Francesco de Candia (Grimaldi): “The ports of Valencia and Sagunto represent 60% of Grimaldi’s business in Spain”

Nuria Lacaci (Aeutransmer): “Valenciaport is a benchmark in new technologies, connectivity and transparency”

Transport Events and Valenciaport have organised the digital meeting “Challenges and Future Opportunities for Ports and Shipping on the Mediterranean”

The webinar highlighted the use of technological platforms such as ValenciaportPCS and highlighted the connectivity and infrastructure of the Port of Valencia for logistics operations

The use of intelligent platforms for the exchange of information in real time that connects the whole transport and logistics chain is one of the keys to improving the competitiveness of the port community and placing the ports in a strategic position in international trade. This is one of the reflections shared at the digital meeting “Challenges and Future Opportunities for Ports and Shipping on the Mediterranean” organised by Transport Event and Valenciaport.

The speakers in the webinar were: Mar Chao, Commercial and Business Director of the PAV; Otto Zsivkovits, Regional Director South East Europe and Director Sales CEE; Nuria Lacaci, Secretary General of the Spanish Association of Shippers and Users of Goods Transport (AEUTRANSMER); Francesco de Candia, Iberian Commercial Manager Grimaldi Group in Spain; Philippe Guillaumet, Secretary General of MEDPorts; and Cedomir Bojanic, President Slovenian Association of Ports Logistics Providers.

“Today, the development of infrastructures is as important as the exchange of data to reinforce the cooperation of the international port chain”, emphasised the Commercial and Business Director. Chao gave the example of ValenciaportPCS, a competitive tool enabling the secure exchange of information between the public and private agents who make up the port community and through which more than 850 companies operate including shipping agents, forwarders, shippers, land transporters, rail operators, terminals and container depots. “The PAV is continually investing in this tool which favours the exchange of information in real time to the whole logistics community enabling decisions to be taken on the spot to improve its services and increase its competitiveness”.

During her presentation, the Commercial and Business Director of the PAV explained that ValenciaportPCS offers more than 20 transactional and information services, automating port and logistics processes through a single data transfer and connecting the transport (maritime, road and rail) and logistics chains. “This real time information exchange offers our clients to optimise their resources, save time, be more efficient in their operations and reduce costs”, said Mar Chao.

Mar Chao explained the importance of Valenciaport and its hinterland “which represent 60% of the import/export activity in Spain” and highlighted that “connectivity places Valenciaport as a strategic hub in the Mediterranean, allowing companies to access a greater number of markets, in less time and in a more efficient way”. He also highlighted the commitment that is being made to rail connections, which currently allow “more than 80 trains a month to pass through the main communication infrastructures”.

Valenciaport, a benchmark in connectivity and transparency

Francesco de Candia (Grimaldi) has highlighted the services that the Italian firm provides from the ports of Valencia and Sagunto, which represent 60% of its business in Spain, and the “excellent” connection of the infrastructures of Valenciaport for the development of its business and that of its clients. He explained that the company has efficient and competitive infrastructures, more than 300,000 m2 in the port of Valencia and 210,000 in Sagunto, and highlighted the investment of 22 million euros in the silos of the Valencia terminal which improves flexibility and service to clients. During his speech, the head of Grimaldi pointed out that the company is investing in 12 eco-efficient ships of the Grimaldi Green 5th Generation class and indicated the incorporation into its fleet of the first of these: the “Eco Valencia”.

For her part, Nuria Lacaci, Secretary General of AEUTRANSMER, highlighted the privileged position of Valenciaport as a strategic hub in the Mediterranean and the leading position of the Port of Valencia in connectivity between Spanish and European ports. She also pointed out that Valenciaport is a pioneer in putting at the service of the port community tools for the exchange of information and favouring the competitiveness of its skateboarders with new technologies, and an example of transparency as it provides all the information with measurable data that allows the port and its clients to continue improving.

Philippe Guillaumet explained the example of how the Port of Marseilles has confronted the crisis generated by the Covid-19 and the role of new technologies for the monitoring, surveillance and decision making of the port community. Finally, Otto Zsivkovit pointed out the collaboration between the European ports to find the best routes to the clients.