Photo Credit: FERNANDO.R, marinetraffic.com

Spain’s east coast is already an incredibly busy maritime hub. But the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) wants to ensure the area is ready to cope with the ever evolving regulatory landscape. 

One eye on energy transition and decarbonisation appears to be key and tenders looking for technical assistance related to the preparation of the Valenciaport 2030 strategic plan have now been put out. 

Related: [WEBINAR] Ships at ports – Practical measures to reduce GHG emissions 

The Port of Valencia wants to upgrade its facilities to meet the modern maritime transport challenges and to renew the port’s roadmap. 

Five fundamental areas are at the heart of the vision:  

• New business opportunities and technological development 
• Energy transition 
• Decarbonisation and the fight against climate change
• Digital transformation
• Innovation and the port-city relationship.

Spain’s largest container port has been on the up, even before the proposed upgrades and redevelopment. 

Exports of Spanish companies operating in the Port of Valencia are playing an important role. There was a 22.7% increase in the first seven months of the year [up to July 31], with a total of 632,082 containers full of cargo. That’s 116,880 more than in the same period in 2020.

The growth is credited to a boom in construction materials, the agri-food industry, chemical and steel products and the automotive industry. 

Trade with China is crucial to the Port of Valencia. A total of 356,389 teu was reached at the end of July – 22.61% more than in 2020. 

The United States was next, with a growth of 7.86% and 317,989 teu. 

Third is Turkey – an increase of 10.74% – and fourth is India with a growth of 38.18%.

Aurelio Martinez, president of the Port Authority of Valencia, said: “The acceptance generated by Valenciaport’s port services in the productive and exporting Valencian and Spanish economy is a source of satisfaction that he shares with the companies of the Port Community. 

“Together we are making the port more competitive, agile, intelligent, innovative in the introduction of clean energies such as hydrogen, wind and photovoltaic, and socially and ecologically committed to its environment with a Valenciaport Zero Emissions 2030 decarbonisation plan which is 20 years ahead of the objectives of the European Union”.

Valencia already handles 40% of Spain’s imports and exports by sea. Barcelona makes up 29.05%, Algeciras 10.89% and Bilbao 8.01%.

The Port of Barcelona is still top dog when it comes to passenger and cruise traffic, though. 

The cruise sector provides direct employment to around 9,000 people in the Barcelona vicinity and its contribution to Catalonia’s GDP is €562 million. Following a disastrous 18 months for the cruise sector, Barcelona Port Authority’s chairman, Damia Calvet, suggested in July that cruise traffic in the second half of 2021 will be between 75 and 100 calls amounting to 200,000 passengers.

Photo credit: George Trlks, marinetraffic.com

Last month, Harmony of the Seas made her return to service with the start of Western Mediterranean cruises out of Barcelona. The world’s second-largest cruise ship, is operated by Royal Caribbean. You can track the vessel’s movements using MarineTraffic data.