MV Explorer Receives Green Certificate for Environmental Performance

November 12, 2009: The Institute for Shipboard Education, in partnership with the MV Explorer's ship management company V.Ships, has received International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001: 2004 certification—an internationally recognized standard demonstrating the Institute's commitment to environmental excellence.

This standard specifies the actual requirements for a shipboard environmental management system and ongoing efforts to improve to the environmental policy and objectives aboard the MV Explorer. The standard helps all types of organizations to protect the environment, prevent pollution, and improve environmental performance.

ISO certification is an important milestone in the ISE/SAS Pathway to Sustainability; a long-term plan to advance an environmentally responsible shipboard program and to help the Institute fulfill its vision for leadership in this field. Gary (Spring 1982) and Lisa Foster—two donors who are committed to environmental conservation and awareness—gave an inaugural gift of $20,000 to help launch this significant environmental initiative.

"This prestigious certificate is a welcome acknowledgement of the efforts we have made to date and is an essential component of our Pathway to Sustainability," says Salvatore Moschella, vice president and chief operating officer for ISE.

"The Spring 2010 voyage theme, Sustainability: One Earth, One Future, will bring heightened attention to environmental issues while driving a number of community-initiated greening efforts toward improved environmental performance. The ship offers a unique learning laboratory for the exploration of environmental and sustainability issues, and our vision is to develop a knowledge base and operating models that can be of benefit to the entire shipping industry."

For more information about the ISE/SAS Pathway to Sustainability Initiative call 800.854.0195. Read about Sustainability at the University of Virginia.