The Strategic Selection of Pilot and Replication Ports in the SAFARI Project

The SAFARI project, supported by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme, is dedicated to enhancing the resilience of port infrastructure across Europe and beyond. Central to this mission is the selection of pilot and replication ports that will serve as testbeds and expansion points for our innovative strategies.

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Pilot Ports: Dunkirk, Seville, and Lisbon

The selection of Dunkirk, Seville, and Lisbon as pilot ports was driven by their diverse geographic locations across Europe’s littorals, each presenting unique challenges posed by extreme weather events.

• Port of Dunkirk, France: Dunkirk is France’s third-largest port, located along the North Sea coast. It is a critical hub for European logistics, but it faces significant challenges from floods, heatwaves, and strong storms. Through the SAFARI project, we aim to develop strategies that ensure Dunkirk can maintain safe and continuous operations during these extreme weather conditions while also considering the long-term impacts of climate change.

• Port of Seville, Spain: Seville stands out as Spain’s only maritime-inland port, situated on the Guadalquivir River. The port is essential for the economy of southern Spain but is vulnerable to heavy flooding, strong winds, sea-level rise, and fog. SAFARI’s interventions will focus on creating a resilient component system for Seville’s Port Operating System, enabling it to manage these threats effectively.

• Port of Lisbon, Portugal: Lisbon is a central port on the Tagus River, playing a vital role in international trade. However, it is increasingly challenged by heavy precipitation and floods. SAFARI will equip Lisbon with tools to reduce downtime, lower emergency response costs, enhance its reputation, and boost employee morale through improved preparedness.

These pilot demonstrations are designed not just to test new technologies but to gather critical insights that will shape the future of resilient infrastructure across Europe.

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Replication Ports: Livorno and Tripoli

To extend the reach of SAFARI’s successful strategies, the ports of Livorno and Tripoli have been selected as replication sites. These ports will implement and validate the solutions proven in the pilot phase, ensuring their effectiveness in diverse environments.

• Port of Livorno, Italy: Livorno is a significant Mediterranean port where SAFARI’s infrastructure monitoring and port safety innovations will be applied. These efforts are aimed at maintaining operational integrity and safeguarding the port’s infrastructure during extreme weather events.

• Port of Tripoli, Lebanon: As an essential port in the Eastern Mediterranean, Tripoli will focus on measures to protect water quality and conserve biodiversity during extreme weather. Implementing these strategies is crucial for maintaining the port’s environmental sustainability and operational continuity.

The strategic selection of Dunkirk, Seville, Lisbon, Livorno, and Tripoli as pilot and replication ports reflects SAFARI’s comprehensive approach to enhancing port resilience. Each port provides unique insights and challenges that are essential for refining and scaling our solutions across different maritime environments. As we move forward, these ports will serve as models for resilience, setting new benchmarks for port operations globally.

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