Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), together with the Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services (CML) and Kongsberg Maritime Germany GmbH, has officially launched the iPORTUS research project, marking a key step towards the digitalisation and automation of port operations.
The aim of the project is the safe integration of semi-autonomous and remotely monitored, low-emission waterborne vehicles (Autonomous Surface Vessels, ASVs) into complex port environments.
iPORTUS is funded with approximately €1.7 million ($1.47 million) by the German Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV) under the IHATEC II funding programme.
The project focuses on ensuring nautical safety and cyber security, developing a high degree of autonomy for the deployed systems, and integrating them into a remote operations centre (ROC).
In addition, the project seeks to establish regulatory foundations for approval procedures and economic decision-making, thereby enabling the future routine operation of autonomous watercraft in German ports.
The project is supported by a number of associated partners, including the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), the Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen, represented by bremenports and Niedersachsen Ports, as well as HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU).
An initial key milestone has already been defined: on 26 January 2026, the first consortium and working meeting will take place at Fraunhofer CML, where the project partners will set the central technical and organisational course for the coming months.
Benjamin Blanck, Project Manager in the Research & Development department at HPA, said: “With iPORTUS, we are setting a milestone for the safe integration of semi-autonomous systems into port operations. The project not only delivers technological innovations, but also creates the regulatory foundations for deploying these technologies in Germany.”
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Lennart Grambow, Research Associate at Fraunhofer CML, added: “Furthermore, the implementation of iPORTUS strengthens trust in maritime autonomy: we equip ASVs to withstand cyberattacks, validate them in port operations, and translate the results into approvable operating models – a tangible contribution to digitalisation and decarbonisation.”
Last November, HPA officially launched the major project “West Bypass Alte Süderelbe (WASE)” with the signing of the alliance contract.
For more information:
Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) – https://www.hafen-hamburg.de/
