By
Rebecca Gibson |
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) is to develop a code of good practice for European cruise and ferry ports.
Developed in response to the growing number of European ports entering in to the cruise market, the code will bring together practical solutions from across the passenger shipping industry to provide recommendations for policies and services. According to ESPO, it will ‘strengthen the voice of cruise and ferry port authorities’ and clearly highlight the ports’ perspective in relevant policy debates’.
“More and more European ports are getting involved in cruise business and at the same time, ferry traffic remains an important market for different ports,” said Eeva Hietanen, chairman of ESPO’s passenger committee. “Freight and cruise or passenger ports must respond to completely different needs and in many cases, both functions have to be combined. I am pleased that within ESPO we can have a closer look at how port authorities could face the challenges of this important and fast growing sector.”
The code will be developed by ESPO’s passenger committee, which was set up in 2010 and comprises representatives from a range of European cruise and ferry ports. The committee will work closely with various cruise organisations such as Cruise Europe, Cruise Norway and MedCruise. It has also outlined plans to engage in a ‘constructive debate’ with the associations representing cruise lines or other stakeholders involved in the cruise or ferry sector.
“The experience with ESPO’s Green Guide and the Code of Practice on Societal Integration of Ports shows that this bottom-up approach works and that it is one of the best ways to dive into an issue that is becoming more challenging for European ports, spread good examples and motivate others to do better,” said Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO secretary general. “I am convinced that the work of ESPO’s passenger committee will lead to another very useful tool for European port authorities.”
MedCruise – which has 70 members – has welcomed ESPO’s aim to highlight ports’ perspectives in relevant European policy debates.
“This concrete step allows policy-makers and our business partners, particularly cruise lines and their associations, to identify reliable and effective partners when discussing the prospects of the sector, both at continental and regional level,” MedCruise said in a written statement.
The association added: “It will undoubtedly help both the European and non-European members of MedCruise to see positive policies and emerging, and enjoy the benefits of the effective advocacy of their interests through port associations.”