Circular City Ports - Workbook

City-port context of Ostend
Specified seaport - a safe(d)-haven for
transitions on and from the sea
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1 Description of location in relation to other
(sea/) ports
The port of Ostend is, in comparison with other
ports, rather small and not accessible for the largest
ships. There is also not a lot of extension areas
to expand the port activities. This makes the growth
of the port not possible and, at the same time, this
means that the port cannot be competitive in the
usual transhipment aims of ports. Therefore, Ostend
focused on an alternative way to use the sea as a
source of income: the blue energy is a potential for
economic growth. After the first windmill park was
established in 2007, Ostend positioned itself as an
energy port.
2 Description of current activities
Ostend developed itself into a port where all services
were positioned to support the Blue Energy and
the Blue Growth Economy in general. Since the start
of the windmill parks in the North Sea, Ostend invested
in the required infrastructure and research
institutes started to position themselves in or next to
the port (Ghent University). This makes that experiments
and new technologies concerning offshore
activities are developed here: energy from waves,
currents, tides... Apart from energy as the core port
business, Ostend still has bulk cargo economy and
also small ferry connections with the UK.
Another aspect in the port of Ostend, is the implementation
of aquaculture and marine biotechnology.
Other vital services for the well-functioning of
all marine based activities is done by Flemish public
services, which have their home base in Ostend.
3 Description demographic/socio-economic
dynamics.
The port of Ostend plays a significant role in the regional
economy, and the employment rete of the
harbour is increasing year after year. After the world
crisis, the port has to face a shift in activities, moving
from a more fishery-based seaport, to a blue
energy producer. This important economic change
made the port to work also toward innovating and
research, starting to attract a differentiated kind of
labour.
4 Why, and in what way is circularity looked at?
The important economic shift that the port of Ostend
faced in the last years, made them look at circularity
as mainly considered in the aspect of the energy
transition. Furthermore is possible to see other
initiative within the port related to circular economy,
concerning the reuse of waste and raw materials,
and there is an intention to establish a “Circular
economy cluster” focusing mostly on the treatment
of demolition waste and the recycling of Airplane
from the Ostend Airport.
5.Who gives substance to this, which partnerships/
programmes/initiatives are made?
The integration of new activities in the port of Ostend
related to energy production, required very specific
kind of infrastructure. The port authority immediately
invested in the necessary infrastructure as heavy
load quays, starting to develop what is now known
as the Blue energy cluster. The port of Ostend is
considered now as the service port to support activities
taking place in the sea.
6 Is there already a discourse around cityports?
(Yes/no) Who is behind it and what are the ambitions/motives?
The proximity between the city and the port areas
in Ostend is crucial, but it is not possible to recognize
an area which has been defined as “city-port”.
Surely, exchange between the dynamics of the city
and the production of the port are crucial and it is
possible to draw clear interdependencies.