PortSHAZ seed money project

PortSHAZ Seed Money: A catalyst for greener South Baltic Ports

Launched on May 1, 2023, and completed by August 31 under the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2014-2020, the PortSHAZ Seed Money project achieved milestones in addressing port cargo leakage—fertilizers, grains, sand, and coal. A concept paper and an international workshop helped meet objectives. With over 45 million tons passing through Baltic ports annually, even small spills threaten the South Baltic Sea’s ecosystem.

The driving partnership and key roles

PortSHAZ Seed Money was founded by four organizations from Poland, Sweden, and Lithuania, each bringing unique strengths. Led by the Port of Elbląg, the project leveraged experience from South Baltic initiatives like Transport Loops and INCONE60 to coordinate efforts and showcase growth after the Vistula Spit channel’s completion. The next phase will focus on port infrastructure and sustainability. Race for the Baltic contributed expertise on Baltic Sea health, especially eutrophication, and will continue leading water quality projects. CORPI provided marine policy insights and impact assessments and will develop policies for small ports. K2 Solutions handled research, partnerships, promotion, and dissemination, analyzing cargo handling and exploring zero-emission and circular economy opportunities. Future efforts will refine these practices and promote innovative solutions for small ports.

In-depth activities and execution

The project reviewed frameworks and tools from ECOSHAZ and INCONE60 to identify data and practice gaps for small ports. A key event was a June 19-20, 2023, cross-border workshop in Elbląg and Gdańsk with 18 experts from Poland, Lithuania, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. Day one covered VEEC cooperation, green tech, imports, prospects, fertiliser pilots, and regional analysis, including discussions and a port tour. Day two on a Gdańsk bay cruise focused on tasks, budget, documents, studies, and partnerships. The team will finalize the concept paper and engage stakeholders for PortSHAZ implementation. Stakeholders can stay involved by attending meetings and exploring partnerships.

Tangible results and impacts

These efforts resulted in full task completion, a stakeholder network (including Vordingborg and Ramboll), and a concept paper on risks and mitigations with four work packages and outputs like publications, pilots, and strategies. It addressed SME needs for hazard mitigation, cost-effective tech, and knowledge, raising awareness and positioning small ports as green leaders.

Vision for the full-scale future

We plan a 36-month PortSHAZ project with seven partners, focusing on management, cargo analysis, technical solutions, and SME strategies. Aiming for less pollution, higher efficiency, and replication, approval is pending. Stakeholders are invited to give feedback and show interest to support collaboration and the project’s success.