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The Green Blue best practice tour visits the Netherlands

Ten key representatives from the marina sector visited the Netherlands earlier this month as part of a 'Best Practice Tour', organised by The Green Blue.  The tour aimed to help marina businesses understand what environmental best practice means for them in practical terms and to see cost effective and achievable methods of operating in practice.

The group also investigated the environmental credentials of our Dutch colleagues who manage marinas in a country where water quality is a constant priority. The tour was very timely as the marine industry currently faces many challenges which are being generated by changes in attitude towards the environment and legislation. The management of waste, particularly hazardous waste such as oil and fuel, batteries and anti foul residues has become more strictly regulated within the EU.

The tour took in a number of marinas which boasted closed washdown facilities, efficient energy use, waste management, pollution control and wildlife sensitive marina development.

This included Waddenhaven Marina, on the Wadden island of Texel, which is acclaimed as the 'most sustainable marina in the Netherlands' and has a range of energy efficiency and renewable energy, pollution reduction and waste management initiatives in place.  Being located within the internationally important wildlife conservation area of the Wadden Sea, sensitive management of the facility is an on-going issue.

Port Zeeland Marina was also viewed.  The marina operates a closed boat washdown facility, which discharges all trade effluent to the main sewer system.  This minimises copper pollution from pressure washing boat hulls, where high concentrations of antifouling can be deposited directly into the water.  The marina is also going further by developing a new second generation closed loop system.

Brian Clark, Environment Executive at the BMF, commented "It was extremely useful to see how marinas in Holland manage their impacts on the environment and respond to changes in legislation.  It was reassuring to see that the sites we visited, although chosen for their high environmental credentials, were comparable to UK operators."

Jonathan Fielding of Mylor Yacht Harbour said "Given the unique nature of Holland, the outlining islands and the particularly sensitive nature of the Netherlands Environment, this trip enabled me to gain an insight into successful tried and tested practices previously heard of but never seen"

» Read the Environmental Code of Practice to find out the legal requirements for marinas

» Contact TYHA about their new Code of Practice which includes a comprehensive environment section