Environmental sustainability management process in a port of study in Egypt: compliance level and importance analysis towards an integrated methodology

Seaports are economically important and publicly sensitive organisations. In order to achieve their objectives, more attention should pay to the quality in environmental issues through environmental management systems. Many seaports in Egypt, in fact, lack comprehensive methodologies to help support action programs towards environmental sustainability. As part of an ongoing R&D project in Egypt, a methodology (IMESM) was developed, which is based on the recommendations (EFQM) and (PERS). This specific study is conducted to introduce this methodology to the port and to identify the level of importance of a set of specific items in the methodology and the level of compliance of the port to these items. It is expected that the chosen items in the IMESM criteria will serve as a supportive basis for the port authority to achieve the required environmental sustainability. Results are discussed, including an assessment of areas that require improvement.