In 1994, the European Sea Port Organisation launched a code of practice for port environmental policy. This responded to the growing interest in effective environmental management in the maritime sector, to meet the challenges of increasingly stringent regulations. It also reflected the development of standards for environmental management systems (ISO14000 and the European Eco-Management and Audit System, EMAS). However, it became clear that an exchange of experiences and best practice between port managers would be desirable, to increase the cost-effectiveness of developing new environmental policies for individual ports, where possible in a competition-neutral way.