Taking place on day two of the GreenPort Congress, this public meeting will see many well-known port professionals take on roles well outside their comfort zone. The aim will be to highlight the views and concerns of all interested parties and the impact the development will have on the community. The outcome of the meeting will be voted on by participants - book now to join the experience.

Setting the scene

Port Futuri’s legal position is that of a Private Company that owns the land (i.e. the entire port estate) of the port area. Its terminals, cargo handling and stevedoring activities are all operated or provided by other Private Companies on long-term tenancy arrangements, via a legal concession. The Port is landlord to a range of industrial enterprises (described below). The Port is also the Port Authority with jurisdiction over navigation in near waters, the port estate and transportation infrastructure within its boundaries. It also provides services involving pilotage, tugs, maintenance dredging and navigation.

Proposal for New Port Development: Energy Park and RoPax facility

As part of its Masterplan which will be presented for public consultation at the GreenPort Congress, the Port has a proposed development plan. It is applying to build an Energy Park with associated infrastructure, key support facilities (e.g. control rooms, and electricity sub-stations) and new utility connections on existing in the Outer Harbour and to the East. It is also bidding to place systems on the peninsula (owned by Municipality) to the South East of the port area.

The outline plans include proposals for:

  1. Offshore tidal turbines (array of 21 with cables coming ashore on the peninsula (11);
  2. Potential for wave energy technology in a dedicated area on the breakwater; (12)
  3. Onshore wind turbines at six locations within and adjacent to port area;
  4. Solar panels oriented ESE on the peninsula.

Taking the form of a public meeting, the session will involve a number of industry professionals who, to give added insight to the arguments posed, will take on unfamiliar roles to their current areas of expertise, and who will put forward the arguments for and against the proposed development.

The following stakeholders will be speaking at the meeting:

  • Port Authority/Operator and Developer
  • Planning and Environment Agency
  • Local Community – representative of residents/civic society
  • NGOs/Conservation Society
  • Small Local Business Federation – small scale enterprises including tourism, farming and fishing
  • Major industry and chain operators

The professionals taking on the roles above include:

  • Chris Woodridge, University of Cardiff
  • Malte Siegert, NABU
  • Charles Haine, Technical Director, Maritime Environmental, sustainability & climate risk solutions, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff
  • Rosa Mari Darbra, Barcelona University
  • Nicola Jenkins-Graham, Associate Director (Environment, Quality, Health & Safety), Idom Merebrook
  • Gun Rudeberg, Legal Counsel and Head of Environmental Affairs, Ports of Stockholm
  • Ton van Breemen, Environmental Manager, Port of Amsterdam

In a final twist delegates will, at random, be assigned roles, the viewpoints of which they will be encouraged to share during the discussion at the Public Meeting, and also during the final vote to decide on the outcome.

The session will give participants first-hand experience of the port development process but, most importantly, will force all parties to look at the pros and cons from all sides which will encourage understanding together with discussion and debate.

View the programme here.

Book now to secure your place.

Members of ESPO, EcoPorts and Feport qualify for special rates, for further information contact the Events team on +44 1329 825335 or email congress@greenport.com.

Follow the event on Twitter @GPCongress.