Greater Victoria Harbour Authority achieves Clean Marine BC four-anchor rating

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has achieved a four-anchor rating from Clean Marine BC for its marinas, increasing their eco-rating certification since the 2012 audit.

The Fisherman’s Wharf, Lower Causeway & Ship Point, Wharf Street and Johnson Street, and Mermaid’s Wharf marinas were awarded an overall score of 88.7% for their programs and initiatives that reduce environmental impacts such as education, fuel dock infrastructure, and waste management.

GVHA’s marinas are among a group of 21 throughout the province that have been eco-rated by Clean Marine BC, a voluntary marine industry program that provides marinas, boatyards, and other boating facilities with a program to reduce their environmental impacts and receive recognition for doing so.

“We are incredibly proud to have increased the Clean Marine BC eco-rating for our marinas around Victoria,” says Ian Robertson, CEO of GVHA. “For the past six years, GVHA operations team has worked diligently to implement a number of programs and initiatives to increase our environmental stewardship of Victoria’s harbour, educating our tenants and visitors and raising our eco-rating standing to four-anchors.”

GVHA applied to be a participant in Georgia Strait Alliance’s Clean Marine BC program in 2009 and has undergone audits by an independent organization in 2012 and 2015. Upon the original application, GVHA’s marinas were designated with a three-anchor rating. Since the 2012 audit, further initiatives and the development and implementation of programs have allowed GVHA’s marinas to increase their eco-rating from three to four-anchors.

While the four-anchor rating is an increase for GVHA compared to 2012, the authority intends to work toward five-anchor ratings for each of their marinas, addressing areas of improvement that include increasing environmental efficiencies at facility office operations, increased engagement and education with tenants, and a review of facility services and fuel dock technologies. The next audit of GVHA’s marinas will be in 2018.

For more information, visit http://www.gvha.ca/marinas-facilities.

About Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) is a not-for-profit organization governed by a local Board of Directors. It owns and operates deep water, marina and upland holdings throughout Victoria’s harbour including the large vessel Ogden Point port facility where a dynamic cruise tourism industry contributes over $100 million annually to the regional economy; Victoria’s renowned Fisherman’s Wharf float home community and small business hub; and the Inner Harbour’s luxury yacht and marine tourism facility at Ship Point. GVHA’s vision is a harbour where people live, learn, work and play; a spectacular gateway into Victoria’s past and into its future, monumental in look and feel, linking communities and all people together. www.gvha.ca

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Media contacts:
Brian Cant, Tartan Group:
250-592-3838, 250-888-8729 (cell) or brian@tartangroup.ca
Deirdre Campbell, Tartan Group:
250-592-3838, 250-882-9199 (cell) or deirdre@tartangroup.ca

For information on Clean Marine BC:
Christianne Wilhelmson, Georgia Strait Alliance:
604-633-0530, 604-862-7579 (cell) or christianne@georgiastrait.org