Zeszyt naukowy - całość - Wydział ZarzÄ dzania i Ekonomiki Usług

26 Andrzej S. Grzelakowskiwww.green-port.net.www.ecoports.com.EKOPORTS AS A NEW DIRECTION AND FORM OF THE EU SEAPORTDEVELOPMENT AND CREATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL ORDERIN THAT SECTOR OF ECONOMYSummaryThe economic activity of any seaport generates external costs. As far as a transportactivity is concerned, a significant part of those costs has been already internalised andpartially included in the port dues and charges paid by shipowners and shippers. However,the process of external costs internalisation is seaports has been not yet concluded.Consequently, those costs are still being borne mainly by local /regional society and economy.To minimize those burdens and subsequently, create good patterns and practice inthe sphere of seaports’ environmental protection, apart from activities taken by seaportsthemselves a great deal of international initiatives and measures relating to this sectorhave been already proceeded in the EU and within the EU seaport association – ESPO.Author of this paper has focused on those initiatives and activities undertaken byESPO aiming at creating a special ecological order in the EU port sector. The concept ofso called ekoports development has been presented as well as the activities of EcoPortsFoundation as a driving force of pro-ecological seaport development have been stipulatedand assigned. It has been indicated too, that the Polish main seaports should closercooperate with ESPO in that field and join the ongoing process of self assessment. It isnecessary not only to improve their image in the international environment, but to gain apotential value added generating in that case by easier involvement and participation inthe development of the green supply chains (GSC).Translated by Andrzej S. Grzelakowski