Blue Ports and Destination: three MedCruise Ports win
On the occasion of the 9th ‘Our Ocean Conference’, held on April 16 in Athens, maritime sustainability excellence was celebrated through the awarding of the ‘Blue Ports and Destinations’ prizes. The event was organized by the BlueMissionMed project in collaboration with MedCruise and supported by the European Commission, recognizing four ports deemed exemplary for their innovative and sustainable solutions.
The main goal of the ceremony was to recognize, promote, and support best practices in the port and maritime sector, highlighting the significant contributions of ports to the EU Mission ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030’. MedCruise played a key role in promoting this initiative, collaborating with associations such as Cruise Europe and CLIA to broaden participation in the awards and extend their reach beyond the Mediterranean.
Blue Ports and Destinations awards
Among the numerous participants from various regions of the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, three of the four awarded ports are members of MedCruise. The Port of Ravenna (Italy) was awarded in the category of Social, Corporate, Community Sustainability, and Port Connectivity for its innovative strategies driving the city’s green transition. The Port of Heraklion (Greece) and Galataport Istanbul (Turkey) shared the award in the Eco-Conscious Entrepreneur and Personality category for their ongoing commitment and innovative initiatives in promoting sustainable practices in the maritime sector.
Blue Ports and Destinations awards (2)
Blue Ports and Destinations awards (3)
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges (Belgium) was awarded in the Sustainability Solutions for Building, Design, Construction, or Techniques category for its continuous commitment to operational sustainability.
Blue Ports and Destinations awards (4)
Figen Ayan, President of MedCruise and the ‘Blue Ports & Destinations’ awards, emphasized the importance of these recognitions in highlighting the sustainable and environmental efforts of ports. Ayan stated that the Blue Ports and Destination Awards provided an excellent platform to showcase the significant efforts of ports and the industry in achieving the 2030 European goals, reminding everyone of the necessity to continue on this path through concrete actions and a strong sense of collaboration.
The conference also hosted the Mission Ocean side event, organized by the European Commission, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the BlueMissionMed project, titled ‘Concrete Solutions for Our Greatest Challenges: Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030’.
Blue Ports and Destinations awards (5)
The event highlighted innovative initiatives and actions within the European mission ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030’, addressing some of the most urgent challenges for marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity. It also emphasized the growing collaborations between various foundations and the philanthropic community, underlining the importance of improving coordination between public and private funding to facilitate the restoration of islands worldwide.
For more information and updates on the Blue Ports and Destinations Awards and MedCruise, visit Cruising Journal.