1. ESPO award as a tool to enhance
societal integration of ports
Isabelle RYCKBOST
Seminar Urban Port Waterfronts
A new generation of sustainable projects and activities
Santander, 14 April 2011

2. Summary
• Introduction
• ESPO Code of Practice on Societal Integration
of Ports
• ESPO award

3. Introduction

4. Port-city relations have changed…
Because ports have changed:
– Industrial revolution=> scale increase
– Port infrastructure, efficient cargo handling operations
(cranes,…)
– Access channels are deepened
– Need for more capacity => > more space
– 9/11 security measures
Because cities have changed:
Obsolete waterfronts have been rediscovered for urban
redevelopment (housing, sports, tourism, heritage,…)
⇒struggle for space on the waterfront (high prices)
⇒Erosion of public support for seaports

5. What is societal integration of ports?
‘Societal integration of ports is an essential part
of port governance which concerns actions by
port authorities that aim to optimise relations
between the port and its surrounding societal
environment and by focusing on the human
factor in ports, i.e. (future) employees, people
living in and around port areas and the general
public.’

6. tegration of Ports

7. Objectives
Raise awareness among port authorities about
societal integration
Insight in the tools/means to use to get public
support
Provide guidance, recommendations and
inspiration
Respond as port sector proactively to the
(underestimated) challenge

8. THEMES TARGET GROUP AIM
General Public Support
and image
General Public Involve de general public in view of
improving the image of the port and
getting the public support needed
for operation and expansion of the
port
Education and labour
market
(future) employees Impact on the supply side of the
labour market and thus attract
better educated workers to ports
Port-city relationship
People living in and
around ports
Conserve good relations with
inhabitants in and around port
areas
Reconcile good quality of life
with attractive business climate

9. Ten recommendations
General public support and image (1-4-)
1. Measure the image of your port
Ports are very different, Need to measure
what the image of your port is
Exemple: Port of Gijon
Independent poll (2007)
• Satisfaction
• Contribution of the port
• Environment

10. 2. Make the port relevant
to different target groups
Port managers’
language
Communication to the
general public
Media attention
Local TV stations
Social networking tools
Communication related to commercial
activities

12. 3. Open up the port: make people experience
what port life is all about
• Bring people to the port
Port visits: « Port Safaris » (Hamburg and Amsterdam)
Open Port Days: Hamburg, Helsinki Rotterdam, Flemish Port Day,…
EU Maritime day (20 May) Klaipeda, Helsinki,…
• Invest in an attractive port area
Walking cycling paths, pick-nick spots, restaurants, port-side
views,…
• Make the port accessible and secure
Structural visitors facilities
Location for Temporary events Port of Valencia America’s Cup
Race, Formula 1 Race

13. 4. Make the port visible in the city
Port experience/education centres
For school children: Antwerp, Rotterdam
For public at large: Genoa Port centre (in Port Antico)
Towards a European Network (Genoa, Turku, Antwerp
and Rotterdam)
Breathe the port atmosphere in the city
Design maritime street furniture (anchors,…), billboards
250 recommendations, Raise port icon status of cities
Prof Eric Van Hooydonk

14. Education and labour market
5. Identify the gaps and needs within the port
job market
6. Invest in social infrastructure
7. Match curricula of educational institutes
with job needs

16. Port-city relationship
8. Make neighbours your ambassadors
Ports and cities separated
Physical separation => struggle for space
Mental separation
=> « mal connu, mal aimé »
=> Bad image: negative externalities

17. 8. Make neighbours your ambassadors
« Better to have a good neighbour than a
distant friend »
- Permanent stakeholder dialogue with the
neighbours
Ghent Canal zone project: strengthening economics,
living, landscape and nature equally
(Website, newsletter,…)
- International Association Cities and Ports (1988°)
Charter for Sustainable Development of Port Cities

18. 9. Limit negative externalities
Typical port- city concerns are noise and air quality
Good practices through EcoPorts
Noise => EcoPorts-NoMEPORTS project
Good practice guide based on EU legislation
Air quality => World Port Climate Initiative (° R’dam
2008)
Shore Side Electricity in ports (Gothenburg, Antwerp,
Amsterdam and Hamburg)

19. 10. Develop a functional and spatial mix of
ports and cities
Combine residential urban functions with port activities
Marseille renovation of the Silo of Arenc
Offer transport and logistics solutions to cities, for cargo
and people
Brochure INE and EFIP (2008)
London: reuse river wharves for city distribution purposes
Exploit the tourist potential of cruise and industrial
tourism:
Departure and mooring of large vessels becomes a
spectacle for the locals

20. Ports as cruise transit destination or a cruise
tourism hub
For ports in a region with a high tourist
potential
Cartagena, Port of Cultures - Discover the port
facilities from the sea in the Catamaran Port of
Cultures »

21. Photo: Hamburg Cruise Center

23. Aim of the ESPO award
Promote innovative projects of European port
authorities:
- that develop cooperative synergies with cities
and local communities
- Improve the quality and accessibility of port
areas
- Generally promote a positive image of the
port as a place to experience, live and work

24. First edition in 2009
30 applications
7 projects shortlisted: Algeciras, Genoa, Ghent,
Gijon, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Turku
Espo award winner 2009: Port of Gijon
Special Mentions: Ports of Genoa and Ghent

25. Gijon project
« Gijon Port & City Center » (GPC-together)
Integrated project: 76 actions (S, M, L)
1985-2010: long standing tradition
« A living instrument »
P- Port
C-City
R-Region
E- Extra (external- Interreg)

27. Special mention (1)
Port of Genoa: « Genoa port Center » in the Porto Antico
Breaking down the « social distancing » of the Port
Interactive port information center
Target:
- large audience
- Educational service
- Businesses
- Place to promote the port (image)
Photographic campaign: « shared spaces »

28. Special mention (2)
Port of Ghent: Project « Ghent Canal Zone »
A best practice in stakeholder management
An area- oriented and integrated approach
Strengthening both economics, living, landscape and
nature equally
 Network Ghent Canal zone
 Website
 Newsletter
 …

29. GIJON
GENOA

30. Second edition in 2010
14 applications
6 projects shortlisted: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Helsinki,
Koper, Matrseiles Fos and Ponta Delgada
Espo award winner 2010: Port of Helsinki

31. Helsinki project
« Port as part of the City »
 Determination to maintain port activities (passenger
traffic) in the city centre
 Maintain maritime identity of city of Helsinki
 Tools: publications, printed material, resident evenings, an extensive
website (ex. real time indications on air quality results), cooperation
with schools, large public events
 Different environmental tools: shore side electricity, waste reception
facilities,…
 Successes: European Maritime Day, Helsinki Day, Herring Market

33. Impact of the ESPO Award
Raises the profile of the participating ports
Improves the image of the ports in general
HOW?
- ESPO Brochure
- High level award ceremony
- Used as quality label by the winning ports
- Press
=> ESPO award sets the winning ports in the
picture and improves the image of the ports
in general

36. « Sneak preview » call for 3rd Edition
Call open on 14 April!
First edition with a special theme….

37. Thank you for your attention
Isabelle RYCKBOST
www.espo.be
Thank you for your attention
Isabelle Ryckbost
www.espo.be