The Case Studies on Port-City Relationships

Ancona, June 2005

Ecoports Project – Work package 5.4

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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)

THE CASE STUDIES

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The environmental problems linked to the port activities are often reported on the local press in a very critical way.

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

This leads to create or strengthen a negative image of ports in the local community.

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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.

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

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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.

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

CITIZENS

CITY COUNCIL

PORT

DECISION-MAKING PROCESS:

LINEAR

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Sometimes ports decide to co-operate with one or more stakeholders (local bodies, NGO’s, governmental agencies, etc.) in order to share environmental issues and find together the solutions.

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

CITIZENS

LOCAL BODIESPORT

AGENCIES

DECISION-MAKING PROCESS: CIRCULAR

In these cases ports experience that cooperation is fundamental.

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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.

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

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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.

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

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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.)

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

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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!

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

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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.

It’s 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.

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

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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

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

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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.

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

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(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.

THE COMMON ELEMENTS

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It’s 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.

FINAL CONSIDERATION