Bilbao PortLab, the innovation hub of the Port of Bilbao, has hosted the final demonstration of two projects approved under the pre-commercial programme of the Ports 4.0 call for proposals of Puertos del Estado / The State Ports Authority. In doing so, the port further consolidates its role as a real-world environment for validating innovative technologies applied to the logistics and port sector.

The event provided first-hand insight into the results achieved by the projects ‘Development of an on-site pollution detection system in port environments’, promoted by Alfariver, and GLOBAL SAFETY & SECURITY CENTER (GSSC), developed by RKL – Riskless Integral, Bárbara and Keynetic Technologies, both aimed at providing solutions to key challenges in the port ecosystem such as environmental sustainability and comprehensive operational security.

The Alfariver project has presented a technological solution designed for real-time immediate detection of pollutants in port waters, directly in the operating environment. The system consists of portable equipment that combines Raman spectroscopy with amplifying nanoparticles, enabling pollutants to be identified even in very low concentrations. The technology also features an advanced sample comparison algorithm, which facilitates the identification of the possible source of a spill and provides added value for environmental monitoring and decision-making by the competent authorities.

The project was facilitated by the Bilbao Port Authority, with key involvement from the Health, Safety and Environment Department, which oversaw the validation process for the solution under real operating conditions. This collaboration enabled the technology to be tested in a representative context, bolstering its practical applicability in port environments.

The GSSC project demonstration has showcased an advanced solution for integrated, automated and predictive security management in logistics and port environments. Also approved in the pre-commercial programme of the Ports 4.0 call for proposals, the project applies AI and machine learning technologies to anticipate incidents, improve responsiveness and move towards more resilient operating models.

The initiative was facilitated by the Bilbao Port Authority, through its Health, Safety and Environment and Digital Transformation departments, which enabled the solution to be validated in two real port environments. Among its main advances is the evolution of the SECUREPORT software towards an online environment, integrating real-time data capture through IoT, process automation, predictive governance and secure communications.

The decision to stage both final demonstrations at Bilbao PortLab highlights the value of ports as living labs for innovation, where start-ups, technology companies and port authorities can work together to test solutions that address the real challenges facing the sector.

It also demonstrates the impact of the Ports 4.0 programme run by Puertos del Estado as a key driver of innovation in the port sector.

The event featured contributions from José Mari Sanz, Alejandro Vicinay and Rubén Belmez, from RKL – Riskless Integral; Ainara García, from Barbara IoT; Jokin Garay, from Keynetic Technologies; and Francisco Pérez, Javier Torres and Julio Ángel Pantoja, from Alfariver.

Ivan Jimenez, president of the Bilbao Port Authority; José Luis García-Mochales, Head of Innovation; Alberto Ojanguren, Head of HSE; Jorge Arce, Head of Safety and the Environment; Lander Terreros, Head of Protection Services; Ibai Uria, Head of Environmental Affairs; Uxue Urresti, Head of Industrial Safety; Sergi León, Head of Information Systems; and Sara del Rey, environmental technician, were also in attendance on behalf of the Port of Bilbao.

Also present at the event were José Llorca and Beatriz Zafra, innovation managers at Puertos del Estado; Elisa Oyonarte and Angustias Pérez, from the Seville Port Authority; Dorleta Ortega, from Idom; and Ane Camacho, Julia Coppla and Irati Aldama, from Bilbao PortLab.

With initiatives such as these two projects, Bilbao PortLab, as the innovation hub of the Port of Bilbao, strengthens its commitment to open innovation, sustainability and digital transformation, contributing to the development of a more efficient, secure and sustainable port model.
Source: Port of Bilbao