Strategy and promotion

Participation in organisations and projects

International organisations

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO)

  • Member of the Executive Committee

  • Chair of the Port Governance Committee

In 2017 the Port of Barcelona organised the annual ESPO conference entitled “Ports in a changing climate, a changing world” attended by more than 260 representatives of the maritime sector and EU institutions.

International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH)

  • Presidency

  • Vice-chair of Trade Facilitation and Port Community Systems Committee

The International Association of Ports and Harbors is the only forum recognised as a global spokesperson for the port sector, and its ports bring together around 80% of global container traffic and more than 60% by weight.

Intermed

  • Founding member and member of the Executive Committee

This association, comprising the ports of Barcelona, Genoa and Marseilles, organised the first Medports Workshop in this latter city, where solutions were discussed to reduce CO2 emissions at Mediterranean ports.

Medcruise

  • Member of the association

This year was the last in which the Port of Barcelona participated as a member of the Board of Directors of the Mediterranean Cruise Port Association, although it continues to play an active role in all the assemblies and working groups.

Other organisations in which the Port participates actively:

  • Association Internationale Villes et Ports (AIVP)

  • Association of European Vehicle Logistics

  • Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME)

  • Coffee Federation, European Intermodal Association

  • FERRMED

  • Interferry

  • World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC)

Organisations linked to the chinese market

It is essential for the Port of Barcelona to maintain a close relationship with the Chinese market, which is its principal trading partner in container traffic, with a share of 22%.

Barcelona China’s European Logistics Centre (BARCELOC)

A joint project involving the Port of Barcelona, Catalonia Trade & Investment and Barcelona City Council, which aims to attract multi-country distribution centres for Barcelona.

The main innovation in 2017 involved increasing the number of countries at which the project is aimed, since it was initially designed for the Chinese market. In this regard, 26 enquiries were received from companies in various countries including China, Japan, India, France, the USA and Canada, interested in setting up a factory or a logistics warehouse in Barcelona and/or reorienting their logistics flows towards the South of Europe.

Promotional activities were rolled out in the foreland, including the holding of a lunch-discussion in Tokyo, with 16 Japanese companies from various sectors, and Barcelona’s participation at the China International Logistics & Transportation Fair in Shenzhen.

Logistics Chair of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), Shanghai

The Chair is sponsored by the Port of Barcelona and is the result of the cooperation agreement between the telematic platforms of the Barcelona (PortIC) and the port of Shanghai (Shanghai E&P International).

2017 saw the continuation of the pilot project to develop the Track&Trace container service to exchange information to make the transport chain visible to importers and exporters.

The “Cross Border E-Commerce” study on e-commerce between Europe and China started, with plans to present the initial conclusions by the end of 2018.

Main trading partner in container traffic

National organisations

In Spain, the Port is a member of, or participates in, the following associations:

  • Spanish Association for the Promotion of Short Sea Shipping

  • Spanish Coffee Federation (FECANCAFE)

  • Barcelona European Finance Centre

  • Spanish Association of Natural Gas for Mobility (GASNAM)

  • UPC Agri-Food Cluster

  • Barcelona-Catalonia Logistics Centre (BCCL)

  • Catalan Maritime Forum

International projects

The Port of Barcelona continues to participate in various international projects that receive financial assistance from the European Union. Significant this year was the awarding of the new BCLink - MOS for the future project.

International projects

BCLink-MoS for the future

Period
2018-2020

Action
Improving the Motorway of the Sea between Barcelona and Civitavecchia by improving certain infrastructures. Specifically at the Port of Barcelona it involves adapting the Contradic wharf to MoS traffic, through two activities: reinforcing the Contradic Nord alignment and extending the ro-ro ramp, and adapting the Contradic wharf rail terminal.

Programme

RePort / MobilitatEco

Period
2016-2018

Action
Reducing pollutant emissions caused by lorry transport to the Port and improving existing technology in dual fuel engines to help consolidate liquefied natural gas (LNG) use.

Programme

CarEsmatic

Period
2016-2018

Action
Adapting the Princep d'Espanya terminal and building a new rail link to improve the service and increase the transport of electric cars using the Motorways of the Sea.

Programme

Nou accés ferroviari al Port de Barcelona

Period
2015-2018

Action
Building the new rail access to the Port of Barcelona, which will absorb the rail traffic generated by the enlargement of the Port and its logistics areas. It involves creating approximately 10.8 km of new roads.

Programme

Sea Traffic Management

Period
2015-2018

Action
Developing maritime traffic management services and the coordination processes between the control tower and technical-nautical services using information technology.

Programme

CORELNGas hive

Period
2014-2020

Action
Rolling out LNG in shipping through a series of pilot actions such as adapting a barge to supply LNG to vessels and adapting port machinery and designing a tug powered by this fuel.

Programme

CleanPort

Period
2014-2017

Action
Adapting a ship from the Balearia company to use LNG as fuel in its auxiliary engines and connecting the vessel berth to the Port with the LNG supply.

Programme