At the 10th Annual Clean Marina Awards Ceremony held at Clark’s Landing Shady Oaks Marina in southern Anne Arundel County, ten marinas received Governor’s Citations praising their accomplishment of becoming a certified clean marina. The award ceremony was timed to coordinate with National Marina Day, August 9 to recognize marinas as family friendly gateways to boating and stewards of the environment.
“The voluntary efforts of clean marina owners and managers to reduce pollution and help protect our rivers and the Chesapeake Bay are truly commendable,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “The bay-friendly operations offered by each of these local businesses exemplify the role we all play to preserving this natural treasure. Action is needed across the State to ensure healthy water and land, and these marinas are to be commended for doing their part.”
Marinas are certified by DNR as a Maryland Clean Marina after they adopt recommendations in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook and pass a site inspection by DNR and industry representatives.
“Our livelihood – boating – depends on a healthy Chesapeake Bay,” said Bob Brandon, Owner of Tidewater Yacht Service Center in Baltimore City. “We have to do all that we can to preserve the bay to ensure continued quality boating experiences for today and tomorrow. From the beginning construction of our facility – we strived to build an environmentally-friendly boating center.”
The newly certified clean marina Tidewater Yacht Service Center incorporates many green building features and operations including a living green roof; environmentally-friendly products for sale; and a special water drainage system in the parking lot to prevent run-off from polluting the bay.
Since its establishment in 1997, the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative has certified 130 marinas. The initiative, coordinated in partnership with the Marine Trades Association of Maryland, promotes voluntary adoption of pollution prevention measures.
The following ten newly certified Clean Marinas received Governor’s Citations today:
Anchor Yacht Basin, Edgewater (Anne Arundel County)
Atlantic Marina, Pasadena (Anne Arundel County)
Baltimore Marine Center, Baltimore City
Buzz’s Marina, Ridge (St. Mary’s County)
Cedar Hill Marina, Bivalve (Wicomico County)
Chesapeake Yacht Club, Shady Side (Anne Arundel County)
Clark’s Landing , West River (Anne Arundel County)
Riverside Marine, Baltimore (Baltimore County)
Tidewater Yacht Service Center, Baltimore City
A tour of the Clark’s Landing Shady Oaks Marina following the ceremony showcased some of the best management practices implemented to become a clean marina including: oil filter recycling; an emergency spill response kit; a sewage pump-out station; a waste management plan for chemicals; and native plantings.
“The Clean Marina Initiative is a great sustainable business effort that benefits the health of our environment, waterways, and local business,” said Jeff Truesdale, Managing Partner at Clark’s Landing. “We are honored that all of Clark’s Landing waterfront facilities in Maryland are certified clean marinas. Each of our employees are specially trained to encourage our boaters to use clean boating practices.”
With more than 25 years of experience, Clark’s Landing is proving to be a sustainable leader in the marine industry by encouraging boaters and sailors to commit to clean boating habits. Clark’s Landing has locations in Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey offering new and certified pre-owned boat sales, service, storage, parts and boat brokerage.
A complete list of certified Clean Marinas and program information can be found at www.dnr.maryland.gov/boating.
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