The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA) has initiated the public procurement process for the renewal and continuous maintenance of its digital platform for the automatic reading of vehicle license plates and maritime container codes. The administrative file has a base budget for bidding set at 97,100 euros excluding taxes (117,491 euros including the corresponding VAT) and establishes a total estimated contract value of 336,300 euros. This overall financial figure considers the possibility of applying for two annual extensions and the budgetary modifications stipulated in the contractual specification.
The proposed contract includes an initial execution period of one year, with the option to extend its validity for two more years through annual extensions. According to the official calendar of the process, the deadline for receiving proposals from interested companies ends on September 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM. For its part, the expected date for the formal start of support and management tasks by the winning entity is set for September 22, 2026.
The IT platform subject to the tender allows for constant and detailed supervision of vehicles and merchandise in circulation within the port facilities. The tool performs real-time tracking of light automobiles, tractor heads, trailers, terrestrial transport platforms, maritime containers, and railway wagons that regularly transit through the different access points of the port domain. To carry out this registration, the system uses computer vision technology combined with artificial intelligence modules capable of immediately processing the images captured by the installed cameras.
The initial operational coverage of the service includes a set of 35 control points strategically distributed throughout the accesses and internal roads of the facility. Among the monitored locations are the six control points at the North Access and the six located at the South Access, as well as the positions dedicated to control in the boarding and disembarking lanes for maritime lines to or from Ceuta and Tangier. Likewise, the control perimeter integrates specific areas for light vehicles, the routes to the Prince Felipe pier, the intermodal terminals located at Isla Verde pier, areas linked to the cargo scanner, the parking designated for freight trucks, and the devices installed for the special operation of the Operation Passage of the Strait.
Among the functional specifications set by the port technicians, the system must ensure a minimum accuracy level of 95% in the identification and reading of the information. This precision standard must be met in the reading of front and rear license plates, trailer identifiers, container codes, railway wagon numbers, and classification of vehicle types. The processing of images is carried out continuously without stopping the movement of vehicles, allowing for accurate readings at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour.
One of the operational peculiarities of the Algeciras port lies in the high volume of international traffic it manages daily with northern Africa. Due to this factor, the software application must have the capacity to automatically translate the alphabetical characters of Moroccan license plates from the Arabic alphabet to the Latin alphabet. Additionally, the software identifies the standardized alphanumeric codes of the international ISO regulations for containers and the approved numbering for railway transport wagons.
In most control positions, the technological solution is configured to operate with a single camera per lane. From that single optical device, the system is capable of simultaneously recording the plate of the tractor head, the license plate of the trailer, and the coding of the transported container, grouping all this data into a single digital message that is immediately sent to the central platform of the Port Authority.
The terms and conditions document also includes an option for contractual modification set at a maximum of 45,000 euros to address potential expansions. This clause will allow the incorporation of up to six new control points or the implementation of new use cases based on video analysis depending on the operational needs that may arise during the service period. The company that assumes the allocation must provide technical assistance in an eight-hour daily mode from Monday to Friday, responsible for resolving incidents, preventive maintenance, and proper integration of data into central servers.
Through this public tender, the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras continues the technical support of its automated traceability systems. The initiative guarantees the operational availability of the digital tools responsible for coordinating land and rail traffic data, maintaining automated reading in the flows of merchandise circulating through the Cádiz enclave without distorting the fluidity of logistical activity.
