ANTWERP: The projects of the ports of Antwerp, Bremen, Dublin, Guadeloupe and Valencia have been shortlisted for the seventh European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Societal Integration of Ports. The jury selected these five applications from a total of 22 submissions. The theme of this year’s competition is ‘engagement with local schools and universities’.
The Award will be presented to the port that demonstrates the best strategies in making schools and universities aware of their local port and its activities. The winning project will be one that succeeds in creating the interest of the local schools and universities in the work of the port and stimulate these institutions to work and/ or do research on subjects of interest to ports. In doing so, make young people knowledgeable of the port industry and excites them about entering into a career in the port at all levels, which will, lead to a better understanding of the port within its community.
“It has been very difficult to select five shortlisted projects. While assessing the projects we particularly looked at their scope, scale, magnitude of impact and innovative character. The five shortlisted ports prove to constructively engage with local schools and universities in raising awareness of the port, its activities and operations. These ports demonstrate clear strategies for bringing young people closer to the port industry and this leads to a better understanding of the port within its community”, said jury chairman Dirk Sterckx.
The winner of the seventh ESPO Award will be announced during the Award Ceremony and Port Night taking place on 10 November in Brussels. The shortlisted projects will be presented on the ESPO website in the running up to this event.
The ESPO Award was established in 2009 to promote innovative projects of port authorities that improve societal integration of ports, especially with the city or wider community in which they are located. In this way, the Award wants to stimulate the sustainable development of European ports and their cities.
