Image by Cheryl Onciul-GSA.
Located in Victoria Harbour, the luxury Victoria International Marina has earned the top-anchor rating in Georgia Strait Alliance’s Clean Marine BC program.
Clean Marine BC (CMBC) is a voluntary environmental recognition program for marinas, harbour authorities, yacht clubs, and boatyards. It works with boating facilities to implement and improve upon environmental best practices in order to reduce the impact of recreational boating on the Strait of Georgia and beyond.
The five-anchor rating, achieved by the marina in its first-ever certification, reflects excellence in operational standards as well as environmental initiatives. These range from a well-documented emergency response plan and LED dock lighting with photocells, to sponsoring reef balls, eelgrass transplants and supporting local ecotourism.
Craig Norris, CEO of the Victoria International Marina, says; “Having Environmental Science as my degree and life’s work, I am privileged to represent an ownership group that allowed our team to do the right thing from the beginning. Recognition by Clean Marine BC is an honour, a milestone, and a feather that will be proudly displayed in our caps.”
Steve Sinclair, Director of Operations at the Victoria International Marina, says; “We know that how we run our operations can minimize the impact that our facility has on the environment and on the water around us. This is important to us and it’s important to our clients. From the ground up, and from the docks and beyond, we weave an environmental perspective into all aspects of our business operations.”
Certification highlights of the Victoria International Marina include:
- First marina built following Clean Marine BC recommended best practices
- Mandatory sewage holding tanks for moorage customers
- Onsite pump-out facility, with access at all dock areas
- Docks constructed of concrete with encapsulated flotation
- Encapsulated steel pilings installed instead of toxic creosote-treated wood pilings
- Limited boat maintenance activities permitted on site
- Fireplace fueled by bioethanol
Christianne Wilhelmson, Executive Director of Georgia Strait Alliance, which runs the CMBC program, says; “It’s wonderful to see that Victoria International Marina made minimal disturbance to the environment a priority from the onset. The facility’s commitment is evident by its remarkable achievement of receiving the top-anchor rating in Clean Marine BC.”
With the certification of the Victoria International Marina, there are 32 marinas, boatyards, yacht club facilities, and harbour authority docks that fly the Clean Marine BC flag.
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L-R: Steve Sinclair, Director of Operations, Victoria International Marina; and Georgia Strait Alliance’s Michelle Young, Clean Marine BC Coordinator; and Christianne Wilhemson, Executive Director. Photo Credit: Cheryl Onciul-Georgia Strait Alliance.
About the Clean Marine BC (CMBC) program
CMBC is a voluntary eco-certification program that recognizes marinas and other boating facilities for environmental best practices, and assists them in making improvements to minimize the impacts of recreational boating. There are now 32 Clean Marine BC certified marinas, yacht clubs, boatyards and harbour authority wharfs, and another 23 facilities have adopted the Clean Marine BC policy and are working towards certification.
About Victoria International Marina
The Victoria International Marina is Canada’s first purpose-built luxury yacht marina. It is a division of Community Marine Concepts Ltd., which focuses on developing, acquiring, managing, and servicing coastal properties that showcase the remarkable Pacific marine lifestyle, www.vimarina.ca
About Georgia Strait Alliance
Formed in 1990, Georgia Strait Alliance is the only conservation group working to protect and restore the marine environment and promote the sustainability of Georgia Strait, its adjoining waters and communities, www.georgiastrait.org