Ports of the State and the general interest ports will participate on September 16 and 17 in Seatrade Cruise Med, which celebrates its 30th edition in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Spanish ports will showcase their infrastructure and service offerings for cruise tourism during these two days, with sustainability as one of the areas present in their participation.
The new cruise terminal at Muelle Santa Catalina hosts the meeting, considered the largest European event in the cruise sector, with a projected attendance of over 2,000 professionals from 90 countries, 180 international exhibitors, and more than 60 shipping companies.
Under the slogan "Make your landing unforgettable," the Ports of Spain space led by Ports of the State features the participation of 26 Port Authorities. The ports use this space to present their characteristics as homeports and stopover ports within cruise itineraries.
The schedule for September 16 includes the official inauguration of Seatrade Cruise Med, with an address by the president of Ports of the State, Gustavo Santana, in addition to a welcome institutional event scheduled for 1:00 PM at the Ports of Spain stand.
The agenda also includes several presentations from the Port Authorities. At 11:15 AM, the Port Authority of Ferrol presents Ferrol Cruise Port, a project that envisions the construction of a terminal to allow for the docking of large vessels and a second mobile facility aimed at attending several stops simultaneously.
Subsequently, at 11:45 AM, the Port of Almería will unveil its new services aimed at cruise passengers and the projects related to the port's opening to the city.
The program for the first day also includes, at 12:15 PM, a presentation by the Port Authority of A Coruña about Mega (Mundo Estrella Galicia), a museum dedicated to the company's history and the beer brewing process.
The activity will continue on Thursday, September 17, with a working breakfast organized by Ports of the State among representatives of the ports and the main shipping companies.
On the same day, at 10:15 AM, the presentation of the OPS (Onshore Power Supply) service at the Ports of Spain stand from the Port of Cádiz is scheduled. The system, launched in partnership with Endesa in March of this year, is the first in Spain to offer electrical connection to cruise ships while they are docked.
The electricity supply from the shore allows connected vessels to turn off their auxiliary engines during their stay in port, reducing harmful emissions and noise associated with their operation.
At 10:45 AM, the Port Authority of Castellón will present its campaign "The five senses," aimed at the boutique and luxury cruise segment.
The agenda will also be present at the MedCruise pavilion. At 3:00 PM, the head of the Department of Commercial Services and Bunkering of Ports of the State, Verónica Verdesoto, will participate in the sixth meeting of the Working Group on Economic Impact Assessments.
This group works on the development of tools to analyze the long-term value creation and sustainability of cruise tourism, addressing both the benefits generated by the activity and the well-being of communities.
Spanish participation in Seatrade Cruise Med occurs after the general interest ports exceeded 14 million cruise passenger movements in 2025. This activity took place aboard 5,300 vessels.
During the first seven months of 2026, Spanish ports have recorded 7.71 million cruise passenger movements, representing an increase of 1.7% compared to the same period of the previous year.
The sector also has an economic impact on different activities. According to the "Study of the economic impact of general interest ports on the overall Spanish economy," conducted by Ports of the State, the cruise industry contributes, directly, indirectly, or induced, 6.4 billion euros to national production.
The same study estimates around 3.2 billion euros as its contribution to the gross domestic product and about 52,000 total jobs associated with this activity.
As part of the actions related to sustainability, Ports of the State notes the gradual implementation of electric supply to vessels from the docks. These systems allow cruises to connect to the grid during stops and dispense with the operation of auxiliary engines while they remain docked.
Alongside the electrification of the docks, the port system develops other actions related to energy savings and the reduction of harmful emissions. These include optimizing operations through digital tools, using low carbon emission fuels, and incorporating renewable energy sources into port ecosystems.
These actions are part of the measures that Ports of the State and Spanish ports present in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria during Seatrade Cruise Med, along with their infrastructure offerings, port services, and projects aimed at cruise traffic.