The III Smart Ports Chair Conference has underscored that the Spanish port system is progressing towards the consolidation of a smart port network, adapted to current demands where innovation, digitalization, and sustainability are fundamental. The event, organized by the Port Authority of Castellón, Jaume I University, and the PortCastelló Foundation, with support from Puertos del Estado and sponsorship from GMV, gathered over 150 representatives from the sector under the theme «Smart Ports in Action: Building the Ports of the Future».
In his address, the president of the Port Authority of Castellón, Rubén Ibáñez, emphasized that «the future of ports is being built from today, and Castellón wants to be an active part of that journey», highlighting «the commitment to innovation, collaboration, and knowledge to advance towards smarter, safer, more efficient, and sustainable ports». Ibáñez invited other Port Authorities to join the project, remarking that «the sum of all of us makes us even greater».
The director of the Smart Ports Chair, Francisco Toledo, pointed out that «data is the new gold of the 21st century» and stressed the importance of raising awareness on this matter. He valued the work of the Chair's Think Tank in moving closer to the concept of a smart port.
Fernando Manzano, Head of the Digitalization Department at Puertos del Estado, explained that information must be based on interoperability, with data being useful, reliable, shareable, and secure. He defined a smart port as an adaptive port that anticipates, learns, and transforms, turning changes into opportunities.
Ángel García-Madrid, Director of Resilience and Continuity Services at GMV, addressed the impact of the NIS2, CER, and IA ACT directives on protecting critical infrastructures like ports, highlighting the importance of a unified defense architecture in hyperconnected environments.
Decarbonization and security were also central themes. Jorge Sánchez, Head of Business, Development, Security, and Resilience at ETRA, presented solutions for energy management and comprehensive security.
The director of PortCastelló, Manuel J. García, moderated the presentation of three projects funded by Puertos 4.0. Christian Abarca (Becsa/Simetría Grup) discussed the Machsense project, and Manuel Martínez de Ubago (NextPort) showcased the Operational Digital Twin platform. Mercè Coscolla and Ramón Marco (Official College of Customs Brokers and Representatives of Barcelona) presented the MOLA project.
Self-assessment sessions, based on the UNE 178110 standard, allowed for understanding the current level of Spanish ports in six areas. The first session, focused on Interoperability and Digital Platform, included representatives from the Port Authorities of Huelva, Castellón, Seville, Balearic Islands, and Tenerife. The second, on Sustainability and Customer Experience, featured representatives from Castellón, Valencia, and Gijón, highlighting the need to improve environmental sustainability.
The third session, on Governance and Connected Port, brought together representatives from Castellón, Alicante, and Balearic Islands, emphasizing the importance of joint work and data management.
The Smart Ports Chair, established in 2023 by Jaume I University and the Port Authority of Castellón with support from Puertos del Estado, is the first university chair in Spain dedicated to smart ports, aiming to be a reference in the digitalization and sustainability of the Spanish port system.
