A new updated version of the EcoPorts Self Diagnosis Method (SDM) was recently launched through www.ecoports.com. The new version provides more clarity to some of the existing fields but most importantly introduces a new section on “Green services to vessels”. The new section aims to monitor over time the progress of European ports in providing services such as Onshore Power Supply (OPS), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering facilities and environmentally differentiated charges for greener vessels. In view of this update, ESPO invites all ports in the network to update their SDM submissions in the short run so that the baseline of performance can be established and followed over time.

The EcoPorts SDM is a well-established and widely adopted, time and cost-efficient methodology for identifying environmental risk and establishing priorities for action and compliance. SDM is a concise checklist against which port managers can self-assess the environmental management programme of the port in relation to the performance of both the European port sector and international standards. Individual port responses are treated confidentially and SDM is by no means a "pass" or "fail" exercise. Upon completion of the SDM, a port joins the EcoPorts network (www.ecoports.com/map) and achieves the “EcoPorts” status for sharing data on the performance of its environmental management programme and for contributing in such way to the up-to-date maintenance of the ESPO European Benchmark of performance. ESPO warmly invites all European ports to join EcoPorts.