Port operators collaborate to raise environmental awareness

SEP 9, 2015: Five of the port operators have launched in conjunction with the Port of Rotterdam Authority (PRA) the first ever joint industry environmental initiative of this magnitude.

The initiative, called ‘Go Green’, is focused on promoting environmental awareness and makes a sustainable difference in the communities in which the companies operate.

The campaign, which will take place between 14 and 21 September, has been launched by the Dubai-based terminal operator DP World, the Dutch APM Terminals, the Singapore-listed PSA International, the Chinese Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) and the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH).

The ‘Go Green’ joint initiative will focus in particular on the themes of re-use and recycling, climate change and the communities in which the companies operate. “Safeguarding the environment is the responsibility of all of us,” said DP World’s chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, “by joining forces across the industry this initiative will make greater impact worldwide.”

HPH Group’s managing director Eric Ip said, “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.”

As part of the campaign to promote environmental awareness, the port operators’ local business units will organise a range of activities, among which creating and upgrading local green spaces, launching educational programmes and adopting waste recycling measures. Commenting on the initiative, APM Terminals’ CEO Kim Fejfer said that the port operators working together “can address the critical issues facing the environment and act as a catalyst for global change.”

“I hope that the example set by the terminal operators will not only be followed by port authorities,” said Port of Rotterdam Authority’s CEO Allard Castelein.