An increasing number of ports throughout the world are adopting ISO 14001 as the standard for their EMS. Certification of ISO 14001 specifies confirmation of a number of activities and processes, as shown below. These components necessarily entail substantive investment in time and money by the Port Authority in order to attain the internationally recognised standard of environmental management.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n EMS using ISO 14001<\/strong><\/p>\n Stages in the implementation of ISO 14001 are:<\/p>\n 1. Design the scope of EMS and assign responsibilities<\/p>\n 2. Create an environmental policy statement<\/p>\n 3. Identify the relevant legal and other requirements<\/p>\n 4. Identify significant Environmental Aspects<\/p>\n 5. Establish objectives, targets and action plans<\/p>\n 6. Develop operational controls<\/p>\n 7. Develop emergency preparedness and response program<\/p>\n 8. Set up a training program for competence and awareness<\/p>\n 9. Create a communications strategy<\/p>\n 10. Set up a documentation for the EMS<\/p>\n 11. Monitor, measure, evaluate and record performance<\/p>\n 12. Conduct audits and correct problems<\/p>\n 13. Conduct management review evaluations<\/p>\n For many Port Authorities, this is a daunting exercise to complete in one initiative because of the amount of data, information, in-house experience and extent of control over environmental impacts that need to be demonstrated.<\/p>\n An alternative approach is to use the EcoPorts Port Environmental Review System (PERS).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n A phased approach to developing an EMS<\/strong><\/p>\n Port Authorities are increasingly under pressure to confirm compliance with environmental legislation, report on environmental quality, and demonstrate the effectiveness of their management programmes. However, many ports in this international sector of activity find that the resources necessary to develop, implement and operate an appropriate EMS are limited or unavailable. European Port Authorities are encouraged to develop suitable environmental management programmes by the European Sea Ports Organisation\u2019s Environmental Code of Practice.<\/p>\n In order to assist ports with the recommendations of the Code, the Ecoports Foundation created practicable tools and methodologies to assist adoption of its provisions. A particularly user-friendly first step in the development of a credible Environmental Management System, as confirmed by over 100 ports across Europe is the Self Diagnosis Methodology (SDM) and the Port Environmental Review System (PERS).<\/p>\n SDM is a well-established and widely adopted, time and cost efficient methodology for identifying environmental risk and establishing priorities for action and compliance. It provides the port with: PERS was developed on the principles of the ISO 14001 concept and is designed to deliver key elements such as: an environmental policy statement, a standard description of the actual set up of the environmental management organisation, and an overview of the environmental aspects of the port\u2019s activities. PERS is specifically designed as a first step towards a recognized EMS by assisting in identifying the Authority\u2019s significant environmental aspects without the requirement for demonstrating actual control as specified by ISO 14001. PERS is available in the languages: English, Spanish and Italian.<\/p>\n \n \n \n \u2022 A benchmark of environmental performance compared with European average<\/p>\n \u2022 A SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat) analysis of the port\u2019s current environmental status<\/p>\n \u2022 A GAP analysis of the port\u2019s environmental programme compared to other standards of Environmental Management Systems, such as ISO 14001 and EMAS.<\/p>\n \u2022 A periodic review of progress<\/p>\n \u2022 Assistance in implementing the ESPO Environmental Code of Practice<\/p>\n \u2022 On completion of the checklist, Member ports receive confidential feedback and advice. The results obtained from SDM can be used effectively in Annual Reports, and the information collected can be incorporated directly into a more formal review system.<\/p>\n \n <\/strong><\/p>\n PERS certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n A port that achieves the standards of the Review System can also apply for a certificate of validation. This phase is carried out by the independent auditor, Lloyds Register.<\/p>\n Over 50 European Seaport have been awarded the Ecoports Certificate for the quality of their Environmental Review System,<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n From PERS to ISO 14001<\/strong><\/p>\n Port Authorities that used the phased approach of applying SDM and PERS to their management programmes overwhelmingly endorse the view that the experience of using these time and cost effective tools was particularly beneficial in working towards the ISO 14001 standard. Feedback from the SDM\/PERS process confirms the value to the Port Authority of taking a step-by-step approach in its own time, and developing its own in-house expertise. Training schemes specifically designed to assist individual ports (or regional\/national groups or associations) are available through the EcoPorts Foundation. The process and experience of using SDM and PERS acts as a catalyst within the port to raise awareness of environmental issues, develop management capability, identify risks and reduce costs bearing in mind the potential litigation involved with Authority\u2019s environmental liabilities and responsibilities<\/p>\n \n Environmental Review: European Seaports 2009<\/strong><\/p>\n In collaboration with ESPO, the Ecoports Foundation is currently completing the latest of four reviews of the environmental management performance of respondent European Seaports.<\/p>\n Although anonymous in terms of respondent contributions, the results show the priority given to a range of environmental issues as identified by various categories of ports in terms of their size and commercial profile.<\/p>\n Other review indicators demonstrate the extent to which the sector is implementing the recommendations of the ESPO Code of Practice, developing best practice EMS procedures, and reporting on their efforts with regards to compliance and sustainability. The overall results are useful not only to the individual participant ports, but also to national associations and the sector as a whole. The trends of progress over time (from the 1996 baseline) provide demonstrable evidence of the sector\u2019s proactive response to the environmental imperative. The results of the Review (2009) will be presented during the GreenPort 2010<\/em><\/strong> conference and the implications for policy and practice will be discussed.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Port community<\/strong><\/p>\n Many ports are located close to housing areas or even largely surrounded by them. The environmental awareness of their inhabitants – and the apparently ever widening range of other stakeholders – has risen noticeably in recent years. The environmental knowledge and awareness of these groups has also shown a marked increase. An increasing number of organisations are emerging specifically to influence or campaign on environmental issues, such as air quality, noise or nature. Many of the representatives of these organisations are particularly knowledgeable and well informed through their local information and professional expertise. The concepts and practicalities of sustainability, the green agenda, and a clean city are widely endorsed and pursued with determination and conviction.<\/p>\n As ports come to terms with the new legislation and the associated pressures to demonstrate compliance, delivery of continuous improvement (of environmental quality) and overall sustainability of their activities and operations, they are increasingly challenged to bridge the apparently conflicting demands of commercial viability and environmental stewardship. Port Authorities recognize the mutual advantage of establishing positive links with their stakeholders in terms of exchange of opinions, transparency of actions, regular reporting and a pro-active approach to port development through the planning process where science-based evidence and validated performance indicators are demonstrated to establish the introduction of the Ecoports Tools can be seen as the start of a process<\/em><\/strong> of awareness of the environmental impact of a port\u2019s significant environmental aspects throughout its own estate and the surrounding area. The Tools identify appropriate roles and tasks for all employees, including the management, in a format designed to raise awareness, stimulate development of solutions and integrate effort into a coherent programme of activity – with the objective of delivering effective management. The application of SDM and PERS identifies environmental risks and impact, produces benchmark performance indicators, and forms the basis for development and implementation of an EMS appropriate to the individual port.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Ports, logistics, sustainability<\/strong><\/p>\n The environmental challenge for port managers has grown from quay-side to port area, and now, to the environmental considerations commensurate with ports being critically important links in the environmental management of the global, international Logistic Chain. In this context, it is recognised that transport is the economic sector with the highest CO2 emission. Recently, international, and national governmental bodies put reducing CO2 emissions as a priority in their policies. As major nodes in the Chain, Port Authorities are increasingly going to be challenged with the demands and expectations of taking an active role in the development of environmental management of the Logistic Chain. In their role as landlords or estate managers, Port Authorities can expect to be mindful of the environmental performance of their tenants and (transport) operators over whom they may reasonably be expected to bring pressure to bear.<\/p>\n Dealing with the multitude of issues, identifying performance indicators, demonstrating evidence of compliance and reporting progress on environmental improvement is going to require enhanced in-house capability, major initiatives in collaborations, the development of innovative, cost-effective solutions and a professional network of communication and best practice exchange \u2013 the very concepts on which the EcoPorts Foundation was based originally.<\/p>\n <\/span>Successive surveys and reports have confirmed that the European port sector can reasonably claim to be proactive and responsible in its aim of compliance through voluntary, self-regulation of its environmental management. The adoption by ESPO of the EcoPorts Foundation\u2019s tools and methodologies (notably, SDM and PERS) is evidence of the sector\u2019s commitment to evidence-based quality standards and cooperation on environmental issues in putting EC policy into practice.<\/p>\n However, in spite of the aim of a \u2018level playing field\u2019 of implementation of environmental legislation throughout Europe, and the plea that the \u2018goal posts should not be moved\u2019, it is clear that in the near future, European ports will have to execute their environmental responsibilities as players in a global market and Trans-global chain. The benefits of collaboration within Europe between ports have been widely demonstrated for over fifteen years through R&D projects and the status of environment being agreed as pre-competitive. It may be considered timely to investigate and develop environmental management systems applicable to the Chain and the mutual interests of the global port sector where the progress, competence and experience of European ports and their research organisations can surely make a substantive contribution.<\/p>\n <\/span>In this context, a new Foundation has been set up that introduces standards for a basic operational and risk management system intended to introduce sustainability in the logistic chain. The Foundation will build further on good practice experience with the implementation of sustainable practices throughout the chain. During the GreenPort 2010<\/em><\/strong> conference, several examples will be presented and discussed of new approaches for sustainable logistic chain management.<\/p>\n One presentation, by Quintel Strategy Consulting, will show a new instrument for decision making on a door to door logistic chain that involves the environmental impact as well as the cost impact of the handling of containers in each step of the supply chain. It is being developed to support strategic decision making in the public and the private sector that has an influence on the day to day operations of a supply chain. Transportation is one of the most energy intensive market sectors. Emission levels are high and the cost of the supply chains is substantial in the cost structures of most businesses. The transportation sector is facing an enormous challenge as overall European targets for 2020 are to reduce emissions by 20%, use of 20% renewable energy and energy efficiency increase by 20%. Modal shift and optimization of container supply chains will be part of the solution. Deep insight in the main drivers of energy consumption, emissions and cost of the supply chains are conditional to make the right decisions. However, the subject is complicated. The contribution of available improvement options to overall targets is often unclear and many relevant drivers for the energy consumption, cost and throughput time of supply chains are interdependent. Decision makers in the public sector (ministers at national and local level and other civil servants) and the private sector (CEOs, logistics managers and environmental managers) are in need of a tool to facilitate decision making. For this purpose, in an on-going project in the Netherlands, Quintel has developed an interactive scenario planning tool for the transportation sector. Various door to door container chains can be compared. Users can make their own assumptions on, for example, basic set up of the supply chain, modal shift, and optimization elements. The tool reports on the most important performance elements: cost, throughput time and emission levels.<\/p>\n \n Conclusions<\/strong><\/p>\n Compliance with environmental legislation, the reduction of costs and risks, and the demonstration of sustainable operations will continue to place a premium on management systems that deliver effective environmental protection and commercial viability. The tools and methodologies offered by the EcoPorts Foundation, the recommendations of the ESPO Code, and the quality standards such as ISO 14001 and EMAS provide the port sector with a range of response options. The widening scope of environmental concerns related to the international nature of port sector activities and the emergence of sustainability and the Logistic Chain point to the potential value of increased international collaboration and the further development of networks and platforms for the exchange of relevant experience and best practice.<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Herman Journee and Chris Wooldridge of the EcoPorts Foundation* review the progress the organisation has made in developing Environmental Management Systems (EMS) for ports and explain the Foundation\u2019s tools and methodologies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"sponsor":[],"class_list":["post-9967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-projects-initiatives-greenport"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9967\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9967"},{"taxonomy":"sponsor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sponsor?post=9967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}