Port of Vancouver recognizes environment leadership through Blue Circle Awards

Date: 2025/06/03

June 3, 2025, Vancouver, BC:

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is proud to announce the winners of the Blue Circle Awards, which recognize the environmental leadership of terminals, tenants, marine operators, and cruise and shipping lines at the Port of Vancouver.

This year, terminals and tenants were once again recognized for their efforts to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions across the port, such as by replacing lights with lower-energy LEDs and reducing the energy intensity of their operations.

Nine shipping lines, six coastal marine operators and five cruise lines were also recognized at this year’s awards for their leadership in sustainability, such as by connecting to shore power and using alternative fuels and technologies like wind propulsion and battery-electric power.

New this year, the Special Mention category recognized two port operators that demonstrated early adoption of innovative actions or technologies. Saam Towage Canada was recognized for adopting electric tugs, while Oldendorff was recognized for the installation of wind-assisted rotors—both efforts that support reduced emissions at the Port of Vancouver.

"We are proud to recognize the leadership of many across our port community in advancing environmentally responsible trade,” said Peter Xotta, president and chief executive officer of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “From terminals and tenants to marine operators, shipping companies, and cruise lines—these vital partners keep Canada’s trade flowing through the Port of Vancouver every day, driving jobs and economic growth nationwide. We commend their commitment to ensuring this essential work is carried out sustainably."

The Blue Circle Awards were launched in 2009 and recognize Port of Vancouver operators and customers with the highest participation in the port authority’s EcoAction and Energy Action programs.

The EcoAction Program rewards shipping and cruise lines, and marine operators for taking measures to reduce their environmental footprint. Almost one-third of eligible calls to the Port of Vancouver qualify each year and receive harbour dues discounts for measures that reduce greenhouse gas and air contaminant emissions, and underwater noise.
The Energy Action Program, launched in partnership with BC Hydro, helps terminal operators and port tenants conserve energy . The initiative has helped implement more than 80 energy conservation projects across port lands to date—that's over 135 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy impact – enough to power over 15,500 houses annually.

Award highlights

Teekay, Cunard, DP World Fraser Surrey, SSA Lynnterm, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Annacis Auto Terminal are among the first-time winners of a Blue Circle award this year
BC Ferries, Saam Smit Towage and Seaspan ULC have won the award every year since 2017
Princess Cruises has been awarded a total of 14 times
HMM has won this award for 12 consecutive years since 2013
Evergreen Line has won an award for ten consecutive years since 2015
Disney Cruise Line received a Blue Circle Award every year it has homeported in Vancouver

Blue Circle Award recipients in the EcoAction Program category

Shipping Line recipients
Award acknowledges and celebrates shipping companies that have invested in technologies and practices that support a healthy environment and have the greatest fleet-wide participation in our EcoAction Program.

Evergreen Line
HMM
Hyundai Glovis
MOL Chemical Tankers Pte. Ltd.
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company
Pacific Basin
Teekay
TORM A/S
Yang Ming

Cruise Line recipients
Award acknowledges and celebrates shipping companies that have invested in technologies and practices that support a healthy environment and have the greatest fleet-wide participation in our EcoAction Program.

Cunard
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Princess Cruises
Silversea

Coast Marine Operator recipients
Award acknowledges and celebrates shipping companies that have invested in technologies and practices that support a healthy environment and have the greatest fleet-wide participation in our EcoAction program.

Amix Marine Services
BC Ferries
SAAM Towage
Seaspan ULC
North Arm Transportation
Tymac Launch Service

Energy Action Program recipients
Award acknowledges and celebrates an organization’s commitment to energy management.

DP World Vancouver Terminal
DP World Fraser Surrey
GCT Canada
Neptune Terminals
Seaspan Shipyards
SSA Lynnterm
Viterra Cascadia
Viterra Pacific Elevators
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Annacis Auto Terminal

Special mention
Award recognizes and rewards vessel operators that demonstrated early adoption of innovative actions or technologies.

Saam Towage Canada: For operating electric tugs at the Port of Vancouver. Of approximately 10 electric tugs in the world, Saam Towage owns and operates two at the Port of Vancouver.
Oldendorff: For the installation of Flettner Rotors on the Chinook Oldendorff. These rotors are wind assist and can reduce fuel consumption by up to 15%. This technology is innovative and has been installed on few vessels worldwide.

Media contact
Alanna Smith, Communications advisor
236.334.0577
Alanna.Smith@portvancouver.com

About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the Port of Vancouver
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is the arm's-length federal agency that stewards the lands and waters that make up the Port of Vancouver, alongside the enduring stewardship of First Nations. As a Canada Port Authority, it is accountable to the federal Minister of Transport and operates pursuant to the Canada Marine Act. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s purpose is to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver by being reliable and innovative, while protecting the environment. The port authority is structured as a non-share corporation, is financially self-sufficient and does not rely on tax dollars for operations. Revenues come from port terminals and tenants who lease port lands, and from port users who pay various fees such as harbour dues. Profits are reinvested in port operating services and infrastructure.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s gateway to diverse markets, enabling trade of approximately $350 billion every year with 170 countries. Located on the southwest coast of British Columbia in Canada, its 29 major deep-water terminals and more than 1,000 tenants move goods and people across five sectors (auto, bulk, breakbulk, container and cruise). The port is made up of approximately 16,000 ha of water, 1,500 ha of land and 350 km of shoreline, extending across Burrard Inlet, Fraser River and Roberts Bank. It borders 16 municipalities and intersects the traditional territories and treaty lands of more than 35 Coast Salish First Nations. The Port of Vancouver is the fourth largest port in North America by tonnage and handles almost as much cargo as Canada’s next five largest ports combined. Port operations sustain more than 132,000 supply chain and related jobs across Canada.