#GREENERMARINAS

Since 2018, we’ve been investing in solar panels to efficiently convert the sun’s energy to be used on-site. By working with Your Eco, we’ve now got close to 1,000 solar panels on buildings at five of our marinas, which in 2020 generated 120,346 Kwh of electricity.

We’ve had electric car charging points installed at our marinas to support our customers’ switch to cleaner, greener vehicles.

We’ve introduced 100% electric vehicles with zero emissions, to assist us in maintaining the marinas’ facilities sustainably.

We’ve launched MDL Fitness, a new range of green gyms where the fitness equipment converts human kinetic energy into electricity. The fitness centres will feature the innovative SportArt ECO-POWR™ equipment, which harnesses up to 74% of a user’s energy spent exercising before converting it to utility grade electricity.

We’ve full recycling and waste management facilities at all our marinas, including hazardous waste where we have a 100% zero waste to landfill policy. We’re increasing the amount and type of waste we can recycle, from food to ferrous metals, which will then be transformed into new products or used to generate electricity. We implement environmental audits and checks on a periodic basis. Find out more

We’ve installed filtration systems to clean wastewater from boatyard activities, improving local water quality.

We’re helping replenish the Solent’s oyster population by supporting the Blue Marine Foundation’s (BLUE) innovative conservation project, bringing employment opportunities and creating cleaner waters for cruising on the Solent. BLUE is a charity dedicated to restoring the ocean to health by addressing overfishing, one of the world’s biggest environmental problems. Their vision is a healthy ocean forever, for everyone.

We support The Green Blue’s environmental programme, educating and informing water users on marine related issues, including how to help stop the spread of invasive marine species. The Green Blue is a non-profit, joint environmental awareness programme created by the Royal Yachting Association and British Marine. It is designed to inspire and support recreational boat users, clubs, centres and marine business in making their boating activities as environmentally sustainable as possible.

We supply only the highest quality fuel. To ensure we deliver on this promise, MDL fuel is regularly tested for its quality by an independent laboratory to ensure that it reaches the pump in prime condition. All MDL staff are trained in spill response, both on and off the water.

Our aim is to continue to power our business through on-site generated renewable energy, reducing our consumption of energy from the grid and reducing our carbon footprint further. To achieve this, we’re looking at other renewable energy sources, in addition to solar power and our own green assets.

We’re currently upgrading these facilities to provide charging points at each of our locations.

All our new installations are now specified with LED lighting, which is more energy efficient and has no heat or UV emissions.

We’re planning to convert our existing petrol/diesel work boats to fully electric or hybrid propulsion.

Much publicised in the media, plastics and micro-plastics continue to be an environmental concern. We’re playing our part in helping to reduce plastic and waste emanating from our marinas through education, and the continued provision of secure waste and recycling receptables. We’ve also installed Seabins at three of our marinas to collect litter from the water and improve water quality.

Working with our uniform supplier, we’re sourced and are trialling an alternative uniform for the marina teams produced from 100% recycled plastic.

As with many marinas globally, our marinas are subject to ongoing siltation and require regular dredging to maintain water depths. We’re working with harbour authorities and councils local to our marinas to redistribute the dredge from our sites, helping to building mudflat levels where needed, encouraging saltmarshes to re-establish, and increasing flora and fauna.

Supporting our customers wishing to make their boating as environmentally friendly as possible, we’re aiming to become the first UK marina group to offer an electric boat charging solution across its marinas.

We’re researching and developing a range of solutions for habitat improvement and creation in disused or unusable areas of our marinas, such as the installation of artificial reefs to prevent coastal erosion and improve biodiversity in the area.