The Port of Hueneme concluded the annual recertification process to maintain their Green Marine certification, reporting even greener scores than last year, and is pushing ahead with environmental initiatives and projects.
“We approach our strategic planning, construction projects, and day-to-day operations with the goal of strengthening our community through creating good paying jobs and a clean environment, these go hand in hand for us,” said Oxnard Harbor District President Mary Anne Rooney. “This would not be possible without the support and collaboration of our community and local stakeholders who partner with us to implement innovative and cutting-edge strategies and projects.”
The Port has brought in eco-friendly pilings, made from composite recycled plastic as opposed to the traditional wood pilings, to be used in the upcoming Port deepening project. Such efforts protect the marine life in the harbor, and provides long-term pilings to hold up the wharves as the harbor deepens to 40 feet. Additionally, the Port’s customers have been utilizing the shoreside power system since 2016, which allows ships to plug into electricity while in Port and turn off their diesel burning engines as cargo is unloaded.
“Since becoming Green Marine certified last year, we have been successful in implementing new technologies and best practices at the Port including a new zero waste policy, phasing in high mast LED lighting to reduce energy use and light pollution, overhauling a harbor patrol boat to reduce emissions, switching to compostable supplies, and hosting zero waste events,” said CEO & Port Director, and CAPA President, Kristin Decas. “We have also been pursuing new grant opportunities to help the Port build greener infrastructure and procure zero-emission cargo handling equipment.”