The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and ICHCA International, the global NGO for cargo handling operations, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the sidelines of the Terminal Operators Conference (TOC 2018) in Rotterdam, to pursue cooperative projects of mutual interest, with a focus on sustainability.
The ICHCA Technical Panel has recently launched four new working groups on Dangerous Goods, Digital & Innovation, Straddle Carrier Safety and Dry Bulk Cargoes. As such, the MoU is expected to enable the working groups to share their initial findings with IAPH’s technical committees and working groups with common interests, all of whom have port representatives.
These will then be disseminated amongst IAPH’s core membership who are public port authorities, private port operators and government agencies responsible for ports. Surveys conducted in the past years show that all IAPH member ports combined handle over 60% of the world sea-borne trade in metric tonnes and over 80% of world container traffic in TEU.
In a major boost to the IAPH’s recently-launched World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP), the agreement will also ensure a shorter route for testing and implementation of sustainable innovations by key equipment, technology, cargo handling and financial services providers into the world’s major ports. Guided by the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the program wants to enhance and coordinate future sustainability efforts of ports worldwide and foster international cooperation with partners in the supply chain.
IAPH Managing Director and WPSP Coordinator, Patrick Verhoeven, stated:
With most of the IAPH members being landlord port authorities, this MoU valorises the valuable experience and know-how of cargo handling companies in our joint ambition to demonstrate global leadership of port communities in achieving sustainable development. We also look forward to working closely with ICHCA in strengthening the voice of ports in global fora such as the IMO.
