Valenciaport has topped a ‘Smart Port’ index measuring Spanish ports’ digital and environmental operations.
In a statement Valenciaport said the index was part of a study by civil engineering publication CEDEX and evaluated 32 parameters grouped into four categories: economic-operational, social, political-institutional, environmental, to which must be added the degree of digitalisation.
Valenciaport leads the Spanish ranking of intelligent ports with a total score of 299.47 and sits in the top three for every category.
In addition to the total score, Valenciaport led the Environment and Social categories, which it attributed to the Port of Valencia’s strategy to cut emissions and increase cooperation with city authorities by using new technologies.
The strategy aims to cut carbon emissions to zero by 2030 and has unveiled an electrical substation that allows for more ships to connect to the network while at berth, a process known as cold ironing.
It also looks to instal new air emission cabins, photovoltaic panels and increase the use of hydrogen across operations.
Valenciaport said it “continues to work on new solutions for safety, protection and emergency management or the continuous improvement and training of workers”.
The Environmental category of the CEDEX report measures the following parameters:
- Water quality
- Environmental management systems
- Sustainable waste management
- Automation of air quality assessment
- Noise pollution
- Renewable energy production
- Management of electricity consumption
- Fuel use
- Water consumption management
Valenciaport was the first Spanish port in this category with 67.73, followed by Huelva (58.44), Tarragona (57.01) Barcelona (52.77), Bilbao (50.64), Vigo (48.57), Cartagena (48.43), Gijón (44.88), Las Palmas (36.33) and Algeciras (31.59).
The Social category of the report measures the parameters:
- Workers’ safety
- Digitisation of access security
- Employee training
- Labour inclusion and equality in the workforce
- Accessibility to the port for disabled users
- Digital customer interaction
- Concern for public acceptance
The Port of Valencia led this category with a total score of 82.84, followed by Vigo (77.83), Algeciras (70.24), Barcelona (68.08), Bilbao (61.39), Tarragona (60.27), Gijón (58.10), Huelva (50.10), Las Palmas (38.51) and Cartagena (38.41).
