The Case Studies on Port-City Relationships

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The Case Studies on Port-City Relationships
Ecoports Project Work package 5.4

• Ancona, June 2005

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THE CASE STUDIES

1. New Developments of Port of Rotterdam (NL)
2. Management of public complaints due to dust
   pollution in the port of Civitavecchia (IT)
3. The port authority of Livorno and the management
   of city canals (IT)
4. Noise pollution in the port area at Genoa (IT)
5. Dredging works in maintenance of approaching
   lines in the Port of Gdansk (PL)
6. The noise issue manage by the Port Authority of
   Hamburg (DE)
7. Lorry traffic regulation of Port of Trieste (IT)

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THE COMMON ELEMENTS
The environmental problems linked to the port
activities are often reported on the local press
in a very critical way.
This leads to create or strengthen a negative
image of ports in the local community.
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THE COMMON ELEMENTS

• The widest opinions on ports among the local
  community are then
• the port runs a business not in an environment
  friendly way.
• bad image of port has influence on deterioration
  of image of the city and its attractiveness for
  example for the tourists and the investors.

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THE COMMON ELEMENTS
Often moved by the complaints of citizens, city
council obliges the port to perform actions to
quickly stop or limit nuisance, regardless of
costs needed.
CITIZENS
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS LINEAR
CITY COUNCIL
PORT
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THE COMMON ELEMENTS
Sometimes ports decide to co-operate with one or
more stakeholders (local bodies, NGOs,
governmental agencies, etc.) in order to share
environmental issues and find together the
solutions.
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS CIRCULAR
In these cases ports experience that cooperation
is fundamental.
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THE COMMON ELEMENTS
It is not always possible to completely satisfy
the whole public opinion. Anyway in general
local community appreciates the sensitivity of
the port towards their complaints and the new
collaborative approach to limit nuisance.
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THE COMMON ELEMENTS
Restrictions are usually shared among all
interested parts ports, companies and also
citizens. It must be clear to the residents
that they live in a port area, not in a national
park.
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THE COMMON ELEMENTS
Examples of shared restrictions No admission to
new apartment buildings has been given for
windows faced to the harbour. On the contrary
for pre-existing apartments port must undertake
to find technical/managerial solutions (special
noise reducing windows for these houses, noise
reduction program for all dockers and terminal,
etc.)
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THE COMMON ELEMENTS
The collaborative approach leads the Port to
necessarily speak with several interested parts,
as the environmental issues are
complex. Coordinating all these relations can
be a hard work!
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THE COMMON ELEMENTS
In most cases actions performed by ports to solve
an environmental issue are very expensive and
they need strong investment costs. All economic
consequences has to be discussed with all
parts. Its also true that over a medium/long
period these costs can be recovered, for example
less social costs due to professional illness,
recuperation of dispersed material, minimization
of costs for waste disposal, etc.
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THE COMMON ELEMENTS
It is not always clear who must undertake to
carry on a remediation action and pay for
it. This can be due to responsibilities,
competence, roles not defined by laws/regulations
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THE COMMON ELEMENTS
Some ports have agreed upon the methods ,
objectives and technical solutions with local
bodies, starting from all point of views and
needs. Also researches/studies to understand
particular matters, have been carried on by the
ports with local bodies. The outcomes can then
be useful as a base for preparation the national
regulations in this field.
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THE COMMON ELEMENTS

• (re)Development of port can lead to the creation
  of richness for local community, like
• extra employment
• new business
• infrastructures improved
• A significant percentage of population (about 10
  at Rotterdam) can work in the port.

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FINAL CONSIDERATION
Its not possible to avoid discussions about
environmental issues due to the port activities
influencing the city. A co-operative approach
is the best way to keep good relations with all
interested parts. This way the port can play a
role of leadership for the local community
development.