The President of PE receives the Technical Association of Ports and Coasts (ATPYC)

De la Encina backs Esteban Lefler as the next President of PIANC

• "It is always important to have Spanish professionals take on global management positions"
  
   

April 24th, 2019 (Ministry of Public Works). The Puertos del Estado (State Ports) President, Salvador de la Encina, has received Francisco Esteban Lefler and Manuel Arana Burgos, President and Secretary of the Technical Association of Ports and Coasts (ATPYC), with whom he has discussed the organization's ongoing projects, such as achieving the position of President of the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC).

In this regard, De la Encina has shown his support for Esteban Lefler's candidacy to serve as the President of this leading international association. "It is always important to have Spanish professionals take on management positions at global institutions and organizations."

During the meeting, they discussed the progress made on the activities ATPYC currently has under preparation. These include the 7th National Congress, which will be held in Cartagena in 2020; the Young Professionals Conference scheduled for next autumn, holding its 16th edition this year; or a conference on environmental sustainability and port management, planned for October 2019, jointly organized with the Port Authority of Huelva.

On an international level, one of ATPYC's main goals is to represent Spain, taking on the role of the Spanish National Section within the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC), founded in 1885. The meeting also addressed matters relating to the role Spain plays in the organization. Its key element will be the selection of Francisco Esteban Lefler as PIANC President during the 2019 Annual General Assembly, which will be held in Kobe on June 5th. It will be the first time a Spanish representative has held the position.

In turn, the Puertos del Estado President will represent the Spanish National Section during the Council Meeting and the PIANC Smart Rivers event, scheduled to take place from September 30th to October 3rd. He will participate in a panel discussion with Italian and French representatives, giving a speech on the competitiveness of the Spanish port system.

This meeting reinforces both sides' commitment to collaborating in order to establish cooperation schemes to undertake activities and action plans in fields related to marine and port engineering as well as technology, relevant to the interests of both parties.

The Technical Association of Ports and Coasts (ATPYC) is a technical and scientific organization in the fields of marine, coastal, and oceanographic engineering, port activity and marine transport, its logistics and the matters which affect it by facilitating transport intermodality, integral management of coastal areas, as well as all the associated aspects relevant to environmental protection.

Its main goal and purpose is to establish itself as the leading port and coast technical association at a national level, bringing together and representing the sector at large, including public administrations and institutions, construction companies, consulting firms, service providers, universities, research centers, etc. With a total of nearly 400 members, ATPYC celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018, and in these years it has established itself at the forefront of its fields of activity nationwide.