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As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, disrupting global logistics, ports are racing to adapt to maintain operations and protect surrounding communities. The European SAFARI project is leading efforts to improve port resilience in the face of such challenges. As part of the initiative, three European ports have been selected as pilot sites to implement innovative technologies and strategies. Among them, the Port of Seville stands out as an inland maritime hub surrounded by a vibrant natural ecosystem, facing unique challenges in maintaining navigability along its inland waterway infrastructure. To understand the impact of the SAFARI initiative, we spoke with Mr. Rafael Carmona, President of the Port Authority of Seville. He shared how cutting-edge innovations, including digital twins and AI-driven predictions, are not only transforming the port’s operations but also positioning it as a model of sustainability and resilience.
Located 80 kilometers inland along the Guadalquivir River, the Port of Seville is a vital hub in Europe’s logistics networkand a key multimodal transport centre. “The Port of Seville is a major node in the Core Network and is part of both the Atlantic and Mediterranean corridors of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T),” explains Rafael Carmona, President of the Port Authority of Seville. The port integrates sea, inland waterway, rail, and road transport, facilitating efficient trade. It links Spain's Mediterranean and interior regions while its role in the Atlantic Corridor connects the Iberian Peninsula to northern Europe and global markets.
Although its distinctive inland location protects the port from certain weather events like storm surges, it still faces climatic challenges. "Our location makes the port infrastructure vulnerable to extreme weather events such as flooding, severe storms, winds, and fog, all of which can disrupt operations," Carmona says.
In recent years, the port has faced multiple climate-related challenges. Prolonged droughts have reduced the volume of agrifood products transported through the port, impacting its economic activity, while the river’s hydrodynamics cause sediment buildup that requires periodic dredging to maintain navigability. Increasingly severe flooding events have also tested the resilience of the Puerta del Mar Lock, a crucial structure that regulates water flow between the tidal river and the port, while protecting the city of Seville from floods.
Rafael Carmona explains: “The lock at our port plays a dual role. It not only ensures the safe entry of vessels but also acts as a barrier to protect the city from flooding. During major floods, the lock gates safeguard Seville, a city surrounded by a defensive wall.” However, as climate events grow more extreme, the lock may face limitations, making it a focal point in the SAFARI project.
To address these pressing issues, SAFARI is developing innovative digital tools and strategies to strengthen the port’s operations against climate impacts. Carmona highlights two main objectives for the Port of Seville: “Monitor, predict, and simulate port operations to increase efficiency and minimise disruptions caused by extreme weather events,” and “enhance the maintenance of critical infrastructure like the lock, which plays a vital role in flood prevention.”
At the heart of the pilot is the development of digital twins—advanced digital models that replicate real-world operations, enabling virtual testing across a variety of scenarios. These tools will allow the Port of Seville to monitor and simulate ship movements, train logistics, lock operations, and the resistance of different structures to specific climate events. “Prediction and simulation technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital twins, are game changers for us,” said Carmona. “These tools will help us anticipate and address disruptions caused by extreme weather events, enhancing efficiency and safety.”
The project also focuses on enhancing synchromodality - the efficient use of diverse transport modes in the same location. This approach is crucial for the port, which serves as a multimodal logistics platform integrating ships, trains, and trucks. To achieve this, the SAFARI project will create state-of-the-art weather prediction and simulation technologies for all transport modes using artificial intelligence and digital twins of these transport infrastructures and operations. "These new technologies will require a significant upgrade of our technological infrastructure, allowing us not only to monitor current operations but also to simulate them under extreme weather conditions," says Carmona.
While advanced technologies are at the core of the project, its success also relies on collaboration between public and private sector partners. The success of SAFARI at the Port of Seville is driven by a dynamic consortium of experts from universities, private companies and public agencies. Carmona praised the project’s partners, saying, “It’s a pleasure to work with highly motivated teams from companies like Nextport and SENER, and with renowned institutions like the University of Seville. Their expertise and commitment give us confidence in the pilot’s success.”
The project is also engaging with private port operators, building a network that extends beyond the port authority. This inclusivity ensures that SAFARI’s innovations benefit all stakeholders and remain sustainable beyond the project’s lifespan.
As the SAFARI project progresses, the Port of Seville aims to serve as a model for other ports facing similar climate-related challenges. The technological advancements developed here could potentially benefit inland ports worldwide, especially those with lock operations and inland navigation.
Moreover, the port is committed to broader environmental initiatives. "We base our strategy on the 'Working with Nature' model," Carmona explains. "Working with Nature" initiatives align human activities with natural processes to sustainably address environmental, social, and economic challenges while enhancing ecosystem resilience. Carmona highlights the Port of Seville’s efforts in this domain working on sediment valorisation, wetland creation, and coastal regeneration.
Through the SAFARI project, the Port of Seville is not just adapting to climate change - it's pioneering a new era of smart, resilient, and sustainable port operations that could reshape the future of maritime logistics.
As Rafael Carmona concludes, “Ports are immersed in a technological revolution that is transforming the world of logistics and transportation.” This revolution not only secures the port’s operations but also strengthens its role as a hub of progress for the region and beyond.
