After having facilitated the shape of Europe’s ports policy (Stockholm 2006 / Algeciras 2007) and discussing its implementation regarding governance (Hamburg 2008) and infrastructure networks (Marseilles 2009), the ESPO 2010 Conference will explore the human face of the port sector. This theme covers a broad range of topics associated with the 2007 EU Ports Policy Communication, including the port image, city-port dialogue, training and education as well as living and working conditions.

The ESPO 2010 Conference will bring these issues together under the theme “Living and working with ports”. The programme will feature a number of hands-on workshops covering communication skills, training and educational partnerships, management of change and the untapped potential of port tourism and recreation. Societal integration is still very much a new area for many port managers, comparable to what environmental management used to be fifteen years ago. This is why ESPO is not only giving out an Award in this field but also supports the port co-operation project “People around Ports” which was launched in April 2009. This project will lead to a new ESPO Code of Practice that will be officially presented in Helsinki and which is hoped to play the same pioneering role as the first ESPO Environmental Code of Practice back in 1994.

>> For more information and registration visit http://www.espo.be

The 5th International Ports and the Environment Conference and exhibition GreenPort 2010 will take place in Stockholm on 24-25 February 2010 in association with Ecoports Foundation and ESPO.

Delegates representing the port sector in Europe and the Globe will be gathering in Stockholm to discuss key issues such as climate change, port authority’s green initiatives, biodiversity and Natura 2000, port-city relationship, port technology and renewable energy. One of the highlights of the programme will be the official announcement of the outcomes of the ESPO / Ecoports Port Environmental Review 2009. The outcomes of the review will form the basis for updating the ESPO Environmental Code of Practice and will provide the framework for adapting the Ecoports tools and for orientating new research, development and application initiatives.

>> For more information and for registering to the conference please visit http://www.green-port.net

The winner of the first ESPO Award on Societal Integration of Ports will be announced on 4 November 2009 during a festive ceremony to be held at the Town Hall of Brussels.

The jury, which is chaired by John B Richardson, former Head of the Maritime Task Force in the European Commission and Special Advisor at FIPRA International, shortlisted earlier seven projects from the total of 30 projects that were submitted. The ESPO Award on Societal Integration aims to promote innovative projects of European port authorities that improve societal integration of ports, especially with the city or wider community in which they are located. In this way, the Award wants to stimulate the sustainable development of European ports and their communities.

The seven nominees for the first edition of the ESPO Award are:
- The Port Authority of Algeciras Bay (Spain),
- Genoa Port Authority (Italy),
- Ghent Port Company (Belgium),
- Port of Gijón (Spain),
- Port of Rotterdam Authority (The Netherlands),
- Ports of Stockholm (Sweden), and
- Port of Turku (Finland).

Welcome to GreenPort 2009, in association with the EcoPorts Foundation.

The Conference will take place between 25-26 February 2009, at The Ramada Hotel, Naples, Italy.

In an important industry initiative, GreenPort and the EcoPorts Foundation combined their two annual conferences into a single event in Amsterdam in February 2008. This co-operation permitted the regulatory and policy themes of the GreenPort conference to be discussed alongside EcoPorts' focus on operations and best-practice.

Supported by the European Seaports Organisation ESPO and the Federation for Inland Ports, the conference was welcomed by the Ports and Shipping industry and the event proved to be a great success.

Joining forces again and continuing this co-operation, GreenPort 2009 will now be organized in Naples in association with the EcoPorts Foundation and hosted by the Port Authority of Naples with official support of Assoporti, the Italian Ports Association.

> To read the Letter of Support from Assoporti, please click here 
> For more details on the GreenPort 2009 CONFERENCE click here 
> For more details on the GreenPort 2009 EXHIBITION click here 
> For Testimonials about GreenPort 2008 click here

The Eighth ManagEnergy Annual Conference once again takes place in Brussels during EU Sustainable Energy Week, which runs from 9-12 February 2009.

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ESPO 2008 will take place at the Atlantic Kempinski Hotel in Hamburg, from Thursday 29 May to Friday 30 May 2008.

The theme of the 2008 ESPO Conference is Governing 21st Century Ports. The event will gather know-how from European and international port and academic experts on the strategies and tools port managers have at their disposal to respond to these challenges. Attention will be paid to strategies that stretch beyond the traditional landlord function, the management of port property and port performance measurement. Particular focus will be on the use of concessions as governance tools.

The conference will also feature a political debate with Members of the European Parliament on the business climate Europe is shaping for the development of ports. The two-day conference will conclude with an update on the implementation of the European Commission’s new ports policy by Matthias Ruete, Director General of DG TREN.

Giuliano Gallanti, the ESPO chairman, will officially open the conference on Thursday lunchtime, 29 May. It will finish on Friday afternoon, 30 May, after a tour of the port of Hamburg.

> Click here for the Conference flyer
> Click here to register online

End of project conference: The NoMEPorts project is now drawing to an end.

The Final Conference of the NoMEPorts project will present the Good Practice Guide on Port Area Noise Mapping and Management and practical information on noise mapping, action planning and noise management.

Speakers from the ports, the European Commission; DG Environment, Dutch Ministry of Environment, Municipality of Amsterdam and Environmental Competent Authorities are being invited.

Managing noise in port/city areas has long term benefits for both port operations and the environment. The main objective of NoMEPorts is reduction of noise, noise-related annoyance and health problems of people living around port industrial areas through demonstration of a noise mapping and management system. The most important achievement has been the development of the Good Practice Guide.

> Click for the conference annoucement here
> Click for the programme here.

Ecoports will be present at the Greenlogistics Conference in Valencia on 6-7 March. The Ecoports chairman, Herman Journée, will present the use of the Ecoports tools and explains how these could increase the green character of the logistics chain.

> Link to the conference website
> Link to the conference program

The World Maritime University will host an international conference entitled ICCMI2008 – Impacts of Climate Change on the Maritime Industry. This event will attract experts from around the globe to discuss how climate change might affect various marine activities. It will also evaluate the measures that can and have been put in place to respond to the consequences of climate change.

EcoPorts Foundation has been invited to present the Environmental management of ports based on a self-regulation as well as the tools developed by ESPO & EcoPorts.

> Link to the ICCMI 2008 WebSite
> Download Conference leaflet
> Download Conference Agenda 

GreenPort 2008 • EcoPorts 2008
Sustainable Policy and Practice in Ports, Cities and the Logistics Chain

27 / 28 February, 2008
Mövenpick Hotel, Amsterdam

Download here your Conference programme and Registration form

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The International workshop with the title

PORTS – FACILITATORS IN THE LOGISTICS CHAIN
A common response of sea and inland ports to the European Commission’s new Freight Transport Agenda

is organised on Tuesday, 11 March 2008 at the Association Parlementaire Européenne – Strasbourg.

The workshop is organised under the patronage of Mr. Corien Wortmann-Kool, Member of the European Parliament and President of the Dtch Federation of Inland Ports and with the kind support of Port Autonome de Strasbourg.

Click here to Download the Agenda of the Workshop.

The 2008 ESPO Conference titled, Governing 21st Century Ports will be held in Hamburg, on 29-30 May, 2008.

Click here to download the 1st Conference announcement.

Environmental Study Tour of Northern European Ports

Arrangements are being put into place for a 7-day Environmental Study Tour of several major Northern European ports, which will take place from 20-26 February 2008. The Study Tour will also include participation in the GreenPort 2008 / EcoPorts and NoMEPorts Conferences taking place from 27-29 February 2008, in Amsterdam.

For more information got to: www.green-port.net or download here a detailed programme and registration form.

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The European Business Summit (EBS) is organised by BUSINESSEUROPE and the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium, in close cooperation with the European Commission and the Slovenian EU Presidency. After five editions the EBS has truly become Europe’s number one dialogue between business leaders and policy makers.

With the theme Greening the Economy: new Energy for Business, the EBS wants to focus on how Europe can turn the “carbon challenge” into a business opportunity, giving new energy to growth and jobs. At the 6th EBS in 2008, business and political leaders, NGOs, media and academics from numerous countries will share visions and solutions in the area of climate change, energy and (eco-) innovation.

Energy and climate change are the world’s hot topics today. Enterprises, politicians and opinion leaders look for ways to fulfill energy needs and to innovate to reduce CO2 emissions. Greening our economy is rightly a major priority for the European Union and the business world.

> Click here to read more about the 6th European Business Summit

Under the umbrella of the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign (SEE), the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, the European Institutions, the Slovenian Presidency and major stakeholders concerned with sustainable energy are together putting on the second EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW). It will take place in Brussels, Belgium, and in other cities across Europe from Monday 28 January to Friday 1 February, 2008.

The EUSEW is the key reference for sustainable energy issues in Europe. The events organised during EUSEW cover key topics that highlight the multi-sectoral nature of sustainable energy development and stress the need for everyone to work together towards a common goal; from renewable energy sources to energy efficiency, from EU policy to local action, from distributed energy to planning, from technologies to markets, from legislation to behaviour to education, from buildings to transport.

> Click here ro read more about EUSEW 2008 

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The Commission together with the Portuguese ports of Aveiro, Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal and Sines, will hold a Marco Polo II Conference in Lisbon on the 4th and 5th of December, 2007. The venue will be the Hotel Opera Vila-Galé.

The conference is addressed to potential applicants to the forthcoming Marco Polo II call for proposals to be launched in January, 2008. It will include workshops on specific topics and general information on how to present the proposals.

Download the Conference Agenda.

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“Ports are Europe’s windows to the world. European ports play a key role for our growth and jobs strategy and we must make sure that ports can handle the expected growth in maritime traffic. It is essential to promote investment and employment in the sector” Jacques Barrot, European Commissioner for Transport

The European Commission will launch its new European ports policy this month, with stakeholders seeing whether it will succeed in replacing the previous period of conflict, controversy and uncertainty with clarity, consensus and stability.

Waterfront Europe invites you to join leading maritime representatives for your first opportunity to examine the future of European ports policy, understand the new guidelines, express your views and debate the key issues, including:

• How can ports be developed in a sustainable manner to match the growth in demand for shipping
• Understanding the different and sometimes overlapping environmental legislation
• Strengthening the performance of seaports as intermodal nodal points
• Implications for ports of vertical integration in the supply chain
• The role of ports in Trans European Networks (TENs)
• How can fair competition between EU ports be ensured?
• The new consensus – myth or reality?
• Is social dialogue the key to maintaining good relations?

Supported by the European Commission, ESPO and ECSA confirmed key speakers include:
- Jean Trestour, Head of Unit - Maritime Transport Policy European Commission DG Transport & Energy
- Patrick Verhoeven, Secretary General European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO)
- Alfons Guinier, Secretary General European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA)
- Philippe Alfonso, Political Secretary ETF Maritime Transport Section

The Programme is available here
To book, click here

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Explosive growth of trade volumes in Europe's seaports has created capacity problems which is why the focus is now on inland port and waterway development.
That's why Lloyds Register - Fairplay's Maritime Events Division (MED) is organising the first European Inland Waterways and Ports Forum, taking place in Amsterdam, November 27-28, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Increased use of inland waterways to move freight cost-effectively and simultaneously curb emissions and reduce congestion is a policy actively pursued by the EU. Europe has a network of 35,000km of rivers and canals, carrying nearly 500M tonnes of freight annually and huge investments are planned across the continent to expand and improve inland waterways, ports and terminals that will affect shipping lines, shippers, forwarders and intermodal operators.Forum sessions will cover:

• European Overview, including present EU projects
• Ports and Inland Waterways
• Using Inland Waterways Today
• Environment and Economics.

Organisations that have already confirmed presentations include the European Commission, European Investment Bank, CEDA, Hamburg Port Authority, European Sea Ports Organisation, Black Sea Coastal Association, Via Donau, TEN-T, European Federation of Inland Ports, the Port of Le Havre Inland and Inland Navigation Europe the latter also sponsoring the event.

For more information and to register, click here.

Has NEW! Delta succeeded to achieve her mission statement «Striking a New Balance between ports and nature»?

Find out on Thursday 4th and 5th October 2007 during the NEW! Delta Closing Conference.
Click here for more information and registration

The NEW! Delta project balances improving the environment on the one hand and economic growth on the other. Against the background of the European Birds and habitats Directives, the NEW! Delta project seeks to foster the protection of the Natura 2000 sites as an integral part of economic port and estuary edvelopment. At the same time NEW! Delta provides opportunities for social, economic and maritime benefits.

The project consists of 10 partners from 4 countries in North-West Europe (England, France, Belgium and The Netherlands), being port authorities, (regional) administrations and knowledge and research institutions. Lead partner is the Provincie Zuid-Holland (NL). The NEW! Delta project will be implemented in the area from Haute-Normandie and the French coast to the neighbouring Belgian and Dutch coasts up to the Provinces of South and North Holland and right across the West North Sea and the Channel, in the south UK coast.
The project is cofinanced by the European regional development fund Interreg IIIB - North West Europe.

Linking in with the festivities for the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, Green Week 2007 will look back at 50 years of European environmental policy and will look at the future.

Green Weekwill be reviewing past actions and identifying success and failures, and looking at the challenges we will face in the future. What have we achieved? Where could we do better? Which are the drivers for change? Do we need to adapt our lifestyle and how? How can innovation and technology help us?

Green Week will provide a unique opportunity for debate, exchange of experience and best practice among non-governmental organisations, businesses, various levels of government and the public.

We hope to see you at the stand of EcoPorts Foundation at the Green Week 2007.

> Link to the Green Week Web Site
> Photos from EcoPorts presence at Green-Week 2004  

Despite covering three-quarters of the Earth's surface, our oceans are among the most under-researched and least understood areas of our planet, and are particularly vulnerable to pollution and other human impacts.  For example, it has been estimated that coral cover in some regions has dropped 80 percent in the last three decades due to climate change, coastal pollution, and coral diseases.  Marine ecosystems have long been an Earthwatch focus, and here you will have the chance to hear about two very different, but equally important examples of our work.

When: Wed 6th June, 7pm
Where: The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London
Reservation: +44 (0)1865 318856 or events@earthwatch.org.uk
More info: Earthwatch

Efficient Management of Coastal Regions and Cities
Implementation and Use of Space Application-Based Services
17 - 18 September 2007 – Tallinn, Estonia

The Tallinn workshop will bring together professionals from the public administrations of Coastal Regions and Cities and from the space technology service sectors. The two-day programme will allow them to share good practices in the management of issues specific to coastal regions by using space application-based services, to evaluate specific needs and difficulties linked to the implementation of such services, and to identify specific future service developments. Participants will be presented with, and will consider their action within, the larger scope of the EU common maritime policy.

The workshop will help shape future collaboration between users from Coastal public administrations and the Value Added Industry, in addition, it will contribute to the development of satellite-based services, by providing feedback to the relevant European institutions.

Eurisy organises this workshop within the larger frame of its three-year programme aimed at facilitating access by public local and regional authorities to the benefits of space applications.

> Download the Conference First Announcement

Strategically located at the Strait of Gibraltar, the port of Algeciras was established 101 years ago and has transformed itself into one of the fastest growing container ports in the world. The port of Algeciras also played a historical role in developing relations between Europe and N. Africa, which continues today through its co-operation with the port of Tangiers.

> Download the programme here 

Organised in partnership with the Port Authority of Algeciras Bay and Puertos del Estado and supported by APM Terminals, this year’s ESPO conference will be entirely devoted to the European Commission’s preparation of a European seaport policy.

At the ESPO 2006 Conference in Stockholm, Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot announced a wide-ranging consultation on a future EU policy for seaports. Since Stockholm, the Commission has initiated six thematic workshops which are currently being held in a series of port cities around Europe, seeking the opinion of industry stakeholders on a wide range of topics.

The Algeciras conference coincides with the closure of this consultation exercise. It draws the findings of the thematic workshops together and aims to compare views of stakeholders on outstanding issues of discussion. The conference concludes with a keynote address by Commissioner Barrot on the preparation of the Commission’s Seaport Policy Communication which is expected to be published in autumn this year.

In Algeciras, ESPO will also be presenting the first in a series of annual market reports on the European port sector, which is prepared by the Institute of Transport and Maritime Management Antwerp (ITMMA).

We warmly recommend you to take active part in the debate at the ESPO 2007 Conference.

Registration forms and all practical information on the conference can be found on the ESPO website.

The International Experts Forum on Sustainable Port Development
will be held in Bremen, between 19 and 21 February 2007.

Click here to view full Agenda, List of Participants and Attendance Information.

For the first time, the critical issue of “Legal Certainty for Port Planning” will be the key theme of the conference. Legal uncertainty is a major challenge for both sea ports and inland ports, and the issues relating to it will be discussed in depth by a range of policy-makers, regulators and port planners. Possible solutions to the problem of how to create greater legal certainty will be proposed – including regulations, guidance and best practice.

The Theme for Day 2 will be: “Tackling Today’s Operational Challenges” and will cover landside air emissions and port dredging. A full session is also being devoted to the increasingly important issue of the Port’s image – among the public, the regulators and lobbying organisations.

Following the conference sessions, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the River Tagus on board a luxury river cruise vessel, providing an opportunity to view Lisbon’s port, marina and waterfront facilities.

GreenPort 2007 is being organised in conjunction with the Port of Lisbon and is supported by the European Sea Ports Organisation and the European Federation of Inland Ports.

Further Details of the Conference Programme, together with Registration Form and Hotel Booking Details, can be found on the GreenPort 2007 website.

"Ports and the Environment, Drawing lessons and sharing experience"
INDOCHINA ECOPORTS is organising a Conference on Ports and the Environment.
The conference will be held in Hai Phong City, Vietnam on the 1st February 2007. 

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On de 1st and 2nd of February 2007 a Congress to launch the Federation of Regional and Local Channel Ports has been organised. This has been done within the framework of the EMDI Project "Espace Manche Développement Initiative" whose objective is to develop and consolidate cross-Channel cooperation. The project is supported by the North West Europe INTERREG IIB Progamme.

The event brings together representatives of the managing authorities of regional commercial ports situated in the English Channel, local authorities and Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Through a network of French, British and Belgian partners, the Federation will seek to promote cooperation between these ports in order to address the many challenges which confront them today, including adapting to European regulations, the prospect of the loss of port land to non-maritime use, environmental pressures, the promotion of commercial activities, etc.

The Federation will seek greater recognition for its ports by national and European maritime authorities and develop the exchange of best practices concerning common issues.

For registration or more information go to www.cotesdarmor.fr/federationports

The EcoPorts 2006 International Conference will be held on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th December 2006. The Port of Genoa will host the meeting. The title of the conference is 'From Environmental Management to Sustainability in Ports and the Logistic Chain'.

During practical working sessions we will look at how environmental management is evolving into sustainable management, what this means for the Port Community, and how the EcoPorts toolkit can support this.
The programme will also look at the results of the work done in European collaboration projects and define and discuss opportunities for further collaboration.

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The 2006 BPA Annual Conference is taking place on Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th October at the Port of Dover.
2006 is proving a pivotal year for the UK ports industry, with ports policy reviews taking place in Europe, the UK and Scotland. Proposals for a new Marine Bill have the potential to significantly change the environment in which British port operate. The ports industry itself continues to go from strength to strength.
The BPA Conference will bring together a range of speakers to address the key issues facing the UK ports industry.

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Conference participants from around the world will learn from experts and each other and share insight in both plenary sessions and focused leadership tracks that cover business case for sustainability reporting, global best practice, emerging and capital markets, license to operate, corporate governance and assurance, supply chain and reporting, public policy and agencies, SMEs and the new G3 Guidelines.

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