Representatives from leading ports around the world gathered in Tangier, Morocco, on 29 and 30 October for the 11th chainPORT Annual Meeting, hosted by Tanger Med. The ports from Hamburg, Los Angeles, Tanger Med, Antwerp-Bruges, Barcelona, Busan, Gothenburg, Rotterdam, Shanghai and Singapore joined discussions on how artificial intelligence is moving from pilot projects to practical deployment in port environments, with a particular focus on operational value, scalability and cybersecure implementation.

Jens Meier, CEO of Hamburg Port Authority and co-initiator of the chainPORT network together with the Port of Los Angeles, said: “For operators of critical infrastructure, AI must deliver real operational value, not just excitement. What we saw in Tanger Med, including advanced applications in the nautical domain, demonstrates that ports are already moving beyond experimentation. The challenge now is to scale proven solutions securely and sustainably, and chainPORT provides the ideal platform for learning from one another as we do so.”

Operators of critical infrastructure face increasing demands for efficiency, resilience and security. Against this backdrop, participants exchanged experiences on how AI can support decision-making, improve operations and create measurable value across port ecosystems.

Mehdi Tazi Riffi, CEO of Tanger Med, the leading port and logistics hub in Africa and the Mediterranean, and host of this year’s chainPORT Annual Meeting, stated: “Artificial intelligence is opening a new chapter for ports, with the potential to enhance operational performance, resilience and decision-making. At Tanger Med, we believe that its full value will come not only from technology itself, but from our ability to turn innovation into practical solutions. Through chainPORT, leading ports can share experience, learn from one another and accelerate the deployment of solutions that respond to the common challenges facing our industry.”

The discussions followed a clear progression from technological trends to practical implementation. Dr Lamiae Azizi, Professor at the Polytechnic University UM6P at the College of Computing outlined the current state of AI development and emerging innovation initiatives. Seshagiri Rao, Vice President and CIO of APM Terminals, demonstrated how data-driven approaches are already transforming logistics and industrial operations. Charbel Aoun, Head of Smart Spaces and Local Government for EMEA at NVIDIA, a world leading provider of AI computing, highlighted the technological foundations required for industrial-scale AI adoption, while Mohamed Bachiri, Managing Director of Renault Maroc, showed how digitally connected manufacturing, logistics and ports can create more integrated and resilient value chains.

The programme also included visits to Tanger Med port complex and Renault’s manufacturing facilities – Africa’s largest car plant – offering practical insights into the growing convergence of industrial ecosystems, logistics and digital technologies. As usual, the gathering also provided an opportunity for the members of the chainPORT network to reflect on the outcomes of its working groups.

The 11th chainPORT Annual Meeting once again demonstrated the value of international collaboration in addressing common technological challenges. By sharing lessons learned and practical experiences, the network helps ports accelerate innovation while ensuring that new technologies are implemented responsibly, securely and with a clear operational purpose.