Abstract
Presents the status of public policy on protecting ports and ships and describes Greek law and practice regarding combating ship fires. Also “best practices” are identified with regard to preventing and suppressing fires on ships. Authors believe that a neglected topic is the protection of the port sea environment, a problem which made ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation) create a code of practice for protecting the port environment and DG VII to implement it but are these sufficient for the protection of ports and ships?