Connect2SmallPorts - South Baltic Small Ports as Gateways towards Integrated Sustainable European Transport System and Blue Growth by Smart Connectivity Solutions

Project description

Connect 2 Small Ports project aims at supporting the development of South Baltic small and medium ports by helping them to implement digital solutions, and thus give a competitive advantage. Distribution of digital technologies for transport in South Baltic ports and their service portfolios is very limited, not shared and not integrated on the cross-border level. These digital technologies on which the project focuses are of two sorts : Internet of Things (IoT) and Blockchain. IoT is basically connecting items (containers, port equipments) to an online network. Port authorities, shipping companies and other interested partner would then be able to track, and get information from, containers, vehicles etc. Blockchain will allow paperless administration follow-up, as contracts / decisions / communications will be saved and archived, a new version being securely created without compressing the previous ones. This toll is especially useful in cross-border shipping business.

The Seed Money knowledge base allowed the project to conduct interviews with port managers all around the area, and start to identify different level and meaning of digitalization of ports, concluding its challenges are unevenly acknowledged.

Connect2SmallPorts project thus targets real-life existing problems of Blue Growth. The project aims at improving IT and infrastructural capacity of small ports in the SB region. 15 ports at least are gathered in the project in order to improve their cargo flows, environmental and economic efficiency by June 2021. The improved quality and sustainability of transport services offered by small ports is achieved through innovative and environmentally sustainable transport solutions: 1) Digital Auditing Tool to evaluate and improve port’s performance in digitalisation and cargo transport services; 2) Blockchain and IoT Strategy for small port and terminal applications leading to higher transport performance efficiency and environmental sustainability; 3) 5 pilots implemented in 5 SB ports for integration and valorisation of Blockchain and IoT strategies; and 4) Digitalisation-driven sustainable value creation models for small ports: future digitalisation and benchmarking index; Blockchain and IoT strategies for SB ports integrated in education and training curricula; a yearly Digital Forum Small Ports with Award.

Project outputs

Project website

Find the Connect2SmallPorts Project Website here.