We are pleased to announce that Theo Notteboom (Gent University/University of Antwerp/Antwerp Maritime Academy, Belgium), Athanasios Pallis (University of Piraeus, Greece), and Jean-Paul Rodrigue (Hofstra University, New York, US) – a team of leading scholars in their field and authors of the Port Economics, Management and Policy handbook – partner with Circular Flanders.
Supported by Circular Flanders, the team of leading scholars will examine the potential and the role of ports in circular economy implementation and the impacts of the circular economy on seaport ecosystems. The outcomes will be fully integrated as a new chapter in the hardcopy and the online version of the handbook Port Economics, Management and Policy. The inclusion of the outcomes in this handbook is aimed at assessing the notion of ports and the circular economy in a variety of contexts and for a wide audience ranging from students, practitioners to policymakers.
Not just another handbook
Port Economics, Management and Policy provides a comprehensive analysis of the contemporary port industry, showing how ports are organized to serve the global economy and support regional and local development.
This book examines a wide range of seaport topics, covering maritime shipping and international trade, port terminals, port governance, port competition, port policy, and much more. It uses a conceptual background supported by extensive fieldwork and empirical observations, such as analyzing flows, ports, and strategies and policies articulating their dynamics. The port industry is comprehensively investigated in this unique compilation.
Benefitting from the authors’ extensive involvement in shaping the port sector across five continents, students, scholars, and policymakers can also use this as an essential guide towards better port management and governance.
The handbook Port Economics, Management and Policy has become the global leading reference work on all aspects related to seaports, and has been endorsed by leading port specialists from academia, international associations (IAPH, AIVP, FEPORT, ESPO, etc…) and port companies. – Thanos Pallis
Increased attention to circularity and ports
The circular economy presents a paradigm shift for seaports, transforming them into actors more actively involved in sustainability and resource management. By addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities, seaports can establish themselves as vital contributors to a circular global, regional and local economy, ensuring a more resilient and environmentally responsible future. Governments, businesses, and stakeholders must align to support ports toward sustainability and to reap the advantages of adopting circular economy mechanisms.
While the handbook provides a very comprehensive overview and analysis of all aspects relevant to contemporary port economics, management and policy, we felt there is room to further elaborate on some key issues affecting port ecosystems. One of the themes that need a much more detailed analysis in the book is the circular economy and ports. – Theo Notteboom
At present, ports and governments are paying a great deal of attention to the energy transition, or even parts of it, such as hydrogen (flows, infrastructure). Circular challenges are still somewhat overshadowed, and the interactions between energy and circular transitions are not fully recognized. The transition to a circular economy is not something isolated or an add-on to sustainable development. It is also not just about improving the efficiency of the existing economic system, but a fundamental systemic change or transition to the next economy.
New full-fledged circular economy chapter
The authors will develop an extensive analysis of the theme of (sea)port ecosystems and the circular economy. The potential and the role of ports in circular economy implementation and the impacts of the circular economy on (sea)port ecosystems will be examined. This also includes analyzing the current practices, development trends, challenges, opportunities, and initiatives adopted by seaports worldwide to transition toward a more sustainable and resilient future.
I am glad to participate with Theo and Thanos (long-term collaborators colloquially known as the ‘Charthouse Group’) on this important addition to the textbook. The goal is not just to provide a synthesis of what already exists concerning the role of ports in a circular economy, but also about providing new concepts and ideas, including an actionable framework for ports. – Jean-Paul Rodrigue
The outcomes of the work will be fully integrated as a separate new chapter in the hardcopy and the online version of the handbook Port Economics, Management and Policy. Furthermore, some aspects of the circular economy and ports, like governance and performance, will also be integrated with other parts of the handbook. The inclusion of the outcomes in this freely accessible and widely cited handbook is aimed at assessing the notion of ports and the circular economy in a variety of contexts and for a wide audience ranging from students, practitioners to policymakers.
Easy-to-use and regularly updated website
The unique feature of the handbook is that it is accompanied by a freely accessible website, which is even more elaborate and detailed than the hardcopy book and gets updated on a regular basis. This approach offers a lot of flexibility to the authors to adapt the handbook’s content to reflect current trends, inflection points, and signals that new trends and developments as circle economy might emerge.
Partnering between the authors and Circular Flanders is clearly a win-win situation, now and in the years to come. Although the partnership now focuses on the integration of a chapter on circular economy in the handbook, it is far from being a one-off product. With continuity in online updates, it is at the same time a longer-term process that guarantees the deepening and enrichment of the debate at an international level. Such a framework can only help build bridges between the circular economy and port communities. – Walter Tempst (Circular Flanders)
The project will also benefit by the visibility of its results and dissemination via the international web initiative PortEconomics, as all three authors of the handbook are co-directors/leading members of this initiative since 2008.
Check out the free accessible online handbook
The book can be used as a textbook in universities and schools. But it can also be used by any active port professional who wants to have a broad basic knowledge of shipping and ports.
The authors also know that a printed book is outdated even before it is on the market, so they also provide permanent updates through an accompanying website.
For more information, please contact
Circular Flanders info@vlaanderen-circulair.be
About
About the authors:
Theo Notteboom is Chair Professor ‘North Sea Port’ at the Maritime Institute of Ghent University and professor at the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Antwerp and the Faculty of Sciences of Antwerp Maritime Academy.
Athanasios Pallis is Professor in Ports and Maritime Economics and Policy at the Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus, Greece.
Jean-Paul Rodrigue is Professor of Geography in the Department of Global Studies and Geography, Hofstra University, New York.
About PortEconomics:
PortEconomics is a web-based initiative aiming to advance knowledge exchange on seaport studies. It provides freely accessible research, education, information, and network-building material on critical issues of port economics, management and policies.
About Circular Flanders:
Circular Flanders was appointed by the Flemish Government in 2017 to continue supporting the circular economy as a region-wide transition priority. The current Flemish Government (2019-2024) confirmed this mandate and expressed its ambition to make Flanders a circular frontrunner by 2030. Circular Flanders is not an institute, but a network of relevant public and private partners sharing circular challenges.
About Circular Ports:
Circular Ports is a product by Circular Flanders in support of port professionals, businesses and communities in the transition to a Circular and Low Carbon Economy. At Circular Flanders we have no ambition to be all-encompassing or to replace what the port community is already doing. We primarily provide practitioners with a useful selection of actionable insights and tools to support their journey towards a circular future. We don’t have all the answers either, but we create a context for learning, doing and finding lasting solutions.
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New book ‘Port Economics, Management and Policy’ offers comprehensive reference for port professionals
