Summary:
Maritime transport is a fundamental pillar of the global economy, but it also poses significant challenges in terms of safety, sustainability, and environmental protection. The Atlantic Ocean, in particular, represents a strategic area for maritime trade and a key gateway to Europe, where demand for cargo and shipping vessels is expected to increase in the coming decades, potentially intensifying the sector’s environmental footprint in the Atlantic Area.
Atlantic coastal regions are also well acquainted with the devastating effects of oil spills and black tides, as well as their long-lasting consequences on marine biodiversity. According to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA), between 2010 and 2020, eight medium- to large-scale oil spills were recorded in European waters, all caused by tanker accidents. These figures highlight the urgency of developing innovative solutions to build a safer and more environmentally friendly maritime sector.
In response to this scenario, the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA) established in its 2021–2025 Innovation Strategy a dedicated innovation focus on “Sustainability and Climate Neutrality”, with strategic objectives such as decarbonizing port activities and mitigating emissions of pollutants (GHG and aerosols) to reduce climate change and improve air quality; enhancing the environmental quality of port activity within urban areas; and preserving marine ecosystems and biodiversity by ensuring compatibility with port operations, among others.
For this reason, APBA decided to support the candidacy of the European project SaferSEA (Safer, Smarter and Eco-friendlier Atlantic Area), an initiative aimed at promoting the ecological transition of the maritime sector through technological development, open innovation, and transnational cooperation.
The project, running from 2023 to 2026, has a total budget of €1.51 million, 75% co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg Atlantic Area programme. SaferSEA is led by Technopôle Brest-Iroise and includes partners from France, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland. The consortium features CEEI Bahía de Cádiz, the French center Cedre specialized in marine pollution, the Polytechnic University of Porto (UPTEC), Sines Tecnopolo, and the entrepreneurship center AxisBIC. In addition to APBA, associated partners include Brest Métropole, the Port and Logistics Community of Sines, and the Intermunicipal Community of the Alentejo Litoral.
The project addresses the main challenges of maritime transport in terms of decarbonization, accident prevention, marine ecosystem protection, and response to pollution events, by connecting the port ecosystem with the research and entrepreneurial sectors. To this end, five work packages have been defined, including the capitalization of previous projects, the organization of technical visits and scientific-technological workshops, the launch of hackathons and open innovation calls, the identification of emerging technologies, and the implementation of pilot projects in port facilities.
Expected results:
- Identification of at least 20 innovative solutions contributing to the ecological transition of maritime transport.
- Implementation of 4 pilot projects in Atlantic Area port facilities, including spill simulations and testing of emerging technologies.
- Participation of over 280 maritime ecosystem stakeholders in joint actions such as hackathons, technical visits, and conferences.
- Development of a common methodology to prevent and respond to maritime risks, applicable in various port contexts.
- Strengthening of transnational collaboration among ports, research centres, startups, and local authorities.
- Capitalization of European best practices in maritime safety, decarbonization, and environmental protection.
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