In recognition of its environmental leadership, Holland America Line was recently honored with a gold 2010 Rear Admiral William M. Benkert Environmental Protection Award from the U.S. Coast Guard, was named World's Leading Green Cruise Line at the World Travel Awards in London and received a Blue Circle Award from the Port of Vancouver.
The U.S. Coast Guard Benkert Award was bestowed by a panel of experts based on a thorough review of the line's comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship. Nominations for the World Travel Awards featured 5,000 companies from 162 countries across 1,000 categories. The winners were selected by thousands of industry professionals and consumers worldwide who voted online. Under Port Metro Vancouver's EcoAction Program for Shipping, the Blue Circle Award is a recognition reserved for only the highest emissions-reduction achievements.
"We work diligently every day to reduce Holland America Line's ecological footprint, and these awards validate our fleetwide efforts," said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. "We are grateful that the U.S. Coast Guard and our travel industry and seaport partners appreciate our commitment to the environment and have recognized our dedication to environmental stewardship with these awards."
Holland America Line is a leader in environmental initiatives in the cruise industry with its comprehensive approach to managing impacts and reducing its overall carbon footprint. The line's Environmental Management System was certified in 2006 and recertified in 2009. The company works diligently to conserve fuel and water, employs the latest technologies for wastewater and oily bilge water treatment, and uses innovative strategies to reduce and manage its solid waste stream. Holland America Line also is an industry leader in exploring new environmental initiatives such as a whale conservation and protection program and using shore power in a growing number of ports.
The William M. Benkert Award is the premier marine environmental protection award presented by the Coast Guard to members of the marine industry. This biennial award recognizes organizations for outstanding achievements in all aspects of marine environmental protection. The award was created to recognize outstanding achievements in marine environmental protection that go beyond mere compliance with industrial and regulatory standards.
The World Travel Awards were developed in 1993 to celebrate excellence and achievement in the travel and tourism industry, and winners comprise a "who's who" of the travel community. The "Wall Street Journal" has called the awards the "Oscars of the travel and tourism industry."
The Blue Circle Awards honor a company's efforts to reduce air emissions, depending on the quality of fuel used and overall emission reductions.
