Huge quantities of scrap metal have been deposited in Ploče Port, causing concern among some residents of Ploče. Citizens fear that potentially harmful substances from the deposited metal waste could be washed into the sea by rainwater and other port activities.
According to concerned residents, such activities could contribute to the pollution of the sea and seabed, as well as endanger the quality of air and water in the wider port area. They are particularly worried about the daily watering of metal waste to reduce dust.
As a result, questions were sent to the Ploče Port Authority regarding environmental protection measures, the control of water generated in the port area, and the results of sea quality tests. The Ploče Port Authority responds that these are routine handling activities involving industrial raw materials, which are an integral part of regular port operations.
Ploče Port claims that everything is carried out on designated and infrastructure-equipped surfaces, in accordance with current regulations and prescribed environmental protection measures. According to Ploče Port, the port is equipped with rainwater drainage systems, collectors, oil separators, sedimentation tanks and retention basins. The Authority emphasises that Ploče Port, as they state, is among the few in Croatia to have such infrastructure for collecting and treating water in the port area.
Ploče Port also states that the quality of the sea in the port waters is regularly monitored by the relevant public bodies. The Authority claims that there are no findings confirming allegations of sea pollution or the presence of harmful, i.e. dangerous, substances above permitted limits. Regular tests and controls to date have not established any deviations indicating uncontrolled discharge of wastewater or sea pollution linked to regular port operations, the port states.
The Ploče Port Authority states that it conducts its business in compliance with prescribed permits, environmental conditions and other applicable acts for carrying out port activities, while supervision of specific business segments is regularly carried out by competent bodies within their legal powers. The response also mentions the control of drinking water, whose analyses are conducted by the authorised public water service provider IZVOR Ploče d.o.o. A measuring station for continuous monitoring of air quality is installed at the boundary of the port area, and its data are publicly available.
The Ploče Port Authority states that it approaches environmental protection issues seriously and responsibly, and that all activities are carried out with the application of prescribed protection measures, appropriate infrastructure and supervision. At the same time, it emphasises that all available data show that there is no risk to the marine ecosystem associated with the described regular port activities.
