A new COVID-19 (coronavirus) task force and information portal has been set up to help ports through the challenges they are facing.
The International Association of Ports and Harbors' (IAPH) World Ports Sustainability Program organised the resources in response to requests from IAPH members. Support will include a regularly-updated, frequently-asked questions section vetted by experts from eight global ports, a weekly economic impact barometer and the latest industry updates.
Patrick Verhoeven, IAPH managing director, said: "Using the simplified format of five frequently-asked questions, we will provide guidance on current best practices, the industry’s collective recommendations to governments as well as regularly updated, useful information" comments."
The Task Force will be headed up by Tessa Major, IAPH Vice-President for Central and South America and Director of International Business and Innovation at the Brazilian Port of Açu. The Task Force includes multidisciplinary port experts and professionals from the ports of Açu, Antwerp, Busan, Felixstowe, Guangzhou, London, Los Angeles and Rotterdam as well as Maritime Street, a consultancy specialised in digital trade logistics.
To keep track of the economic implications, Professor Theo Notteboom (Shanghai Maritime University, Ghent University and University of Antwerp) and Professor Thanos Pallis (University of the Aegean and Universidad de Los Andes), will be working in the production of a weekly economic impact barometer.
