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.