The Port of Algeciras launched the second edition of the international course Decarbonization. Green Corridors. MEDPorts Training Course this Tuesday, a training initiative dedicated to the energy transition in maritime transport, the development of green corridors, and reducing emissions in port operations. The program runs through Thursday, October 29, at the UCA SEA Innovation Center at Lago Marítimo in Algeciras, with specialists from international organizations, companies, and entities linked to the sector taking part.
The training is jointly organized by the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA), the Association of Mediterranean Ports (MEDPorts), the SEA-EU alliance of European universities, and the University of Cádiz, through its Bay of Algeciras Campus. It is the first accredited international training activity jointly developed by the four institutions as part of their academic and professional cooperation initiatives.
The opening was attended by MEDPorts President David Magro and APBA Head of European Strategy and Projects Luis Núñez, who launched three days of technical sessions and practical activities related to the key challenges of the energy transition in maritime transport.
The program covers the implementation of international regulations on emissions reductions, European sustainability policies, the development of alternative fuels, and the infrastructure requirements for establishing green maritime corridors between ports.
Topics include the regulatory framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the European Union’s decarbonization strategies, and funding instruments designed to facilitate the sector’s energy transition. The program will also examine cooperation models involving port authorities, shipping companies, energy companies, and logistics operators, which are needed to develop new, lower-emission maritime routes.
The initiative involves experts affiliated with the European Commission, the International Maritime Organization, the World Bank, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
They are joined by representatives of companies and organizations such as Baleària, Moeve, Moffatt & Nichol, VALTORP, and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, who will share experiences related to alternative fuels, energy technologies, and maritime transport decarbonization projects.
The first day features sessions on IMO policies, onshore power supply systems for ships (Onshore Power Supply, OPS), the energy transition, and its relationship to port competitiveness. It also includes specific content on the facilities and operations of the Port of Algeciras.
The program includes technical visits to the container terminals Total Terminal International Algeciras (TTI Algeciras) and APM Terminals Algeciras, providing a first-hand look at port operations and the infrastructure involved in cargo handling.
The second day will address European sustainability strategies, decarbonization policies related to hydrogen, and the logistical requirements associated with supplying new maritime fuels. It will also analyze initiatives developed at other ports and the technical criteria related to the sustainability of these facilities.
The training also includes practical activities on the operation of Algeciras’ port infrastructure and the management procedures associated with maritime and logistics operations.
This second edition is part of the University of Cádiz’s micro-credential academic offering and is worth 1.5 ECTS credits. The program is taught in English and is aimed at university students and professionals interested in sustainability in the maritime and port sector.
The initiative also provides for participation by people affiliated with MEDPorts member ports and companies in the Algeciras port community. The call included eleven scholarships covering the beneficiaries’ tuition fees in full.
MEDPorts, established in June 2018 initially by twenty port authorities in the Mediterranean basin, currently brings together 25 ports representing a combined traffic of 820 million tonnes of goods, 35 million TEUs, and 34 million passengers, across scheduled services and cruises.
The association develops cooperation initiatives among its members in areas such as training, knowledge sharing, innovation, and the energy transition of port facilities.
The course held in Algeciras is part of this collaboration between ports and universities, through a program combining academic content, business experience, and technical visits to infrastructure associated with international maritime transport.
The program will continue on Wednesday and Thursday with further sessions on green corridors, alternative maritime fuels, and tools for assessing emissions-reduction strategies at ports.
