Coast Guard Announces Winners of 2006 Benkert Award

Coast Guard Announces Winners of 2006 Benkert Award

WASHINGTON (June 14, 2006) - The Coast Guard has awarded the 2006 William M. Benkert Environmental Award to corporations from Alaska, California, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, and the United Kingdom. The awards will be presented during the American Petroleum Institute Tanker Conference on June 26 in San Diego, Calif.The William M. Benkert Award is the premier national award for excellence in marine environmental protection. The award recognizes vessel and facility operators who have implemented marine environmental protection programs that go beyond mere compliance with industrial and regulatory standards.

The 2006 Benkert Award selectees are:

Large Business Facilities:
Dow Chemical, Freeport, Texas (Osprey)
British Petroleum Cooper River, Wando, S. C. (Gold)
Odfjell Terminals, Houston, Texas (Bronze)
Todd Shipyard, Seattle, Wash. (Honorable Mention)

Large Business Vessels:
Ocean Shipholdings, Inc (OSI), Houston, Texas (Silver)
Marathon Petroleum Company, Ashland, Ky. (Bronze)
Matson Navigation Company, Oakland, Calif. (Bronze)

Large Business Foreign Vessels:
British Petroleum Shipping, U. K. (Silver)

Small Business Vessels:
U. S. Shipping Partners, Edison, N. J. (Honorable Mention)

Small Business Facilities:
Marathon, Louisville, Ky. (Honorable Mention)
Marathon, North Bend, Ohio (Honorable Mention)

Special Small Business:
Southeast Petroleum Resources Org., Inc., Ketchikan, Alaska (Honorable Mention)

The award is named in honor of Rear Admiral William M. Benkert (1923-1989), a distinguished Coast Guard officer widely known for his leadership and vision in marine environmental protection.

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The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard