Implemented within the framework of SOUTH EAST EUROPE Transnational Cooperation Programme (SEE Programme) the project ECOPORT 8 is aimed at guaranteeing healthy eco-competition among SEE ports and avoiding environmental damage by using shared rules, common safeguarding and monitoring policies and by creating an eco-ports network.

INVOLVED BODIES

PARTNERS

Bari Polytechnic (POLIBA), Italy

Institute of Water Problems- Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IWP-BAS), Bulgaria

Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company (BPICo), Bulgaria

Patras Science Park S.A. (PSP), Greece

Universus CSEI - Training and Innovation University Consortium (Universus), Italy

Bari Port Authority (BariPA), Italy

National Institute of Marine Geology and Geoecology (GeoEcoMar), Romania

Polytechnic University of Tirana (UPT), Albania

Durres Port Authority (DPA), Albania

Institute of Marine Biology (BIOKOTOR), Montenegro

PORT OF BAR Holding Company (BarHCPA), Montenegro

OBSERVERS

Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT), Italy

Igoumenitsa Port Authority S.A. (IGOU.PA), Greece

Ministry Of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunication (MPPT), Albania

National Company "Maritime Ports Administration" S.A., Romania

Romanian Naval Authority (ARN)

THE PROJECT

Implemented within the framework of SOUTH EAST EUROPE Transnational Cooperation Programme (SEE Programme) the project ECOPORT 8 is aimed at guaranteeing healthy eco-competition among SEE ports and avoiding environmental damage by using shared rules, common safeguarding and monitoring policies and by creating an eco-ports network.

More specifically, ECOPORT 8 aims to:

• supply the port authorities within the ports of the SEE Area with the relevant tools for environmental management and monitoring;
• define a single shared trans-national and sustainable protocol in order to establish common standards of control and monitoring of the principal environmental parameters within the ports;
• bring about a virtual environmental certification for PAN-EU corridors and port networks in all their complexity;
• set up a permanent PAN-EU network to develop, strengthen and transfer coordinated initiatives of cooperation for eco-management of PAN-EU corridor ports;
• analyse laws and act to produce an homogenized SWOT report;
• carry out initial environmental analysis of all ports involved, focused on on-site measurement campaigns able to sustain, verify and update actions for continuous improvement;
• identify common innovative studies, methods and tools, based on a preventive approach for defining environmental and social risk conditions, reducing environmental impact and supporting the development of clean technologies in the partners port areas;
• encourage, with respect to networking and institutional partnership principles, the development of collaboration and effective relations among local authorities, citizens and enterprises of all the SEE Area with a view to stimulating growth, employment and environmental protection;
• train new professionals on the design and environmental management of port areas;
• define reference actions to prevent the pollution of (sea) water, air, ground, and preserve all natural resources in port areas and in nearby coastal zones
• promote the continuous improvement of environmental performance of the identified port areas;
• guarantee the sustainable development of sea traffic.

Project Activities

The project foresees:

• one SWOT analysis as synthesis of all relevant laws, acts and measures, identifying legal and procedural contrasts between different countries;
• one improvement programme of the eco-performance of the port areas involved in the project;
• one monitoring network plan to have a shared vision on environmental policy, design of a monitoring system and define better procedures and implementation of pilot monitoring;
• testing in two pilot sites, one in Bulgaria (Bourgas) and one in Montenegro (Bar);
• WEBGIS on the first environmental data;
• one report regarding environmental quality parameters, instruments installed, monitoring procedures and data obtained;
• guidelines for a PAN-EU eco-management system of ports and a shared protocol to be submitted to Authorities, guaranteeing EU eco-competition and co-operation.

In addition, 6 Pan-European Forums will be organized, one in each participating country, as well as several other activities that will promote the project results and outputs at European and international level.

Site Link

www.ecoport8.eu