The issues that the Port of Volos needs to take into consideration are the port waste management, dredging, dredging disposal, dust, noise, air quality, bunkering, hazardous cargo, port development, which is related to land use, and finally ship discharge. Undoubtedly, these are issues that all ports worldwide need to cope with. Therefore, there exists an integrated legal system which arranges the issues of management and protection of marine environment and ports. Global conventions, European Directives, as well as the national law are assisting the effort of the authorities, the private sector, the NGOs and the public to be able and capable of sustaining and protecting the ports from various environmental risks, hazards and threats.
Dealing with the environmental issues of ports is a matter of great importance as important as the environmental protection of all aspects of natural life and human activities is. Ports themselves are places of great importance both for the financial and social life. Ports are vital for the global economy. Therefore, the port’s protection from environmental problems, risks and hazards is demanding and necessary.
All ports world wide have taken measures in order to protect both the natural environment and people’s health. There are Global Conventions and Agreement as well as national laws that impose the environmental way of managing and operating ports. The MARPOL 73/78 Convention for the waste management and treatment both for the waste that the ships produce as well as for the waste that ports produce; the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution (GESAMP) for noxious liquid substances; the Marine Environment Protection Committee for the sewage operation and management in ports; the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage for the bunkering activities; and the MARPOL 73/78 Convention for the air pollution created in ports are some of the most important worldwide agreements regarding the environmental protection of ports.
Waste management in ports is an extremely complicated matter. The waste that is produced or reach through the ships the ports are oil and oil residuals, the liquid substances in bulk and many other kind of wastes is necessary to be treated in a different way each one of them. Additionally, air pollution is a matter of great importance, that should be attributed a lot of attention on that.
It is evident from this study that in Greece there does not exist an integrated policy for the port’s environmental protection. Of course, there does exist a variety of measures and legislations about different aspects of environmental protection in ports. Nevertheless, what is important for Greece and for the Greek ports is to produce an integrated policy in order to be easier to manage, protect and sustain the ports from the environmental pollution.
The port of Volos has a particular extended coastal zone and a variety of infrastructure that can serve in a satisfactory level the current and the future needs. The main insufficiency is the lack of a free zone for the attraction and the faster transit of the cargos. The recent transformation of the east stores into passengers’ station has improved the level of service of the passengers. Through the 3rd Community Support Framework the pier of the port became more extended and deep for hosting the cruise ships in the passengers’ wharf.
The direct neighbouring of the commercial wharf with the city has some negative effects on the coastal face of the city, aggravates the circulation and as a consequence creates contrasts and intensions into the port-city relationship.
It is widely accepted that the busiest a port is the more environmental needs should be taken into consideration. Volos is not such a busy port compared to that of Rotterdam for example, nevertheless compared to the national standards, Volos is the third busiest commercial port after those of Pireous and Salonica. Therefore, all the stakeholders should pay attention and take the appropriate measures in order achieve the sustainability of the port. Adding to the fact that the port lays within the city network the need for environmental protection is even more evident.
