Navy Ship Repair Facility Continental Maritime Among Green Business Leaders
The Port of San Diego is home to the Working Waterfront – a stretch of San Diego maritime businesses that specialize in U.S. Navy shipbuilding and ship repair.
Many of these Port businesses are setting new standards for sustainable business practices, including Navy ship repair facility Continental Maritime. The company, located at 1995 Bay Front Street, is a member of the Port of San Diego's Green Business Network.
"Continental Maritime has a strong interest in being a good corporate citizen and being a good neighbor in the community," said Bob Montreuil, facilities manager. "As part of that, we want to save energy, save resources, and reduce our carbon footprint."
Continental Maritime, a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries, began in 1981 in National City. As the company grew, it moved its master ship repair production shops and offices in 1985 to the Barrio Logan facilities where the former Bumble Bee Tuna cannery was housed.
Continental Maritime was the first shipyard to become a "zero discharge facility."
"Our whole facility is surrounded by berms, so anything that is spilled in our yard – from storm water to hazardous waste – is captured and nothing is released out past our yard," said Continental Maritime's Environmental Supervisor April McGinley.
That water is then properly disposed of into an industrial sewer.
Continental Maritime was a participant in the Port's 2011 Green Business Challenge. It earned its place among 17 Port businesses that achieved the event's highest honor, the 2011 Chairman's Award.
Those businesses conducted energy, water, and waste audits, decreased greenhouse gas emissions and planted native and drought-tolerant landscaping. Some completed as many as 49 of the 50 sustainable strategies.
Working in partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), two major improvements at Continental Maritime have saved the company in excess of $100,000 a year.
"When the Navy ships are docked at our facility, Continental Maritime is required to have saltwater pumped to the ships via hoses to help protect against fire (a Navy requirement)," said Montreuil. "By working with SDG&E for both project reviews and subsidized project funding, Continental Maritime, installed automated fire pump system that runs only when needed."
Another major project, aimed to significantly reduce energy usage through the creation of an on-demand air compressor system, was also supported by SDG&E.
"SDG&E has been really good at incentivizing energy-saving projects," said Montreuil. "We worked very closely with them to both review projects and get maximum available funding."
Continental Maritime also brings in $80,000 a year in recycling, mostly through the separation of their unwanted metals.
They have also saved hundreds of dollars in irrigation costs by installing artificial grass in the outside break area, and reduced energy costs by installing lighting sensors and energy-efficient bulbs.
"The Green Business Network gave us the opportunity to look inside our own organization and to look to our partners on the waterfront and share ideas, share opportunities, and implement those," said Montreuil.
About the Green Business Network:
The Green Business Network is an integrated energy efficiency and sustainability effort spearheaded by the Port of San Diego and San Diego Gas & Electric. Members of the Network – which include Port tenant restaurants, marinas, hotels and attractions - strive to reduce their environmental impact by taking advantage of free technical assistance, attending monthly training on green business tactics, and sharing best-practices with fellow businesses.
