May 24, 2021 — Since becoming the Asia-Pacific region’s first certified eco-port in 2014, Port of Kaohsiung has renewed its EcoPorts certification regularly in 2016, 2018, and 2020. EcoPorts certification has helped bring international attention to the environmental protection efforts of Taiwan’s international commercial ports. This year, Port of Kaohsiung’s participation in the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)’s World Port Sustainability Program (WPSP) earned it a top-3 finalist position in the program’s Resilient Physical Infrastructure category. Competition for IAPH Sustainability Awards, while fierce, promotes a healthy rivalry among the world’s top ports and harbors, setting the bar ever higher for port sustainability.

In accordance with WPSP rules, a public, online poll is currently being held from May 17th through May 28th. The results of this poll will count for a large portion (30%) of each finalist’s Resilient Physical Infrastructure score and significantly influence the final winner in this category. We are asking all worldwide friends of the port and those who appreciate its strong efforts and achievements in environmental sustainability to cast an online vote for the Port of Kaohsiung in this year’s IAPH Sustainability Awards program. Please scan the QR code below or visit https://reurl.cc/yn2EY2 to cast your vote for the Port of Kaohsiung.

IAPH launched the Sustainability Awards program in 2018 to recognize the global leadership of ports in contributing to sustainable development. The program is based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and is structured along the five themes of Resilient Infrastructure, Climate and Energy, Safety and Security, Community Outreach and Port-city Dialogue, and Governance and Ethics. Each theme corresponds to the SDGs and treats the port and overall environment as a whole. The “Resilient Infrastructure” category focuses on two aspects: digital optimization of infrastructure and climate change adaption. The former emphasizes using innovative and cost-efficient digital applications to handle ports’major infrastructural and service challenges. The latter emphasizes increasing the resilience of port infrastructures against the effects of climate change.

The Port of Kaohsiung submitted the “Master Plan 2017-2021” as part of its submission for consideration for the WPSP Resilient Physical Infrastructure Award. This plan details the innovative and sustainable approaches taken in constructing the port’s new Intercontinental Container Terminal (ICT) and renovating and rejuvenating the port’s Old Port District as well as related accomplishments. The core message in the port’s award submission is that the Port of Kaohsiung has proactively taken on multiple key, long-term initiatives to resolve and absolve the chronic, long-term disconnect between the port and Kaohsiung City in terms of development and integration priorities. These initiatives include: 1) shifting heavy industry and other large-scale industrial operations from downtown Kaohsiung City to new, reclaimed land along the coast; 2) strengthening all new port facilities using green, eco-friendly methods; 3) implementing a segregation strategy for arriving and departing vessels; and 4) using the renovation of the port’s Old Port District to create new and synergistic connections with Kaohsiung City. Master Plan 2017-2021, which provides a practical roadmap for fostering friendly and sustainable “entanglements” and dialogue between the port and city while promoting and sustaining regionally important industries, earned the Port of Kaohsiung its 2021 WPSP finalist position.

We very much hope that you will join us in voting in the 2021 IAPH Sustainability Awards online public poll. For Category B (Resilient Physical Infrastructure), please select “Port of Kaohsiung”!