Despite the economic significance and Impact of Maritime ports, they have damaging impacts on the environment, comprising local air pollution and water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and air pollution, traffic congestion and widespread contamination of sediments. From this standpoint, the port structure design, operation and management applications are quite vital for better and sustainable life maritime sector where national and international laws are valid, with the recognition and appreciation of the fact that the negativities that may be experienced due to the nature of the maritime profession can cause damage not in a particular region but on a global scale.
The share of maritime transportation in worldwide greenhouse gas emissions is quite high. If these emissions are not measured (controlled) properly, they will continue to rise every year and activate climate change with prompting, stimulating effect. With such triggering effect and in this context, maritime and more particularly port activities have a very serious prospective to diminish the effects of climate change, together with studies/trainings such as energy use and greenhouse gas emissions management. The “Green Port Protocol” is important for integrating sustainable practices in the development and operations of ports.
As we already familiar with the fact that, the “Green Port Protocol” and Green Port Certificates for Coastal Facilities is important for integrating sustainable practices in the development and operations of ports.
It is kind of a transformation catalyst for alteration, converting lifestyles and habits, practices, principles, criteria and policies around the country in terms of targeting to diminish the damage and destruction caused to the milieu, marine diversity and human life. The green port policy ensures the integration of viable and sustainable practices in the improvement and operations of the port by encouraging an organizational culture to raise environmental –ecological cognizance. This culture with such awareness extends to port employees as well as port customers. Since ensuring the cleanliness and purity of ports and coastal waters while ensuring the cleaning of contaminated soil and sediments in the port area is the center of interest, Green port policy includes some basic program components and dimensions and the general purpose of each is; Reduction of harmful emissions caused by port activities is quite vital in terms of Weather. Regarding the Natural life; To protect and improve the ecosystem and marine nature. Safeguarding the resilience of Waters through conservation, refurbishment and the ecological use of nature in sustainable way..
Education of stakeholders is also important in order to carry out cooperation and training of port environment stakeholders regarding port operations and environmental programs.
Essentially this certificate; is directly and indirectly related to all areas and capacities touching the management system standards such as ISO 9001: Quality management system standard, ISO 14001: Environmental Management System Standard, ISO 14064-1: Standard For Calculating And Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Removals At The Organizational Level, ISO 45001: Occupational Health And Safety Management System Standard, ISO 50001: Energy Management System Standard.
The provisions of this Regulation cover coastal facilities that have a Port Facility Security Certificate and wish to obtain a Green Port Certificate within the scope of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code Implementation Regulation published in the Official Gazette dated 20/3/2007 and numbered 26468
The Regulation of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure(Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı) on the Issuance of Green Port Certificates for Coastal Facilities – Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığının Kıyı Tesislerine Yeşil Liman Sertifikası Düzenlenmesi Hakkında Yönetmeliği was published in the Official Gazette (Resmi Gazete) and entered into force.The regulation mentioned here regulates the procedures and principles concerning the dissemination and support of efforts & determination to upsurge energy efficiency by decreasing the environmental harm-damage caused by vessel, ship, container and cargo operations of coastal facilities.
According to this regulation; The Coastal facilities wishing to attain a green port certificate – Yeşil liman sertifikası must meet the general green port criteria and apply to the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure – Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı Denizcilik Genel Müdürlüğü. Then the administration will evaluate these applications and conduct green port inspections together with the authorized organization at the coastal facilities whose applications are deemed proper and applicable. Once the green port inspection result is deemed appropriate, the certificate will be issued free of charge by the authority administration. The certificate will be valid for three years from the date of issuance. Coastal facilities will apply for renewal 2 months prior to the expiration date of their certificates.
The certificate will be irrecoverable in case of rental or transfer of the coastal facility. If the tenant or transferee of the coastal facility demands and requests a certificate, the existing certificate will be issued in the name of the new company, provided that the necessary conditions are documented. Coastal facilities that are found to have lost their certification conditions for any reason or have acted contrary to the provisions of the regulation will be given up to 6 months to correct their shortages, insufficiencies and deficiencies.
SOME PRIVILEGEs and RIGHTS WILL BE GRANTED TO GREEN PORTS
Initially, Coastal facilities that are certified will have the right to use the green port flag, “Green Port (Turkey)” title and logo. Simply signs of eligibility and prestige Full Respect.
The coastal facility holding the certificate will also benefit from certain assured rights, valid for the transactions to be made as of the date the certificate is issued. The validity period of the operating permit issued by the Ministry will be extended for two years, unless there is another restrictive situation. If a survey is streered and conducted by the Inspection again such rights will be granted, Determination and Inspection Commission and a permit is issued, the survey service fee will be exempt.
It will be exempt from the cost of the Coastal Facility Dangerous Cargo Conformity Certificate to be issued by the Administration and the inspection fee for the issuance of this document. The validity period of the Coastal Facility Dangerous Cargo Conformity Certificate will be extended for two years unless there is alternative restrictive and preventive situation. There will be no control fee for the verified gross weight determination service. The right to discount and exemption will be applied to the fees to be paid for the revalidation/renewal of permits such as authorization certificates, licenses and certificates issued for coastal facilities. Priority will be given to passage through the Turkish Straits to 30 ships arriving at certified coastal facilities within a calendar year. If there are more than 30 ships passing in the specified period, the selection of the coastal facility will be taken into account as to which ones will be given priority.
Consclusion: Such criterias not only diminish costs by increasing low energy and water use, waste management and air quality, but also pave the way for the development of social relations and receiving investments from funds with the prestige of being green.
Regards
H.Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu
http://www.cigdemyorgancioglu.org