TEN ECOPORT
Project Background
TEN_ECOPORT is inspired by a great number of initiatives undertaken at EU level, aimed to improve sustainable mobility of people and freight along the sea-network. By this way SEE program gave a great contribution in developing cooperation among port Authorities in Adriatic, Ionian and Black Sea areas (e.g. The SEE MARINER – WATERMODE – SEETAC – ECOPORT8 – GIFT projects, etc.)
Particularly, TEN_ECOPORT is aimed to capitalize ECOPORT8 results. ECOPORT8 has tackled the problem of environmental impact affecting port areas and its surrounding areas, taking into account that all examined ports areas have a high population density.
The project activities have established a first port-network for developing, strengthening and transferring coordinated initiatives of cooperation for eco-management of the sea routes.Nevertheless, the project highlights the obstacles to define shared Environmental policy due to different regulatory system in SEE countries.
Moreover, the free concurrency regime characterizing port operators makes necessary to reduce production cost, with the consequence that an expensive policy will be not applied unless it is imposed by law.
A second consideration inspiring the present project is the extensive review process of the trans-European transport network policy (TEN-T) during the last years. The main innovation put forward in the new policy of TEN was the concept of a “core network” as part of a dual layer planning approach. This approach, broadly supported by the stakeholders, has established the importance of the regional networks for the future TEN-T development that are set in order to enable further economic growth, economic and social cohesion.
In fact, one of greatest difficulties in the increasing cooperation among SEE Countries, especially those coming from the Balcanic area, is the lack of efficiency in people mobility. It is known that the flight connection among those Countries and Italian regions involved in SEE program often pass through a wider Europe space, with high cost and very long travel time. This situation is determined by the existing dislocation of the hubs which completely forgets South Europe.
At the moment the ports are one of the greatest opportunity for increasing the relationship among SEE Countries, as a matter of fact, the ports observe an increasing trend in passenger mobility.
Therefore, the enhancement of the Core Regional SEA-Network, as precursor of TEN networks have led the ECOPORT8 partnership to update their goals with this new vision.
Main objectives of the project
The long term objective of TEN_ECOPORT project is:
- Enhancing the cross-border and trans-European partnership between SEE port areas developing collaboration and effective relation among all stakeholder (port authorities, local institution, enterprises, external operators and citizens of the involved countries), in order to stimulate an integrated policy on environmental protection and growth of TEN corridors.
- Developing and implementing intelligent environmental port management and information systems using integrated technologies for environmental risk protection in order to reduce impacts on human health, biodiversity and other environmental issues.
The achievement of the general objectives will be possible through the following specific objectives:
- Improving the capacity of port authorities for developing and implementing effective policies for environmental management of the port areas, by defining specific critical issues, implementing Specific Action Plan useful for a shared efficient and sustainable Operational Environmental Plan.
- Promoting a peer discussion among all the people and Institution involved in port activities, aimed at providing, education, training, consulting and reviewing based on the best experiences and lessons gained by all the ports involved.
- Creating regional/local platforms involving all the local stakeholder connected directly or indirectly with the port areas and the cities hosting them, in order to guarantees information about the peculiarities of each areas involved end to provide timely solution plans.
- Providing innovative methodologies and instruments for mapping the critical issues for each port involved and highlighting the common key-elements, as basis of the Common Action Plan aimed to protect ports area and surrounding ecosystem.
- Providing EDI (electronic data interchange) system and other ICT instruments for updating the EMS systems starting by the assessing of the vulnerabilities and risks.
- Creating an information base of research methodologies for environmental protection in SEE ports.
- promoting the transnational enhancement of a permanent TEN_ECOPORT network for developing, strengthening and transferring of coordinated initiatives useful for a transnational strategy for port-eco-management in SEE sea basins.
- Establishment of the transnational theme as a multidisciplinary Operational Team for collecting all knowledge and experience that have been developed in this projects and in other future experiences, for the continuation of the support and the provision of services in the ports of South-Eastern Europe.
Economic Data – Project Duration
The total project budget is 2.478.500€, while the budget for the Patras Port is 100.100€.
The project duration is 2 years.
Latest News
TEN ECOPORT launched the Call for Papers for its 1st International Conference “Sustainable Development of the Sea-Corridors and Costal Waters”, which will be held in Tirana-ALBANIA on April 3rd 2014. The deadline for the submission of abstracts expires on January 12th 2014. Below you can find a relevant announcement and the Call for Papers.
