Going for green: the challenges for ports

Ships, and the ports at which they call, together provide the world’s ‘greenest’ option for transporting freight. But the entire maritime industry is under the spotlight in terms of environmental performance – because, clearly, there are still ways to reduce environmental impact.


The challenges will be considered at a special Port Integration conference taking place in Tallinn on Thursday, 9 June.


‘Ports and Sustainability – Energy and Maritime Environmental Challenges’ has attracted a series of high-profile speakers who will address critical issues across the ports sector. Based on these presentations, Port Integration partners will discuss ways forward for the industry and a press conference will be held during the day to outline the topics covered.


Hosted by the Port of Tallinn, one of the partners in the EU Port Integration project, the conference will be opened by Eero Pärgmäe, deputy secretary general (transport) of Estonia’s ministry of economic affairs and communications, and Allan Kiil, member of the management board of the Port of Tallinn.


Among the speakers, Kris De Craene, head of Antwerp Port Authority’s environmental department, and Hendrik Hollstein, of Hamburg Port Authority’s division of environmental and spatial planning, will explain the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) and other climate and environment initiatives at their respective ports.


Other speakers will include:


• Laura Meski, HELCOM assisting professional secretary: ‘HELCOM’s actions to improve the safety of navigation and reduce the environmental impacts of shipping’;
• Lauri Tammiste, director of the energy department of the ministry of economic affairs and communications of Estonia: ‘Energy sovereignty and sustainable energy projects’;
• Taavi Veskimägi, chairman of the Estonian transmission system operator ELERING: ‘New opportunities on combined gas and electricity markets’;
• Martin-Peter Kask, contract manager at EnergoProjekt Entel, Qatar Ports and Waterways: ‘Linking global energy’;
• Tiina Salonen, environmental manager Finland, Nord Stream AG: ‘Nord Stream – state-of-the-art technology to safeguard the Baltic Sea’;
• Kari Pihlajaniemi, fleet manager, energy efficiency and R&D, Viking Line: ‘Innovative and environmentally friendly operation with an LNG powered cruise ferry’;
• Per Ljungberg, project manager, Ericsson Corporate Research: ‘Stockholm Royal Seaport – a sustainable city implementing a smart grid’;
• Roman Šestakov, project manager, Estonian Energy Narva Power Plants, and Dr Pentti Lahtinen, development director, geotechnics, R&D, Ramboll Finland: ‘Oil-shale ash. New environmental role’.


The day after the conference, Port Integration partners will go on a study tour to Paldiski South Harbour to learn about the Port of Tallinn’s ongoing and planned projects.


Allan Kiil, member of the management board of the Port of Tallinn, said: “The conference will be tackling some very critical issues for our industry. Of particular interest for the Port of Tallinn will be the focus on LNG; Estonia is looking at the construction of a larger LNG terminal to solve problems concerning the security of energy supply and air emission. In addition, there are plans to provide LNG bunkering at Muuga harbour.”


Port Integration is a three-year EU Interreg IVC project with 13 port and political partners from ten EU countries and Russia, set up to consider ways to make the most of sustainable and hinterland transport structures. The partners are working together to identify, exchange and transfer best practice examples in the transport sector, with the aim of an overall integration of related policies.


“We are delighted that our conference in Tallinn has attracted a series of excellent speakers,” said Port Integration communications manager Richard Morton. “Port Integration has a very clear focus on reducing environmental impact – while at the same time achieving speedy, cost-effective, efficient freight flows through Europe. This conference will be an ideal opportunity for the partners to get to grips with some of the key issues involved.”
(Source:http://www.transportweekly.com)