Bellingham Marine, Australia’s largest marina manufacturer and international industry leader, is the world’s first marina manufacturer to embrace carbon reduction and become certified under the Low Carbon Marina Initiative. The Initiative is administered by the Carbon Reduction Institute and the Marina Industries Association of Australia.Bellingham Marine, proudly Australia’s largest marina manufacturer, can now also claim to be the world’s first marine manufacturer to take action on climate change and become LowCO2 certified. This comes as a result of the recent launch of the Low Carbon Marina Initiative, designed to provide the marina industry with an action plan against global warming. The Initiative is a joint venture between Carbon Reduction Institute (CRI) and the Marina Industries Association of Australia.
Bellingham Marine had its climate change impact assessed by CRI and implemented measures to reduce its carbon emissions. The marina manufacturer also offsets emissions with certified carbon credits.
As international industry leader and builder of the current Marina of the Year in Australia (Soldiers Point Marina, which incidentally is NoCO2 Certified) and in Asia (Keppel Bay Marina Singapore), Bellingham Marina issues a strong environmental message with its move towards low carbon practices.
“Something is happening to our climate and it is time that we wake up and realise that we, as humans, may be the cause”, Bellingham Marine General Manager John Spragg said. “At Bellingham, we firmly believe that we have to leave the planet in a better shape than we received it when we were born.”
He continues: “I have never been to an ugly place where a marina has been built, they are generally built in stunning locations, and we need to make sure the planet is looked after so we can still see these facilities and use them in the future.”
Rob Cawthorne, Managing Director of the Carbon Reduction Institute, says Bellingham’s LowCO2 certification means that the Australian marina industry is now a global leader towards more environmentally sound practices and cleaner waters. “This is not just another business reducing its carbon footprint; it is the beginning of a whole new era where climate change action is taken to a higher level. The Australian marina industry will be recognised internationally for their leadership on such an important issue”, he said.
John Spragg commented: “We have always been environmentally conscious. That’s why we didn’t hesitate when we were given the chance to lead this important global movement which will determine our future. Most of our clients are still getting their heads around the low carbon concept, but those who have embraced it are extremely supportive. We are proud that we have become a low carbon business even before our head office in the US, who are still going through the assessment process.”
With over 50 years of industry experience, and having built more marinas than anyone else in the world, Bellingham Marine believe that leading the Low Carbon Marina Initiative will help the environment on a large scale. “Carbon Reduction is a very beneficial initiative as it may help every person on the globe”, John remarked. “We all need to ensure our environment is improved for those who follow us, and we see the reduction of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere a project for each and every one of us. I sincerely hope our competitors in the marina manufacturing industry follow our lead”.
Bellingham Marina is now prominently featured on the CRI website www.noco2.com.au. Other marinas and industry associates are recognising the advantages of taking part in the Initiative and have signed up to have their carbon footprint calculated.
For more information about Bellingham Marine, please visit their website www.bellingham-marine.com.au.
