ESPO’s General Assembly unanimously elected Ansis Zeltiņš as its new Chair. Mr Zeltiņš has been CEO of the Freeport of Riga Authority since 2017 and has been involved in the maritime industry for 20 years.
Represented his country at various internationals
He has represented his country at various internationals such as the IMO and has been a member of the board of EMSA. He has the qualification of a chief mate on ships of 3000 GT and above. Ansis has been Vice Chair of ESPO since 2022. He succeeds Zeno D’Agostino who chaired the organisation for the past two years.
Two new Vice Chairs
The General Assembly also elected two new Vice Chairs: Gerardo Landaluce Calleja, President of the Port Authority of Algeciras Bay since 2019 and Cédric Virciglio, Strategic Planning Director at Haropa Port since 2021.
Professional and strongest industry team
Upon his election, Mr Zeltiņš said: “I am honoured to lead the most professional and strongest industry team of the European Sea Ports Organisation. Our strength is proven, as well as our wide competence, unity and ever-present partnership spirit.
He added :Together with the ESPO team, we will put our efforts to continue cementing these values to assist Europe’s ports – whether small or big, building a sustainable and a still very competitive, European port environment.
Two port industry professionals
Mr Zeltiņš welcame the election of two port industry professionals Cédric Virciglio and Gerardo Landaluce Calleja as my Vice Chairs. Pointing
ESPO has also published its Annual Report 2023-2024, which outlines the organisation’s activities over the past year. A copy of the report can be found here.
ESPO Award 2024
On the other hand, ESPO disclosed the winner of the ESPO Award 2024 on Societal integration during a ceremony and dinner being held at the Albert Hall in Brussels. The four projects shortlisted for this year’s Award are from Port of Antwerp-Bruges (Belgium), Port of Gothenburg (Sweden), Port of Huelva (Spain) and Port of Sevilla (Spain).
The winner will be announced around 10 pm tonight.
1993, ESPO was born !
It is note worthy that in 1974, the European Commission set up a Port Working Group, consisting of port authority representatives from Europe’s major ports.
Early 1993, the European Sea Ports Organisation was born out of this working group, as an independent lobby for seaport interests. Founding Chairman was the late Ferdinand Suykens, former director-general of the Port of Antwerp.
The organisation established itself in Brussels
During its initial years of existence, the organisation established itself in Brussels, focusing on a variety of policy and technical issues. Significant initiatives were the publication of the first Environmental Code of Practice in 1994 and the establishment of EcoPorts a few years later.
Coming of age’ period
The debate on the European Commission’s ports package, which was issued in 2001, marked a kind of ‘coming of age’ period for ESPO. It made members reflect and become more conscious about their role as port authorities and it strengthened the internal cohesion of the organisation.
In 2009 ESPO set up a joint office with EFIP, the European Federation of Inland Ports.
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