Baltic Sea Strategy Forum Focuses on Clean Shipping and Ports

BPO says clean shipping and ports were the main topics discussed at a Baltic Sea Strategy Forum.

The Baltic Ports Organization (BPO) says clean shipping and ports were the main topics discussed at the Strategy Forum for the Baltic Sea region, held in Stockholm on November 8 and 9.

The event is noted to have been attended by over 1,200 participants, including politicians, private sector stakeholders, and representatives from national and regional governments, civil society, academia, and media participated in more than 40 sessions.

"The Strategy Forum is the most important yearly event for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) hosted this year by Sweden together with the Nordic Council of Ministers," said BPO, which presented on Baltic ports' achievements and challenges in making the Baltic Sea cleaner.

Bogdan Ołdakowski, BPO Secretary General, commenting at the event, said: "Baltic ports and shipping have its own role to play in making the Baltic Sea cleaner. There are a number of regulations affecting maritime transport coming into force in the next years."

"The implementation process of these regulations is sure to pose new challenges. We expect the administrations to take a more active stance in facilitating the dialogue between stakeholders in order to find effective solutions."

Stefan Löfven, Prime Minister of Sweden, and Juha Sipilä, Prime Minister of Finland, are noted to have taken part in the session, "Vision 2030 for the Baltic Sea Region," with both speaking of a need to take action in the Baltic Sea amid increasing traffic in the region, and highlighting a number of challenges related to climate change.

"I believe that our region can provide an encouraging example to others of how to co-operate around the UN Agenda 2030. By cooperating we make sure that our region stays competitive, environmentally friendly and creates jobs for the future," said Löfven.

Earlier this month, Ship & Bunker reported that the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Maritime Environmental Protection Committee at its 70th session (MEPC 70) agreed to support the designation of a North Sea and Baltic Sea nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission control area (ECA), or NECA.