Solidarity and community, a lesson for our times
The Port of Helinski has just won this second year of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) competition
“A sense of shared community, of mutual assistance, and of solidarity” is one important part of the rationale for connecting ports with their neighbourhood.
This is the message from John Richardson, chair of the Societal Integration of Ports award.
The Port of Helinski has just won this second year of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) competition. Mr Richardson explains, “Many governments are implementing austerity policies, which not only depress disposable incomes but also create a climate of uncertainty and even fear throughout society.”
He says, in this atmosphere, Helsinki’s determination to maintain its activities in the capital is of particular value, and it also assists in “sustaining the maritime identity of the city”. He adds that the continuous dialogue with community stakeholders, plus the port’s investments in shore-side electricity, waste reception facilities and other measures was also impressive.
The ESPO Societal Integration Award was established in 2009 to promote innovative European projects that advance the embedding of ports into their cities and communities. Planned in a time when the global crash simply hadn’t been envisaged, it’s a way of seeing relationships that is probably more relevant now than ever.
“More and more ports are taking pains to ensure that their activities are seen as an integral part of the life and the identity of their host cities. They are multiplying the opportunities for citizens to get to know, understand, and appreciate what they do, and to take pride in their connection with the sea” says Mr Richardson.
The erosion of public support for seaports has only recently been recognised as an issue that needs attention from port management. Competition for land use, negative externalities of port operations as well as safety and security concerns have over the last few decades contributed to a negative public image of many ports.
This has been reinforced by the fact that ports in many cases moved out of sight from citizens. “Ports are at best acknowledged as a necessary evil, but more often the general public and policy makers alike ignore the fundamental contributions ports make to economy and society” says ESPO chair, Victor Schoenmakers. “The result is that ports often stand alone, without allies, when they run into opposition to their development” he adds.
Embracing co-habitation and dialogue with cities and local communities is for many port authorities a difficult learning process since it often seems to be a distraction from the commercial rationale of port operations.
Moreover, the distance between ports and cities has in many cases been widened through processes of globalisation and corporatisation of port authorities. “The economic function of ports can, however, only be sustained in the longer run, if the societal function is taken seriously,” concludes Mr Schoenmakers.
The winner of this year’s award is the Port of Helsinki, which took first place, while the other short-listed ports are Amsterdam, Antwerp, Koper, Marseilles and São Miguel e Santa Maria.
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