The method is based on the results of the earlier ‘ECO-information’ project (SDM98) and other European initiatives in this field as METESPO (by the Swedish ports), Ecoport (by Spanish ports), the ABP system and EMAS. The main requirements and outcomes of these initiatives are included in the SDM.

SDM is built upon a questionnaire, developed by the universities involved in ECOPORTS project, to be filled out by the port managers themselves. SDM integrates European initiatives on ports and environment in one system. Several port managers in many european countries have already been trained in using the SDM, either in individual meetings or by multimedia training. During training sessions, ports had the chance to exchange experiences how to formulate an environmental policy, what concrete objectives to set and how to divide tasks, responsibilities and competencies.

Port managers have been involved in the definition of the questionnaires and type of results arising from the SDM. The universities in the project translated the ideas into a solid and practical review method. SDM has been tested, improved and validated during test runs in the course of the ECOPORTS project.  The method is now easily accessible for all port managers involved in the ECOPORTS network.

Frequently asked questions

Q 1- Which is the scope of the tool?Only Port Authority? Port as a whole?

A 1: SDM is done to be completed by the Port Authority but sometimes the questions which it must deal with are quite general or difficult to answer if the Port Authority is not the responsible for all the activities carried out in the port. Then the best approach is to answer the questions from the point of
view of Port Authority + Port tenants, whenever the Port Authority has capacity of influence on its tenants. Otherwise, the Port Authority must answer as far as it is concerned, not any further. Moreover the scope has to be the same through all the document and through time, since SDM is an autoanalysis tool helping state progressive improvements.

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