PODCAST: Conversations from the GreenPort Congress

Mercator Media’s GreenPort Congress was held in the French port city of Le Havre recently, providing another opportunity for leading figures in port sustainability to share insight, ideas and memories.

On the sidelines of the 19th annual event, we eavesdropped on a conversation among old friends and colleagues, some of whom, now experts in their fields, have known each other since they were students.

Growth and evolution

EcoPorts science coordinator Chris Wooldridge introduces his former student, now Professor Mark van der Veen from the University of Amsterdam; Dr Antonis Michail, in turn a former student of Mark van der Veen, now at the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH); and Dr Martí Bucha, with the University of Barcelona.

Reflecting on the evolving challenges for ports, the group acknowledged the shift towards strategic issues like the energy transition, a priority for future decades.

This transformation has elevated the role of ports in addressing global sustainability goals, making the GreenPort Congress and its collaborative framework critical for innovation and knowledge-sharing.

For nearly two decades, the Congress has not only provided a platform for research dissemination but also strengthened personal and professional ties, empowering the next generation of experts to take forward the legacy of eco-port research.

Wooldridge could not hide his pride at seeing his former students now lead projects, present their own research and moderate sessions, embodying the growth and evolution of the GreenPort network.