Portsmouth International Port will host the 21st edition of the GreenPort Congress. The summit, taking place from October 7 to 9, 2026, confirms its status as a strategic meeting place for decision-makers across the entire port community, including port authorities, terminal operators, shipping lines, and logistics operators, committed to balancing environmental challenges with economic demands. The event’s objective is to provide practical solutions and strategies to reduce the carbon footprint, implement the necessary changes for the ecological transition, and analyze the impact of new regulatory updates on global port operations.
The 2026 edition will place a particular emphasis on water resource management, alongside hot topics such as clean infrastructure, berth electrification, and onshore sustainability. Through the contributions of sector leaders, experts, and innovators, the congress will offer replicable operational guidelines to drive change, enabling delegates to develop advanced professional skills.
The discussion sessions of the conference programme will be structured around several thematic tracks:
Competitiveness, Decarbonisation, and the ESPO Report
The opening of the proceedings will feature the presentation of ESPO’s (European Sea Ports Organisation) annual environmental report, with keynote speeches from Secretary General Isabelle Ryckbost and Senior Policy Advisor Tim Verhoeven, confirming that climate change, air quality, and energy efficiency remain the top priorities for European ports. A specific focus will be dedicated to balancing decarbonisation with global competitiveness and operational efficiency, offering tailored solutions especially for smaller ports that lack the resources for large-scale investments.
Energy Infrastructure, Electrification, and Onshore Power Supply
The working groups will address critical bottlenecks related to EU mandates requiring Onshore Power Supply (OPS) at TEN-T core ports by 2030, extending to all EU ports by 2035. The debate will focus on national grid capacity, high retrofit costs, and strategies for adapting local energy systems through the session dedicated to Energy, electrification & net zero delivery in ports.
Water Quality and New Regulatory Challenges
One of the central focuses of this edition will be water quality and scarcity, which consistently rank among ESPO’s top environmental priorities. Sessions will analyze two crucial recent developments: the provisional agreement reached by EU institutions in September 2025 to introduce temporary exemptions to the Water Framework Directive during dredging and sediment relocation activities, and new regulatory challenges, particularly the compliance and enforcement disputes linked to ballast water discharge and treatment under critical environmental conditions.
In addition to two days of debate on advanced technical content, the congress features networking opportunities and technical tours within Portsmouth International Port. The event is tailored for port authorities, terminal operators, environmental engineers, green technology suppliers, shipowners, and sustainable logistics planning professionals.
More Information
https://www.portstrategy.com/greenport-congress