With strong international participation and high-level representation from the European Commission, the Greek Government, European port organisations, certification bodies and the maritime industry, the international conference “NET ZERO PORTS: Empowering the Human Capital Behind the Green Transition” was successfully held during Posidonia 2026.
The conference was co-organised by the Technical University of Crete, the Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME) and Heraklion Port Authority S.A. within the framework of the European project BLUE PORTS – Blue Careers in Net Zero Energy Ports.
The event highlighted one of the most critical challenges facing the port sector in the coming years: developing the skills and competencies required to support the green and digital transition of ports and creating a modern, certified workforce capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly evolving maritime environment.
The conference was opened by Mr Evangelos Kyriazopoulos, Secretary General of Maritime Affairs and Ports of the Hellenic Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr Panagiotis Anastasopoulos, President of the Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME), Professor Theocharis Tsoutsos, Coordinator of the BLUE PORTS project, and Mr Minas Papadakis, Managing Director of Heraklion Port Authority.
A keynote address was delivered by Ms Andreea Strachinescu, Head of Unit for Maritime Innovation, Marine Knowledge and Investment at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) of the European Commission, who presented the European priorities for strengthening skills, innovation and human capital development within the Blue Economy.
Mr Minas Papadakis, Managing Director of Heraklion Port Authority, participated as a panellist in the session “Developing a Qualified Workforce for Greener Ports”, presenting the challenges and opportunities arising from the energy transition of ports and highlighting the importance of investing in human capital as a key factor for the sustainability, resilience and competitiveness of port organisations.
The conference was further enriched by the participation of Ms Theodora Riga, President of MedCruise, alongside representatives of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), the Hellenic Accreditation System (ESYD), port authorities, universities and specialised maritime organisations from across Europe and beyond.
Discussions focused on the skills required for greener and smarter ports, workforce development and certification needs, the challenges associated with port decarbonisation, and the emerging career opportunities created by the transition towards a sustainable blue economy.
The BLUE PORTS project, co-funded by the European Commission through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), is developing an innovative European training and certification scheme for port professionals in accordance with ISO/IEC 17024 standards, contributing to the creation of a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting the ports of the future.
Heraklion Port Authority’s active involvement in the BLUE PORTS project and its co-organisation of this international conference at Posidonia 2026 reaffirm the Authority’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and human capital development, while strengthening its role as a key contributor to the future transformation of the European port sector.
