Seaworthy News Summer | 2022

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Marine Environment Protection Awards

NAMEPA annually recognizes companies, educators, associations, government agencies, academic institutions and individuals whose efforts support our mission to Save Our Seas. Entries for the 2022 MEP awards are being accepted through September 1st. Awards will be presented at NAMEPA's 15th Anniversary Annual Conference and Awards Program on October 27th. Click here to submit your nomination!

Celebrate NAMEPA's 15th Anniversary!

Every Action Counts With 71% of our planet comprised of water, the ever-increasing issue of marine pollution is of great concern to all life – and can only be successfully addressed by action at every level – from the individual up through global coordination. Join NAMEPA as we continue to celebrate how action is: Inspired by individuals Reverberated through communities Innovatively led by corporations Guided by the United Nations Become a Member Today!

Lunch N' Learn with Ecochlor NAMEPA visited corporate member, Ecochlor, for a corporate Lunch N' Learn to deepen their team's knowledge around protecting the marine environment and plan for its global beach clean-up in September!

Don't forget to place your 15th Anniversary order!

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Maritime Industry

Upcoming Industry Events  NYC Climate Week 9/19 - 9/25  SHIPPINGInsight: Decade of Demand 10/11-10/13 NAMEPA Annual Conference & Awards Program 10/27 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) 11/6 - 11/19 Clean Gulf Conference & Exhibition 11/8 - 11/10 Become a NAMEPA Member Today!  Help us #SaveOurSeas Participate Collaborate Activate  Contact Gail at [email protected] to become a NAMEPA Member Collisions Between Ships & Whales As international maritime traffic continues to grow and the speed of ships increase, the risk of collisions is also increasing, with serious consequences for species such as whales.  All whales are considered to be sensitive to ship strikes. Reports of ship collisions have been recorded for at least 21 species of large whales, with the occurrence of strikes happening in coastal areas. For example, the endangered North Atlantic right whale is too slow or buoyant to swim away from ships or unaware of its surrounding. With less than 400 right whales remaining in the North Atlantic (2010), this population is in danger. This is evident as since 1991, about half of all recorded right whale deaths have been attributed to ship strikes.   Motorized vessel collisions with whales appear to have begun late in the 1800s and remained infrequent until the 1950s. The earliest known account involved the steamship Munroe in the United States in 1887. From 1975 to 2002 there were nearly 300 documented cases, with the actual number of strikes much higher, as many go undocumented or unreported.   Collisions are a significant source of mortality for some whale populations with the worldwide frequency of collisions increasing. The highest number of incidents have been reported for fin whales, northern and southern right whales, sperm whales and humpback whales.   Ship strikes may occur anywhere where vessel and whale distribution overlap, especially coastal urban areas in the proximity of whale feeding or breeding grounds. Injuries to whales take two forms: propeller wounds and blunt trauma injuries.   While the impact of ship collisions on whale species is not sufficiently documented, regulations to reduce the threat of ship strikes have been implemented by the USA and Canada. In addition, companies like CMA CGM have taken precautions. CMA CGM recently announced the deployment of the first buoys that will aid in the protection of endangered North Atlantic right whales from ship strikes along the U.S. East Coast.  To learn more about collisions between ships and whales, check out NAMEPA’s MARPOL program.

Dominion Energy Receives State Approval of Virginia Offshore Wind Farm - The Maritime Executive

Dominion Energy cleared the next to last step in the permitting process to begin the construction and operation for what is currently the largest planned offshore wind project in the United States. The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project represents a clean-energy investment of approximately $9.8 billion, and due to be completed in 2026 is seen as a model for the future development of the industry in the U.S. The Virginia State Corporation Commission granted approval last week for the project. The final order from the SCC affirms that the project meets all Virginia statutory requirements for rider cost recovery and the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the onshore infrastructure. The order also includes a performance requirement, and granted approval for approximately 17 miles of new transmission lines and other onshore infrastructure needed to deliver the clean, renewable energy offshore to homes and businesses across Virginia. . . READ MORE

ESG 101 Workshop: Corporate Maritime Sustainability

The use of ESG as a tool for measuring companies and their performance is widely recognized as important, but there is still a lack of understanding of its principles and benefits. To overcome this, NAMEPA has launched its ESG 101 Workshop for promoting Corporate Maritime Sustainability. This workshop is the first in a series of webinars illuminating the benefits of adopting ESG performance attributes and how to prepare your company to be certified in ESG metrics designed specifically for the maritime industry. Participants who receive their ESG certificate are enabled to progress forward with NAMEPA's MaritimESG program. The program is open to NAMEPA members, nonmembers and all maritime stakeholders who wish to understand more about Environmental, Social and Governance in the Maritime Industry. The ESG101 workshop is offered monthly. Click here to learn more about this workshop!

Education & Outreach

Coast to Coast Education The NAMEPA education team had an exciting summer engaging and educating students of all ages on the marine environment! Planet Ocean Discovery Series (PODS) : Coastal Habitats with LASUD NAMEPA partnered with University of Southern California Sea Grant (USC Sea Grant) and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to introduce K-8 students to coastal habitats. Students explored wetlands, coral reefs and mangrove forests while learning about the diverse species that call these habitats home! Students investigated ecosystem threats such as habitat loss and marine debris while spotlighting solutions to become better ocean stewards! Stamford Boys & Girls Club NAMEPA was honored to join the Boys and Girls at both Yerwood and Stillwater clubhouses. Members were incredibly enthusiastic to learn about the marine environment. We started to explore the environment by asking members about their relationship with their local beach. We discussed biodiversity and how their local estuary, Long Island Sound, is home to a variety of species! We discussed the importance of bivalves and the threat of ocean acidification by investigating what would happen if bivalves disappeared. Even as young students, members learned they can make a difference for their environment and ultimately, the world. YMCA Camp Laurel Mountain NAMEPA had the opportunity to work with campers Camp Laurel Mountain's day camp. Campers in grades K-8 were introduced to the marine environment and explored what it means to be ocean stewards through interactive games and activities.  Want to partner with NAMEPA on education initiatives? Contact Molly at [email protected] Upcoming Education Events 9th Annual Marine Science Scholarship Competition 6/1 - 9/14 North American Association for Environmental Education Annual Conference 10/12-10/15 Teaching With Small Boats Alliance International Conference 11/3-11/5 Webinar Recaps Click the links below for takeaways from each webinar! Safety at Sea and AMVER & Benkert Awards Marine Operations Seminar Impacts of COVID-19 on the Maritime Industry The Trouble with Lionfish Submerged NC: How a NOAA-led Team Recovered USS Monitor’s Most Famous Components NOAA: National Marine Sanctuaries

Summer Education & Outreach Interns

NAMEPA was thrilled to welcome six interns this summer! Teagan, Ryan, Val, Maddie, Nadia & Marchela supported our summer outreach by facilitating our education programs and program initiatives! Together, they developed a new educational resource for students grades 6-12 to explore the maritime industry and updated NAMEPA educational materials used by educators around the world. We appreciate their hard work to Save Our Seas and wish them all the best in the future! Interested in a NAMEPA internship? Learn more at www.namepa.net/education/internship

I had the pleasure to work for the North American Marine Environmental Protection Association (NAMEPA) this summer and let me say this: I loved it! On my first day, I was nervous about how I would fit in. But after I walked in the door I immediately felt at ease when I started talking to the NAMEPA team. Every day that I came into the office I was greeted by the smiling faces of people who wanted nothing more but to be helpful.  Ryan B. Education & Outreach Intern Summer 2022

Before my internship I knew how shipping containers and seafarers transported massive amounts of goods throughout the world, but I really had no idea about the intricacies, the various technologies, or the industry's achievements in sustainability. Interning with NAMEPA was the best thing I could’ve done to learn more about the maritime industry. It led me to realize how immense and important the shipping industry is. Teagan C. Education & Outreach Intern Spring, Summer 2022

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North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.