Port Authorities promote innovative and sustainable practices
The OAS Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP),
the body that brings together the highest port authorities of the
region to advance policy dialogue and cooperation for port
development, convened its Ninth Regular Meeting at OAS headquarters
in Washington, DC June 18-20, 2014. During the meeting,
Member States emphasized the need to promote innovative and
competitive ports in the region to advance development.
Executive Secretary for Integral Development of the OAS, Sherry
Tross, made reference to the commercial opportunities offered by the
expansion of the Panama Canal “The impending expansion of the
Panama Canal
presents both challenges and opportunities for the entire region.
This has had the effect of spurring more cross-sector dialogue and
collaboration among policy makers and the public and private sectors
on issues ranging from environmental management to the port-city
relationships, intermodal investments and traffic flows," she said.
The meeting adopted a resolution by which it
extended the
Action Plan of Cartagena until 2016, which seeks "innovative and
competitive ports for sustainable economic development with social
inclusion in the Americas" and focuses on six areas: (i) Logistics,
innovation, and competitiveness; (ii) Sustainable port management
and environmental protection; (iii) Port protection and security;
(iv) Public policy, legislation and regulation; (v) Tourism, inland
ports and waterways, ship services, and navigation safety; and (vi)
Corporate social responsibility and women in ports.
The Chief of the CIP Secretariat, Jorge Durán,
stressed the importance of having extended the Action Plan of
Cartagena. "This extension provides an opportunity to continue and
consolidate the work begun by Members of the CIP since the 8th
Meeting held in
Colombia
in 2013." He also highlighted the growing involvement of the private
sector as Associate Members of the CIP and its strategic role in
achieving the objectives set forth by the region’s Port Authorities.
Member States also voted and elected the Executive Board’s
(CECIP) authorities for the period 2014-2016.
Uruguay
was elected Chair,
Barbados
First Vice-Chair and
Colombia
was reelected as Second Vice-Chair. The preceding Chair was Peru,
and the First Vice Chair, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The National Port Authority (ANP) of Uruguay, new
Chair of CECIP, was represented by its President, Alberto Diaz, who
highlighted the role of the CIP Secretariat, particularly
emphasizing its Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) as strategic
mechanisms to advance work in the next two years. "The commitment of
those who voted for us today; the commitment of countries demanding
more and better international interaction is needed. I believe this
is the starting point. We need to work with the Technical Groups,
support them, and of course, work with the Secretariat of the CIP as
the key to keeping a unified CECIP ".
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OAS Secretary General
presented Awards to Public and Private Companies in the Maritime
and Port sector
The 1st Maritime
Awards of the Americas
were presented at the meeting, recognizing successful practices
that demonstrate excellence, innovation and sustainability in
the public and private maritime and port sector of the region.
All winners will publish their practice through the CIP, giving
it hemispheric-wide dissemination and, most importantly,
providing an opportunity for inter-sectorial and inter-American
cooperation.
 OAS Secretary General, José Miguel
Insulza, presented the awards and congratulated the winners,
explaining that "this initiative is in line with one of the
goals of this Organization, which is to promote and strengthen
international cooperation and collaboration, and in particular
horizontal and triangular cooperation as an effective means for
development," he said. "In the Americas, where
there are different levels of economic and social development,
it is important to establish partnerships for development, in
order to progress successfully in all areas, including the ports
sector," he added.
Winners by Categories:
 (i)
Environmental Waste
Management in Commercial Shipping:
Transport Desgagnées Inc., Canada:
(ii)
Environmental Waste
Management in Cruise Lines: Royal
Caribbean Cruises LTD,
United States;
(iii)
Environmental Waste Management in Ports:
Administración Nacional de Puertos, Uruguay & Empresa Portuaria
Arica, Chile
(iv)
Sustainable Touristic Destination Port:
Sociedad Portuaria Regional Cartagena, Colombia
(v)
Corporate Social Responsibility in Ports:
Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta, Colombia
(vi)
Honorable Mention:
Coastal Environmental Services Inc.,
United States
“For us, being good is not enough. We strive to be exemplary,”
said Daniel Côté, Environmental Advisor for Transport Desgagnés
Inc., Canada, upon receiving the recognition.
The Award was coordinated by the CIP Secretariat and the North
American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA),
with the collaboration OAS-SEDI’s Department of Sustainable
Development (DSD) and Department of Economic and Social
Development (DESD).
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