Koninklijke onderscheiding Pieter Struijs
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I am confident that this will be a productive and rewarding conference.
As I said previously, you can’t really go wrong with Pieter Struijs as your Conference Director, and I would like to ask him to step forward so that we can publicly pay tribute to his many remarkable achievements.
Mr Struijs,
There are a variety of reasons why this conference is a personal highlight for you.
You were responsible for organising, advising and supervising for this entire conference, and now that the conference is finally underway you have the satisfaction of seeing the results of all that hard work. As we can all see, you have organised a well-run event that has attracted a large number of managers from port authorities and port cities from many different parts of the world.
I personally know – and can tell by looking at you – that you are absolutely in your element here and that you really enjoy seeing all these different representatives of port authorities and port cities gathered here today. Their attendance proves the commitment at international level to making ports more sustainable.
Together, these people are taking measures to make ports and the shipping industry cleaner and to help reduce CO2 emissions worldwide. In so doing, they are following in your footsteps, as it was you who helped raise awareness both in the Port of Rotterdam and in the Dutch shipping industry in order to achieve an increased focus on the environment. And as we see today, you have inspired the rest of the world to follow suit.
Another reason why this conference is a personal highlight for you is the fact that you’re about to embark on your well-earned retirement. Although you officially retired on May 1st of this year, I don’t imagine you’ve had a lot of spare time since then, since you were so busy organising this conference!
Now that you’re retiring it is up to others to continue the work you started – to take follow-up measures that will lead to more sustainable shipping and port facilities and ensure that we all remain focused on the environment and international cooperation. It is important that we foster an environment of continuous innovation.
Implementing innovation is something in which you have gained a wealth of experience throughout your career, both as Vice President of the Port of Rotterdam and in the other positions that you have held over the years. I would like to cite three examples:
The first innovation I would like to highlight is your contribution to a number of innovations in inland navigation. You have long been an advocate of inland navigation as the main gateway to the hinterland, and it was your efforts that led to the establishment of the Inland Shipping Information Agency, which has played a key role in highlighting the importance of an innovative inland shipping industry.
Secondly, you were the driving force behind the establishment of the Green Award Foundation, which presents the Green Award to ships with a high level of safety and/or environmental friendliness. The Green Award has led the way in promoting environmental and safety awareness in the shipping industry. Your dedication and commitment to the foundation helped them win the first prestigious Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environmental Award in 2001.
As a third example, I would like to mention the development of the ISPS Code, which is the international standard for increased security of ships and port facilities. The September 11th attacks showed that ports are also vulnerable, and as President of the International Association of Ports and Harbours you therefore took the lead in developing people’s ideas on port safety. The ISPS Code was the result.
Through your work for this international organisation, you showed – just as you did in your other board positions – that you’re not afraid to introduce innovations. To cite another example, it was through your personal efforts that a key board position was allocated to an African, thus contributing to the ‘emancipation’ of previously underexposed African representatives.
The board member I’m referring to is a Masai from Kenya who greatly appreciated his appointment – so much so, in fact, that you were made a tribal elder of the Masai in the traditional manner. This is the highest honour the Masai confer. You travelled to Kenya for the occasion, and for the ceremony you dressed in traditional Masai tribal clothing.
It is clear to all that your dedication, vision and commitment have brought you appreciation all over the world. Yet you have always kept your feet firmly on the ground, both at the international and the local level. In your spare time, for example, you are Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Sparta Football Club. Their youth team won the national championship earlier this year – it seems as though every project you undertake is a success!
During the 1970s and 1980s, you were chairman of a community cultural centre and established the Orange Committee – which organises the annual Queen's Day celebrations – where you live in Alblasserdam. You were rewarded for your efforts by being appointed an honorary citizen of the town of Alblasserdam.
Throughout your career, you have also won many other awards and honours – so many that I can’t possibly mention them all here today. But the most important thing is that you have been widely acknowledged for the way you work with others, build bridges and make connections – both in the Netherlands and internationally. However, we have noted that, on your long list of accolades, there is one particular honour that is still missing.
Mr Struijs,
Because, as Vice President, you have contributed immensely to promoting the interests of the Port of Rotterdam and the international shipping industry, and because of your many years of dedication to society, it has pleased Her Majesty to appoint you as an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau. I am honoured to confer the insignia on you today.