PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: TOTE wins environmental award

Totem Ocean Trailer Express has received the 2005 Washington Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices.

The Washington State Department of Ecology said this is Washington’s highest honor for taking care of the environment while doing business in the state, and recognizes businesses and others who have found innovative ways to offer services and make products while reducing or eliminating hazardous waste and conserving vital resources such as energy and water.

Winners also were honored for business practices that are sustainable, supporting the vitality of the economy, the environment and the community.

TOTE runs a regular transport service between Tacoma and Anchorage, and has reduced it s use of toxic chemicals and fuel. “It protects the marine environment and supports local communities,” the department said in announcing the award.

The award announcement, from Washington’s Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program, said the basis for the award to TOTE included:

• The company’s U.S.-built ships are designed to carry more cargo, use less fuel and provide greater environmental protection than the company’s previous vessels, with more efficient diesel-electric motors reducing fuel use by 30 percent, or 5,000 less barrels per week.

• The ships have redundant rudder steering systems, redundant monitors and alarms on the fuel tanks, and extra spill-equipment lockers. Two of the engines can be worked on while the ship is under way without threatening the integrity of the power plant.

• The ships also have an internal fresh water ballast system so they do not have to take on or discharge seawater for ballast. This avoids introducing invasive species to local waters.

• They have desalinization plants, so reclaimed salt water is used for all fresh water purposes on board. The ships have state-of-the-art sewage treatment plants and use only biodegradable soap, detergents and degreasers on board.

On return trips from Alaska to the Lower 48, TOTE ships carry recyclables for processing, electronic waste for proper disposal and used clothing, all for free. The Alaska recycling organization put the value of the recyclables transport at more than $1 million a year.