Environmental sustainability initiatives enhance smart growth
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Leading the way on sustainability initiatives, big and small, is what makes JAXPORT a port of the future.
TOTE, a mainstay ocean carrier serving the Caribbean and Alaskan trade lanes, and Shoreside Logistics, a fixture of JAXPORT drayage and warehousing, are two of the latest examples of sustainability leadership.
TOTE: Focusing on Alternative Fuels and Sustainability Benchmarking
TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico introduced the world’s first emissions-reducing liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containership in 2015. Since then, they have added an additional LNG vessel to their fleet servicing Puerto Rico and converted two formerly diesel-powered vessels servicing Alaska.
According to Chris Willman, Vice President of Commercial at TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, these moves are the result of TOTE’s mission to comply with clean air regulations and to remain an industry leader in sustainability initiatives. “Being an early adopter of LNG, TOTE has consistently met the evermore stringent regulations governing air quality while supporting our customers and partners that have their own sustainability goals.”
To help TOTE customers achieve key performance indicators of their own environmental social governance initiatives, TOTE recently joined the Green Marine initiative. This rigorous, voluntary environmental certification program audits 15 key areas and requires companies to demonstrate continuous improvement.
“More and more customers are looking at sustainability and what we are doing in that space,” Willman said. “Pursuing Green Marine certification allows us to have clear benchmarks in place and share more data with our customers so they understand our continued commitment to sustainability.”
Willman said that commitment extends beyond the fleet. It includes leading initiatives to treat wastewater, reduce truckers’ idle time in terminals, recycle, and continuously improve. “For us, it’s how we strive to get better in what we are doing in our own fleet and with the assets we have designed and to continue innovating to ensure we are delivering value-added service for our customers.”
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Shoreside Logistics: Sustainability Guides Growth Initiatives and Investment
Shoreside Logistics’ commitment to JAXPORT and the Jacksonville community guides their investments and exemplifies the smart growth that enhances JAXPORT’s position as a port of the future.
Recently, Shoreside invested over $4 million to replace 70 percent of its company trucking fleet with Peterbilt tractors with engines featuring advanced systems that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter.
The trucks they replaced—like many used in drayage—were older and not up to today’s emission standards, according to Shoreside Logistics President Tim Nelson. “I used to say drayage is where old trucks go to die,” Nelson says. “We’re trying to be at the front of the line in leading the change to better equipment.”
The new trucks have the technology to reduce emissions produced while idling—a large concern at ports. They’ll also increase fuel efficiency by two miles per gallon compared to the old trucks, according to Shoreside.
The upgrade complements Shoreside’s sustainable warehouse strategy that places its three warehouses within five miles of JAXPORT. Their newly-built third facility is a model of sustainability with features like energy-efficient LED lights (260 in all) and battery-powered forklifts, machinery that’s coming to all Shoreside facilities in 2024.
As more eco-friendly improvements are made at JAXPORT and throughout the industry, Jacksonville’s port community is better positioned to serve shippers and cargo owners with a cleaner supply chain.
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Story by Conrad Winter
Edited by Kimberly Norman
Design by Andre Carriere
