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Smart Voyager - Ecological Certification
Kurt Kutay and Santiago Dunn
The Eric, Flamingo and Letty became the first Galapagos yachts to submit to the Smart Voyager environmental certification program. Smart Voyager is a voluntary program developed by The Rainforest Alliance and Convervacion y Desarollo from Ecuador that minimizes the impact of Galapagos tour boats by improving social and environmental conditions of their operations. This green seal of approval gives travelers the assurance that their travel choice will minimize impacts on the fragile Galapagos environment, contribute to wildlife conservation, and to the well-being of workers and local communities.
In order to comply with SmartVoyager, these Galapagos tour boats had to meet a strict set of conservation and social standards that were designed by scientists, conservation experts and tour operators. They protect against potential sources of pollution; set rules for the good management of docks, tour boats and dinghies; specify criteria for the procurement and management of supplies; and defend against opportunities for introducing alien species.
Certified Galapagos tour boats must produce their own fresh water through reverse osmosis desalinization units, a method that purifies water with ozone and eliminate chlorine discharge into the ocean. Treatment of black and gray wastewater is done through purified ozone. Bacteria based liquids are used for wastewater treatment and are poured on the holding tanks of black waters to accelerate the biodegradable process before being released into the ocean 12 miles from the coast as required by International regulations such as MARPOL and the Galapagos National Park. Gray water is also disposed 12 miles from the coast, although the actual requirement is two miles. Water from the bilge is discharged 12 miles from the coast after it first goes through an eduction system that mixes bilge water 50 times to one.
These Galapagos yachts only use four stroke outboard engines on their dinghies. Four stroke engines are more ecological because they are 70% quieter than two-stroke engines, emit virtually no fumes and use 50% less fuel consumption. Smart Voyager Galapagos tour boats must use only lead-free or TBT-free paint. The cooling elements used in the refrigeration and air conditioning systems on board are free of R-12 gas that could potentially escape and add to the green-house effect. Only biodegradable soaps and detergents are used. No varnish is applied to the exterior walkways. Only yellow exterior lights can be used that do not attract insects.
The standards also require sanitary living conditions and a good quality of life including medical insurance and advanced training for all crew members.
All guides are Ecuadorian nationals; 65% are Galapagos residents and 25% are native Galapaguenos. Benefits offered to employees include medical insurance for the employee, their spouse and up to 3 children. The highest level employee that is native-born from Galapagos is Captain.
Out of 61 crew total members, including guides and Captains, 37% reside permanently in the Galapagos Islands and of those 15% are native Galapaguenos. The rest live in different cities in mainland Ecuador. In fact, staff and crew on board the Galapagos yachts, Eric, Flamingo and Letty, has one of the highest percentages among the Galapagos yacht operators employing local guides and crew.
Approximately 27% of total food supplies are purchased from local vendors in San Cristobal Island including all fresh fish and some vegetables. Dairy products and meats are purchased on the Island of Santa Cruz and benefit the local community.
There is a waste management system and garbage-recycling program onboard all three of these Galapagos yachts with garbage receptacles placed on all decks with separate containers for plastics, paper, glass and organic waste. Organic waste is compacted and discharged according to International regulations and National Park requirements. Inorganic sold waste is classified into paper, glass and plastic and turned into the local municipal waste service and recycling center. Amounts are registered into the log books on board each yacht.
In 2005, our local partner and owner of the Eric, Flamingo and Letty, Mr Santiago Dunn, was presented with the prestigious Individual Sustainable Standard-Setter for making a significant contribution to environmental conservation and sustainability. Santiago says his goal was to inspire others as well as to be part of the solution for the issues facing tourism in Galapagos.
What you can do to help us conserve Galapagos:
During the Galapgos cruise, passengers are reminded to reduce, reuse and recycle. Use the receptacles placed on all decks with separate containers for plastics, paper, glass and organic waste.
Our policy is to change towels daily. However, in order to conserve energy, we only change towels that are placed on the floor.
Refill water bottles from our containers of purified water made from our reverse osmosis water mater - or better yet, bring your own non-plastic water bottles such as those found at http://www.kleankanteen.com/
Bring only biodegradable sunscreens and lotions. Ecoventura will supply you with biodegradable soap, shampoo and conditioner..
Do not use disposable cameras. The less garbage you leave in the islands, the better. Please bring any packaging back with you to dispose of in the mainland.
During the cruise, follow all the National park rules including:
Do not disturb or remove any native plant, rock or animal on land or in the water.
Be careful not to transport any live material or sand to the islands.
Do not take any food or drink except water to the uninhabited islands.
Do not touch, pet or feed the wildlife.
You must stay within several feet and avoid taking any flash photography
Do not startle or chase any animal from its nesting place.
Do not leave any trash on the Islands or throw any litter overboard.
Follow the marked trails at all times and do not walk out of their limits.
Stay together with your guide who must accompany all passengers on the trails.
Do not buy souvenirs of objects made from native Galapagos products (except for wood) especially black coral, sea lion teeth and shells of the Galapagos tortoises. There is no smoking permitted on the islands.
For more tips and insight, watch the new IGTOA DVD filmed in 2007 aboard the yacht Eric. Together with these Galapagos yachts, Eric, Flamingo and Letty, Wildland Adventures is a founding member of IGTOA, International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (http://www.igtoa.org/), a non-profit trade organization. Travelers can make donations IGTOA of which 60% goes straight to the Galapagos Conservancy and the rest goes toward the groups mission of furthering responsible tourism in Galapagos.
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