02.09.2002

EUROPEAN COMMISSION FINACIALLY SUPPORTS PORTS CO-OPERATION
ECOPORTS: A chance for the ports' improved environmental image

Major European ports have launched the co-operation aimed at the development of a common environmental management system in ports and terminals. The co-operation is part of the ECOPORTS project financed by the European Commission. Among the ports building the consortium, apart from i.a. the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona and Hamburg, participating there is also the Port of Gdansk Authority SA. The official launch of the project has been scheduled for October 3-4 in Amsterdam, whereas the development of the project is expected to take up to 3 years.

It is an increasingly common practice for seaports to acknowledge that their expansion is substantially impeded by on-going discussions on the ports' impact on the natural environment and on what is commonly referred to as the urban environment. The discussions become particularly heated when it comes to the introduction of ports expansion projects (for instance a development of new "green field" type terminals). On many occasions, in the eyes of local communities and local authorities, ports are perceived as "heavy" industrial burdens. Such public reception results in a number of initiatives brought about by legislators and aimed at an extended interference in ports' business activities.

The co-operation launched as a part of the ECOPORTS project appears to give an adequate solution addressing both the public expectations (local communities, non-governmental organisations), as well as the European administration. The project is additionally supported by the European Sea Ports Organisation which is acting on behalf of sea ports and representing their interests before the European authorities. The initiative put forward by the European ports can be referred to as a "self-regulation" process which remains in compliance with the principle that "assuming certain actions voluntarily is better than waiting until they are imposed on by the others" (so called adjusting regulators). These self-regulation initiatives in terms of the environmental protection can be also reported when it comes to other sectors commonly regarded as those bringing heavy burdens on the environment, for example, the chemical industry had initiated a voluntary Responsibility and Care programme targeted at the businesses operating in the field.

In a broader meaning, the purpose of the project is to ensure better environmental impact assessment of ports operation. The project involves the development of a joint strategy and substantial actions that will contribute to the reduction of seaports environmental impact. Additionally, the project aims at providing improved living conditions in the urban environment adjoining port facilities. Another intension is to affect the procedures applied along the entire logistics chain by means of following best practices implemented in seaports. Furthermore, the project will provide for the development of a training system, a part of which will be targeted at the ports situated in the EU applicant countries (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia). In this case the training will address the issues related to the approximation of laws and the adjustment of the environmental protection management in compliance with the EU standards.

The European Commission has frequently appreciated seaports' ability, despite strong competition, to negotiate and co-operate in the field of the environmental protection. So far, the initiatives of this kind in other sections of the logistics chain have been non-existent, therefore, according to the European Commission, the ECOPORTS project should serve as a model co-operation pattern to be followed by the whole transportation sector. It is expected that railway companies, road carriers, as well as airports will be invited to participate in the project.

Along with participating in the work focused on achieving primary objectives specified in the project, the Port of Gdansk Authority SA will additionally co-ordinate the co-operation among the Polish and the Baltic ports. This task will be jointly performed together with the Environmental Protection Centre of the Technical University of Gdansk. For many years now the Centre has been carrying out works in the field of consulting and promotion of environmental management methods for the Polish industry.

Objectives of the ECOPORTS project are as follows:

• provision of a system aiding the ports' environmental management (referred to as SDM - self diagnosis method). Additionally, the system is to be available on-line via the Internet
• exchange of experience among ports in terms of the environmental protection through the development of the ports' environmental best practice database
• provision and implementation of training sessions for the ports management staff
• expansion of, so called, ports' network co-operation (with a number of at least 150 participating European seaports)
• transfer of know-how and experience to other sections of the logistics chain (rail terminals, airports, so called "dry" ports and inland navigation ports)
• initiating research and development projects and, so called, demonstration projects aimed at the development of methods reducing ports' environmental impact
• impact assessment of the European Commission's environmental policy and regulations in terms of the environmental protection affecting ports' operation

Participants:

Major project participant include large European ports such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg, Genoa, Goteborg, Rotterdam, the British Ports' Association, Valencia and the Port of Gdansk Authority SA. It is expected that further European ports will be invited to take part in the project provided they express their interest to do so.

Universities: University of Wales, Cardiff, University of Amsterdam, Technical University of Catalonia, Technical University of Gdansk, World Maritime University

Consulting and IT companies (i.a. IBM, CISCO).