Port Center Network

Gladstone: launch of the waterfront project including a maritime and ports themed exhibition and display area

greta — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:23:34 +0000

The first phase of the East Shores project on the waterfront of Gladstone has been launched. The project will enable this sector of the waterfront to be reconnected with the city and notably plans recreational areas for families, promenades, a marine park, a café, and a Centre dedicated to explaining maritime and port activities.

For more information concerning their community outreach program :

General information

Students learn about Gladstone harbour science

Masterplan Vision of the waterfront and Ports Interpretive Centrer

Convention signed betwenn E.C.O.L.E de la Mer and the Port Atlantique La Rochelle

greta — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:47:42 +0000

Isabelle Autissier, President of the association “E.C.O.L.E de la Mer” and Nicolas Gauthier, President of the Port of La Rochelle, signed a convention of partnership aiming at developing the human activities undertaken on the regional littoral and the trades of the sea associated with these activities.

This convention between the “E.C.O.L.E de la Mer” and Atlantic Port of La Rochelle formalizes already an existing cooperation based on the diffusion of teaching information on maritime activities, in particular with regard to the operation of a port of commerce, the coastal environment and the trades of the sea. This partnership in particular allowed the design of a “port course” intended to school groups, associating the E.C.O.L.E of the Sea for the teaching activities and the Port of La Rochelle for the visit with accompanying notes of the harbour site. The convention fixes an objective of 9 annual visits of this harbour courses to realize during the year 2011/2012.

Finally to be mentioned also, that the “E.C.O.L.E de la Mer” is a partner for the Open Port Day of La Rochelle, that this year will take place the 10th of June.

Press release of the Port Atlantique La Rochelle, Tuesday 17 April 2012

Welcome to the school in the Port – Nice (France)

greta — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:12:33 +0000

The 5th of April, took place the fourth edition of the initiative “L’école au Port”. This day visit allows 1200 schoolchildren to discover the port activities and to know a little bit more about the jobs related to this world, often unknown and misunderstood.

These young schoolboys and girls met professionals, received information on the activities and related jobs, as well as on the history of their port. They visited the coastguard ship, attended a rescue exercise at sea, embarked on board of a ship for a visit of the port, participated in the presentation of a fairy tale and took part in the realization of a port model in miniature size.

For more information

American ports and their communication strategies – AAPA Workshop in Houston

greta — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:43:14 +0000

For a long time now, American ports have followed the general management principle that coexistence with citizens, local associations and territorial authorities, as well as pressure groups such as environmentalists, requires a constant, proactive communication and lobbying strategy. At a workshop run by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) at the end of February 2012 (Program of the workshop), AIVP attended a variety of presentations on this subject, in the company of some forty American ports including Portland, Oakland, Miami, New Orleans, Seattle, Montreal, Quebec, Long Beach and many more.

«Seaports deliver prosperity»
Launched by AAPA in 2008, this slogan marked the start of a campaign to publicise the economic and social importance of sea ports, carried out with the assistance of a large public relations firm (Edelman PR). The aim was to create a heightened level of awareness both in decision-makers and among the general population. Since then, encouraged by AAPA, port initiatives have multiplied, in conjunction with political lobbying campaigns. On the ground, press releases have gradually given way to direct dialogue with citizens and the economic community.

Although every port is different, as is expressed by the saying current in the shipping world “When you have seen one port, you have seen one port”, a consensus exists which stresses the importance of showing the economic spin-off effects of port activity in terms of added value, taxes and job creation. Like the Port of Detroit , which carried out an economic impact study in October 2011, the majority of American ports call in independent consultants in order to have the support of an official document which is hard to argue against. Nevertheless, although this document is essential for negotiations between public and political authorities, the spin-off benefits are not so convincing in the framework of relations between the port and the general public, where a more direct, educational approach is needed.

Social integration, a question of reciprocity
At the AAPA seminar, the Ports of Miami and Oakland insisted on the usefulness of developing this relationship of exchange and reciprocity with the public. To achieve this, the Port of Miami recently organised a communications campaign saying that “The Port thanks its citizens”. The idea was to show that, even if often indirectly, every citizen contributed to the port’s prosperity.
In another example of a strategy with the same purpose, the Ports of Oakland and Houston have:
Launched simple citizen initiatives of the “Plant a tree” type in order to mobilise the public and make them aware of the ports’ environmental policies
Set up citizen working committees which participate in developing a community project. Similar to – but more informal than – the idea of public debate developed in many European countries for major infrastructure projects, this American approach is more direct and is frequently an initiative of the port authorities, who take on the necessary human resources.

The Port of Cleveland goes further, considering that the Port Authority is like a hybrid organisation with a double mission: one the one hand to use a business-management approach to ensure the competitiveness of its territory and the companies established there; and on the other to develop initiatives for the benefit of the community as a whole, which might be considered more important than in a public authority.

Although the subject was only timidly explored in the workshop, it would appear that more and more companies are considering SER among the criteria for the decision to install their business in a port. In this context, the port can offer a genuine cost-benefit advantage; if it has already laid the foundations for a social integration policy, all the actors can benefit.

Port education at all levels
Projects for educating the young about careers in the shipping and port industries, already available in most American ports, are an integral part of the social integration policy. A few examples are given below.

At Houston, the Maritime Academy is an initiative by the Port Authority in partnership with a local economic development agency. Created in 2009, it offers a four-year training programme developed by the American Maritime Administration which enables young people aged from 14 to 18 (High school – last year in secondary education) to discover or learn more about the port and shipping industries, and thus become aware of the employment opportunities available in the sector.

Since 1994, the Port of Oakland has been rewarding the best pupils at high schools using a special fund created for the purpose. The port has also always done its best to remain an open space, and has set up two information centres for visitors who want to learn more about developments. Today the port plans to go further still in more direct contact with the public, so as to build up more stable and lasting relations with the community. It is doubling its efforts to reach the public directly by outreach activities in schools, associations, cultural activities, development organisations and interest groups http://www.portofoakland.com/communit/ .

“Behind the Scenes” is an initiative launched by the Port of Portland to offer anyone who is interested the possibility of coming to discover the port and river-related economic activities. A page in Facebook and a rich, varied programme of visits opens a window on the everyday activities of this shipping-related industry, which generates more than 19,000 jobs in the region http://www.facebook.com/portlandharbor.

To mark its 100th anniversary, the Port of Seattle has set up a series of initiatives called “Port 101 Series”, which allows adults to take a boat trip in which they discover the different operational areas involved in sea transport and port activity, and see their economic impact in the port’s territory. http://www.portseattle.org/Supporting-Our-Community/Trade-Education/Pages/Port-101.aspx

Global strategies
It is therefore evident that for American Ports, citizen integration is part of a global communication strategy which does not neglect any of the judgments, ideas or opinions that citizens may have about port activity in the future. The objectives are clear: to anticipate opposition, to inform, to convince… but also to educate and generate awareness in young people about port careers which are not widely known, and which often suffer from a slightly negative image.

Community Outreach is an area which is vulnerable to budget cuts in moments of crisis, but the importance of its role is increasingly understood. For ports, the challenge is not only to continue operating and developing, but also to attract investors and economic actors who are increasingly sensitive to a more respectful approach to the social environment.

At this stage, a number of recommendations or principles have emerged from the debate:
establish a relationship of trust with the community;
have the capacity to measure the results of any action oriented towards the public through press coverage, “before and after” polls, on-line comment forums, regular image surveys;
use social networks, as a tool to spread a clear message and as a medium which is informative, engaging and amusing. Use of video would also appear to be a good channel, since port territory offers a favourable environment: landscape; large scale; changing, bubbling activity; a range of people to talk to;
be proactive at moments of crisis, always have an answer, be available at all times, prepare an emergency plan in advance;
tell the story of the port, using a journalistic approach; have a clear, unchanging message, especially as to what the port represents in terms of added value for the territory.

Maritime Museum of Amsterdam renovated including exhibition: Port 24/7

greta — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:52:37 +0000

The National Maritime Museum of Amsterdam reopened its doors in October last after four years of renovation led by Dok Architecten and Rappange & Partners, architecten. In order to give back all of its maritime atmosphere to this former 17th Century warehouse, they notably concentrated their efforts on the quays bordering the site and on the inside courtyard now covered by a glass structure. By the beginning of February over 200 000 visitors had already been counted since the reopening.

One of the exhibition is dedicated to the World-Class Port of Amsterdam, called: Ports 24/7. There you can discover how works the modern port with a twenty-metre long model that will give you an idea of how large the port area is. You have the possibility to travel vitually through the port and you will get a container’s-eye view of the area.

Rotterdam – Port Program for the 12 to 14 years old

greta — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:56:56 +0000

The Port of Rotterdam, the Educational Information Center Main Port Rotterdam, the Nederland Maritiem Land and the LMC Voortgezet Onderwijs* have developed an educational port program for schoolboys and schoolgirls. This program presented as a digital teaching package on goods and port jobs, offers also the possibility to subscribe for excursions and guest lessons. In this way over 8.000 young people of 12 to14 years get to know better the opportunities in terms of employment in the port area. That is absolutely necessary, because, annually, 2.000 port related offers are released.
Eight establishments (schools) of LMC are already working with this program and during the school year 2010-2011 the pupils of the 28 establishments of LMC followed the lessons and took part in the excursions. The partners are aiming now to associate other schools of the Rotterdam region.

Demo version of the Port Program

*Foundation LMC Secondary Education offers interdenominational and innovative education in Rotterdam and the surrounding areas

Ports of Paris offers a cruising service to discover a new dimension of the French Capital

greta — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:48:30 +0000

The Port of Paris started to propose river visits of the port of Gennevilliers. This new kind of industrial tourism offers to a general public, schools and universities a visit that last one hour thirty and that is commented by a professional guide. These visits make it possible to discover the first port of the region Ile-de-France and to know more about the multimodal transport systems and the economic impact of the inland navigation in this port area of over 400 hectares including 52 hectares of water and 12 km of quays.

More Information

AAPA Seaports continues to focus on communicating with community members and policymakers

greta — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:31:13 +0000

The American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) Public and Government Relations Workshop in Houston, Feb. 28-29, 2012, will examine how communications and government relations practitioners can persuasively articulate the value of seaports to community residents, business leaders and policymakers.

This includes advocating for port authority property development, investments in transportation infrastructure, and programs geared to attract business, create jobs, improve the environment, increase trade and help ensure the success of port projects.

More information on the AAPA Website

Contact : Aaron Ellis-AAPA / Bill Hensel-Port of Houston, aellis@aapa-ports.org
001 703 706-4714 / 001 713 670-2893

Community, citizens, children, people…let the port in!

greta — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:49:09 +0000

The Fall edition of the AAPA Seaports Magazine as well as the Port & Harbours edition of January and Feburary, mention both the importance of investing in the community and the social integration of ports. We can see here that the idea of a better understanding of the port activities and the implementation of an information process towards the citizens and the younger people seems to become a major issue for our ports. Nevertheless we should not forget that the best way to succeed is to have a mutual port city communication strategy.

http://www.facebook.com/iaphworldports

http://www.aapaseaports.com/

Education and “Port Series 101″ at the Port of Seattle

greta — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:52:21 +0000

“At the Port of Seattle, trade is at the heart of what we do, and we are committed to trade and transportation education”

The Port is developing new educational resources for teachers and students. Interested persons can sign up for the Sea-Air School Teachers mailing list to be first in line for the new educational materials part of a the 2012 education program soon available on their website http://www.portseattle.org/Supporting-Our-Community/Trade-Education/Pages/default.aspx