World Ports Sustainability Program Welcomes Baltic Ports Organization

The Baltic Ports Organization (BPO) has joined the World Ports Sustainability Program following the signing of the WPSP declaration by BPO Secretary-General.

Guided by the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), the program aims to enhance and coordinate future sustainability efforts of ports worldwide, fostering international cooperation with partners in the supply chain.

“We are delighted that BPO has decided to join our program and look forward to sharing their members’ sustainability projects through the WPSP portfolio,” Patrick Verhoeven, Managing Director of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and Coordinator of the WPSP, commented.

“Some of the world’s most advanced port innovators are to be found in this region, so we look forward to BPO’s active contribution towards achieving our goals,” Verhoeven added.

“One of the main goals of our policy ‘Baltic as a model region for green ports and maritime transport’ is to share our experience with the port industry. Therefore, we warmly welcome the co-operation with global players within the WPSP initiative,” Bogdan Ołdakowski, Secretary General of the BPO, said.

“I am sure that Baltic ports, especially the BPO Environmental Working Group, will be interested to learn how sustainable projects have been carried out in other regions.”

Established in Copenhagen in 1991, BPO’s aim is to facilitate cooperation among the ports and to monitor and improve the possibilities for shipping in the Baltic Sea region. Comprised of 47 members as well as friendship members, the organization’s mission is to contribute to economic, social and environmentally sustainable development of maritime transport and the port industry in the Baltic Sea region.

Founded in 1955, IAPH is a non-profit-making global alliance of 170 ports and 140 port-related organizations covering 90 countries. Its member ports handle more than 60 percent of global maritime trade and around 80 percent of world container traffic. IAPH has consultative NGO status with several United Nations agencies.