Ship Repair Facility Shares Green Business Practices

BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair is a big name on San Diego's working waterfront. Now, the ship repair company is making a name for itself with its green business practices.

BAE Systems, 2205 E Belt St. (map), is among the 54 waterfront businesses participating in the Port of San Diego's Green Business Challenge. The Green Business Challenge – the first of its kind on the West Coast – is designed to promote practices that reduce energy consumption, water use, waste, as well as prevent pollution.

Cara Bandera, environmental manager for BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, said the Green Business Challenge provides the company an opportunity to align locally with environmental sustainability initiatives that it is developing globally.

"This year, we launched our sustainability maturity program that includes measurements and reduction goals for our 'three W's:' water, waste, and watts," Bandera said.

"The program," she continued, "focuses on our operations, products, and supply base – including subcontractors and vendors – and encourages reuse and recycling of paint and blast materials, oily rags, scrap, and paper products."

Among other notable green business practices:

• BAE Systems was the first business on the waterfront to invest in a fleet of electric vehicles for transportation to and from onsite locations.
• The company took advantage of a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) program to swap inefficient light fixtures with new, high-efficiency fluorescent fixtures and replace inefficient air compressors.
• BAE supplies saltwater to vessels docked at the facility. This new system saves 31,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month – more than $8,500 in operating and maintenance costs – and eliminates water discharged into San Diego Bay.

BAE Systems employs more than 1,100 people and provides modernization, conversion and overhaul services to both commercial and government customers on San Diego's waterfront.

The facility encompasses 23 acres of land, more than 16 acres of water and is home to The Pride of San Diego, a 26,000-ton floating drydock.

BAE Systems is an integral part of San Diego's working waterfront – a thriving hub of industry and commerce. Maritime industrial businesses build and repair ships, the Port of San Diego's cargo terminals keep goods moving in and out of the region and, along with ship building and ship repair companies, support the U.S. Navy's San Diego presence.

The Green Business Challenge is just one component of the Port of San Diego's environmental initiatives. As an environmental steward of San Diego Bay, the port has established several programs to minimize its environmental footprint, as well as to protect San Diego Bay and the surrounding land.

More than 60 projects, representing a $7.3 million investment, are either underway or complete as part of the port's Environmental Fund,. The fund was established to provide funding for the restoration or enhancement of the bay and surrounding tidelands, along with protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat.

The Port has a partnership with KGTV Channel 10 as part of its Sustain San Diego environmental program as well as SDG&E.

A complete list of all participants in the Green Business Challenge is available at GreenPortChallenge.org.