EcoPorts News

Common ESPO and EcoPorts meeting and workshop on waste reception facilities

03 Apr 2014

On 27 and 28 March, Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) hosted with great success an EcoPorts workshop, the first since the integration between ESPO and EcoPorts back in 2011. Co-organised by ESPO and PPA, the workshop brought together representatives from over 40 European port authorities, members of the EcoPorts network and of the Sustainable Development committee of ESPO.

On 27 March a networking dinner was kindly hosted by the CEO of PPA, Mr Giorgos Anomeritis while that an EcoPorts network meeting started the programme on 28 March. Both events gave the opportunity to ports to exchange ideas and touch base upon current environmental priorities in line with the founding EcoPorts principle of “ports sharing knowledge and experience”. Participants discussed the way forward regarding the EcoPorts network and made suggestions on ways to increase the added value.

The EcoPorts workshop that followed addressed the issue of waste reception facilities and brought together representatives of DG MOVE and all the main stakeholders such as ship-owners, waste collectors and port authorities. DG MOVE Policy Officer, Mrs Anna Bobo Remijn addressed the ongoing revision of the waste reception facilities directive and the respective Commission guidelines that are being prepared in parallel. Secretary General of EUROSHORE, Mr Guido van Meel explained the forthcoming challenges in relation to the new types of waste that are being expected such as scrubbers generated waste, ballast water and cargo residues. President of MEDCRUISE, Mr Stavros Hatzakos referred to the significance of adequate waste reception facilities in cruise ports and presented the results of an ongoing MEDCRUISE study in this field. ECSA Policy advisor, Mr Benoit Loicq highlighted the views of the ship-owners. The panel discussion between the different stakeholders highlighted some common views such as the need for improved data collection on waste statistics and the need for further clarifying certain areas of the directive possibly through guidelines. Some more controversial aspects, such as the fee system for waste collection were also touched upon. Several ports presented their experiences and ongoing projects including the ports of Amsterdam, Oslo, Antwerp, Vigo and Piraeus.

The two days events and set up were very well received by the participants and ESPO/EcoPorts are grateful to Piraeus Port Authority for the kind hospitality. Inspired by the success of this first EcoPorts workshop, ESPO is committed to continue organising such workshops on a regular basis.

read presentations here