Shot glasses, custom made for Sol by the Green VI Glass Studio, represent the Green Marine Award for the 'Drinking Responsibly' challenge aimed at collecting and recycling empty glass bottles from the 31st Moorings Interline Regatta. Photo: sol

Konris Maynard, Facility Supervisor, Sol, presents Green Marine Award to the team members of Prairie Wind at 31st Moorings Interline Regatta awards dinner. photo:sol

Sol also donated Mini Oil Spill Responder Kits for the Committee and safety boats and oil spill cloths for the Skippers’ bags. The green drive contributed to the organizers’ participation in the Sailors for the Sea Clean Regatta program.

Sol’s company Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Policy includes a responsibility to protect the environment and its biodiversity which was reflected in the company’s designation as a Green Partner of the Moorings Interline Regatta. This is the second regatta in the BVI that Sol has supported to achieve certification as a Green Regatta, the other being the BVI Spring Regatta which received Gold standard in 2012. 

Collaborating with the Moorings and Green VI, Sol tied in its relationship with the Green VI Glass Studio to sponsor the ‘Drinking Responsibly’ campaign for the second consecutive year. Participants were encouraged to collect and store their empty, glass bottles safely on board and have them weighed at Trellis Bay, and Leverick Bay where Going Green on Gorda collected the glass.

The overall winning team was announced at the final awards dinner hosted at the Last Resort on Tuesday, October 16. The four members of Prairie Wind weighed in with 20lbs of glass and took home a set of shot glasses specially made for Sol by the Green VI Glass Studio in Cane Garden Bay.

“It’s important for us as a fuel company to minimize our carbon footprint,” said Deborah Benjamin, country manager for Sol. “Identifying opportunities where we can positively support environmental efforts is a key element in deciding how we activate our sponsorship of many events.”

In 2009, Sol signed a MOU with Green VI in 2009 to support a glass blowing studio to facilitate the removal of glass from the BVI’s waste stream and from the incineration process. Sol supplies the LPG required to fire the furnaces of the studio.

Sol is the largest petroleum company in the BVI and also supplies the marine community at Hodges Creek, Nanny Cay Marina, the Moorings, Village Cay, Bitter End, Biras Creek, Peter Island, Oil Nut Bay, Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour and Leverick Bay. Sol is a committed supporter of other community initiatives including Conservation and Fisheries Green Pledge, Virgin Islands Search and Rescue, the Leverick Bay Poker Run, the Green VI Glass Studio, the Annual BVI Charter Yacht Show, The youth sailing program of the Royal BVI Yacht Club, and is a partner of the BVI Athletics Association.