BC Ferries says it has recently received a number local, provincial and international awards highlighting the company’s focus on safety, the environment and its workplace. In the past year, BC Ferries received the following awards: DuPont Global Safety Award; Safety at Sea Employer of the Year Award; BC’s Top Employers; Tourism Vancouver Island FortisBC Award; Tourism Victoria Miracle Award.
“BC Ferries is proud to be honoured as the recipient of these awards that demonstrate our company exceeds international standards for safety, offers a progressive work environment and drives tourism to the B.C. coast,” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries President & CEO. “We will continue to look for ways to improve and provide world-class service to coastal communities.”
BC Ferries’ SailSafe Program, a joint initiative of the company and the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union, has been recognized internationally by DuPont for excellence in safety performance. This award provides international acknowledgement across all industries for BC Ferries’ outstanding safety performance -- a 90 per cent improvement in the employee safety index and close to a 60 per cent reduction in passenger injuries over the past decade.
The Safety at Sea Employer of the Year Award recognizes career development, staff investment and support programs for seafarer family and friends. BC’s Top Employers recognizes companies that offer exceptional places to work with progressive and forward-thinking programs.
The Tourism Vancouver Island FortisBC Award recognizes an organization that uses natural gas in their tourism-related operation. The new Salish Class vessels use of natural gas is expected to reduce an estimated 9,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, equivalent to removing about 1,900 passenger vehicles off the road annually.