More than 40 potential partners from Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, and Denmark got together on 6 September in Sopot to discuss the most recent trends and challenges in the field of sustainable development of the ports.

The “Port and City Environment as a follow up of the New Hansa of Sustainable Ports and Cities Project” seminar gathered port directors, universities, shipping companies and environmental experts from all around the Baltic Sea Region.

- There are many different ways in which ports, cities and the maritime industry can improve the state of environment. The greatest effects, however, can be achieved through joint initiatives and investment, said Ms Anna Wallinder, environmental engineer who presented the examples of good practices of Ports of Stockholm.

In summer 2007, The Centre for Maritime Studies at the Turku University carried out a New Hansa follow -up study on situation and progress of New Hansa partners. It gave a great opportunity to evaluate the project and to identify the needs and trends among the partners in the Baltic Sea Region. The study reveals that the efficient cooperation between the project partners has been established. Most of the cities and ports continued their work on air emissions, waste management, noise, dredging, port development and monitoring with regular supervision of the port activities.

The positive impacts of the project were, according to the participants establishing of new contacts, increased cooperation, opportunity to exchange information and views on best practices, trading of experiences and common idea of reducing port emissions. Financial incentives, raising environmental awareness at all levels, shore side electricity and many other examples of the successful progress were presented during the seminar. At the same time, lack of partners from the Baltic States and no coherent international agreement between all Baltic States were seen as an obstacle to the sustainable performance of the ports in BSR.

Further information about the new project and the follow-up process please contact:
Mr Björn Grönholm, Head of Secretariat UBC Commission on Environment Secretariat
Tel. +358 2 262 3172
firstname.surname@ubc.net

© Union of the Baltic Cities, 2006

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