Green Ports—Sustainable Port Development

A green port adopts sustainable port development and operational objectives. The rapid growth of freight volumes due to increasing global trade and demand for mineral resources requires ports to increase capacity. Larger vessel sizes and more efficient product handling require increased berth sizes, navigable areas, and increased rail and road capacity. Port development to meet these demands puts pressure on surrounding towns and our natural environment. Public acceptance of the development of ports can therefore be tested. In response to public concern, governments are introducing increasingly stringent regulations. Today’s port development projects and operations need to address increasingly complex environmental and social issues to attain and maintain a social licence to operate and future-proof operations. Ports will need to adopt sustainable port development plans and sustainable ongoing operations to attain and maintain a social licence to operate.