Action plan towards the Smart Port concept in the Mediterranean Area

The overall SMART-PORT objective is to analyse the situation of Med container ports based on the “smart-port” (SP) trends and to identify the path to be followed in order to enhance the leading role of the Southern European containers ports and to consolidate them as the main entrance door to the great European centres of consumption, rather than the ports of Northern Europe. Thus, decongesting these ports, encouraging the use of maritime transport instead of road one and achieving a well-balanced socio-economic development in the whole EU. SMART-PORT entails the definition of the SP criteria (specifically, the key factors of competitiveness in the operational, energy & environmental aspects) and the current situation of the Med Ports as well as the identification of their competitive advantages and disadvantages taking into special consideration their competitiveness potential. Eventually the project offers an action plan to exploit the existing potential and promote the creation of a specialized network in the MED area.

• MAP OF THE SMART PORT CRITERIA Definition of the criteria that shape the SMART PORT concept. This graphic map shows the features that determine a smart-port including operational, energy, and environmental aspects, "measuring and defining" the real challenge to be tackled by Med Ports in the future. • ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION OF MEDITERRANEAN PORTS Knowing the starting point it is essential to plan the future. The analysis undertaken will allow Med Ports to approach and plan their strategies at individual and general level (MED area scope) and will pave the way for future challenges within the frame of the new programming period. • MAP OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES Detailed description and map of barriers & gaps associated to the different factors that determine the Smart Port trends: this output will lay the grounds to define the future action plan at European level to achieve the Smart Port challenge. • STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN TOWARDS THE SMART PORT CONCEPT, AIMED AT EXPLOITING THE EXISTING POTENTIAL AND AT THE SAME TIME, CONTRIBUTING TO THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS This output will provide Med containers ports and the Med Program with a clear set of sound orientations previously agreed to move forward towards the smart port concept emphasizing the following impact areas: operational & energy efficiency, competitiveness & environmental areas.