TWO ports in Inverclyde have been received an award from a national environmental charity.

Port Glasgow-based Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd’s (CMAL) sites at Gourock and Wemyss Bay have been given Keep Scotland Beautiful’s ‘Ports and Harbours Environmental Award’, which highlights excellence in building maintenance, cleanliness, waste management, and community engagement.

The award celebrates the achievements of CMAL and CalMac, who operate the ports.

Auditors visited and assessed sites across Scotland in September last year, completing an evaluation.

Overall, CMAL and CalMac received a silver level accreditation across 26 sites, with each port and harbour achieving individual awards.

Seven scooped gold awards, 18 silver received silver - including Gourock and Wemyss Bay - and one was given a bronze award.

Richie Morgan, health, safety and environment manager at CMAL, said: “Both CMAL and CalMac Ferries Ltd, remain committed to the Keep Scotland Beautiful standard and it is refreshing to know that every two years we continue to improve.

"Obviously the ultimate aim going forward is to reach the gold standard, which I’m sure that with the continued hard work of the staff at the various port locations, this is not in the too distant future.”

Scott Goodwill, CalMac’s regional harbour manager, added: “The hard work and commitment from our port staff and local communities across the network is evidenced by continuous improvement from these audits.

"Working in collaboration with CMAL, both organisations are extremely proud of this achievement and are already looking ahead to achieving gold accreditation.”