Chairman Cordero Gives Keynote Address at Inaugural Conference on Creating an Environmentally Sustainable Maritime Industry

Chairman Cordero gave a keynote address at the Creating an Environmentally Sustainable Maritime Industry (CESMI) Conference on October 17, 2013. This inaugural event gathered maritime industry leaders, researchers, and government officials who are passionate about creating an environmentally sustainable maritime industry. The Conference was s hosted by the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce in Southern California.

Chairman Cordero introduced the audience to the work of the Federal Maritime Commission and the role it plays in facilitating agreements which allow ports to address environmentally sustainable operations.

The Chairman emphasized the need for the shipping industry to take a leadership role in developing environmentally sustainable practices. He also highlighted a number of initiatives the industry has already implemented to reduce air pollution such as slow steaming, shore power, low sulfur fuel, and use of Liquid Natural Gas. To facilitate further innovation, the FMC created an internal Maritime Environmental Committee (MEC) that serves as a clearinghouse for ports, terminal operators, and other industry participants – providing a forum for sharing information and discussion on industry environmentally sustainable practices.

The Chairman noted that as corporate social responsibility becomes increasingly prevalent within the maritime industry, the FMC stands as an active partner to further best practices related to sustainable development.