{"id":1868,"date":"2021-06-01T07:43:40","date_gmt":"2021-06-01T07:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/circularports.vlaanderen-circulair.be\/?post_type=library&p=1868"},"modified":"2026-04-03T13:20:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T11:20:09","slug":"europes-ports-at-the-crossroads-of-transitions","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/demo.sidekick.be\/circularports\/publication\/europes-ports-at-the-crossroads-of-transitions\/","title":{"rendered":"Europe\u2019s ports at the crossroads of transitions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New joint Deloitte-ESPO study: Europe\u2019s ports at the crossroads of transitions<\/h3>\n

Based on talks with 55 European port leaders, Deloitte, together with ESPO, made an analysis of the main drivers and trends impacting Europe\u2019s ports, in view of defining the changing role of port managing bodies in Europe. The results were presented during the ESPO Conference Regatta on 25 May 2021.<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The greening and digital transitions combined with the changing global political environment and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic create the perfect storm for Europe\u2019s ports and the port industry. Ports are at the crossroads of these transitions and changing realities. How can port authorities best respond to these shifts? To what extent can they proactively set the course for a more sustainable, resilient and smart future? What has the COVID-19 pandemic revealed about the role of ports? What are the necessary conditions for ports to play their role as engines of growth and recovery?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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New additional roles for port authorities<\/b><\/h4>\n

As ports in Europe are very diverse, they are impacted in a different way by drivers and trends. Overall, port authorities in Europe are taking up new, additional roles \u2013 be it in the field of greening or digitalisation, blue or circular economy \u2013 on top of their traditional functions. While they have been moving towards becoming commercial developers and active strategic landlords, their public role and mission-driven activities remain as important and are even further increasing. The wider variety of roles, responsibilities and stakeholders implies a greater complexity, which requires more than ever a strong port \u201cmanager\u201d as neutral partner and facilitator in the value chain and the wider port ecosystem. The diverse challenges ahead, the increasing complexity and scale increase in the sector pushes ports to cooperate with other ports, from coalitions on a single project to full mergers. But cooperation with other stakeholders will also be crucial to find workable solutions for issues like greening the shipping sector or the digitalisation of the port ecosystem. By teaming up, ports can leverage an external knowledge or lower the risk of certain investments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Possible tensions identified<\/b><\/h4>\n

First, whereas the role of the port managing body is expanding, revenues are often decreasing. Second, ports are heavy assets and infrastructure investments have very long lead times due to public tendering, financing and authorisation procedures. This makes it particularly challenging for ports to respond and react quickly to overnight changing realities in times of a very uncertain market outlook.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Port-city relationship<\/b><\/h4>\n

The report suggests an opportunity for revitalising the port-city relationship since the new port authority\u2019s roles, including in the field of circular economy and renewable energy, make them a very relevant partner in the greening of the city and make them attractive for different new job profiles available in the city. It also identifies a way to reinvent maritime passenger transport after COVID-19.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Holistic view<\/b><\/h4>\n

Supporting the changing role of ports requires a holistic view of ports, which considers all facets and roles, as well as the port-specific needs and abilities. This diversity makes the European port system more resilient and implies that the best strategy to optimise and support the respective ecosystem will be different for each port.<\/p>\n

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This post\u00a0Joint Deloitte-ESPO study: Europe\u2019s ports at the crossroads of transitions<\/a>\u00a0appeared first as\u00a0ESPO Press Release<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 June 10, 2021.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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