b'MEMBER NEWSMEMBER NEWS Wendella Sightseeing Honored With Environmental AwardP rotection of the marine en- cessfulmethodsandtechniqueswithvironment is one of the U.S. others in industry. This years poolCoastGuardsmostimportant ofapplicantswashighlycompetitive,responsibilities.OnMay22,theU.S. demonstratingindustrysoverallcom-Coast Guard announced the award mitmenttotheenvironment.recipientsforthe2024BiennialRearAdmiralWilliamM.BenkertMarine TheBenkertAwardisnamedinhonorEnvironmentalProtectionAwardfor ofRearAdmiralWilliamM.Benkert,Excellence.PVAvesselmemberWen- a distinguished Coast Guard officer astandardgarbagecan.AccordingtodellaSightseeingCompany,Chicago, known for his leadership and vision FriendsoftheChicagoRiver,thetrapIll.,wasthebronzeawardrecipient. in marine environment protection worksbydrawingwateranddebrisinandfondlyrememberedasthefather fromthesurfaceusingasubmersibleTheprogramrecognizescorporations oftheCoastGuardsEnvironmental water pump, trapping litter inside aand businesses involved in marine ProtectionProgram. catchbinwhilethewaterispumpedfacilityorvesseloperationsthathave backout.Thecatchbin,whichholdsdemonstratedsustainedexcellenceand One of the environmental programs upto44pounds,ischeckedeachdayoutstanding achievement in protect- thatWendellaSightseeinghasunder- andemptiedasneeded.ing the marine environment. It also takenistheWendellaSeabin.Itistheencouragesinnovationsinoperations, firstinstreamlittercollectiontechnol- Thetrapalsoservesasanopportunitytomaintenance, cargo handling, refu- ogyofitskinddeployedintheChica- collectdata.TheWendellastaffcollectseling,training,andprovidesameans go-CalumetRiversystem.Deployedin thelitterfromthetrap.ThenLoyolaforawardrecipientstosharetheirsuc- July2023,thetrapisaboutthesizeof UniversityProfessorTimHoelleinandhisstudentsinthebiologydepartmentsort and characterize the trash. ThedatacollectedisusedtoinformpolicyforreductionstrategiestoaddresstheNavigate Risk Withongoingproblemoflitter,aswellastoConfidence helpencouragebetterbehaviors.USIs maritime specialistsIveworkedontheChicagoRiverforcombine proprietary analytics,35yearsanditsalotcleanerthanitbroad experience, and nationalusedtobe.Youjustdontnoticethatresources to create customizedmuch litter in the Main Stem any-insurance and risk managementmore.Still,weareremovingatleast40programs designed to reducepoundsaweek,saidMikeMcElroy,cost and lower risk for your business. presidentoftheChicagoHarborSafe-tyCommitteeanddirectorofmarineProud supporters of theoperations at Wendella. Im elatedPHOTO: U.S. COAST GUARDProperty & CasualtyPassenger Vessel Association howwellthetrapworks,anditsdraw-Employee BenefitsUSI Insurance ServicesingattentionfromWendellacustom-Personal Risk Retirement Consulting 601 Union Street ers,boaters,andkayakers;peopleareSeattle, WA 98101curiousaboutit.206.441.6300 | www.usi.com2023 USI Insurance Services. All rights reserved.FOGHORN 42'