:::
All of TIPC’s International Commercial Ports Now EcoPort Certified, Deepening Sustainability Results
-
Category:
News
-
Date:
2017-12-29 ~ 2019-01-01
-
Hit Rate:
1665
Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) held an event on December 26th, 2017 at Port of Kaohsiung’s passenger wharf 19A to announce the successful completion of TIPC-wide Ecoports certification efforts, formally launch the TIPC port-pollution reduction campaign, and hold the “Green Port Adventure” activity. Faculty and students from area schools as well as shipping company representatives were invited to share in the fruits of recent TIPC efforts to clean up and protect the environment and to commit to ensuring that ‘port sustainability’ ideals will be carried forward by future generations.
The ‘green port’ concept is a growing international trend that has been a long-running policy priority of TIPC. A multi-agency initiative has successfully seen all of Taiwan’s seven international commercial ports earn ESPO EcoPort certification between 2012 and 2017.
Soon after assuming his post, TIPC Chairman Hong-mou Wu established cooperation, innovation, and sustainability as TIPC’s future development priorities, with the goals of further enhancing operational performance and diversifying port operations. In addition to growing its cargo business, TIPC is hoping to achieve its ambitious cruise-ship homeport and passenger volume goals and to stimulate tourism growth in Taiwan’s major port cities.
TIPC established the Kaohsiung Port Land Development Company in cooperation with Kaohsiung City to jointly promote the development of disused sections of port land. TIPC has also successfully concluded investment recruitment efforts at Anping Port’s Marina, with contracts signed with private Taiwan firms and large international business interests to develop and promote Taiwan’s largest pleasure-craft-focused vacation and recreation destination.
Taiwan’s increasing air quality problems have garnered widespread attention. TIPC’s efforts to maintain air quality at its ports include providing incentives to vessels that reduce speed while entering and exiting ports, that use shore-side electricity while moored, and that use low-sulfur fuels during entry. These initiatives were formalized at the December 26th ceremony. To incentivize the speed reduction policy, TIPC has requested the EPA and Maritime Port Bureau to authorize NT$32 million in funds to reward container and cruise ships that effectively reduce speeds during arrival and departure maneuvers.
TIPC President Tien-kuei Kuo remarked that TIPC installed environmental-education-related, interactive game booths at various port environmental-protection-related sites such as automated gates, reclaimed land, wind-power stations, mangrove forests, repurposed facilities, solar-power stations, and water recycling facilities as part of the “Green Port Adventure” educational experience activity. Elementary students from Yancheng Elementary School were invited to the Port of Kaohsiung to experience for themselves the effects of the EcoPort initiative and participate in environmental education. The series of interactive games show students the deep relationship between EcoPorts and their everyday lives and highlight the TIPC’s ongoing efforts in the arena of environmental sustainability.
TIPC Chairman Wu added that his company will now focus on establishing a set of effective EcoPort management principles for Taiwan’s ports, which, in line with domestic regulations, will be leveraged to further reduce costs and minimize risk and move TIPC ports further toward realizing its environmental protection and sustainable business goals.
-
Go back
-
Go top