The port of Montevideo obtained the Ecoports certification, validated by the independent auditor Llyod's Register, from the Netherlands, which accredits the maritime terminal as green port, designation reserved for terminals that carry out their activity with care to preserve the environment.
The certification was granted on Thursday (18.07.2019) for a period of two years.“We were surprised to receive the validation certificate because we were expecting a resolution on this institutional project in 2020,” said the president of the National Port Administration, Alberto Díaz.
"The document ensures that we integrate the chain of green ports and it is important, mainly, for the cruise circuit. It is something very good for the destination Uruguay and in regards to the country's image, which was already good in the services offered by Montevideo," explained the official. "Now we have a verified procedure for how to work on all port activities to consider it an environmentally friendly port," he stressed.
“Not having the certificate did not prevent cruise ships from coming anyway, but having it ensures that we are on the right policy of caring for the environment. in general and, in particular, for these certifying companies, which are very demanding in this matter," he analyzed.
Of the existing options, the ANP decided in 2017 to integrate it into the Ecoports/ European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO) of the Ecoslc Foundation. The initial analysis of the environmental situation in Montevideo detected 198 strengths, 61 opportunities, three weaknesses and one threat.
In 2018, following the strategic guidelines of the master plan, the organization created the Ecoports Montevideo Environmental Management System Certification project, as one of the components of an arduous process that included external audits.
“Once a terminal enters this chain of green ports, it has to go through other certification standards. The first one allows you to be listed on a portal and this enables you to display your procedures and be audited at any time. It is an achievement, but also a commitment for the future,” Díaz said.
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