A project which helped Falmouth Harbour Commissioners become a more sustainable organisation has won a national award.
The project saw a partnership forged between it and Plymouth University which saw a graduate become a maritime sustainable development officer.
That knowledge transfer partnership (KTP), as it is known, won the best application of social science in a KTP from the Economic and Social Research Council.
And the work between the organisations was also shortlisted for the best overall project.
Part funded by the government and FHC, the 30 month KTP project investigated the environmental impacts of harbour activities such as anchoring and ballast water exchange and ways of managing the impacts from shipping and port processes.
Harriett Knowles, the environmental science graduate given the job, helped create a tailored management system helping FHC become environmentally proactive.
It will also enable them to apply for gold standard accreditation by the middle of next year, as well as creating cost saving and generating income, leading to the creation of two full time jobs, including a permanent role for Ms Knowles.
Professor John Dinwoodie from Plymouth University's business school, which supported the project, said: "To be recognised nationally is a testament to the way the university, FHC and Harriett have worked together well beyond the initial scope of the project."
Captain Mark Sansom, harbour master and chief executive of the FHC, said: "By tackling key environmental issues head on, we are proactively instigating more efficient and environmentally aware methods of running our port."
