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Cape May-Lewes Ferry joins Green WATERS Program

Delaware Public Media
The Cape May-Lewes Ferry (CMLF) joins dozens of passenger vessel operations nationwide participating in the Green WATERS Program.

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry (CMLF) is earning recognition for its efforts to go green.

The Ferry is a new member of the Passenger Vessel Association’s (PVA) Green WATERS (“We Are Taking Environmental Responsibility/Stewardship”) Program.

Jim Salmon is the public information officer for the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), which oversees the Ferry.

He says the designation is a reflection of Cape May-Lewes Ferry’s commitment to a cleaner, greener environment:

“We’ve done a lot of things over the last few years to improve our carbon footprint. We’ve implemented a number of green initiatives, including the conversion of our vessels - the one vessel has already been converted to a cleaner-operating engine,” said Salmon.

Salmon adds that converting the Ferry’s land-side lighting to LED also lessens its environmental impact.  

 

And he notes a recently launched “Green Team” looks for other ways the Ferry can improve.

 

“Their goal is to develop initiatives and projects to improve our environment and lessen the impact of Ferry operations on the environment. In fact, last year the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) recognized the Ferry for its recycling excellence,” said Salmon.

Salmon says in 2018, the Ferry recycled 38-percent of its solid waste, including a mix of paper, cardboard, plastic and cooking oil, just to name a few.

 

Salmon adds that Cape May-Lewes Ferry passengers can also help the protect the environment by booking online.  That reduces the number of paper tickets the Ferry issues.

Salmonnotes that the DRBA is also looking into other programs as it attempts to “go green” and will have a major announcement on another initiative in the coming weeks.

 
 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.