Michele Witthaus reports on a trend towards collaborative port initiatives for sustainability.

Port bodies have long fostered close co-operation between their members on environmental issues. Organisations such as the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) and the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) have worked together over the years to share best practices and consider emerging threats and opportunities. Now some of these alliances are being formalised, giving rise to new bodies, and they are being joined by newly formed groups with ambitious global lobbying agendas for ports and port services.