The world’s largest port operators have teamed up to promote environmental awareness in a week-long campaign.
The joint industry initiative by DP World, Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH), APM Terminals, PSA International and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG), joined by the Port of Rotterdam Authority (PRA) is the first of its kind in the ports sector.
The campaign will take place from 14 -21 September and focus on three main themes: re-use and recycling, climate change and the communities in which the terminal operators and ports work within.
The port operators said a range of activities covering all three themes would be organised by the participating port operators’ local business units to tackle and raise awareness globally.
The top executives of the six port companies gave their endorsement to the initiative.
DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: “By continuing to focus on our ecosystem using innovation, new technologies and seeking behavioural change, the industry can make a major contribution to the wellbeing of our planet. This campaign is a watershed for marine terminal operators – it marks the beginning of a joint effort to bring about positive change to the lives of our people.”
For HPH it expands on an initiative it already had in place. “Riding on the success of last year’s campaign, it is heartening to see the initiative has gone from strength to strength. By putting our efforts together with other major port and maritime industry players for this worthy cause, we hope to lead by example and, in the process, do our bit to create a cleaner, greener world for everyone,” commented Eric Ip, group md of HPH.
While APM Terminals CEO, Kim Fejfer said:”This is the right thing to do for the environment, for the communities we operate in, and our employees. Working together, we can address the critical issues facing the environment and act as a catalyst for global change.”
PSA International ceo Tan Chong Meng noted the relatively small impact that terminal operations have on the environment. “In the big scheme of moving goods from door to door, the container terminal operations component is a relatively small contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. Notwithstanding, PSA continues to devote attention and resources to economising on the use of fuel and promoting recycling across our network of terminals,” he said.
SIPG group chairman Chen Xuyuan commented: “With Green Port Plan 2020, SIPG are bound to further consolidate what we have achieved as a green innovator all the way along. Joining forces with DP World, PSA International, HPH and APM Terminals, environmental sustainability will be jointly safeguarded as an initiative where Port and Maritime industry can mobilize all their resources to pursue the ideal of green port.”
While PRA CEO, Allard Castelein said: “It is good to see that the terminal operators are working together internationally to improve the environment. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is pleased to support this initiative. It is in line with our ambition to make Rotterdam the cleanest port of its type in the world.”
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