ESPO congratulates North Sea Port (Belgium/the Netherlands) for being recertified through the EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS). North Sea Port joined EcoPorts in 2018 and is now certified for the second time as a cross-border port under the PERS.

Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO Secretary General, commented: “I would like to congratulate North Sea Port with their re-certification. As an important industrial port, North Sea Port is playing an instrumental role in encouraging and facilitating the greening of the whole port ecosystem by bringing many different stakeholders together, and this beyond the national borders.”

Daan SCHALCK, CEO Northseaport with Isabelle Ryckbost and Valter Selén

Valter Selén, ESPO Senior Policy Advisor and EcoPorts Coordinator, said: “Congratulations to North Sea Port on becoming re-certified with the EcoPorts PERS. As the only transnational PERS-certified port in the EcoPorts Network, North Sea Port has demonstrated that its commitment to environmental management does not stop at national borders. We look forward to many more PERS certification to come.”

PERS (Port Environmental Review System) is the only port-specific environmental standard. The last five years have seen important increases in its recognition and membership, with 103 ports from 25 countries currently counting themselves as part of the EcoPorts Network, and 31 ports holding PERS certification. Compliance with the EcoPorts’ PERS standard is independently assessed by Lloyd’s Register and the certificate has a validity of two years. EcoPorts’ PERS is revised after the 2-year period to make sure that the port continues to meet the requirements.