SuPorts’ training session : Application of EPF environmental management tools”

The Training Session was organized by AUTh at Corfu, on 26th of June of 2012, in parallel to the SuPorts Annual Conference. The session covered the detailed presentation of the key environmental EcoPorts tool SDM, the registration of port significant environmental aspects and the use of environmental performance indicators. The session aimed at supporting local port managers and experts in understanding benefits, methodology and use of the tools.

The training session was the first of two, planned to be performed within the Suports Project, aimed to assist managers of Hellenic and other local ports in applying EcoPorts tools, in order to reduce impacts coming from port activities and initiate an effort towards integrated environmental management. AUTh is the partner in charge of performing these training sessions.

Presentations delivered by AUTh included the following:
- Use and Application of the Self Diagnosis Method questionnaire by Prof. Basil Tselentis, University of Piraeus
- Register of Port Significant Environmental Aspects by Dr. Georgios Palantzas, AUTh
- Use of Environmental Performance Indicators by Dr. Chris Wooldridge, Cardiff University

Prof. Basil Tselentis presented in detail the methodology and benefits from applying the SDM checklist, saying that “SDM is a cost-efficient methodology for identifying environmental risk and establishing priorities for action and compliance”. SDM is a concise checklist against which port managers can self-assess the environmental management programme of the port in relation to the performance of both the European port sector and international standards. The application of SDM in the SuPorts participating ports has shown that the employees themselves undertake, soon after the initial assistance of the external experts, the task of self evaluation.

Dr. Chris Wooldridge developed the theme of environmental performance indicators and their use by small ports. Key performance indicators can be considered as an information tool that summarizes data on complex issues, to show overall status and trends, and measure the progress in achieving objectives. Dr. Wooldridge highlighted the range of the environmental port issues and the need for grouping them in 3 categories (operational performance, management performance and environmental condition), for facilitating the correspondence of the types of indicators. Currently, the proposed indicators, in the case of small ports, include three on environmental condition and nine on consolidated environmental management.

Dr. Georgios Palantzas presented a well-established methodology for registering port significant environmental aspects, linked with relevant impacts, legislation and environmental programmes. As Dr. Palantzas said “analysis of environmental aspects and impacts, as well as of legal and regulatory requirements, associated with port activities and services, is the most important step of an EMAS application”. Environmental programmes, based on significant aspects and priorities, should be suitable for each small port, adapted to port own priorities, resources, personnel capacity and time scale.