March2007

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birthday cake Three years and counting...

In the last ten years we have become much wiser to the fact that the environment is under threat from a wide range of issues from pollution to global warming. The Green Blue environmental programme was developed in response to this.

Three years later we have a programme packed full of best practice advice, great publications and useful tools. The Green Blue has been recognised by Government and trade associations as being an leading initiative programme.

So what has The Green Blue been up to for the last three years?

Find out more

Scotland's marine sector is turning Green Blue

The Green Blue launched its series of environmental awareness raising seminars in Scotland, at Royal Gourock Yacht Club, on the banks of the Clyde, on Thursday 21st February. A wide audience including yacht clubs and sail training centres, marina companies and harbour masters were all equally keen to promote the sport and to learn all about best environmental practice from The Green Blue.

The seminar brought together speakers from a range of Scottish environment and conservation interests. Mark Wells, Education and Campaigns Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said,”The seminar proved to me the enthusiasm from boat users for a clean water environment in which to enjoy their leisure activities. It was great to see the common ground between the marine leisure industry and environment and conservation bodies.”

In the UK, boats are often pressure washed on being hauled out to clean the hull of biofouling. However when pressure washing self-eroding antifouling paints the waste water from wash down may contain antifouling residues which can accumulate around wash down areas. To prevent contaminated wash off water entering the waters a closed loop system can be installed, this can recycle the wash down water reducing the amount of water used.

One closed loop system has been trialled in the Norfolk Broads supported by the Sustainable Development Fund. The Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) is a Government initiative.

Closed loop wash down system, Galleon Storage and Moorings, Beccles

World's first wave powered boat

Ken-ichi Horie, a 69 year old Japanese sailor, is planning a solo 4,350 mile trip from Hawaii to Japan using an innovative wave powered boat. If successful, the trip would earn him a Guinness record while simultaneously proving the viability of wave powered propulsion.

His boat, the Suntory Mermaid II, turns wave energy into thrust using two fins mounted beneath the bow. These fins move up and down with the waves and use them to generate “kicks” that propel the boat forward. Another green element of the journey: all of the radios and electrical equipment are solar powered.

The fins will only garner a top speed of 5 knots, so his trip will take about three months.

Read the full story at Environmental News Network

New RYA Planning and Environment Handbook for clubs

The RYA Planning and Environmental Handbook has just been produced to help RYA affiliated clubs and recognised training centres in running their facilities and when they embark on a building or development project of any sort.

The Handbook is divided into two main Sections. The first focuses on facilities development and sets out what permissions and consents you are likely to require when developing facilities and gives advice on how to go about applying for them. The second section of the Handbook looks at facility operation in terms of environmental management. It identifies the legal duties a facility has and provides suggestions for achieving legal compliance as well as providing good practice where important cost savings can also be made.