Legal obligations, challenges and opportunities for small ports environment and safety ESPO small ports seminar, 5 October 2016 Dr Antonis Michail, Senior Policy Advisor, ESPO
ESPO represents all ports, not only the big ones! Claus Holm Christensen, Port of Horsens, Chairman of the ESPO Marine Affairs committee
Small ports in the EcoPorts network
Small ports - PERS certified
ESPO Award 2017 Nature in ports Shortlisted port projects: Bremen Cartagena Dunkirk Guadeloupe Riga
Core nature protection legislation applies Environmental impact Assessment Mandatory or in the discretion of Member States depending on the project and its impact on the environment Water Framework Directive Applying to all projects likely to affect water quality Derogation: Article 4.7 - mitigation Birds and habitats directives Applying to all projects likely to affect species Derogation: Articles 6.3/6.4 compensation EC Environmental Guidelines with the contribution of ESPO REFIT process ongoing
Environment and safety legislation in relation to maritime transport (1) Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure Onshore Power Supply article 4.5 Member States shall ensure that the need for shore-side electricity supply for inland waterway vessels and seagoing ships in maritime and inland ports is assessed in their national policy frameworks. Such shore-side electricity supply shall be installed as a priority in ports of the TEN-T Core Network, and in other ports, by 31 December 2025, unless there is no demand and the costs are disproportionate to the benefits, including environmental benefits. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) article 6.1 Member States shall ensure, by means of their national policy frameworks, that an appropriate number of refuelling points for LNG are put in place at maritime ports, to enable LNG inland waterway vessels or seagoing ships to circulate throughout the TEN-T Core Network by 31 December 2025. Member States shall cooperate with neighbouring Member States where necessary to ensure adequate coverage of the TEN- T Core Network.
Environment and safety legislation in relation to maritime transport (2) Port Reception Facilities directive Applies to all ports Adequate facilities for servicing normal traffic Waste reception and handling plans can be regional Incentives for waste delivery Under revision new proposal 2017 Reporting Formalities Directive Applies to all ports Reporting digitally through a national single window REFIT evaluation launched in spring 2016
Environment and safety legislation in relation to maritime transport (3) Amended SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) convention Requirement for shippers to verify and communicate the weight of containers before these are loaded to vessels Entered into force July 2016 Can have an impact on container ports
Same rules and also same challenges! Top environmental priorities of European ports 2016
Same guiding principles Voluntary self regulation Work together sharing knowledge and expertise Local community license to operate and to grow Systematic approach to environmental management Being transparent environmental/sustainability reporting
But often, limited capacity In terms of personel, financial resources, Need for capacity building Create synergies: networking, working together, sharing experiences Commit to common, co-funded projects Be proactive in profiling your port ESPO / EcoPorts networks, tools and initiatives Opportunities: More contained space / operations - better knowledge and control Targetted actions can have significant impact Environmental management
The EcoPorts network www.ecoports.com
How does EcoPorts work?
SELF DIAGNOSIS METHOD
What is SDM?
SDM feedback and benchmark
PORT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW SYSTEM
What is PERS?
PERS certification
The value of EcoPorts Sharing experiences - Working together Use the knowledge of a trusted collegue EcoPorts workshops EcoPorts tools SDM / PERS Environmental management
Conclusions ESPO is an all ports club Small ports have to comply with the same rules on environment and safety While facing the same rules and challenges small ports have often limited resources Small ports need to look at capacity building through networking, joint initiatives and projects Environmental management represents an opportunity for small ports Joining EcoPorts is a good start!
Thank you for your attention! antonis.michail@espo.be