IMPORTANT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTAL RESULTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTS

On Monday, June 21st, 2010, was held a 2^nd Pan-European Forum on the theme of “Environmental Status of SEE ports: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats” at Patras Science Park S.A.

In his introductory speech, the President and CEO of PSP S.A., Prof. Petros Groumpos, welcomed all participants and underlined that innovation and entrepreneurship could become the tools for compensating the economic crisis which Greece is undergoing.

The event was greeted by the Dean of the University of Patras, Prof. Stavros Koubias, who congratulated PSP S.A. for the initiative and the organisation of . The representative of the Region of Western Greece, Mr. Christos Tzomakas, reported that initiatives, as ECOPORT 8, are more than welcomed as real economic growth cannot exist without taking into consideration its environmental dimension.

Also the Forum was welcomed by the representative of the Mayor of Patras, Mr. Zafeiropoulos, Deputy Mayor and Mr Nikolaos Mantzaris, representative of the Department of International Activities & EU Issues of the Ministry of Environment, Energy & Climate Change.

The introduction to the subject of Forum and the activities of the project ECOPORT 8 was made by Dr Chrysostomos Stylios, Research & Technology Consultant of PSP S.A. Afterwards, Professor Leonardo Damiani of the Polytechnic of Bari exploited the possibilities, he talked about the opportunities created by the project for mutual comprehension and collaboration among the ports on issues of environmental interest.

The northern and southern port of Patras and its future growth were presented by Mr. Stavros Antipas, representative of Patras Port Authority S.A. that recently joined the Pan-European network of the Project as an Observer.

Igoumenitsa Port Authority S.A. (OLIG) was represented by Mr. Konstantinos Grinias, Director of the Development, who made a presentation how ECOPORT 8 contributes and supports the activities and initiatives concerning issues of environmental management.

Mrs Petkova, representative of the Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company, through presentation she gave an overview of the activities developed by the Company in the framework of ECOPORT 8.

With three presentations, on which the open discussion that followed was based, began the second part of the Forum. As a general conclusion, it was underlined that “the successful application of an EMS depends more on the design and execution of a good plan and less on the acquisition and use of sophisticated technological solutions”. The representative of the Institute of Water Problems of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Professor Jordan Marinski, referred to the results that came to light after the data analysis regarding the existing situation of the environmental issues within the ports of South-East Europe...

The last session of the Forum was dedicated to issues related to Ports Environmental Monitoring Tools. Professor George Ferentinos, who is in charge of the Laboratory of Maritime Geology & Physical Oceanography of the University of Patras, he stressed importance of “co-ordination” when it comes to environmental policies. Dr Zoran Kljajic from  the Institute of Marine Biology of Montenegro presented the General Monitoring Plan (GMP) for ECOPORT 8 Ports and Mrs. Stefania Arborea of the Polytechnic of Bari made a presentation on the importance of hydrodynamic parameters and bathimetric reliefs of port aquatorium.

In the works of the Forum participated over 60 persons who exchanged views, arguments, experiences and the final impression expressed is that it was significantly fruitful for all the involved in ECOPORT 8 bodies and regions.

 Presentation PhD Zoran Kljajiæ