The Laboratory of Knowledge and Intelligent Computing held on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 in Arta an information day for the educational process, within the European project “ECOPORTIL-Environmental Protection of Areas Surrounding Ports using Innovative Learning Tools for Legislation”, which is implemented through the Transnational Program Balkan-Mediterranean Cooperation 2014-2020.
On Thursday, October 22, 2020, the final event of the European project “ECOPORTIL-Environmental Protection of Areas Surrounding Ports using Innovative Learning Tools for Legislation” (www.ecoportil.eu), which is implemented through the Transnational Cooperation Program Balkan-Mediterranean 2014-2020, took place. In compliance with the health restrictions imposed by COVID-19, the event was broadcast live and the partners had the opportunity to participate without physical presence.
The event, which aimed to present the results of the Project, was opened by the Scientific Responsible of the Project, Prof. Chrysostomos Stylios, who addressed a greeting and briefly presented the actions and results of the project, in which partners from 4 countries participate: Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Albania, emphasizing the need to monitor and improve the quality of the environment in ports and coastal areas, contributing to their sustainability through the application of modern methodologies and good practices in accordance with EU and national legislation and utilizing innovative ICT tools designed and implemented by the Laboratory of Knowledge and Intelligent Computing, as a measure to prevent pollution and conservation of natural marine resources while highlighting the possibility of utilizing Artificial Intelligence for the benefit of the Environment and Shipping.
Prof. Nikitas Nikitakos of the Department of Shipping & Business Services of the University of the Aegean, analyzed the current situation in the green ports. Professors A. Palazov and M.Dimitov evaluated the implementation of the ECOPORTIL project in Bulgaria, and the Assoc. Prof. Anna Kotrikla, from the University of the Aegean, analyzed the educational process. In addition, she presented the effectiveness of the free online asynchronous courses available through the information training platform, which was developed by the team of the Laboratory of Knowledge & Intelligent Computing.
Emmanuel Nicolaides, Assoc. Professor of the Department of Shipping & Commerce of the University of Cyprus Frederick, described the environmental assessment process, which was implemented through specially designed and specialized questionnaires, as well as the results and the contribution of ECOPORTIL to the environmentally sustainable port management.
Mr. Alexander Alexandrov, BPICo, presented the importance of the project and the integration of its results in the pilot ports.
Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company, within Work Package 4 “Training and Education” under the ECOPORTIL project, held a two-day focused seminar on environmental issues in ports and surrounding areas in the period 14.10.2020 – 15.10.2020. The results of web-based e-learning platform were also presented at the seminar, which was held remotely through an electronic platform. The participants in the two-day seminar included more than 40 stakeholders, including representatives of public organizations, regional and local authorities, the maritime industry and business.
The seminar for presenting the results of the project in the pilot port areas, organized by Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company within Work Package 5 “Peer review and pilot implementation” of the project, was held on 16.10.2020 remotely, through an electronic platform. It was attended by 20 stakeholders, including representatives of public organizations, regional and local authorities, the maritime industry and business.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2020, an evaluation day regarding the Smart Environmental Management of Ports and Surrounding Coastal Areas was held in Igoumenitsa by the Laboratory of Knowledge and Intelligent Computing of the Department of Informatics & Telecommunications of the University of Ioannina, in the framework of the project “ECOPORTIL-Environmental Protection of Areas Surrounding Ports using Innovative Learning Tools for Legislation”(www.ecoportil.eu), which is implemented through the Transnational Cooperation Program Balkan-Mediterranean 2014-2020. In compliance with the health restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, the event was broadcast live and those interested had the opportunity to participate without physical presence.
The event was honored by the presence of Mr. Athanasios Porphyris, CEO of the Igoumenitsa Port Authority, who welcomed the event and analyzed the holistic approach already applied by the Igoumenitsa Port Authority for the effective management of its energy-intensive, energy-intensive activities and social benefits, while additionally presenting the strategic expansion plan of Igoumenitsa Port Authority.
The Director of the Laboratory and scientifically responsible for the project, Prof. Chrysostomos Stylios, briefly presented the actions and results of the project, which includes partners from 4 countries: Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Albania, emphasizing the need to monitor and improve Ports’ and coastal areas’ quality, contributing to their sustainability through the application of modern methodologies and good practices in line with EU and national legislation and utilizing innovative Information and Communication Technology tools as a measure to prevent pollution and the possibility of utilizing Artificial Intelligence for the benefit of the Environment and Shipping.
Prof. Nikitas Nikitakos of the Department of Shipping & Business Services of the University of the Aegean, analyzed the idea of a port of zero pollutants and the creation of a smart grid based on the use of renewable energy sources, as well as technological developments that have led to the 4th Industrial Revolution in Shipping.
Emmanuel Nicolaides, Assoc. Professor of the Department of Shipping & Commerce of the University of Frederick in Cyprus, described the environmental assessment process, which was implemented through specially designed and specialized questionnaires, as well as the results and the contribution of ECOPORTIL to the environmentally sustainable port management. In addition, he presented the effectiveness of the free online asynchronous courses available through the e-learning platform, which was developed by the team of the Laboratory of Knowledge & Intelligent Computing.
The Laboratory of Knowledge and Intelligent Computing (KIC-Lab) of the Department of Informatics & Telecommunications of the University of Ioannina will organize an evaluation day on the environmental management of ports and surrounding coastal areas, in Igoumenitsa, on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
In compliance with the health restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, the event will broadcast live and those interested will have the opportunity to participate without physical presence.
During the event, the evaluation process through specially designed and specialized questionnaires will be described. The results that will be presented concern both the evaluation of the effectiveness of the free online asynchronous courses available through the e-learning platform developed by the KIC-Lab team, and the potential impact of the Project results on the environmentally sustainable port management.
In July and September 2020, the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport of the University of the Aegean, organized four on-line seminars (webinars) on Environmental Protection for Shipping and Ports in the framework of Ecoportil project.
The first seminar, that took place in July 22, was dedicated to waste management. At first, Mr Dimitris Lamprou of QF spoke about the general principles of waste management, focusing on the legal framework and the best practices for the prevention and management of waste. Then Assist. Professor Anna Maria Kotrikla (University of the Aegean) presented the management of different types of waste (oily waste, garbage, sewage) onboard ships.
In the second seminar, conducted on July 23, Professor Nikitakos (University of the Aegean) presented innovative technologies (cold ironing, LNG bunkering etc) that make a green port. Then Assist. Professor V. Athanasopoulou (University of the Aegean) talked about the legal framework for the protection of the environment at ports.
In the third seminar that took place in September 21, Assist. Professor V. Athanasopoulou presented the new EU Port Reception Facilities Directive. Then Mr E. Ploshtakov from BPICo gave us a view from the ports as he talked about the port of Burgas, and all the actions that are undertaken for its environmental protection.
Finally, the fourth seminar took place in July 22. Assist. Professor Anna Maria Kotrikla presented the IMO’s legal framework and the available environmental indexes to address the most important priority of the European ports, the air quality. Assist. Professor M. Nikolaidis (Frederick University) talked about the port of Limassol, its position and the actions taken to protect the environment in the area.
The webinars attracted students of maritime studies, cadets of maritime academies, young and senior professionals from the maritime industry and port executives. In each seminar there were between 15-25 attendees. Productive took place proving that the environmental protection at ports attracts the interest of the stakeholders and the public.
The Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport of the University of the Aegean, within the framework of the Ecoportil project, organizes on-line seminars on Environmental Protection for Shipping and Ports.
The duration of the seminars is 6 hours and the attendance is free for the public. The seminars will be held in Greek.
The attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Program:
“The European Directive on Port Reception Facilities” V. Athanassopoulou, Assist. Professor, University of the Aegean
“Environmental Management at the Port of Burgas, Bulgaria”, Estislav Ploshtakov, Director of Strategic development, Port Services & Ecology Directorate, BPICo
(Join by clicking here: https://aegean-gr.zoom.us/j/91255476207?pwd=ZEg1dUVVYlRQOFdIZm9pK01PU0FhQT09)
“Air Pollution at Ports: Status and Environmental Indexes”, A.M. Kotrikla, Assist. Professor, University of the Aegean
“The Port of Limassol towards the “Green Ports” Era””, Manolis Nikolaidis, Assist. Professor, Frederick University
(Join by clicking here: https://aegean-gr.zoom.us/j/93998162953?pwd=TFZEU2VGTG43aVg5bC9yai9nRTZuUT09)
For more information: akotr@aegean.gr
The Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport of the University of the Aegean, within the framework of the Ecoportil project, organizes on-line seminars on Environmental Protection for Shipping and Ports.
The duration of the seminars is 6 hours and the attendance is free for the public. The seminars will be held in Greek.
Attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Program:
“Principles of Waste Management”, D. Lamprou, Environmentalist, Quality Factor
“Waste Management On-Board Ships”, A.M. Kotrikla, Assist. Professor, University of the Aegean
(Join by clicking here: https://aegean-gr.zoom.us/j/96049600615?pwd=dmpPSlNYZS8xeFVXRWZPZU9JNm8yUT09)
“The Green Port”, N. Nikitakos, Professor, University of the Aegean
“Clean Ports: Protective Legislation”, V. Athanassopoulou, Assist. Professor, University of the Aegean
(Join by clicking here: https://aegean-gr.zoom.us/j/94254238556?pwd=MmVnc3A5MmNuenNsR1NNMFRFbTZiQT09)
For more information: akotr@aegean.gr
A course of training of BG stakeholders has been prepared, organized via electronic platform https://seminars.ecoportl.bg and conducted (23-26 June 2020) in the framework of 4 separate seminars. The 15 lectures of the seminars were scientific applied research and were published in a book as a teaching aid for the participants during the education. The participants of the course were personnel of the Maritime Administration Directorate – Varna and Burgas, Executive Environment Agency- Regional Lab, Burgas and Varna, Varna Municipality, representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, NGO organizations, Universities.
The lectures are published in a book: “Environmental protection of the Bulgarian Black Sea Ports and their surrounding areas”, Book of lectures, Sofia, University Publishing House “Kliment Ohridski” – Unipress, Еds. J.Marinski & I.Fytondgieva; ISBN 978-954-07-4928-0 remains and will be used after the end of the project.
The training of BG stakeholders in the educational course “Implementation of the legislation for environmental protection in the Bulgarian Black Sea ports and their surrounding areas” has become a real challenge for all lecturers –teachers during the 4-day training seminars. Environmental legislation includes over 300 legal regulations, very often without internal coordination, allowing users to apply it selectively depending on their personal or group interests. As a result, 70% of the dunes along the Bulgarian Black sea strip have been legally converted into private property, although the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria explicitly says that it is public state property. Apart from that there have been built hotels and palaces on the beach, with private ports located in front of them, although both the beaches and coastal waters are exclusive public state property. Legal failures, legal anachronisms and absurdities in the protection of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast catalyzed the mass protests in Burgas, Varna and all over the country during summer of 2020.
In the frame of ECOPORTIL project, University of Ioannina and Port Authority of Igoumenitsa have developed a fruitful cooperation for the improvement of environmental quality through the utilization of technology and innovation. To this end of a new air quality monitoring station will be installed in the premises of the Port Authority in Igoumenitsa Port, Greece.
On 7th July in the premises of the Port Authority of Igoumenitsa a very interesting meeting was held between the Administration of Port Authority of Igoumenitsa and Mr Chrysostomos Stylios, Professor of the Department of Informatics & Telecommunications of the University of Ioannina & Director of the Laboratory of Knowledge and Intelligent Computing. The meeting produced useful conclusions for the improvement of environmental conditions in the port with the utilization of cutting-edge technologies and by the adoption of innovative tools.
The main topic of the meeting was the conservation of natural marine resources, which is one of the basic requirements of Blue Growth and the main object of Europe strategy. This issue is addressed by the European Project ECOPORTIL – Environmental Protection of Areas Surrounding Ports using Innovative Learning Tools for Legislation, listed in INTERREG Balkan-Mediterranean 2014-2020. The Department. of Informatics & Telecommunications of the University of Ioannina is the Lead Partner of ECOPORTIL.
In the frame of ECOPORTIL, an air quality monitoring station will be installed in the premises of the Port Authority in Igoumenitsa Port, in order to provide real time information about the air quality in the Port and its surrounding areas. The data will be recorded and displayed in aGeographical Information System that will be designed and operated by research team of the Laboratory of Knowledge and Intelligent Computing (University of Ioannina). The major goal of this effort stands in the scientific monitoring and the examination of the port environment.
