The President of Ports of the State visits the Port of Vigo to learn about its sustainable blue economy projects

• Rodríguez Dapena was received by the head of the Vigo port, Jesús Vázquez Almuiña, and his management team, and held various meetings with representatives of the port community.
• The president of the Port of Vigo highlighted various actions included in its Investment Plan for the next five years, totaling 149 million euros.
• Connectivity by rail, lack of space, commitment to innovation, renewable energies, and Port-City interaction projects were among the topics discussed.
• The President of Ports of the State reiterated the firm commitment and support of the organization he leads to ensure that the entire general interest port system achieves the necessary connections with the general transport network and logistics activity areas that serve them.

March 30, 2022. The President of Ports of the State, Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, visited the Port of Vigo today, where he was received by the head of the Vigo port, Jesús Vázquez Almuiña, accompanied by his management team.

During his visit, after signing the guestbook, Rodríguez Dapena held various meetings with representatives of the port community, analyzing the current situation of the Port of Vigo, after which he toured some of its facilities.

Vázquez Almuiña took advantage of the institutional visit of his counterpart at Ports of the State to congratulate him on his appointment at the head of the state organization and to inform him about the Investment Plan of the Port of Vigo, which includes various actions for the next five years totaling 149 million euros.

Likewise, the President of the Port of Vigo emphasized the importance of betting on rail connectivity and, in this regard, conveyed to the head of Ports of the State the need to connect the Ro-Ro Terminal of Bouzas by rail and to create a railway siding in the Logistic and Industrial Platform of Salvaterra-As Neves (PLISAN).

The President of Ports of the State reiterated the firm commitment and support of the organization he leads to ensure that the entire general interest port system achieves the necessary connections with the general transport network and logistics activity areas that serve them.

On the other hand, Vázquez Almuiña emphasized the shortage of port space and insisted on the possibility of recovering part of the land ceded to ADIF in the Arenal area, the reorganization of the Container Terminal, and the acquisition of the private part currently occupied by Astilleros San Enrique, as possible solutions to alleviate this space deficit.

ONGOING PROJECTS

Regarding the commitment of the Port Authority of Vigo to innovation, Vázquez Almuiña highlighted several ongoing projects such as "Living Ports," financed by the European Commission and a finalist in the so-called "Oscar for the Environment," aiming for a reduction in carbon footprint.

Similarly, he recalled that the Port of Vigo wants the Fish Market to become a reference at the European level, and in this regard, they are working on the "Fish Market 4.0–self-sufficient" project, whose works will be completed this year.

Rodríguez Dapena recalled the importance of innovation in the future of ports, stating that "the Business Plans of all Port Authorities already include an innovation strategy, which must include multidisciplinary innovation committees. Our goal for the end of this decade is for all ports to have innovative projects in service, with real and measurable impact, driven jointly with the Port Community.

PROJECTS PENDING NEXT GENERATION FUNDS

In the field of renewable energies, he highlighted several projects pending Next Generation funds, such as "Green Bay Vigo" and "Julio Verne." These initiatives bet on electrification and the use of hydrogen in port mobility, as well as projects advocating for the use of Liquefied Natural Gas as an alternative fuel.

PORT-CITY PROJECTS

Finally, he highlighted the Port-City interaction projects they are working on, representing an investment of around 14 million euros. Within the planned actions for this opening of the port to the city, he referred to the humanization and improvement of mobility on the port front, where, thanks to the collaboration of the Xunta de Galicia, a more than 7km long cycle-pedestrian path will be created that will connect the entire coastal edge.

SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY (BLUE GROWTH VIGO)

All these actions are part of the Blue Growth Plan of the Port of Vigo, a pioneer in the European Union in implementing this strategy of sustainable growth in an integral way five years ago, and focused on three clear objectives: compliance with the Green Deal and zero emissions, total digitization of all processes, and humanization of the Port.

Since its launch in 2016, 51 projects have been created, 33 of which are currently in execution. All of great importance and some internationally awarded, such as the "Peiraos do Solpor" project, recognized by the International Association of Ports (IAPH) and a finalist in the ESPO Awards 2021, or the MarENet project, for the creation of a European Blue Growth Training Center, also awarded by the European Commission.

As Vázquez Almuiña recalled, a few months ago, the continuity of this strategy for the period 2021-2027 was announced, with the aim of building a Green, Inclusive, Connected, and Innovative Port, for which a series of new projects have been presented for a value of 181 million euros, the result of public-private collaboration.

Within this commitment to sustainable economics, the president of the Port of Vigo recalled the new OUR Ocean commitment, where the Vigo institution will announce that it will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 - combat climate change - and 14 - preserve the oceans, seas, and marine resources - until 2026, through the regeneration of 160,000 m2 of seabed, the recovery of biodiversity throughout the port area, and the collection of 250 tons of marine litter.