Among the speakers, Prof. Thierry Vanelslander from the University of Antwerp presented the latest research results on the challenges and possible solutions available to improve environmental performance. Gadi Benmoshe, Vice-Chairman of the IAPH (International Association of Ports and Harbors) Data Collaboration Committee, emphasised the increasingly topical challenges related to cyber security, also in the port sphere. Finally, Prof. Pierluigi Coppola, coordinator of thematic group no. 2 of the EUSAIR Strategy highlighted the role of green and digital ports in the broader context of the Adriatic-Ionian Region.
Over the past few years, the ports of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia have been cooperating to improve their environmental performance and efficiency through telematic solutions, both within the North Adriatic Port Association (NAPA) and in the framework of several projects co-financed by European funds and led by the Port of Trieste. During the conference, the main results of projects "DIGSEA - Digitisation of Multimodal Transport in the Adriatic Sea" and "SUSPORT - SUStainable PORTs" (Interreg Italy Croatia), "ACCESSMILE - Improving the accessibility of the last best for rural and peripheral areas to the main TEN-T nodes in Central Europe through ICT" (Interreg Central Europe) were illustrated. The knowledge developed within the framework of these projects, together with that of the broader project "EALING - European flagship action for cold ironing in ports" (CEF Programme), was pooled by bringing together the experiences of more than thirty ports, freight villages and logistics operators from eleven European countries.
Also, during the event a joint protocol was signed between the representatives of the ports of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia for the creation of a system of cross-border cooperation in the field of decarbonisation of the port sector.
Anne Jensen, European coordinator of the Adriatic-Baltic Corridor, also attended the conference and visited the port of Trieste in the afternoon.
The conference has been recorded and the video is now on YouTube for you to watch: https://youtu.be/nst40EHe2Hk
The speakers' presentations are also available on our website, in the Library section.