Port of Dover Wins ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation) Award 2019

Port of Dover wins ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation) Award 2019

The Port of Dover has been awarded the ESPO Award 2019 in recognition of its successful strategy to reach out to the local community and to directly communicate with the port citizens. Using social media as a new way of communicating and demonstrating a high level of transparency about operational achievements, future strategies and environmental challenges and performance is becoming increasingly important for European ports who can only function and further develop if they receive the licence to operate from the local citizens. The ESPO Award was handed out by the Director-General of DG Move Henrik Hololei (picture, right), during a ceremony at the “Albert Hall” in Brussels on 14 November.

Looking back at the selection process in this 11th edition of the ESPO Award, the Chairman of the Jury, Dimitrios Theologitis (picture, left), said:

“The Jury was impressed by Port of Dover’s strategy which is centred around campaigns on all media, electronic and others, leaﬂets, consultations, forums, workshops, sports events. But the most important ingredient of this successful strategy is giving back to the community, be it ﬁnancial participation in charities and community groups, making the installations available to the public for events, or foreseeing spaces and buildings open to the public”.

The Port of Dover won the 2019 Award for its project, “Transparen-SEA (Socially Engaged Accountability)”, which aims to create a comprehensive and meaningful programme of consultative and social community Belfast | 2 engagement events alongside the cultivation of an internal network of port ambassadors whose advocacy ultimately permeates back into the local community where many live. This was all supported with a social media overlay that connects directly with the community and reinforces the aims of the project.

The project has not just been focused on one particular aspect of engagement, it has been a wholesale immersion in the community and the community in the port. What is equally important is that the social media has not just been a faceless arm’s length engagement tool, but has been used to create the end result of much more face to face engagement so that the people of the port community and the people of the local community recognise each other, and do so as part of the same overall community, importantly all buying in to the same shared vision and giving everyone a sense of ownership of that process.

Richard Christian, Head of Policy and Communications, Port of Dover said:

“Having gone through such a rigorous selection process alongside many other great ports, to have been chosen as the winner is a fantastic achievement for the whole team at Dover. Our comprehensive and continuing programme of societal engagement is something of which we can be proud in setting the standard across Europe. Our thanks go to ESPO and the judges for this great honour.”

The ESPO Award 2019 saw four projects from Port of Dover, Dublin Port Company, Ports of Stockholm and Union des Ports de France (UPF) compete for the prize.

Port information

Time zone : GMT Operational hrs : 24 hrs Berth Enquiries / Reservations : Via Ship’s Agent Lat & Long : 54.6172° N, 5.9063° W Prevailing weather : South Westerly Anchorage position : Bangor Bay Distance to landing stage in nm : 10nm Berth information : D1 Cruise Berth, 480 Metres Vessel length : 360m (>330m to individually risk assessed) Vessel width : Max Beam 55 metres Air draft restrictions : No restrictions Vessel draft : 10.1m Depth on berth : 10.2m Largest ship to call : MSC Virtuosa VTS channel : Channel 12 Max ship dimensions : 360m (>330m to individually risk assessed) Pilotage : Complusory Tugboat : Available on request, vessels individually assessed Security facilities : Fully compliant with ISPS regulations Gangway : 12m, 17m, 25m and raised platform all available on request Fresh water : Available at berth Power supply : Vessel’s own Fuel supply : Truck or barge Hot works/painting/lifeboats : All available alongside with permit requested via agent to Harbour Masters Waste handling : Available alongside with pre-advised quantities advised to agent prior to arrival Belfast | 3

Passenger Facilities

Cruise terminal building : New terminal building opened in 2019 , ﬁrst dedicated cruise terminal on the island of Ireland, includes visitor information centre & gift shop. Currency exchange : Available in city centre Internet access : Yes Telephones : Available in city centre Mailbox : Ships agent can post mail Taxi rank : Yes Distance to Railway Station : 2.5 miles / 4 km Distance to airport : 3.7 miles / 6 km Banks/ATM : In City Centre (5 miles / 8 km) Restaurant / cafe : In City Centre (5 miles / 8 km)

Contacts & Further Info

Contact : Gary Hall, Commercial Executive Tel : 00 44 (0)2890 554422 00 44 (0)7766 902630 Email : [email protected] Website : http://www.belfast-harbour.co.uk Social media : Can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Address : Harbour Oﬃce, Corporation Square, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT1 3AL Further visitor info : Jac Callan, Leisure Trade Sales Manager, Visit Belfast [email protected]