Gulf Shores, Ala.-based Saunders Yachtworks is the first facility in the state to earn Clean and Resilient Marina certification.
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium launched the voluntary program — utilized by the five states in the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas) — to encourage businesses to promote clean water and reduce pollution.
“We are honored to be recognized for our efforts in the Clean Marina Program,” facilities and safety manager Greg Lindell said in a statement. “The sustainability of our industry relies on the protection of the resources that feed it. We take great pride in maintaining clean facilities and implementing protocols that reduce water pollution.”
Areas for certification include:
• Marina Design and Siting
• Emergency Preparedness
• Evacuation Procedures
• Storm Water Management and Erosion Controls
• Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise
• Outreach and Education for Marina Operators and Boaters
In addition, the consortium provides guidance on dealing with natural and man-made disasters.
“We’ve been keeping things clean since the beginning with Saunders Engine Company in Mobile,” Saunders chairman emeritus Andrew Saunders said. “We continued that tradition by engineering our facility in Gulf Shores with environmental sensitivity in mind, making provisions to decrease our impact on the local waterways.”
