World Maritime Day: Meet Miguel Frohlich

What does “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity” mean to you in the context of your work with Port Authority?

I believe this theme is about viewing the challenge of keeping our oceans alive not as a cost, but as an opportunity to improve the way we operate.

While Port Authority’s role is to help deliver economic prosperity for NSW by keeping our ports safe, efficient and open to the world, we also have an obligation to protect our oceans, the marine ecosystems within them, and the cultural values tied to them.

This responsibility also creates opportunities for us – to engage with the communities around the ports where we operate and to advance the decarbonisation of our operations.

How does your work help balance environmental protection with the operational demands of our ports? 

My role is essentially to ensure that our operations are conducted sustainably – avoiding or minimising negative impacts while maximising positive ones. For example, I help coordinate our air quality and noise monitoring programs at Bays Port, which allow us to understand both potential and actual impacts on the environment and the surrounding community, and to develop strategies to reduce or eliminate those impacts. 

I’m also part of the team that carries out annual environmental inspections, as required under Port Authority’s Corporate Environmental Management Plan, to ensure our activities comply with planning and environmental legislation.
 

You’ve worked on offshore wind and blue economy policy – what opportunities do you see for Australia in this space?

Australia has enormous potential to leverage offshore wind and other blue economy industries, such as offshore aquaculture, to accelerate decarbonisation and create new jobs. For example, as the offshore wind industry grows, it could stimulate demand for innovation across the port and logistics sectors, helping to position Australia as a leader in sustainable ocean-based development.

What do you see as some of the biggest environmental challenges facing ports today?

In my view, the key challenge is the net zero transition, which will require both the shift to zero- and low-emission working port vessels and the provision of sustainable infrastructure for the shipping industry. 

At Port Authority, we are committed to reaching net zero by 2040 and have established a Vessel Decarbonisation Working Group to explore the adoption of alternative fuels and propulsion technologies for the procurement and retrofit of our vessels. 

We are also installing shore power infrastructure at the White Bay Cruise Terminal, which will allow cruise ships to draw electricity offset from renewable sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to better air quality and lower noise from cruise operations.

Your team is currently preparing Port Authority’s first sustainability report – what does this milestone represent for our business?  

It’s a major step in demonstrating transparency and accountability, aligning Port Authority with international best practice and global sustainability reporting frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. It will help build trust with stakeholders and set a clear baseline for tracking progress. 

This is a significant milestone not only for the Environment, Planning & Sustainability Team but for all employees. The report is being developed with the support of subject matter experts from across the organisation, and it has truly been a collaborative effort – something we can all be proud of when we see the final result.