Seven ports nominated for ESPO award

The international jury that has to select the winner of the first ESPO Award on Societal Integration of Ports met this morning in Brussels. The jury, which is chaired by John B Richardson, former Head of the European Commission’s Maritime Task Force, intensively discussed the 30 project applications that were submitted for the Award.

“The quality of the applications received was outstanding”, said John Richardson, “this is very encouraging and shows that more and more port authorities care about social integration of their ports. The great diversity of projects however made our work extremely challenging and took us through an intensive process of deliberation this morning.”

The jury came to the conclusion that the submissions of the ports of Algeciras, Genoa, Ghent, Gijón, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Turku made the most favourable impression and were therefore selected for the shortlist.

“We will now be putting a number of precise questions to these ports so that we can pass a final judgment”, concluded John Richardson.

The winner of the ESPO Award will be announced on 4 November during an evening ceremony at the Brussels’ Town Hall. The Award itself is designed by the Belgian artist François Schuiten.

Next to John Richardson, jury members are Rinio Bruttomesso (Director, International Centre Cities on Water), Giuliano Gallanti (Former Chairman, ESPO), Michael Grey (Former Editor-in-Chief, Lloyd’s List), Olivier Lemaire (Director, International Association Cities and Ports), Nigel Rowe (Chairman, Sail Training International), Jacques van der Tak (Mayor, Community of Westland) and Eric Van Hooydonk (Professor of Maritime Law, University of Antwerp).

(Source: Transport Weekly)