Marine Log - February 2009 - (Page 29) WANTED: A MARINE LEED CERTIFICATION hile the marine industry has adopted several ways to denote a vessel’s environmental friendliness, it has not yet developed a certification standard akin to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) process. One of those advocating the development of a marine LEED as a “green yardstick” is John Waterhouse, president of Seattle-based naval architects Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG). “As an industry we have to start looking at the whole picture when we are building a vessel,” says Waterhouse. EBDG has worked extensively in green vessel designs, including hybrid tugs and ferries. At the 2007 Tugnology Conference, Waterhouse called for a marine LEED process that he dubbed Significant Environmental Awareness and Stewardship (SEAS) certification. The proposed core credit areas for SEAS would include: (1) Construction site (environmental programs at the shipyard); (2) Propulsive efficiency (innovative hull forms, propulsion configuration, coating systems); (3) Emissions (engine exhaust, cooling water, sewage effluent); (4) Materials and Resources (recycled content, low-embodied energy, low maintenance); (5) Human Factors Engineering (ergonometric design, indoor environmental quality, safety features). Process and Design Innovation (manufacturing techniques, testing and analysis, performance challenges) would also be rewarded. Green vessels built to SEAS certification could potentially benefit from lower ports fees, trade emission credits, receive funding assistance from ports, and receive bid preference on certain contracts. To push the effort forward, Waterhouse would like to see an international study team created and funding obtained for the SEAS development. It would also need the backing of a host organization, such as IMO, IACS, RINA or SNAME. Certification guidelines and a scoring formula would have to be developed, along with protocols for project submittal and review. W www.marinelog.com FEBRUARY 2009 MARINE LOG 29 http://www.marinelog.com
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