PERS certification for French ports

This is the first time both ports have been certified to the PERS standard, the only port sector specific environmental management standard. PERS is the flagship product of EcoPorts, the network of ports sharing environmental experience and implementing best environmental practice through time and cost effective options, and is offered as part of ESPO services to its members.

The goal is to eliminate the environment as a competitive factor between ports and to avoid reinventing the wheel in terms of developing practicable solutions to environmental problems.

“The EcoPorts tools SDM and PERS were very useful to us both in raising environmental awareness within the port and in communicating with our stakeholders. We are delighted to be certified and we highly recommend the EcoPorts approach to our fellow ports,” said Pascal Galichon, director, environmental department, Port of Le Havre.

Compliance with the PERS standard is independently assessed by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance and the certificate has a validity of two years.

“Besides the usefulness of PERS as the only port sector specific standard, the real added-value of EcoPorts is the network itself. It is great to be able to work and share experiences with fellow port professionals,” added Mathias Guerin, project manager, Port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire.

There are currently 20 ports in Europe that hold a valid PERS certificate.