3rd Consultation Meeting of the Greek National Technical Committee, 30 May 2025
On May 30th, 2025, the Greek National Technical Committee convened its 3rd consultation meeting in Piraeus, bringing together all its members to co-design the final aspects of the BLUE PORTS Certification Regulation, as well as to discuss the maintenance and transferability of the certification scheme, as the project prepares to enter the pilot phase.
The meeting was hosted by the project coordinator, the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Lab of the Technical University of Crete (ReSEL@TUC), in collaboration with TÜV HELLAS – TÜV NORD and the Heraklion Port Authority, with the support of the Hellenic Ports Association, and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping.
A key session reviewed the progress of the BLUE PORTS Scheme, incorporating insights from cross-country harmonisation of the consultation findings from the previous round of Technical Committee meetings. This was followed by an in-depth consultation session focused on finalizing the regulatory components of the certification framework, such as procedures for certification maintenance and periodic review and pathways for recertification. The event also previewed the next project phase—pilot testing of the certification scheme—and discussed the pathway toward mainstreaming, transferability and cross-country recognition of the BLUE PORTS Certification.
Participants, including representatives from the Hellenic Ports Association, the Federation of Port Workers of Greece, the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies, the Labour Institute of the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the Technical Chamber of Greece and the Hellenic Environmental Center, reaffirmed their willingness to support the pilot testing and provide their feedback to further reinforce the scheme’s relevance and alignment with actual workforce needs.
As the BLUE PORTS initiative advances to its pilot phase, the strong engagement of the Greek NTC reaffirms its vital role in designing an inclusive and future-ready training and certification system—one that enhances competitiveness and sustainability in the port sector, both nationally and across Europe.
BLUE PORTS is funded by the European Commission through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, and supported the Hellenic Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy.