The Port Authority of Bilbao and Portsmouth International Port have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) whereby both parties declare their willingness to collaborate and work together to contribute to the growth of freight and passenger transport between the ports of Bilbao and Portsmouth.
To this end, they will exchange information and take actions jointly to provide sustainable, efficient and speedy multimodal port operations. The agreement is expected to further inter-port cooperation in terms of technology and infrastructure, in particular with regard to onshore power supply to vessels operating out of both ports. Bilbao is already working on the BilbOPS project, an initiative to electrify its docks with recurrent traffic to supply vessels with renewable electricity from the onshore grid during their stay in port. This project involves an investment of €78m, of which €14.2m will be co-funded the European Commission under the CEF Transport 2021-2027 grants programme, and is scheduled to be operational in 2026. Portsmouth International Port’s Sea Change project will design, build and operate an onshore power system at its three busiest docks.
The MoU provides for further collaboration on the development of green and digital shipping corridors between the two ports to help shift traffic from road haulage to sustainable shipping routes. To this end, they will share information and promote the use of advanced systems and automation infrastructures for the handling of passengers and goods in their ferry and cruise terminals. In this sense, the Port Authority of Bilbao has already developed and deployed its e-puertobilbao digital platform to enable greater efficiency, security and traceability in the management of goods and vessels, while Portsmouth has taken the first steps towards the creation of an electronic terminal and plans to develop it further through the increased use of smart port technology and innovation from 2026 onwards.
Image: MoU between Bilbao and Portsmouth ports aims for increased sustainability (source: Bilbao Port Authority)
