US Viewpoint

GREEN CRUISING IN QUEBEC A KEY OBJECTIVE

For almost ten years Quebec Port Authority (QPA)'s sustainability agenda has been guided by chief executive officer Mario Girard, says Susan Parker

“One of my two objectives from the beginning was for the port to become leader in the world in sustainability,” says Mr Girard.

A founding member of Green Marine, the QPA has achieved the maximum score of five for three consecutive years. It was the first port in North America to achieve this level for total operations (2016) and also the first port to receive the North American Marine Environmental Protection Association award (2017).

However, Mr Girard is keen to point out that: “Sustainability is a never-ending process” and that the port is constantly moving forward.

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT

The commitment in this regard is demonstrated by its annual investment of about CAN$1.7 million into environmental measures across the entire port operation.

This year, for example, the port is collaborating with researchers from Laval University for the first study of air quality on cruise activities on the St Lawrence. It aligns with QPA's sustainable development action plan 2017-2022.

To some extent the port is already sharing air quality on a daily basis with its immediate community, having air quality stations situated around the quays. Noise is another potential source of disruption and, again, the port works with the community to reduce the impact. For example, all equipment must have white noise and forklift forks are coated with polyurethane to minimise the sound of fork contact with a pier.

SUSTAINABLE CRUISE

Whilst the cruise business is not the mainstay of the port's business, it is integrated as much as possible into the total operations.

The first Cruise Forum in 2014 brought stakeholders in the cruise business together “not only for the efficiency of the operation in terms of the customer, but also for what could be done for the environment.”

Even before the present pandemic, Mr Girard was questioning what the future should look like for the cruise industry and Unesco world heritage cities like Venice and Quebec, believing that these relationships need to be managed rather than changed. However, he tells GreenPortthat: “The environment is key.”

Whilst Transport Canada's decision to extend restrictions on

Before Covid-19 I think the number one challenge, in my personal view, was the environment. Now this is one of three challenges. The first being to adapt the cruise business for coronavirus for 2021/2022. The second is to regain the confidence of the customers that it remains safe and fun - Mario Girard

cruiseships with over 250 passengers calling until 31 October 2020 to limit the spread of Covid-19 means that Quebec has been denied its banner year of 158 calls plus 20 turnarounds, Mr Girard believes that the worldwide pause in cruise operations may result in some benefits.

“I think Covid-19 is a very good opportunity to take some time to reinvent the future of the cruise industry. It may take years, but we need to get there. Before Covid-19 I think the number one challenge, in my personal view, was the environment. How could we transform the industry to adapt? Now this is one of three challenges. The first being to adapt the cruise business for coronavirus for 2021/2022. The second is to regain the confidence of the customers that it remains safe and fun.”

Operationally, Quebec has some distinct advantages. It is already providing LNG to cargo vessels. Mr Girard says: “Tomorrow if there was a cruiseship ready with LNG, we are ready [with local partners Energir]. We have already looked at it operationally and have spoken with suppliers. It is possible.”

In addition, Quebec has clean energy electricity coming, as it does, from water. Hence all operations carried out at the pier, except for transportation, come from clean energy.

This makes the provision of shorepower a more attractive proposition than in places where the power source is, for example, from fossil fuels.

Mr Girard comments: “There seems to be a desire from the Minister of Tourism to provide shorepower but it is a chicken and and egg situation. We have to have enough ships to connect. Whilst the tonnage is going into the west coast right now, I think in five to ten years there will be more coming this way.”

Mr Girard has no doubt, however, that: “Whether LNG or shore power, it is coming for sure.”

8 Quebec Port

Authority is a founding member of Green Marine

8 Mario Girard