Category Archives: Governance

Increasing the port community’s social engagement in Bilbao and Oslo

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 Governance 

Many port companies have demonstrated during the covid-19 pandemic their social engagement with the local community. Now, the port authority of Bilbao (Spain) is launching a pioneer program, with the support of regional government, to support, coordinate and improve CSR actions of port companies. The program will count with the assistance of specialized consultants to better identify CSR actions and how to assess their performance in the first 6 months. At the same time, in Oslo (Norway), the port authority has launched a call for application to establish new agreements with organizations creating new activities for children and teenagers focused on communicating the maritime culture. The potential partners can receive financial support, free spaces for activities and promotion in the port authority’s several communication channels.

➜ Port of Bilbao, Port of Oslo

Developing an eco-citizen culture to manage natural resources in Senegal

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 Governance 

Citizens must be part of ecological governance initiatives. Following this principle, the Intercommunal Agreement of the Petite Côte (EIPC), a region of Senegal, implemented the Programme of Good Ecological Governance. They support ecological, energy and economic transition through the development of an eco-citizen culture for an inclusive management of natural resources in the region. The programme includes educational and awareness initiatives for the coastal territory, such as the music compilation “NA SET”. Other goals are the training of local leaders for integrative climate change resilience governance and sustainable waste management, creating new jobs for youth and women.

➜ Enda Energie, Vivafrik

West Africa: port cities could become transformation hubs to bounce back from the economic and environmental crises

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 Governance 

Sub-Saharan African will end 2020 in recession with its GDP having shrunk by 3%, and some West African countries are particularly severely affected, such as Nigeria (which has seen its economy contract by nearly 4% this quarter), a major oil exporter. The platform for their economic recovery could lie in transformation of local raw materials and new non-fossil based energy sources. One example is Benin, one of the countries that has weathered the crisis better than others (with 4.5% GDP growth in 2020), where the company Arise is set to co-invest in local processing of cashew nuts, pineapple, and soya. It is a similar story in Libreville (Gabon), where the firm Olam is looking to build an agrifuel plant. It remains to be seen how much of the plant’s output will be destined for the local market, which represents the most environmentally efficient outlet. In the energy field, a forum is set to examine the issues surrounding the energy transition in the city of Lomé (Togo) from 10 to 12 December. Local industrialisation is now vital to the economic recovery, and with that in mind the port of Dakar (Senegal) has included a special economic zone in its expansion plans in Ndayane.

➜Jeune Afrique Eco ; Le Nouveau Gabon ; Info Estuaire ; Bio Fuels ; Afrique Media ; Jeune Afrique Eco (2) ; Seneweb

Strengths and weaknesses of digitisation: a new climate for industrial port safety

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 Governance 

Digital technology can help to detect risks more quickly and avert certain disasters. An example can be found in Tarragona (Spain), where submarine drones are used to carry out visual inspections of critical infrastructures. In the same vein, the “smart port challenge” in Marseilles (France) saw the emergence of technology for tracking sensitive facilities and infrastructures, acting as a early-warning system for weaknesses. Tracking is also useful for protecting goods transiting via ports from intrusion, for example in African ports, where a report by ISS Africa found containers are often immobilised for extended periods of time, putting them at greater risk. However, digitisation does raise the risk of cyber-attacks by malicious hackers, such as those directed against CMA-CGM. Cybersecurity is increasingly vital for ports, as highlighted by consultants Hill Dickinson. The US has introduced new rules to prevent losses for companies and more importantly to avoid disasters that would endanger lives. France is also gearing up to tackle cyber risks, with the future maritime cybersecurity centre due to be built in Brest.

➜ El Diario del puerto ; L’Usine Digitale (1) ; ISS Africa ; L’Usine Digitale (2) ; Lexicology ; Hellenic Shipping News ; Ouest-France