Reflections from the Red Sea

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On the first Tuesday of May, 2023, I woke up with a feeling of anticipation. Looking out of the window of my hotel room, with the soon-to-be-hot sun only peeking out from the horizon across the desert landscape, I could sense the excitement of the two days to come.

It was the first day of the third Steering Committee meeting of the YEP MED project. I was in Aqaba, Jordan. All the project’s partners have travelled to the city – a breath-taking gateway to the Red Sea and to the entire region. The Aqaba Development Corporation has once again opened its doors to host yet another event from the European project. Here, on the banks of the Red Sea, where the Assyrian and Persian empires strived to build bridges between the different civilisations fighting for survival during ancient times, on that day partners from 8 different port communities from across the Mediterranean region met to work together to help establish Mediterranean excellence on the world stage.

As we all know, port authorities were not designed for projects like YEP MED. They were designed to build infrastructures, such as terminals, docks, piers, railways and roads among others.  However, the world is currently undergoing a significant transition, and public administrations, training institutions and private companies must adapt to new realities and embrace a different understanding of their roles. It is crucial that we recognize the changing landscape around us and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that we focus our efforts to meet the needs of our evolving society. What does this mean, on a micro-level? We need to adopt new educational methodologies and technologies, promote sustainability, and be mindful of the impact our actions have on the environment and future generations. We need to adapt.

We must also work towards building more inclusive and equitable societies, where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive. This requires a shift in mindset and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

To achieve sustainable social development from the lenses of port authorities and logistics communities, we need to break through the barriers of self-defence mechanisms, resistance, ignorance, and inertia that exist within the status quo. We need to advance gender equality, provide decent employment, education, and attract talented young people. This requires us to change our culture and build new logistics port communities that possess collective intelligence capable of identifying threats and opportunities – and acting on them. We must understand the new world that we are entering, and be willing to share, commit, and cooperate without leaving anyone behind.

YEP MED has paved the way forward in this regard, particularly during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic when resources were scarce. We were fortunate. By that I do not mean lucky, as to be fortunate means to have worked hard and made the right choices to achieve one’s objectives. Luck implies that success was achieved without much effort or intention. The support and funds of the European Union through the ENI CBC MED Programme help unite the people of the Mediterranean – and this help has been indispensible. The MEDPorts Association and its training and employment committee also played a fundamental role in bringing us together and helping us move forward. I would like to express my gratitude to Philippe Guillamet and Jordi Torrent – from MEDPorts – for believing in our project. I would also like to thank Gerard Navarro and his team for their excellent work in proposing a project that received an outstanding score during the evaluation process. Finally, I would like to underline the work of the Arab Academy, the Valenciaport Foundation, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Beirut and Mount Lebanon for their contributions, which helped make ours a high-quality project.

During our days in Aqaba, we reviewed the work that has been done under YEP MED during the 30 months since the project began. The data is encouraging – we can be optimistic without falling into complacency. Let us remember how we began – confined to our homes, in front of screens, with training centres closed down due to the global public health emergencies. But as often happens when work is part of the way we understand life, problems turned into opportunities. We have managed to train more than 3000 students from 7 countries, from which 45% were women. From that pool, 490 students went on to complete internships within their port communities, and from that pool, 350 secured employment. Moreover, we can also see new projects that point towards the future. The bonds that were made between us throughout this journey are strong and are guiding us towards new projects to help us collaborate together. Affections and personal relationships have been built, generating that collective intelligence that makes us better and allows us to improve our communities.

Let’s work together to develop the tools we have already set in motion and come up with new ideas for new adventures. We can use the MEDPorts Association as a launching pad, and we have other bodies and organizations that can help. We can start to build networks to keep us connected and evolving. We can continue to maximise our efforts, and utilize the knowledge, skills, and resources we have gained during this project.

This is the final stretch of YEP MED. Much like the ancient civilisations of the past, we can work together to build a talented, connected, and equitable Mediterranean.

Immersive learning

Immersive learning to take centre stage during SIL as the Escola Europea promotes its latest projects

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Immersive learning

The Escola Europea will take to the floors of the fair to not only present its signature training offer, but also to promote the international projects that it is involved in, along with its latest virtual immersive learning programmes.

Between the 7th and 9th of June, 2023, during the 25th edition of the International Logistics Conference (Salon Internacional de Logística), the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport will bring its virtual port community – Port Virtual Lab – to the fore. The SIL (Salón Internacional de Logística) will have its 25th edition, which annually turns the Catalan city into the world’s capital for logistics.

On the 6th of June, the Escola Europea will host a simulator competition in the framework of the TECHLOG project stand – a project funded by the ENI CBC Med Programme. The competition will highlight the benefits for companies and institutions of introducing simulation in advance trainings with the use of a special simulator – the Euro Truck. This simulator, through the use of immersive learning, can help truck drivers improve their driving skills by improving their ability to focus, reducing the risk of accidents, improving environmental efficiency, and encouraging sustainability. The competition will run through SIL, culminating on the 8th of June with the crowning of the winner. On this same day, the TECHLOG project and its benefits will be showcased in the stand of the Port of Barcelona.

The Escola’s virtual port community – Port Virtual Lab (PVL) – will be presented within the confines of the stand of the Port of Barcelona – one of the most important stands, being of the port of the city in which the conference takes place. Taking immersive learning to the virtual sphere, PVL offers opportunities for students to experience trade operations first-hand in secure and controlled scenarios that allow room for error whilst maintaining an authentic sense of real-life operations.

Alongside PVL, the Escola also will share with the enterprise community the different initiatives to attract and retain talent in the Port Community with the program  Vine al Port, fostered by the Port of Barcelona’s Training and Employment Work Group, which aims to bring the local training institutes closer to the realities of local companies, and therewith align the curricula offered with the skills sought for by the professionals of today and tomorrow.

Along with the activities that take place within the SIL, on the 8th and 9th of June, the 19th MedaLogistics Summit will take place. Eduard Rodés, the director of the Escola Europea, together with with Ahmed El Wakil, president of ASCAME, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and Alaa Ezz, Secretary General of CEEBA, Gianfranco Fancello and Patrizia Serra from the University of Cagliari UNICA CIREM, and Rabih Sabra, General Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut & Mount Lebanon, will outline the beneficial impact of technological transfer and innovation in simulation for companies.

The Escola unites Northern, Central and Southern Italy within its classrooms through the incorporation of the Port of Palermo as the newest member

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With the incorporation of the Port of Palermo as a member of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport, the training centre unites the north, centre and south of Italy with a common purpose of encouraging training in logistics, sustainable transport and maritime intermodality.

APRIL 20, 2023 (CIVITAVECCHIA) – The Governing Board of the Escola Europea held its annual meeting on the 20th of April of this month at the headquarters of the Port of Civitavecchia.

Members of the Executive Committee of the Escola Europea during the annual meeting held on the 20th of April 2023.

From left to right: Alessia Mastromattei, Marta Miquel, Catalina Grimalt, Luca Lupi, Marco Muci, Eduard Rodes, Pino Musolino, (in the back) Silvio Ferrando, Lluís Salvador, Antonio Pedevila, Antonino Ilardi, Mario Massarotti, Marta Coppola, Agustí Filomeno

For the first time in the history of the organisation, the Governing Board, under the chairmanship of Lluís Salvadó, voted and unanimously approved the entry of a new member, the Port of Palermo and, therefore, the Authority of the Maritime Port System of Western Sicily, into the Escola Europea-Intermodal Transport. With the addition of the Port of Palermo as a general member, it joins the ranks of the founding members the Port of Barcelona, the Port of Civitavecchia, the Port of Genoa and the shipping companies Grimaldi Lines and Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV).

The meeting was attended by: the President of the Port of Civitavecchia, Pino Musolino; the Director of the Escola Europea, Eduard Rodés; the CEO of GNV, Matteo Catani, as members of the Governing Board. As a part of the Executive Committee, the Deputy Director General for Organisation and Internal Resources of the Port of Barcelona, Catalina Grimalt; the General Manager of Grimaldi Lines Spain, Mario Massarotti; the Head of Marketing and International Business of the Port of Genoa, Silvio Ferrando; GNV Board Member, Antonio Pedevilla; Marta Coppola, member of the Presidency Cabinet of the Port of Civitavecchia, attended. The newly incorporated to the committee Secretary General of the Port of Palermo, Luca Lupi was also present, in addition to the head of the Presidency Cabinet of the Port of Barcelona, Agustí Filomeno; and Marta Miquel, Chief Business Officer of the Escola Europea.

The board members reviewed the activities carried out by the Escola in 2022, which totalled 160 actions with 5,542 participants. It was a record figure in the history of the institution in terms of courses and participants.

In parallel, the Escola has participated in several European projects, such as YEP MED for the promotion of quality employment among young people in the Mediterranean, and TECHLOG, which is developing Living Labs for training with simulation in the port environment.

The growth of the Internet of Things

The Tetrahedron: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Training and Employment in the Digital Age

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Eduard Rodés - Director of the Escola Europea Intermodal Transport

Written by: Eduard Rodés, director of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport

In Barcelona, on 18 April 2023, next to the Mediterranean Republic, it is springtime.

The Social Tetrahedron

Today, we find ourselves in a period of rapid technological progress, with digitalisation and innovation at the forefront. This process of constant innovation creates new training needs for emerging professional profiles, which in turn drives training to facilitate employment and the creation or maintenance of jobs. Innovation not only affects existing companies, but also gives rise to the birth of new companies, such as spin-offs, which are better adapted to the characteristics and demands of the market.

In this context, it is essential that innovation, entrepreneurship, training and employment develop in harmony, avoiding mismatches between the needs and capabilities of each stage.  What we started out visualising as training and occupation and which we represented as the two sides of a coin has now become a four-sided tetrahedron in which innovation and entrepreneurship become an indissoluble part of the equation.

In this article, we will explore each of these four aspects from the perspective of what society can offer today and how it might evolve in the future.

Training

Training is the basis for developing the skills needed in the new employment landscape. Traditional education is evolving towards more practical and problem-oriented approaches. E-learning, vocational training and certification programmes play a crucial role in preparing workers for the labour market.

The use of simulators, as the Port Virtual Lab developed by the Escola, can be incorporated as a new tool for better and faster understanding and internalization of new skills in environments that would be difficult or impossible to reproduce in the real world. Simulators allow learners to practice and hone their skills in a safe and controlled environment. By immersing learners in realistic and interactive environments, these technologies enable the development of practical skills and problem-solving abilities that are directly transferable to real-world situations. As part of a comprehensive training strategy, simulators can help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, ensuring that individuals are better prepared for the challenges they will face in their professional lives. Embracing these innovative tools can contribute to a more adaptable and skilled workforce, capable of keeping pace with the rapidly changing demands of the digital age.

Society must continue to adapt to this new reality, promoting lifelong learning and life-wide learning, with special emphasis on technical and digital skills. In addition, collaboration between educational institutions, businesses and governments needs to be fostered to ensure that training is aligned with the needs of the labour market.

Innovation

Innovation is the driving force behind the creation of new products, services and processes. To remain competitive in this constantly changing environment, both companies and individuals must be willing to adopt new technologies and adapt to new approaches to work.

The use and development of “living labs” can be incorporated as a new tool for better, faster, and more effective collaboration among participants. Living labs provide environments where the configuration of work teams can be more agile and dynamic, and where innovations and advances from all participants can be effectively shared.

Living labs are real-life settings where users, researchers, and companies collaborate to develop, test, and refine innovative solutions in real-world contexts. These collaborative spaces foster co-creation and user-driven innovation, ensuring that the resulting products and services are better aligned with the needs and expectations of their target audience.

Government policies can encourage innovation through investment in research and development, and the creation of fiscal and financial incentives for innovative companies. In addition, cooperation between the public and private sectors can create a favourable ecosystem for innovation, where universities, companies and research centres work together to create new solutions.

A foundation that unites public and private organizations, such as the one promoted by the Port of Barcelona,  can foster innovation, entrepreneurship, training, and job creation in the digital age. By facilitating collaboration, resource sharing, and knowledge exchange, the foundation can better align initiatives with market needs and skill gaps. Providing financial support, mentorship, and networking opportunities, the foundation helps develop a skilled and adaptable workforce. Additionally, the foundation advocates for policy changes and regulatory frameworks that support its objectives, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic growth and social progress.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is essential for job creation and economic growth. New companies and start-ups are often responsible for bringing the most disruptive and transformative innovations to the market. It is therefore essential that society provides an enabling environment for new entrepreneurs to emerge.

To foster entrepreneurship, training and mentoring programmes can be established, access to finance can be facilitated, and the creation of support networks among entrepreneurs can be promoted. Governments can also implement policies that reduce bureaucratic barriers and simplify the process of creating and developing new businesses.

Public administrations play a crucial role in fostering entrepreneurship by facilitating environments such as “sandbox” settings, where businesses can test and develop new ideas without regulatory restrictions. These controlled environments enable organizations to experiment, learn, and iterate quickly while minimizing risks. Additionally, public administrations can act as a driving force by becoming the “first customer” for startups and businesses launching new products or services. As early adopters, they help validate market potential, provide valuable feedback, and attract further customers and investors. Doing this, public administrations demonstrate their commitment to economic growth and social progress. Through collaboration with private organizations and a focus on fostering entrepreneurship, public administrations can effectively navigate the challenges of the digital age and promote sustainable development for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Occupation

Rapid technological progress and the emergence of new businesses create new jobs and transform the demands of the labour market. Society must be able to adapt to these changes, ensuring that workers have the necessary skills to perform the jobs of the future. This involves not only the development of technical skills, but also soft skills such as critical thinking, creativity and adaptability.

Greater collaboration between business, education institutions and governments is key to anticipating labour market needs and ensuring a smoother transition for workers. These three main actors, which we call the triple helix because of their capacity to push and advance, must be obliged to create the spaces of collaboration and understanding that facilitate the smooth development of all the aforementioned vectors of advancement. It is important to emphasize the creation of joint working groups where representatives from different stakeholders can establish task forces focused on addressing specific issues and advancing new directions. These groups also play a vital role in coordinating and synchronizing efforts to ensure a balanced labour market, with well-prepared individuals possessing the necessary competencies. Sectoral agreements and collective work are fundamental to achieving positive outcomes.

Collaborative working groups enable stakeholders from various sectors, including businesses, educational institutions, government agencies, and labor organizations, to identify skill gaps and workforce needs, develop targeted training and education programmes, and create policies and initiatives that promote job creation and economic growth. By working together, these groups can more effectively address the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapidly changing labor market and ensure that individuals are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in the digital age. In addition, special attention must be paid to inclusion and equal opportunities, ensuring that all members of society have access to the training and job opportunities that will enable them to thrive in the digital age.

Epilogue

The tetrahedron of education, innovation, entrepreneurship and employment is essential for society’s success in the digital and artificial intelligence era. Collaboration between the different actors and constant adaptation to new technologies and approaches to work will enable people and companies to make the most of the opportunities offered by digitalisation. It is essential that these four aspects develop in harmony, to avoid imbalances and ensure sustainable and equitable growth in an ever-changing world.

But in order to have a broader view of the reality in which we live, we can make a creative association between training, innovation, entrepreneurship and occupation with the four elements of nature: water, fire, air and earth could be represented as follows:

Water – Training

Water is fluid and adaptable, taking the shape of the container that holds it. Similarly, training must be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the labour market. Just as water is essential for life, training is the basis for the development of skills and knowledge that enable people to thrive in the workplace.

Fire – Innovation

Fire is synonymous with energy and transformation, capable of rapidly changing the state of the elements with which it comes into contact. Innovation, like fire, has the power to radically transform industries and societies, driving significant changes in the way we live and work. Innovation can also be contagious, spreading rapidly through communities and sectors like the flames of a fire.

Air – Entrepreneurship

Air represents freedom, movement and expansion. Entrepreneurs, like air, are agents of change that drive economic growth and job creation. Entrepreneurship is characterised by the ability to adapt to different situations and find new opportunities, just as air moves and flows through different spaces.

Land – Jobs

Land symbolises stability and solidity, providing a firm foundation on which to build. Jobs are the foundation that supports the economy and society, providing people with the means to sustain their lives and contribute to collective well-being. Land is also the place where natural and human resources converge, just as jobs represent the meeting point between people’s skills and knowledge and the demands of the labour market.

By linking these four aspects to the elements of nature, we can gain a richer and more symbolic perspective on how each of them contributes to balance and harmony in economic and social development.

Conclusion

With the YEP MED project, progress is being made in the direction that will enable the objectives of training and employment to be achieved. With the TECHLOG project, progress is being made in achieving the objectives of innovation and entrepreneurship. Together we are making progress in the construction of the tetrahedron that will enable the ports and logistics communities to work together to achieve leadership in innovation, entrepreneurship, training and employment; with the heart set on the preservation of the environment represented by water, fire, land and air. Leading means being a role model for the rest of society, setting an example and facilitating change. Ports have the resources to do so and must take on the commitment made by the United Nations with the SDGs: no one should be left behind.

Back to Basics: Blue vs. Green Hydrogen

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Anyone who follows current events knows that we are currently in a race against time when it comes to offsetting the effects of global warming. Transport emissions are a key part of this race as, in today’s globalised society, they contribute significantly to the rises in temperatures throughout the globe. According to the International Energy Agency tracking report from 2022, transport emissions are responsible for roughly 7.7 Gt CO2 annually – a number that needs to drop to less than 6 Gt before the end of the current decade if we want to reach the Net Zero goal set by the UN.

From biofuels, to liquified natural gas, to electric batteries – the transport sector is currently exploring a variety of solutions that can be put in place to make transport cleaner whilst maintaining its efficiency. One such alternative fuel source is hydrogen – a lot of hype has been given to this fuel source in the industry – and this is why we chose it as the focus of our #BacktoBasics article this month.

What is hydrogen?

Most of us know the formula for the element – H2. We know it is colourless, has no taste or smell, and is highly combustible –we learned this in school. In recent years, research has helped us develop systems that can transform the heat generated by this element into energy.

Today, in many sectors of our society, hydrogen is already being used as a “clean” source of energy. Some such examples are:

  1. Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs): FCEVs use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity, which then powers the vehicle’s electric motor. FCEVs have a longer range than battery electric vehicles and can be refuelled in a matter of minutes.
  2. Hydrogen internal combustion engines (HICEs): HICEs are like traditional gasoline or diesel engines but use hydrogen as the fuel source. HICEs produce lower emissions than traditional engines, but not as low as fuel cell electric vehicles.
  3. Hydrogen-powered buses: Several cities around the world have implemented hydrogen-powered buses in their public transit systems (including London (England), Aberdeen (Scotland), Cologne (Germany) and Tokyo (Japan). These buses emit only water vapor and have similar range and refuelling times as FCEVs.
  4. Hydrogen-powered trains: Hydrogen fuel cells are being used to power trains in some areas, such as Germany and the UK. These trains emit only water vapor and have lower noise levels compared to diesel trains.

When thinking about the freight transport sector, we can see that we already have:

  1. Hydrogen fuel cell trucks: Several companies are developing fuel cell-powered trucks for cargo transport (including Toyota and Kenworth). These trucks have a range of several hundred miles and emit only water vapor.
  2. Hydrogen-powered forklifts: Hydrogen fuel cells are being used to power forklifts in warehouses and distribution centres. These forklifts have the advantage of emitting only water vapour and refuelling quickly, reducing downtime compared to battery-powered forklifts.
  3. Hydrogen-powered trains: hydrogen fuel cells are being used to power trains in some areas. These trains could potentially be used for cargo transport as well, with the added benefit of emitting only water vapour and having lower noise levels compared to diesel trains.
  4. Maritime transport: There are several projects underway to develop hydrogen-powered ships for cargo transport. For example, the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain project in Japan is developing a hydrogen-powered supply chain for liquefied natural gas transport.
  5. Air cargo transport: While hydrogen is not yet being used for commercial air transport, there are several projects underway to develop hydrogen-powered aircraft. For example, Airbus is developing a concept for a zero-emissions aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Green or Blue (or both?)

Hydrogen is a clean-burning fuel that can be produced from a variety of sources, including natural gas, biomass, and renewable energy. Blue and green hydrogen are two different types of hydrogen production methods that have distinct differences in terms of their environmental impact and production processes;

  1. Green hydrogen

It is produced through the process of electrolysis, which uses electricity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The electricity can be generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. Since green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy, it is generally considered a clean fuel that has a low carbon footprint. It can be used in fuel cell vehicles, which are powered by hydrogen and emit only water vapor as a by-product. The use of green hydrogen in transport can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future.

  1. Blue hydrogen

It is produced from natural gas using a process called steam methane reforming (SMR). During SMR, natural gas is heated with steam to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide is then converted into carbon dioxide, which is captured and stored underground. This process is known as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by storing carbon dioxide instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. While blue hydrogen is considered to have a lower carbon footprint than conventional natural gas, it still relies on fossil fuels, making it less environmentally friendly than green hydrogen.

Both green and blue hydrogen can (and are) be used in fuel cell vehicles. However, since green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy, it is considered the most sustainable and environmentally friendly option for transport today. Blue hydrogen, on the other hand, is considered a transitional fuel that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while the world transitions to a fully renewable energy system.

According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the use of blue hydrogen in transport can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30% compared to conventional gasoline or diesel vehicles. However, the report also notes that blue hydrogen should be used as a stepping stone to green hydrogen, which is the ultimate goal for a sustainable hydrogen economy.

Final thoughts

At the moment it is still unclear which hydrogen option the markets will favour. Blue and green hydrogen are essentially depictions of two different types of hydrogen production methods that have differences in terms of their environmental impact and production processes. Most experts agree that “green” is the better option as it appears to be a net-zero fuel. It is unfortunately also true that green hydrogen is the most expensive one to make (Forbes estimated the production of green hydrogen at $6/kilogram – 2-3 times more expensive than blue hydrogen). Thus, it can be said that most industry members would opt for the blue option – at least in the short term. While blue hydrogen can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, green hydrogen remains the more sustainable and environmentally friendly option for transport. So, while we work on making green hydrogen more accessible to the markets, we can remain satisfied with the knowledge that even with blue H we are keeping pace with the global warming race. After all, the use of hydrogen (any hydrogen) as a fuel in transport can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Sources:

Welcome to the Port – Learning Together

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Last month we introduced the new initiative that was born out of the need to bring the port professions closer to the realities of our communities and our sector – Barcelona Ports Training and Employment Group.

This month, we wanted to check it on how this Group doing, with a specific focus on step 2 – Learning Together (or Aprenem Junts).

Learning Together

Business reality is constantly changing. Every day, new applications, tools and disruptive business models appear that make companies mutate continuously. In this changing context, it is very difficult for the information that is transmitted to students and future professionals to always be up to date, as unfortunately books and academic content do not have this liveliness and the ability to change so quickly.

One way to achieve that is for teachers, who are usually professionals dedicated entirely to teaching, to get to know directly the reality of companies. This can be achieved through short stages of teachers in companies of the sector.

In line with this need, the Training and Employment working group has developed a specific action called “Aprenem Junts” – Learning together, through which teachers from the local institutes are invited to complete short training or knowledge stints – lasting one or two weeks – in companies from the sector.

This activity is open for all professional fields existing in companies in the Port Community: nautical, logistics, mechanical, chemical, international trade, IT, administration…

This action has two main objectives:

  • For the teachers to see the day-to-day realities of the companies first-hand.
  • To build relationships between teachers and professionals who manage these companies, therewith building up a rapport and opening up a channel of communication and knowledge exchanges to share needs, concerns, news and developments with each other.

This should serve to advance another similar objective: that schools and institutes begin to incorporate training sessions given by professionals from the sector within their courses. Ideally, these should not be seen as intrusions, but as enrichments of the students’ overall education. After all, it is beneficial for professionals to prepare classes as it requires them to put themselves in the other person’s shoes, which in turn forces them to systematise the work activities they carry out on a daily basis. Having to explain what you do to others is a highly recommendable exercise for everyone.

Aprenem Junts 2023

In 2022, for the first time, an initiative to promote this exercise of interaction between companies and teachers was organised, with successful results in terms of generation of contacts and collaborations, helping companies to incorporate more students in their staff.

This month, the Port of Barcelona and the Training and Employment Work Group is organising a new edition of the “Learning Together” event. It will take place on the 19th of April 2023 in the Aula dels Estels of the World Trade Centre (in Barcelona). The event will aim to:

  • Establish links between companies in the sector and training centres that teach content related to the port industry
  • Encourage teachers’ stints in companies with the aim of bringing teachers closer to business reality
  • Improve companies’ talent recruitment through the teachers’ knowledge of the companies’ cultures, missions and values

This event will take place in the shape of a “speed dating” environment, where individual conversations between professionals from different companies and the teachers or counsellors will be held on a rotational basis. If you are interested, you can register here (NOTE – the event will be held in Catalan).

After all, the Port of Barcelona has an attractive and powerful brand to uphold, and it needs to be communicated to the best talent to come and work in the port-logistics community.

Previous articles in this series:

 

An immersive programme for Indonesian port executives

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This week the Escola Europea has welcomed 20 port executives from the Pelindo terminals located in Indonesia to the Port of Barcelona for an immersion in the good practices of the Catalan port.

Between the 14th and the 17th of March, the Escola Europea-Intermodal Transport, together with Deloitte Spain and their counterparts in Indonesia, carried out an immersive programme consisting of site visits, technical sessions and discussion forums with industry experts in Barcelona for a group of executives from Indonesia.

The executives of the public port company Pelindo came from the holding company and different sub-holdings of the group: maritime businesses, containerised terminals, bulk terminals and general cargo terminals. The group was led by the representative of the Ministry of Public Enterprises of the Government of Indonesia.

The objectives of the programme were to gain first-hand knowledge of Barcelona Port’s management, as well as to understand the design and execution of its strategic proposal, which orients its actions towards the monitoring of KPIs and the achievement of strategic objectives. The speakers who accompanied the group in the sessions came from the top levels of the port community, with the participation of executives such as Santiago Garcia-Milà from the Port of Barcelona, Eduard Rodés from the Escola Europea, Javier Gallardo from Portic, Gonzalo Bort from Tradebe, Carlos Artigas from Autoterminal, and Francisco Jimenez from Deloitte, among many other professionals and specialists in the sector.

The group attended various workshops and visits, including to the terminals BEST, Grimaldi, Tradebe, Autoterminal, the Busan-Barcelona (B2B) logistics centre and the Maersk shipping company’s warehouse in the ZAL (Logistics Activities Zone).

At the same time, the Indonesian delegation was interested in the training and employment work carried out by the Port of Barcelona through the Escola Europea and described this activity as a first step in collaboration in the field of professional development and human capital of the ports of Pelindo

Immersive learning

Electronic Bills of Lading

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Digital documents

Lately there has been a lot of hype about electronic Bills of Lading, which is why we wanted to get back to basics and go over this innovation. So let’s get down to it:

What is the eBL?

The Electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) is an electronic version of the traditional paper-based Bill of Lading used in the shipping industry. The Bill of Lading is a legal document that serves as evidence of the contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier, proof of ownership, and acts as a receipt for the goods being transported. In the past, it was always a paper document, but with the advancement of technology, it is now possible to issue transmit, and store it electronically.

The eBL has the potential to revolutionize the shipping industry by reducing the time and cost of handling physical documents, eliminating the risk of loss or damage to paper documents, and enabling faster and more secure transactions. However, the adoption of eBLs has been slow due to various legal, technical, and commercial challenges.

What are the challenges?

Despite their incredible potential, there are challenges that need to be addressed before eBLs can become more widely adopted in the shipping industry. One of the main challenges is the lack of standardization in the use of eBLs. There are currently multiple electronic platforms and technologies available for the issuance, transfer, and storage of eBLs, which can create confusion and inefficiencies for users.

To address this challenge, various industry associations and standards bodies, such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), have developed guidelines and standards for the use of eBLs. These guidelines aim to promote standardization and interoperability between different electronic platforms and technologies.

A second big challenge is “the difficulty in converting the BL to a digital format without allowing it to be duplicatable (as without proper systems in place it could potentially be duplicated to the infinitum)” – says Jaime Paz from the Ocean Network Express. As the main function of the Bill of Lading is the condition of title of ownership, it is important to ensure that the risk of duplication is minimised or eliminated completely. Today it is possible to have unique digital titles of ownership thanks to blockchain technology, as encryption systems used are strong enough to transfer digital documents without the risk of being duplicated.  As an NFT, eBL is not only a digital file, but the registry of the ownership is implicit in it.  This way, every change in the eBL process can be registered in a blockchain, in which the information is 100% immutable and 100% auditable.

A final challenge is the resistance to change from stakeholders who are accustomed to traditional paper-based processes. Many shippers, carriers, and banks are still hesitant to adopt eBLs due to concerns about the legal validity, security, and reliability of electronic documents.

To address these concerns, industry stakeholders are working to educate and raise awareness about the benefits of eBLs and to provide training and support for users. For example, the International Group of P&I Clubs has developed a training program for its members on the use of eBLs, and various industry associations have organized workshops and seminars to promote the adoption of eBLs. The DCSA (Digital Container Shipping Association) is also working on towards end-to-end digitalisation of the shipping documentation process – having published the DCSA electronic bill of lading (eBL) standards. The goal with these is to ultimately increase transparency, enhance efficiency, and make compliance easier, therewith eliminating paper from international trade.

 

A spotlight on Europe

In recent years, there have been several developments in Europe aimed at promoting the use of eBLs. One of the most significant developments is the adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in 2017. The MLETR provides a framework for the use of electronic transferable records, including eBLs, and aims to remove legal barriers to their use.

Several European countries have already incorporated the MLETR into their domestic laws, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland. These countries have recognized eBLs as legally valid and enforceable documents, and they have established electronic platforms for the issuance, transfer, and storage of eBLs.

For example, the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands launched its blockchain-based platform, DELIVER, in 2019, (now Naviporta) which allows users to issue, transfer, and store eBLs. DELIVER is a joint initiative between the port authority, the municipality of Rotterdam, and various industry stakeholders, and it aims to promote the use of eBLs and other digital solutions in the logistics industry.

Additionally, there have been other developments to help the adoption of eBLs in Europe. One of those was championed by the International Group of P&I Clubs, which represents the world’s major marine insurers. They have issued guidelines for the use of eBLs in the insurance industry, which provide a framework for the issuance, transfer, and storage of eBLs, and they aim to ensure that eBLs are accepted and recognized by insurers.

Final thoughts

Despite the challenges, the adoption of eBLs in Europe is gaining momentum, driven by the potential benefits of faster, cheaper, and more secure transactions. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the shift towards digital solutions in the shipping industry, as it has highlighted the inefficiencies and vulnerabilities of traditional paper-based processes.

In conclusion, the Electronic Bill of Lading is a promising technology that has the potential to revolutionize the shipping industry by reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and improving security. While there are still challenges to be addressed, the adoption of eBLs in Europe is gaining momentum, driven by the efforts of industry stakeholders to promote standardization, raise awareness, and provide training and support for users. As the use of eBLs becomes more widespread, it is expected to bring significant benefits to the global economy by facilitating faster and more secure international trade transactions.

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Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is here to stay – but at what cost?

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Eduard Rodés - Director of the Escola Europea Intermodal Transport

Written by: Eduard Rodés, director of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport

In January one evening I sat down to experiment with the new tools that have been receiving a lot of industry hype recently – the AI chatbots that seemed to revolutionise the field of automation and digital assistance. I went into Chat GPT and asked it to “write a 1000-word article on artificial intelligence and logistics”.

This was the result:

“Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the field of logistics and supply chain management. By using machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics, AI can help logistics companies optimize their operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.

One of the main benefits of AI in logistics is the ability to automate and streamline processes. For example, AI can be used to optimize routes for delivery trucks, predict demand for certain products, and identify bottlenecks in the supply chain. This can help logistics companies reduce their operating costs and improve customer satisfaction by providing faster and more reliable delivery times.

Another area where AI can be useful in logistics is in the management of inventory. By analyzing sales data and customer demand, AI algorithms can help logistics companies forecast future demand and adjust their inventory levels accordingly. This can help reduce the risk of overstocking or running out of stock, which can have a significant impact on a company’s bottom line.

In addition to automating and optimizing processes, AI can also be used to improve the accuracy and speed of decision-making in logistics. For example, AI algorithms can be used to analyze large amounts of data and identify trends or patterns that might not be immediately obvious to human analysts. This can help logistics companies make more informed decisions about where to allocate resources, what products to stock, and how to respond to changes in the market.

AI can also be used to improve the efficiency of logistics operations by reducing the need for manual labor. For example, self-driving trucks and drones can be used to transport goods, freeing up human workers to focus on more complex tasks. This can help logistics companies reduce labor costs and improve productivity. Despite the many potential benefits of AI in logistics, there are also some challenges to consider. One concern is the potential for job displacement as more tasks are automated. Logistics companies will need to carefully consider how to retrain and reallocate their workforce to ensure that workers are not left behind as AI becomes more prevalent.

In conclusion, AI has the potential to revolutionize logistics and supply chain management by automating and streamlining processes, optimizing inventory levels, improving decision-making, and reducing the need for manual labor. However, there are some challenges that must be addressed in order to ensure that AI is used responsibly.”

 

I was left dumbstruck. I then wanted to test this further and accessed deepai.org/art. I asked the screen to create an image for me with the Word “logistics”, and low and behold – I was given a new image:

Technology has been advancing at an incremental rate since the late 80s, early 90s. Long gone are the days when you had to call an operator to connect you to another person. It also appears that the days of “assistants” will also soon be behind us. Artificial Intelligence is improving our productivity, changing the way we carry out daily tasks and work. But at what cost?

What is ChatCPT?

ChatGPT is a language model developed by OpenAI. In essense it’s an artificial intelligence chatbot, which launched in November 2022. It is built on top of OpenAI’s GPT-3 family of large language models and has been fine-tuned (an approach to transfer learning) using both supervised and reinforcement learning techniques.

The technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate with machines and each other. Its implications on our future are vast, and its potential uses are only beginning to be explored. From business to education, healthcare to entertainment, ChatGPT has the potential to transform our world in profound ways.

One of the most significant implications of ChatGPT is its ability to enhance communication. With its advanced natural language processing capabilities, ChatGPT can interpret and respond to text in a way that is almost indistinguishable from human communication. This means that it has the potential to provide personalized customer service, support in education and training, and even therapy.

  • The system can also process vast amounts of data, which makes it a powerful tool for businesses. With its help, companies can analyze customer feedback, identify patterns in consumer behaviour, and improve their products and services accordingly. ChatGPT can also be used to streamline internal communication, automate repetitive tasks, and provide insights for decision-making.
  • In healthcare, ChatGPT can help patients receive more personalized care. By analysing patient data and medical history, ChatGPT can assist doctors and nurses in making more informed decisions about diagnosis and treatment. It can also be used to provide patients with support and education, helping them to manage their conditions and improve their overall health.
  • In education, ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize the way we learn. It can provide personalized support and feedback to students, help teachers to create more engaging and effective lesson plans, and even automate grading and assessment. ChatGPT can also provide access to educational resources to people in remote or underprivileged areas, helping to bridge the digital divide.

Is it all good?

While ChatGPT has many potential benefits, there are also several risks and challenges that need to be addressed. Here are some of the most significant concerns:

  1. Bias: Like any artificial intelligence system, ChatGPT can be influenced by biases in the data it is trained on. This means that if the data reflects discriminatory or unfair practices, the system could perpetuate those biases. This is especially concerning when it comes to sensitive topics like healthcare or criminal justice, where biased decision-making could have serious consequences.
  2. Misinformation: ChatGPT can be used to create convincing fake news or propaganda, which can be spread quickly and widely through social media. This is a concern because misinformation can have serious real-world consequences, such as influencing political outcomes or causing panic during a public health crisis.
  3. Privacy: ChatGPT requires access to large amounts of data to work effectively, which can raise concerns about privacy. If sensitive personal information is stored and processed by ChatGPT, there is a risk that it could be accessed by hackers or other malicious actors.
  4. Dependence: As ChatGPT becomes more ubiquitous, there is a risk that people will become overly reliant on it for decision-making and problem-solving. This could lead to a loss of critical thinking skills and creativity, which are important for innovation and progress.
  5. Regulation: There are currently few regulations in place to govern the use of artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT. This means that there is a risk that these systems could be used in unethical or harmful ways without consequences.

To address these risks and challenges, it is essential to continue developing ethical guidelines and safeguards to ensure that ChatGPT is used in responsible and beneficial ways. This includes ensuring that the data used to train ChatGPT is diverse and free from bias, and that users are educated on the limitations and potential biases of the system. Additionally, regulations should be put in place to ensure that ChatGPT is used ethically and transparently, and that privacy concerns are addressed. By doing so, we can maximize the potential benefits of ChatGPT while minimizing the risks.

Final thoughts

There is no doubt that ChatGPT has the potential to transform many aspects of our lives, from communication and business to healthcare and education. Its implications for our future are vast, and its potential uses are only beginning to be explored. As with any technology, it is important to continue to develop ethical guidelines and safeguards to ensure that ChatGPT is used in responsible and beneficial ways. The future is exciting, and ChatGPT looks to be a part of it.

Port Digitalisation

Maritime Connectivity – what it means for the Mediterranean

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Eduard Rodés,Director - Escola Europea - Intermodal Transporrt

Commentary by: Eduard Rodés,
Director – Escola Europea – Intermodal Transporrt

We live in an increasingly digital world – there is no doubt about that. Digital literacy and technical capabilities are skills that are now indispensable in employees in all sectors. But what geographical regions? The situation (in terms of skills, capabilities and infrastructures) in Spain is doubtlessly different from the situation in Tunis, just like the situation in Tunis is different from the situation in Bali. The countries’ individual geopolitical and industrial statuses affect how plugged in the countries can be to the globalised industries.

This brings me to a report that I wanted to share with you that CETMO has carried out on the maritime connectivity in the GTMO region. You can read our brief summary below, and then head to the CETMO website for the full report!

I highly recommend it! 

A summary of the “Maritime Connectivity in the GTMO Region: Current Situation and Future Prospects” report by CETMO

This report was produced by the Centre for Transportation Studies for the Mediterranean Region (CETMO) in collaboration with the Western Mediterranean Group Of Transport Ministries (GTMO 5+5). It examined the current state of maritime connectivity in the GTMO region (which includes countries in the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Caspian Sea areas[1]) and provided recommendations for improvement in the future.

Key Findings:

The GTMO region is a major hub for international maritime trade. Even so, significant gaps in maritime connectivity within the region have been identified, particularly in terms of digital connectivity and the integration of different transport modes. The COVID-19 pandemic in particular has highlighted the importance of digital connectivity and the need for greater investment in infrastructure and technology to support remote operations and data exchanges.

The report identified several key challenges and opportunities for improving maritime connectivity in the region:

  1. One of the main challenges is the digital divide between countries in the region, which can hinder the exchange of data and information among different actors in the maritime sector. The report recommended a range of measures, including increasing investment in port and logistics infrastructure, improving digital connectivity and data exchange, promoting the integration of different transport modes, and addressing regulatory barriers;
  2. Another challenge is the fragmentation of transport modes and logistics systems in the region, which can result in inefficiencies and higher costs for shippers and carriers. The report recommended promoting greater integration between different transport modes, such as rail and inland waterways, to improve the connectivity of the region and facilitate the movement of goods.
  3. The report also highlighted the importance of regulatory frameworks in facilitating or hindering maritime connectivity in the region. Some countries have regulatory frameworks that are favourable to investment and trade, while others have more restrictive policies that can discourage investment and limit market access. The report recommended promoting greater regulatory harmonization and cooperation between countries in the region to create a more conducive environment for investment and trade.

Conclusion:

Improving maritime connectivity in the GTMO region is essential for supporting economic growth, improving trade flows, and enhancing the resilience of supply chains in the face of future shocks such as pandemics or geopolitical tensions. To achieve this, a comprehensive approach that considers the diverse needs and capabilities of different countries and stakeholders is needed, one that involves governments, private sector stakeholders, and international organisations. By working together to address the challenges facing maritime connectivity, the region can enhance its economic competitiveness, promote sustainable development, and improve the resilience of its supply chains in the face of future shocks.

[1] Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia