By
Alex Smith |
The Port of Thessaloniki has become the first port in the EU and the Mediterranean to integrate RightShip’s Maritime Emissions Portal (MEP), as its begins a one-year pilot under the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association’s (HELMEPA) METAVASEA project.
The pilot will aim to set a new regional benchmark for sustainability, providing insights into the value chain or Scope 3 emissions, This data will then be used to help advance emissions monitoring, enabling ports and shipping stakeholders to track and reduce their environmental impact.
“Sustainability is at the core of our strategy,” said Athanasios Liagkos, executive chairman of the Port of Thessaloniki’s board of directors. “Piloting the MEP reinforces our role in setting new standards in the port industry. By tracking and measuring value chain emissions from incoming vessels, we gain vital insights into the environmental impact of this activity, enabling targeted actions that support “greener” practices in the maritime industry.”
The MEP is a tool developed by RightShip to monitor, measure, and manage maritime emissions.
“RightShip is delighted to see the adoption of the MEP as part of this innovative pilot program,” said Andrew Roberts, executive director for EMEA and Americas at RightShip. “Partnerships like these highlight the transformative power of technology in driving a cleaner, greener maritime future. This milestone underscores how ports can leverage cutting-edge technology to measure and aid in reducing their environmental impact.”
The METAVASEA project is focused on achieving a people-centred transition for maritime decarbonisation in the East Mediterranean. It is coordinated by HELMEPA in collaboration with Lloyd’s Register, World Maritime University, the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association, The Cyprus Marine & Maritime Institute, Premium Consulting and the Mediterranean Information Office for the Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, alongside 12 associate partners and more than 70 other stakeholders.
Supported financially by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the five-year project aims to map the existing infrastructure for maritime decarbonisation in Greece, Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as developing training tools for retraining.
“In order to drive a just and equitable transition to a decarbonised shipping industry, it’s crucial that we become accountable and install robust measurement frameworks that track performance against sustainability goals and our other targets,” said Dr Tim Slingsby, the director of skills and education at Lloyd’s Register Foundation. “Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s long-term strategic investment in METAVASEA is helping convene responsible leaders throughout the maritime system, including The Port of Thessaloniki, and we hope this significant milestone inspires other ports in the Eastern Mediterranean and throughout Europe to join HELMEPA and help deliver safer and more sustainable outcomes both in industry and for our coastal communities.”