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14-15 May 2009 - ESPO 2009 Conference - Marseilles

THE EUROPEAN PORT SYSTEM - Towards a sustainable network vision


Europe has a diverse port system which consists of a range of major hubs as well as a vast amount of regional and local ports. This system has to accommodate continuous flows of cargo and passengers moving in and out of Europe. For this, it depends on a complex network of land-based and navigational modes. How sustainable is the current lay-out and geographical balance of this system? Are all modes used in the most optimal way? What is the impact of the current economic crisis on growth expectations and will the system be able to cope with these without creating more congestions and negative externalities? What is the competitive effect of new hubs emerging in countries neighbouring the EU? What visions exist for the future?

The ESPO 2009 Conference will deal with these key questions in the context of the forthcoming mid-term review of the Trans-European Transport Networks which is announced for 2010 and the European Commission’s maritime transport strategy for 2018. Bottlenecks on the major European transport corridors concerned will be analysed as well as the development potential of regional co-operative networks between ports.

The conference will finally look at the opportunities EU policy instruments and funding mechanisms may bring. Particular attention will be paid in this context to the impact of the EC State aid and environmental guidelines which are both expected to be published in 2009.

Day One

Special interest seminar: port co-operation and competition in the Mediterranean

• Chair: Manuel Gomez Martín, Vice-Chairman, ESPO

• Introduction: Prof. Antoine Frémont, Institut National de Recherche sur les Transports et leur Sécurité (INRETS)

Presentations:
• Philippe de Fontaine Vive, Vice-President, European Investment Bank
• Roel Hoenders, EuropeAid, European Commission
• Férid Tounsi, President of the Technical Unit, Agadir Agreement

Panel discussion:
• Charles Abela, Ports Directorate, Malta Maritime Authority
• Simon Brebner, Chief Commercial Officer, APM Terminals Tangiers
• Dov Frohlinger, Chief Operating Officer, Israel Ports Company
• Paul Kyprianou, External Relations Manager, Grimaldi Group
• Foued Othman, Director Port of Rades, Tunisia

Official opening of the ESPO 2009 Conference

• Victor Schoenmakers, Chairman, ESPO
• Roland Blum, First Deputy Mayor, City of Marseilles
• Jean-Claude Terrier, Director-General, Port of Marseilles Authority

Public policy reinforcing the competitive position of Europe’s ports

• Introduction and chair: Victor Schoenmakers, Chairman, ESPO
Matthias Ruete, Director-General, Directorate General Transport and Energy, European Commission
Paolo Costa, Chairman, Committee on Transport and Tourism, European Parliament
Dominique Bussereau, State Secretary for Transport, Ministry for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning, France

Reviewing the European port system in times of economic slowdown

• Introduction and chair: Patrick Verhoeven, Secretary General, ESPO

• Towards economic recovery: Philippe de Fontaine Vive, Vice-President, European Investment Bank

• Impact of the crisis on the European port system: Dr. Peter de Langen, University of Eindhoven - Corporate Strategy Adviser, Port of Rotterdam

• Industry response and debate:
Kévork Hekimian, Deputy Director-General CMA-CGM
Marc Stordiau, Chairman, European Dredging Association
Alfons Guinier, Secretary General, European Community Shipowners’ Associations
Diego Teurelincx, Secretary General, Federation of European Private Port Operators

Regional networks - parallel sessions

A. Mediterranean and Black Sea

• Introduction and chair: Giuliano Gallanti, Former Chairman, ESPO

• Regional state of the art reports:
Prof. Alain Richaud, University of Avignon and Thomas Vitsounis, University of the Aegean

• Response panel:
Joan Amorós, Secretary General, Ferrmed
Paul Kyprianou, External Relations Manager Grimaldi Group
Ambroziu Duma, Port operations, Safety and Security Manager Port of Constantza
Jean-Claude Terrier, Director-General, Port of Marseilles
Angel Zaburtov, Deputy Dir. General, Bulgarian Port Infrastructure Co.

B. Atlantic and North Sea

• Introduction and chair: Michael Dooms, Free University of Brussels

• Regional state of the art report: Prof. Dr. Alfred Baird and Gordon Wilmsmeier, Napier Univ. Edinburgh

• Response panel:
Nicolas Bour, Project Leader, Seine-Nord Europe
Theresia Hacksteiner, Secretary General, European Barge Union
Patrick Van Cauwenberghe, Port of Zeebrugge
Roland Hörner, Managing Director, Port of Mannheim
John Verschelden, Managing Director, APM Terminals

C. Baltic Sea

• Introduction and chair: Bogdan Oldakowski, Secretary General, Baltic Ports Organisation

• Regional state of the art report: Prof. Dr. Ulla Tapaninen, Centre for Maritime Studies University of Turku

• Response panel:
Michel Gaspard, European Investment Bank, Poland
Bjarne Mathiesen, Managing Director, Port of Aarhus
Erik Ringmaa, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Tallinn
Julian Skelnik, Chairman, Baltic Ports Organisation / Vice-Chairman, ESPO

Day Two