PEARL

ABPmer has taken on the role of Project Work Package Co-ordinator in the new Port Environmental information collector project, PEARL. PEARL is a 3 year European Commission project focusing on the collection and use of environmental monitoring data and ABPmer are specifically involved in Work Package 2 which requires the collection of information and opinions from European ports.

The primary objective of PEARL is to research the development of a ‘Port Environmental Management System Platform’ which can be easily accessed by ports. This system will allow for the optimal exploitation of remotely sensed and in situ (collected by sensors at the location) data products and models, so that all port environmental data can be accessible from one source.

Information is to be collected through a series of interviews with a number of European ports. It is hoped that 50 interviews will take place encompassing a wide range of ports across Europe. ABPmer will be undertaking these interviews along with their colleagues from the Ecoports project.

ABP Southampton will be involved in the initial stages of the interview process but other ABPorts will be contacted within the interview period. Questions will include general details regarding the port such as geographic location, size and cargoes handled and detailed questioning regarding present environmental data requirements, future needs and how the port would anticipate utilising a system such as PEARL.

Once completed, reports will be written detailing findings which will be used in the subsequent project work packages.

For further information:
Neil Pittam
npittam@abpmer.co.uk