​Kincardine Marina awarded diamond rating

The Kincardine Municipal Marina has, once again, received a diamond rating from the Ontario-developed Clean Marine Eco-Rating Program.

That’s the word from the Municipality of Kincardine, in a press release issued Thursday.

Clean Marine Status is an important initiative for marinas in Ontario. It emphasizes a marina’s commitment to minimizing environmental impact through implementation and monitoring of high operational standards.

Working with provincial regulators, participating marinas are reviewed on their:
 

• Operational effectiveness
• Waste reduction and recycling
• Energy and water conservation
• Emergency response planning
• Spill response
• Access to fire extinguishers throughout the site
• Staff training
• Safety
• Fuel storage and handling

“We are proud of the work we do to protect our environment, and our participation in this program emphasizes that,” said Ben Cooke, assistant harbour master at the marina. “I believe our commitment shows, not only to those who are a part of the marina, but to the community as a whole.”

The marina’s state-of-the-art environmental protection and early warning systems on its new above-ground fuel storage tanks and dispensers, played a large part in the top score. Recognition for having one of the best fuelling docks and service areas in the province, was also acknowledged.

Other notable improvements included fire and boater safety and customer experience enhancements. High scores for washroom cleanliness, fuel storage and inventory control, a recycling program, and digital sales procedures helped increase the score to a diamond level from the silver rating of five years ago.

“We look forward to continuing to make improvements and retaining our diamond level rating,” said Cooke. “In fact, we’re shooting for the diamond elite level next, which marinas earn after maintaining a diamond level rating over a minimum of three audits.”

Boating Ontario administers the Clean Marine Eco-Rating Program with more than 300 participating businesses. One of the world’s leading environmental best-practices programs for marinas, it has been protecting Ontario’s waterways for more than 20 years. Learn more about the program at www.boatingontario.ca/cpages/clean-marine-program.