BC Ferries once again among the Green Wave Award recipients

On June 9, the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) honoured five companies for their outstanding participation in its Green Wave environmental incentive program in 2024. They include four past recipients COSCO, Yang Ming, Navigator Gas LLC, and BC Ferries, as well as SK Shipping, a new recipient.

BC Ferries qualifies for PRPA’s program through their many efforts to reduce air emissions and underwater noise, including their performance in the Green Marine certification program, which is one of the environmental program recognized by the port to qualify. For example, at Tier 1, the Green Wave requires a ship owner to reach Level 3 in Green Marine’s GHG performance indicator and at minimum a Level 2 in all other indicators. BC Ferries’ performance in the Green Marine program surpasses these requirements.

Introduced in 2013 to encourage shippers to voluntarily invest in sustainable practices, the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s Green Wave program has grown significantly in recent years. In 2024, 174 individual vessels qualified for the initiative, representing an 89 percent year-over-year increase. The program offers discounted harbour dues to commercial vessels that implement air emission and underwater noise reduction measures. A three-tiered criteria system is used to assess vessels based on technological innovation or performance in a recognized environmental program.

The Green Wave program contributes to two of PRPA’s environmental priorities: reducing air and carbon emissions related to port activities and reducing the impact of maritime shipping on marine mammals along British Columbia’s north coast – in part through noise reduction measures.