The Port of Seville is the only inland seaport in Spain. It is located in one of the country’s main metropolitan areas, with more than one and a half million inhabitants in its surroundings and at the load-generating center of the southern peninsula. It is a fully multimodal port with maritime and land connections. Across its 850 hectares, it offers a large area for logistical and industrial development.
It is a strategic enclave for the European Union. It constitutes a main node of the Core Network and is part of the Mediterranean Corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), as well as the Atlantic Corridor along with the navigable Guadalquivir River.
The Port of Seville has six port terminals and three public docks, more than 4,000 meters of quay lines, one million square meters of warehouses, a Logistics Activities Zone, adjacent to the railway and container terminal, an industrial hub linked to the metal-mechanic sector, and a cruise terminal in the city center.
Belonging to the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) is crucial for fostering collaboration and innovation within the industry.
EFIP allows to exchange experiences, best practices, and strategies tailored to the uniqueness of inland ports.
By participating in EFIP, ports can stay informed about the latest industry trends, regulatory changes, and environmental standards. Moreover, belonging to EFIP can enhance the visibility and influence of individual ports on a national and international stage. EFIP serves as a unified voice in policy discussions, particularly in interactions with the European Commission.
The Port Authority of Seville (POS) is focusing its strategy for the coming years on the modernisation of infrastructure to increase the competitiveness of the Seville port, improving connectivity, both maritime and terrestrial; committing to innovation and digitalisation; and driving the transformation of the port through the reorganisation of port spaces.
On one hand, the port institution has launched a Navigation Optimization Project aimed at improving navigability and operational efficiency through innovative techniques that facilitate the entry of vessels with more cargo. This initiative proposes more sustainable dredging techniques, such as Water Injection Dredging, or improvements in manoeuvrability with new anchoring zones for‘ double tide’ operations, among other aspects. All of this is approached under the Working with Nature model, which values the sediments from dredging and reuses them to regenerate beaches, create wetlands, or explore new uses in the ceramic industry.
Also, the port institution is making a significant investment effort to promote synchromodality. The Port Authority is advancing in the improvement of internal railway infrastructures to extend the train services to the southern terminals, create new siding tracks, or enhance a Sevilla-Madrid railway motorway. Another priority is the execution of a direct railway access to the port, which will expedite the transit time for goods transported by train.
Furthermore, technological transformation and investment in innovation are key objectives for the port institution.
Thus, the POS is working on a comprehensive plan for the digital transformation of the port. This plan includes measures to improve navigation, such as the AIRIS project, which digitises the Guadalquivir Euro way, or the development of a digital twin of the navigable channel. It also aims to automate railway management with the Ferroport System and enhance interoperability like IRail. Additionally, it leads to the implementation of e-administration and a Port Community System to facilitate communication among all actors involved in the logistics chain.
Finally, another major challenge for the Port Authority of Seville is the relocation of port activity towards the south, with new docks andterminals, which will allow the integration of the port into the city to the north with the establishment of the new Urban Port District.
