Transport Desgagnés Inc., Recipient of a Maritime Award from the Organization of the American States

QUEBEC, June 20, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Groupe Desgagnés is very pleased to announce that its subsidiary Transport Desgagnés Inc. is the recipient of the first Maritime Award of the Americas in the category " Best Practices in Environmental Waste Management in Commercial Shipping ".  This award acknowledges successful practices that demonstrate excellence, innovation, and sustainability in the Maritime and Port Sectors.

Granted for the very first time, the prize was presented to Transport Desgagnés by the Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), at an award ceremony held on June 18^th in Washington, DC, as part of the Inter-American Forum of Successful Experiences in Port Development.

The Jury Committee based its decision on the waste management practices implemented by Transport Desgagnés aboard the vessel M/V Camilla Desgagnés. The Camilla Desgagnés was recently granted a Level 3, 'Silver' grade performance certificate for Recyc-Québec's " ICI ON RECYCLE ! " program for achieving an 84.5% recycling rate on board.

Mr. Louis-Marie Beaulieu, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Desgagnés Inc., declared that: "The whole Desgagnés team is very proud of this recognition. This award meets the values of excellence that we advocate in all aspects of our management. Furthermore, the commitment and leadership demonstrated by Desgagnés's employees attest to our resolve and ability to innovate and adopt cutting-edge practices in a perspective of sustainable development, with the utmost respect for our environment".

Groupe Desgagnés Inc.

Groupe Desgagnés Inc., whose headquarters are in Quebec City, is a conglomerate that has specialized since the 19th century in marine transportation of liquid bulk, general cargo, dry bulk and passengers. Its activities also extend to ship repair as well as the rental and operation of heavy machinery. The company owns and operates a fleet of ships that navigate on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, the Canadian Arctic, the East coasts of Canada and the United States and all the seas of the world. With an annual turnover nearing 230 million dollars, Desgagnés creates approximately 1,000 jobs in high season with a payroll exceeding 50 million dollars.

Transport Desgagnés Inc.

Transport Desgagnés Inc., ISM-certified by Lloyd's Register, is a subsidiary of Groupe Desgagnés Inc. that specializes in managing and operating the company's ships.  It owns and/or operates 20 vessels ranging from 1,000 to 75,000 deadweight tons; the fleet includes tankers, general cargo vessels, some of which with tweendeck, a multi-purpose Ro-Lo vessel, and two cargo-passenger vessels.

SOURCE: Groupe Desgagnés inc.

Ms. Cindy Fex, Communications Agent, Groupe Desgagnés inc., Phone : [phone], [email protected]; Mr. Daniel Côté, Environment Advisor, Transport Desgagnés inc., Phone : [phone], [email protected]; Mr. Benoit Chassé, Vice President -- Human Resources and Communications, Groupe Desgagnés inc., Phone : [phone], [email protected]