Practice Research Project Research Articles

Environmental Management Of Port Operations- The Ports Sector's Response To The EuropeanDimension

Environmental management of port and harbour operations is taking on a consistently higher profile as the port sector responds to the challenges of new and evolving legislation aimed specifically at environmental protection. The formation of the European Ports Organisation, the first EU member states' independent port sector representative organisation, has been the catalyst for a series of port based initiatives offering a positive and increasingly proactive response to the environmental imperative. An environmental Code of Practice and several research projects have contributed both to policy development and effective implementation methodology. Port management responses now include a variety of organisational, procedural, operational and technical options. A survey of the status and implementation of environmental management responses in 281 ports from 15 European maritime member states confirmed the diversity of port characteristics, the major issues of concern, the resources and provisions currently applied and the challenges still to be addressed. However laudable the policy statements, targets and objectives, effective management depends on sound science and relevant criteria if compliance is to be confirmed and performances monitored. Regions of the Mediterranean exemplify the opportunities, potential and cautions for a port sector response to environmental protection.