(KETCHIKAN, Alaska) –The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities was recently granted certification for all eleven Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ferries into the Passenger Vessel Association’s Green WATERS Program.

The Green WATERS (We Are Taking Environmental Responsibility/Stewardship) Program exists exclusively for the passenger vessel industry as a voluntary program aimed toward reducing waste and operating in a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable marine environment.

“Minimizing the impact on our natural environment is a responsibility that we take seriously. Participating in the Green WATERS Program is a significant achievement in our commitment to the environment,” said AMHS General Manager Captain John Falvey.

As a part of the certification process AMHS created a new Ship to Shore Environmental Guide to provide the policies and procedures necessary for staff to respond to environmental concerns quickly and efficiently. Other initiatives AMHS has implemented include:

• Fueling with ultra-low sulfur diesel
• The use of environmental acceptable lubricants on vessels
• A new program to streamline hazardous waste and material processing
• Using online reservations, email, and direct deposit to reduce paper waste
• Recycling plastic and paper products

Additional information about AMHS’ environmental commitment can be found online at dot.alaska.gov/amhs/who_we_are.shtml.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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