the Green Port Program is water conservation, and the Port has been working to decrease water usage and comply with regional Drought Alert conditions. Water efficient plumbing fixtures have been installed in the Port’s Administration Building. In addition, water wise landscaping has been installed at Spanish Landing Park on Harbor Island and Tidelands Park in Coronado.
• Energy: The Port is partnering with SDG&E on a dual photovoltaic system, which will provide solar power for the Broadway Pier development at the Cruise Ship Terminal. It is designed to include a 30 kW system owned by the Port and a 30 kW system owned by SDG&E. An additional 30 kW system was installed on the Administration Building. An LED lighting pilot project for the Administration Building’s parking lot is in development.
• Air: The Port’s Clean Air Program is focused on the implementation of initiatives to reduce air emissions. A voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction Program, which sets a 20 nautical mile reduced speed zone for cruise and cargo ships, was implemented in early spring 2009. Currently about 69 percent of the fleet is in compliance and participation is consistently increasing. This effort is estimated to have reduced the air pollutants from participating vessels by 10 percent.
• Waste Management: The Port continues to host electronic waste collection events for staff, which to date have diverted over 3 tons from the landfill. Additionally, a composting program was developed for the Port’s Administration Building and has diverted 2,000 pounds of food waste since the onset of the program in September 2008. The resulting compost is used by the Port Gardeners on landscaped areas throughout the tidelands, thereby decreasing the Port’s use of chemical fertilizer.
• Sustainable Development: The future Broadway Cruise Ship Terminal which is being built to meet LEED Silver certification standard featuring solar power with at least 25 percent more water & energy efficiency than a conventionally designed building; LEED-Existing building certification is being pursued for the Administration Building and the General Services Building.
• Sustainable Business Practices: Employee education is in ongoing. Over 500 Port staff has participated in a Green Port Program presentation, resulting in an average 47% increase in knowledge regarding the program. The Port’s award-winning Commuter Assistance Program provides employees with a 100% refund for trolley, train and bus passes. The Port’s Procurement Department has adopted an internal Sustainable Purchasing Policy.

Two Port employees were also recognized for consistently going above and beyond their assigned duties to help protect San Diego Bay’s environment. They were Sofia Bayardo, Park Permit Coordinator in the Communications and Community Services Department. She has worked closely with the Environmental Services Department to incorporate new environmental conditions into the park permitting process.

Pete Buddhu, Maintenance Supervisor of the Port's General Services, was recognized for significantly reducing the Port’s water use. He initiated a project to renovate all of the Administration Building’s restrooms to incorporate ultra low-flow fixtures, resulting in a 25 percent drop in the building’s water use this year.