DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Seaway Port Authority and its terminal operations on Rice’s Point once again ranked among the upper half of environmental performers in North America according to the recently released Green Marine 2024 Performance Report.
The Port Authority posted an average score of 3.25 on Green Marine’s five-point scale, placing it second among U.S. Great Lakes ports and seventh among Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System port authorities.
The Green Marine program is recognized as North America’s leading voluntary environmental certification initiative for the maritime industry. The annual report evaluates participants across nine categories: air emissions/greenhouse gases, aquatic ecosystems, community impacts, community relations, dry bulk handling and storage, environmental leadership, spill prevention and stormwater management, underwater noise, and waste management. The 2024 Green Marine certification cycle introduced new and strengthened criteria, including a now-mandatory aquatic ecosystems indicator and more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. Scoring is independently reviewed.
“Each year, Green Marine raises the bar by design, which helps all of the participants strive for continual improvement,” said Jeff Udd, Duluth Seaway Port Authority director of government and environmental affairs. “It’s a system that encourages participants to go beyond regulatory compliance.”
The Duluth Seaway Port Authority has participated in Green Marine since the program’s inception in 2007. The Port Authority bolstered its environmental initiatives in 2024 by developing a comprehensive climate action plan, which sets a course for net-zero operating emissions by 2050. Ongoing efforts at the Clure Public Marine Terminal include energy efficiency upgrades, phased adoption of zero-emission vehicles and equipment, increased use of renewable energy and regular progress monitoring.
“With tangible goals, objectives and timelines in place, we have a roadmap to achieving environmental benchmarks,” Udd said. “We’re looking forward to continuing our progress in ways that prioritize environmental sustainability and economic development.”
For more information on sustainable shipping and port operations, visit: duluthport.com/community/environment-and-sustainability/
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More than 700 vessels and 30 million short tons of cargo move through the Port of Duluth-Superior each year, making it the Great Lakes’ largest tonnage port and one of the nation’s top 20. The port supports more than 7,000 jobs and contributes $1.3 billion in business revenue to the regional economy. Learn more at DuluthPort.com.