PORT TOWNSEND — The captain of the schooner Adventuress has received a $10,000 fellowship that he intends to use to develop a program to develop “green” standards for building boats.
Joshua Berger is one of 40 recipients nationwide of awards given by Toyota and the National Audubon Society.
The money is intended to support community projects that engage diverse audiences in habitat, water or energy conservation.
“Over the past years, we have become ‘green’ everywhere else with our new construction techniques,” Berger said.
“That hasn’t carried over to how we treat the water,” he said. “There is a lot we can do.”
Berger’s concept of a ship as a sustainable community is the basis of his project, which he calls “Where Blue Meets Green.”
It consists of three five-hour sail programs to take place this summer aboard the Adventuress.
He plans to invite leaders in the marine trades.
“We will bring together these people to try to determine where we are insensitive to green issues and how we can change,” Berger said.
Using the Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design — or LEED — standard used in new buildings as a guideline, Berger hopes to develop a similar standard for boat construction.
This can include the type of paint used on the boat’s hull or the installation of more efficient engines.
“As in the land-built environment and the great strides in the green building industry, strides are necessary to begin a process of greening marine vessels,” Berger said.
“Examples of sustainable models are needed to understand and discuss alternatives.”
In addition to receiving support launching their conservation initiatives, the fellowship recipients also benefit from specialized training and the opportunity to become part of a network of conservation professionals, according to a prepared statement.
“Joshua Berger will receive a fellowship award to initiate a project that aims to do nothing less than facilitate systemic change throughout the marine industries of Puget Sound,” the release said, adding that “Joshua is an environmental hero.”
Maritime education is nothing new to Berger, 37, who has worked on the Adventuress for seven years, three as one of the vessel’s full time captains.
The tall ship serves as a floating education platform for more than 5,000 young people and adults annually.
Burger also develops education programs and sustainability initiatives, manages a crew of 15 — along with a network of hundreds of active volunteers — and directs a multi-year ship restoration project.
“This is a great opportunity for Joshua and the Adventuress because it will call attention to a very important issue: how to make the maritime trades more environmentally responsible,” said Sound Experience Executive Diretor Catherine Collins.
“He will be able to develop programs so everyone is on the same page, or in this case on the same ship.”
For more information about the Adventuress, see www.soundexp.org.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
