A memorandum of cooperation aimed at blue local development was signed by the Managing Director of Heraklion Port Authority S.A., Mr. Minas Papadakis, in the presence of its President Mr. Ioannis Vardavas, and Prof. Nektarios Tavernarakis, President of FORTH.

The cooperation concerns the activities of the Coastal and Marine Research Laboratory of FORTH, headed by Dr. Nikos Kampanis, Research Director. The object of the cooperation includes oceanographic forecasting services, maritime surveillance and early warning and monitoring services of the marine pollution, safety and accessibility of coastal infrastructures but also exploitation of the marine Renewable Energy infrastructures, for energy autonomy. Other important goals are the protection of natural and cultural resources located in and around the port area, and the investigation of interventions to protect against climate change and extreme weather events. These horizontal actions will actively support key development pillars, such as coastal and maritime tourism, but also the sustainable synergy of the port with the coastal population and the city that surrounds it.