DCN December Edition 2019

PORT SUSTAINABILITY
Exploring the ‘green’ agenda
for ports
Australian specialists played an important part in this year’s World Greenport
Congress in Norway, writes Paula Wallace
MORE THAN 230 PARTICIPANTS
Of course, the topic of new limits on
from across the globe travelled to the
sulphur emissions was also discussed
Norwegian city of Oslo for the 2019 World
along with models for developing port
Greenport Congress in October.
sustainability strategies, UN Sustainable
Hosted by the Port of Oslo, the event
Development Goals, and the implications
once again brought together port-sector
of Brexit on ports in the European region.
leaders and representatives to collaborate
The Port of Vancouver presented an
on a range of contemporary issues facing
interesting case study on measuring and
port managers around the world.
reducing underwater vessel noise, and
This year the ‘cruise’ congress was also
there were numerous contributions on
run concurrently with the ‘port’ themes
alternative energy sources for plant and
which enabled cross collaboration.
equipment, renewable fuels in shipping and
For the third time, Renee Hovey
air quality measurement.
and Jason Sprott from Australian port
planning, environmental management
WORLD-CLASS PROJECT METHODOLOGY
and sustainability advisory firm Sprott
The workshop concept was developed by
Planning & Environment attended the
Ms Hovey in collaboration with Dr Chris
Congress, having been invited to present at
Wooldridge from the School of Earth and
previous events in Amsterdam in 2017 and
Baltimore in 2018.
Ocean Sciences at Cardiff University.
The session included presentations from
Renee Hovey presenting the workshop at the
World Greenport Congress
“We continue to value the investment
Charles Haine from WSP, Michel deVos
in this forum which brings together
from Napier Port and Henrik Ravandal
interested in investing in the port sector,”
port professionals from across the globe
from Norway-based Sustainable Energy
Ms Hovey says.
interested in transitioning their ports
consultancy Sweco.
“Clearly, investors are understandably
in a number of key themes including
The workshop focused on the four steps
wanting to ensure ports are focusing on
environment, business efficiency and
of the Sprott Planning & Environment
‘the most important issues’ in terms of their
viability, port resilience, renewable energy,
strategy development methodology
overall port strategy and direction, and our
climate change, alternative fuels, new
including gap analysis, materiality
process allows this,” Mr Sprott says.
technology and stakeholder engagement,”
assessment, strategy development and
Mr Sprott says.
forward leadership commitments to
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
communication, review and reporting.
The Congress also included a waterside
HOT TOPICS
“It was pleasing to see a number of ports
port tour on the Port of Oslo’s electric
Topics at this years’ Congress
participating in the workshop with many
ferry, which allowed participants to gain an
were extensive and Renee Hovey
acknowledging the importance of a staged
insight into operations in Oslo despite the
co-facilitated a workshop on ‘Developing
approach to robust strategy development,”
cold conditions.
Sustainability Strategies’, using the
Ms Hovey says.
The location for the 2020 Greenport
project methodology developed by the
The workshop also focused on the
Congress is yet to be announced but will
Sprott Planning & Environment team
importance of considering the United
be sure to continue to attract great interest
which has now been applied in both
Nations Sustainable Development Goals
from the port and maritime sector.
Australia and New Zealand.
within the strategy development work.
“Whilst the topics were of great
The Congress covered areas as diverse
“Charles Haine from WSP highlighted
technical interest, delegates reinforced
as zero emissions technology/emissions
the importance of external and internal
that the real strength of the Congress is
reduction, to new UNESCO regulations
stakeholder involvement and materiality
the opportunity to collaborate with port
regarding World Heritage listed sites,
onshore power technology, LNG bunkering
and the use of circular economy concepts
across the whole of port precincts.
assessments which is a key foundation
of strategy development in our view –
and one being focused on by a range
of investors and private equity firms
professionals and friends from around
the globe – all facing similar issues and
all benefiting from shared experiences,”
Mr Sprott says.
Image supplied
56 December 2019
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