In Spain, Castellón Port Authority has announced it is to increase the number of dust collection screens deployed in the port, which has significant dry bulk traffic. It has issued a tender worth in the region of €317,276 for a new anti-dust system to be erected in the southern harbour. The screen will consist of 20, five-metre high modules, which will equate to a wall some 100 total metres in length, with an overall height of 11 metres.
Port Castelló already has three similar screens in place: two of these are to be found in the North Harbour, at the Cerámica quay and on the Transversal Exterior quay, and a third in the South Harbour. These were set up at a cost of €650,000 and are currently monitored and evaluated by the Institute of Ceramic Technology. The decision to install anti-dust screens forms part of an 18 point environmental protection plan instigated by the port authority as a means of reducing particle emissions. Nowadays, data collected from pollution monitoring is made available to the public via the port’s internet page. Data is drawn from five monitoring stations that give coverage of the entire perimeter. This allows the authorities to know in real time whether anomalies occur and for action to be taken to ensure these are not repeated, overall leading to better air quality.
The port authority has also approved a Code of Good Environmental Practices, which aims to regulate all dry bulk handling operations carried out in the port area.