Circular City Ports - Workbook 1, Circular initiatives in the Delta
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<strong>City</strong>-port context of Ostend<br />
Specified seaport - a safe(d)-haven for<br />
transitions on and from <strong>the</strong> sea<br />
135<br />
1 Description of location <strong>in</strong> relation to o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
(sea/) ports<br />
The port of Ostend is, <strong>in</strong> comparison with o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
ports, ra<strong>the</strong>r small and not accessible for <strong>the</strong> largest<br />
ships. There is also not a lot of extension areas<br />
to expand <strong>the</strong> port activities. This makes <strong>the</strong> growth<br />
of <strong>the</strong> port not possible and, at <strong>the</strong> same time, this<br />
means that <strong>the</strong> port cannot be competitive <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
usual transhipment aims of ports. Therefore, Ostend<br />
focused on an alternative way to use <strong>the</strong> sea as a<br />
source of <strong>in</strong>come: <strong>the</strong> blue energy is a potential for<br />
economic growth. After <strong>the</strong> first w<strong>in</strong>dmill park was<br />
established <strong>in</strong> 2007, Ostend positioned itself as an<br />
energy port.<br />
2 Description of current activities<br />
Ostend developed itself <strong>in</strong>to a port where all services<br />
were positioned to support <strong>the</strong> Blue Energy and<br />
<strong>the</strong> Blue Growth Economy <strong>in</strong> general. S<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> start<br />
of <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>dmill parks <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> North Sea, Ostend <strong>in</strong>vested<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> required <strong>in</strong>frastructure and research<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutes started to position <strong>the</strong>mselves <strong>in</strong> or next to<br />
<strong>the</strong> port (Ghent University). This makes that experiments<br />
and new technologies concern<strong>in</strong>g offshore<br />
activities are developed here: energy from waves,<br />
currents, tides... Apart from energy as <strong>the</strong> core port<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess, Ostend still has bulk cargo economy and<br />
also small ferry connections with <strong>the</strong> UK.<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r aspect <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> port of Ostend, is <strong>the</strong> implementation<br />
of aquaculture and mar<strong>in</strong>e biotechnology.<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r vital services for <strong>the</strong> well-function<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
all mar<strong>in</strong>e based activities is done by Flemish public<br />
services, which have <strong>the</strong>ir home base <strong>in</strong> Ostend.<br />
3 Description demographic/socio-economic<br />
dynamics.<br />
The port of Ostend plays a significant role <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> regional<br />
economy, and <strong>the</strong> employment rete of <strong>the</strong><br />
harbour is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g year after year. After <strong>the</strong> world<br />
crisis, <strong>the</strong> port has to face a shift <strong>in</strong> activities, mov<strong>in</strong>g<br />
from a more fishery-based seaport, to a blue<br />
energy producer. This important economic change<br />
made <strong>the</strong> port to work also toward <strong>in</strong>novat<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
research, start<strong>in</strong>g to attract a differentiated k<strong>in</strong>d of<br />
labour.<br />
4 Why, and <strong>in</strong> what way is circularity looked at?<br />
The important economic shift that <strong>the</strong> port of Ostend<br />
faced <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> last years, made <strong>the</strong>m look at circularity<br />
as ma<strong>in</strong>ly considered <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> aspect of <strong>the</strong> energy<br />
transition. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore is possible to see o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiative with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> port related to circular economy,<br />
concern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> reuse of waste and raw materials,<br />
and <strong>the</strong>re is an <strong>in</strong>tention to establish a “<strong>Circular</strong><br />
economy cluster” focus<strong>in</strong>g mostly on <strong>the</strong> treatment<br />
of demolition waste and <strong>the</strong> recycl<strong>in</strong>g of Airplane<br />
from <strong>the</strong> Ostend Airport.<br />
5.Who gives substance to this, which partnerships/<br />
programmes/<strong><strong>in</strong>itiatives</strong> are made?<br />
The <strong>in</strong>tegration of new activities <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> port of Ostend<br />
related to energy production, required very specific<br />
k<strong>in</strong>d of <strong>in</strong>frastructure. The port authority immediately<br />
<strong>in</strong>vested <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> necessary <strong>in</strong>frastructure as heavy<br />
load quays, start<strong>in</strong>g to develop what is now known<br />
as <strong>the</strong> Blue energy cluster. The port of Ostend is<br />
considered now as <strong>the</strong> service port to support activities<br />
tak<strong>in</strong>g place <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sea.<br />
6 Is <strong>the</strong>re already a discourse around cityports?<br />
(Yes/no) Who is beh<strong>in</strong>d it and what are <strong>the</strong> ambitions/motives?<br />
The proximity between <strong>the</strong> city and <strong>the</strong> port areas<br />
<strong>in</strong> Ostend is crucial, but it is not possible to recognize<br />
an area which has been def<strong>in</strong>ed as “city-port”.<br />
Surely, exchange between <strong>the</strong> dynamics of <strong>the</strong> city<br />
and <strong>the</strong> production of <strong>the</strong> port are crucial and it is<br />
possible to draw clear <strong>in</strong>terdependencies.