One of the pilot launches recently introduced to ABP’s Humber Estuary Services fleet which is more fuel efficient than its predecessors

One of the pilot launches recently introduced to ABP’s Humber Estuary Services fleet which is more fuel efficient than its predecessors

Associated British Ports (ABP) has been awarded an accolade for reducing its carbon footprint.

The company was officially certified with a Carbon Trust Standard for reducing its carbon emissions by 8.3 per cent between 2006 and 2008.

As the UK’s largest ports group, ABP is hoping other will follow in its green footsteps after gaining the accolade.

In order to qualify for the award, ABP was able to demonstrate examples of its good carbon management, such as the introduction of regional Resource Efficiency Groups that monitor and seek to reduce carbon emissions in all of ABP’s ports.

Investments in new facilities and equipment have also shown to result in efficiencies. For example, ABP’s Humber Estuary Services introduced three new pilot launches, which use 15 per cent less fuel than their predecessors.

Ian Schofield, ABP’s engineering director, said: “We are extremely pleased that we have been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of our carbon management. ABP has been recording carbon emissions across the group since 2002 and we report this information on an annual basis in our Corporate Responsibility Report. As well as reporting emissions, we have also been working hard to reduce emissions and have set annual targets since 2003.

“Receiving the Carbon Trust Standard will encourage staff across the group to keep up their hard work, and going forward we are looking to develop a carbon reduction strategy to continue this downward trend and increase efficiencies.”