Spanish ports meet Ecoports’ PERS standard

Port of Melilla in Spain and Shannon Foynes Port Company in Ireland have also renewed their PERS certification. Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO’s secretary general; Eamonn O’Reilly, ESPO’s chairman; and Sotiris Raptis, EcoPorts coordinator, handed over the PERS certificates to the ports’ representatives during the annual ESPO conference in Livorno.

“I would like to congratulate Port of Ceuta for getting EcoPort’s environmental standard and Shannon Foynes Port Company and Port of Melilla for renewing it,” said Ms Ryckbost. “European ports are clearly stepping up their efforts to communicate about their environmental policies and to engage with the surrounding citizens and community.”

She added: “The 2019 citizen wants to be better informed and is more engaged. Ports have to respond with more transparency regarding both externalities and environmental performance, but also have to show how the port in its different functions and responsibilities can contribute to the well-being of the city, the region and the citizen.”

Compliance with the PERS standard is independently assessed by Lloyd’s Register and the certificate has a validity of two years. PERS is revised after the two-year period to make sure that the port continues to meet the requirements.