ECOPORTS

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Click on the links below and find out the replies to the most frequently asked questions...

Contact

1. What is the EcoPorts Foundation correspondence address as of 1.1.08?
EcoPorts Foundation (ad ESPO)
Secretariat
Treurenberg 6
B-1000 Brussels

2. How can the EcoPorts Foundation be contacted?
Phone: + 32 2 734.94.48 (or +32 2 736.34.63)
Fax: + 32 2 736.63.25
Email: foundation@ecoports.com
Website: www.ecoports.com

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Partnership

4. Why becoming partner of EcoPorts Foundation?
The EcoPorts Foundation is a non profit organisation established in 1999 by a group of European ports for the benefit of ports and port communities. The primary purpose of EPF today is to provide a network for ports and other organisation which are pro-active in environmental management. This enables European Port Communities to exchange cost and environmentally effective solutions, and work together in collaborative projects addressing sustainability issues in ports and the logistic chain.

The ultimate goal of EcoPorts Foundation is to create a level playing field In Europe in port-related sustainable management issues.

Thereto EcoPorts Foundation had developed a number of specific tools for ports. This EcoPorts Toolkit is also recommended in the Environmental Code of Practice of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) as means of achieving a good environmental performance in a port.

EcoPorts Foundation is strongly supported by the European Commission, and has good working relationships with the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) and the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP). This helps to bridge between, and combine, practical experience and policy development.

More specifically EcoPorts Foundation initiates the following activities:
- Network activities to exchange good practices and experience;
- Development and implementation of tools (and supporting training and coaching) to collect and transfer practical know how between port communities in Europe, with particular focus on proven solutions for environmental issues.
- Development and implementation of new initiatives to implement best practices or to develop new technologies, procedures etc., with particular focus on the Top 10 sustainable management issues within the port area.

5. What is the partnership fee for EcoPorts Foundation?
All tariffs are published on the EcoPorts Foundation website.

Partner tariff for ports:
- €500     <1 million tons of transshipment annually
- €1.000  1-10 million tons
- €1.500  10-25 million tons
- €2.500  >25 million tons

6. Can national port associations become partner of EcoPorts Foundation?
Yes for €1500 annually

7. Can environmental authorities become partner of EcoPorts Foundation?
Yes for €2500 annually

8. Can companies in ports or the logistic chain become partner of EcoPorts Foundation?
Yes

9. Can universities become partner of EcoPorts Foundation?
No, only organizations who can contribute good practices based on their own operational experience in implementing environmental legislation can become partner. However, universities are preferred partners in EPF activities and projects.

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EcoPorts Foundation Board

10. Can partners of the EcoPorts Foundation network participate in board meetings?
Yes

11. Can only guaranteeing ports become board member of EcoPorts Foundation?
No, also other partner ports that execute tasks and activities for EcoPorts Foundation can become board member.

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Other EcoPorts Foundation advisors

12. Does EcoPorts Foundation also have advisors?
Yes, EcoPorts Foundation has the following advisors:
Scientific Coordinator (Chris Wooldridge, Cardiff University), Market Advisor (Paul Bokdam, Lloyds Register), Environmental Reporting (Mark van Veen, University of Amsterdam)

13. Will EcoPorts Foundation continue to work with its team of trainers?
Yes the 11 EcoPorts Foundation trainers will also in 2008, 2009 and 2010 be asked to deliver expertise about the EcoPorts tools where required.

14. Will EcoPorts Foundation continue its cooperation with the 5 universities?
Yes, but their role has to be activated

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EcoPorts Network

15. Is there a difference between EcoPorts Foundation and its organization?
No but generally spoken the secretariat of EcoPorts Foundation is responsible for the EcoPorts tools, while all partners of EcoPorts Foundation can manage dedicated projects.

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EPF tools: PERS

16. Is PERS certification only possible for EcoPorts Foundation partners?
Yes. Interested parties should first become partner of the EcoPorts Foundation

17. Is PERS certification possible for ESPO members, not being EcoPorts Foundation partners?
No, for the time being separate partnership of EcoPorts Foundation is required for PERS certification.

18. Do I need to be EcoPorts Foundation partner and pay the PERS tariff before I can obtain a certificate?
Yes. First of all the EcoPorts Foundation partner ship fee needs to be paid. Secondly, in 2008 a separate fee of € 800 (if no further assistance is asked) needs to be paid to obtain the certification. This fee covers the administrative work linked to the certification and the costs of the classification/certification company Lloyds Register.

19. What is the advantage of PERS certification for a port?
PERS requires amongst others that environment and sustainability is well organized in a port and that knowledge is available about environmental aspects of the port operations and that is well known what person is responsible for the execution of which environmental laws.

These are also requirements from insurance companies that proof that a port has a basis for environmental risk management in place and has the possibilities to anticipate on environment damaging events that could eventually affect the costs of it.

It also shows a proactive and professional attitude in environment and sustainability to the stakeholders of a port, including companies with an interest in establishing in the port area.

Further it contributes to a positive acceptance of the port near a city.

PERS also delivers a basis for benchmarking environmental performance of the port’s operations with other (European) ports. It is the experience that PERS certification starts a process of environmental awareness and proactive behaviour. See for more information the dedicated FAQ part on PERS

20. Can I get some assistance for filling in PERS from the EcoPorts Foundation secretariat for free?
No, but the secretariat can organise specialized assistance for filling in PERS.

21. Can I get assistance for filling in PERS by paying a fee?
Yes, specialized assistance for filling in PERS can be obtained from the official EcoPorts Foundation trainers, or by an experienced EcoPorts Foundation partner by paying a cost covering hourly fee (travel and subsistence not included). The fee depends on the type of expertise that is needed.

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EPF tools: SDM

22. Is a SDM analysis only possible for EcoPorts Foundation partners?
No, after payment of a tariff all ports can apply for using the SDM scheme. Ecoports partners receive a discount though.

23. Is a SDM analysis possible for ESPO members, not being EcoPorts Foundation partners?
Yes after payment of a tariff.

24. Is a SDM analysis for free for EcoPorts Foundation partners?
No. A tariff has to be paid covering the costs of the analysis. But EcoPorts Foundation members get a discount.

25. Can I get some assistance from the EcoPorts Foundation secretariat for free in filling in SDM?
Yes, some assistance by the EcoPorts Foundation secretariat is available depending on the individual case

26. Can I get assistance from the EcoPorts Foundation organization by filling in SDM?
Yes, specialized assistance for filling in SDM can be obtained from the official EcoPorts Foundation trainers, or by an experienced EcoPorts Foundation partner by paying a cost covering hourly fee (travel and subsistence not included). The fee depends on the type of expertise that is needed.

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Participation of EcoPorts Foundation in projects

27. Does the EcoPorts Foundation have a separate project secretary for its participation in projects?
EcoPorts participates in projects by means of a representative (mostly a partner of EcoPorts Foundation). The most work of preparing the subsidy proposal for such a project is done by the organisation who initiates the project. EcoPorts Foundation contributes in such a proposal. This contribution is delivered by an EcoPorts Foundation partner who is interested in this project and wants to take responsibility in representing EcoPorts Foundation in the project and acts as person to whom the project secretary will report.

Usually for each project a separate project secretary is hired for the period of the project, fully paid by the subsidy for the project. The project secretary reports to the EcoPorts Foundation partner who represents EcoPorts Foundation in this project. EcoPorts Foundation participates normally in more then 1 project. For efficiency reasons only one person is hired to act as project secretary of EcoPorts Foundation in all of these projects. This also gives efficiency in making the knowledge coming from the projects centrally available for the EcoPorts network. In some cases an EcoPorts partner or board member can fulfill this function in a European cooperation project.

28. Can environmental experts from partner ports represent EcoPorts Foundation in projects as a form of international environmental traineeship?
Yes if they have the expertise available that is needed for this representation.

29. Who do I have to contact if I want to develop a project with EcoPorts Foundation?
The chairman, members of the board, a specific person from the EcoPorts partner network or the secretariat.

30. Will the EcoPorts Foundation secretariat in Brussels assist in preparation of subsidy proposals for European cooperation projects?
No.

31. Will EcoPorts Foundation participate in cooperation projects if its costs are not fully subsidized or covered in another way?
In principle no because the work following from participation is traditionally done by hiring an expert who can represent EcoPorts Foundation. However, depending on the kind of project, a different decision can be made by the board. One option for this other way of co-funding is that an EcoPorts partner decides to participate and to represent EcoPorts Foundation and accepting not a full 100% cost covering.

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EPF and policy

32. What views delivers EcoPorts Foundation publicly?
Information about good practice (operational) experience in ports and the logistic chain in implementing the environmental laws.

33. What views will EcoPorts Foundation not present publicly?
EcoPorts Foundation concentrates on good environmental practice and dissemination thereof. EcoPorts Foundation will not directly enter into questions related to policy making or legislative changes.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Contact

Partnership

EcoPorts Foundation Board

Other EcoPorts Foundation advisors

EcoPorts Network

EPF tools: PERS

EPF tools: SDM

Participation of EcoPorts Foundation in projects

EPF and policy

Contact

Partnership

EcoPorts Foundation Board

Other EcoPorts Foundation advisors

EcoPorts Network

EPF tools: PERS

EPF tools: SDM

Participation of EcoPorts Foundation in projects

EPF and policy