Chilean shipyard AQUAMET and Fundación Legado launch environmental management improvement plan

Chilean shipyard Astillero AQUAMET and Fundación Legado have jointly launched an environmental management improvement plan aimed at helping the shipyard identify the environmental impacts of its activities and strengthen prevention and mitigation measures. The plan comprises several full-day activities, with employees from different areas of the shipyard taking part.

The first activity was a guided tour of the environment surrounding the facilities. During the tour, participants learned about the area's ecosystems, observed local flora and fauna, and saw how their composition varies across different spaces. The activity also explored the relationship between this environment and the shipyard as well as other companies operating locally.

The second activity focused on presentations and participatory work. Employees identified the environmental impacts associated with their respective production areas and analyzed alternatives for mitigating these impacts. The exercise combined field observations with day-to-day operational tasks, helping to identify opportunities for improvement in work practices.

AQUAMET General Manager Marcela Silva said: "Improving our environmental performance is part of strengthening the shipyard's competitiveness. We need orderly processes, efficient use of materials, and equipment that incorporates environmental criteria into daily decision-making. This work aims to consolidate a work culture that integrates productivity, safety and environmental responsibility."

At the operational level, the plan seeks to translate the learning outcomes into concrete changes in how work is carried out and supervised, with a focus on the use and management of materials and on preventing impacts on the surrounding environment.

Production Manager Pablo Joost noted: "The goal is to trigger changes in work habits. We want each area to identify how to mitigate its own impacts and to implement stricter controls on the use and management of materials. This requires reviewing the way we carry out our tasks and maintaining these practices permanently."

The next stage will be a third activity involving work directly in the surrounding environment, including a beach clean-up. This activity will complement the diagnosis and reflection of the first two activities with concrete actions to protect the area.

The partnership with Fundación Legado aims to strengthen employee participation in environmental management and to integrate the learning outcomes into the daily work of the shipyard's production areas.