1.11 Institutional commitments

Projects for communication and service provision via internet or other telematic means (I_32)

The Port Authority, through its website, offers different services to companies in the sector, users or interested parties. The services are grouped by the type of information you want to access. In particular, it is possible to access:

• Processing of port calls and Dangerous Goods Notifications (DUEPort), services accessible from the Portal Community System (PCS), which is intended to be a one-stop shop for the management of port operations.
• Tender information, where tenderers can download their documentation and track or access this information to any person, through the Contractor Profile.
• Miscellaneous general information: corporate information, port maps, port service rates and tariffs, technical characteristics, tide tables, contracts of the Port Community companies, etc.
• Information on Concessions. With all the information on location in the Port of Huelva, surface area, ownership, etc.
• Communication channel for suggestions and requests for general information on the Port of Huelva.
• For the processing of electronic procedures, access to the entity’s electronic headquarters is facilitated.
• Also, for the members of the Board of Directors, all the documentation associated with the meetings of the Boards and the Government of the Port Authority is available via the web.
• To facilitate invoice management, the Huelva Port Authority offers, in addition to the electronic headquarters, a mailbox for sending invoices, from which they are processed directly in the internal electronic administration systems, and the FACE system has been operational since September 2022 and linked to the APH’s internal systems.
• The service of electronic notifications to interested parties has been included. This will be received through the Notific@ service and is visible in the “My Files” view of the electronic headquarters.
• The remote signature service has been included, where stakeholders are able to sign digital and remote signature contracts through the existing electronic signature platform.
• Since 2022, La Lonja de la Innovación has been in operation through the lalonja.tech domain, which provides information on the Port Authority of Huelva’s actions in the field of innovation, as well as the calls for tenders issued by the Port Authority itself through its official media and the calls for tenders developed by Telefónica through its Open Future platform.
• Different domains and websites have been created for the management of different initiatives with sufficient weight of their own, such as Route 1400, with information on Huelva-Canary Islands traffic, the Huelva ZAL website or, in the future, information on the Muelle de Levante.
• During 2024, the electronic headquarters of the APH has been modified, with a new electronic registration portal, which is simpler and more intuitive and which can be adapted over the coming years to the different administrative procedures to be considered.
• Requests for access to the various APH sites through an authorisation portal.

On the other hand, as part of the corporate communication policy, the Press Office publishes all press releases related to projects, works and activities of the Port Authority in general on the website, given that this is the most appropriate communication tool for publicising all information related to the APH. In fact, all the information that appears on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn has links to the website to access the corporate news.

The one-stop shop proposed by Puertos del Estado, DUEPort, has been in use since spring 2023. This will allow us to be prepared for the change in European regulations on scale requests, expected in 2025.

In 2024, the migration of the access control of the Muelle Ingeniero Juan Gonzalo was completed, with the entire access control service now linked to the new access authorisation portal. It is planned that by 2025 it will be implemented in the Single Access Control and integrated through B2B systems with other enterprise systems related to the port ecosystem.

Likewise, since 2023, the contact management system (CRM) has been in service, in a first phase for the Commercial Department, and which, in 2024, has already been extended to another department (Technology). It is expected to be extended to all other departments during 2025.

Cybersecurity information

The Port Authority of Huelva has a business continuity plan for information technology that enables it to withstand possible attacks. It also has a catalogue of good practices that governs the operation of configurations and procedures for accessing systems.

Likewise, during the year 2024, the Port Authority of Huelva carried out vulnerability analyses based on the mechanisms offered by the SOC contracted in the year 2021.

As part of its corporate communications policy, the Press Office distributes all press releases related to the Port Authority’s projects, works, and activities.

In 2024, the service offered by GMV to Puertos del Estado for the control of the cybersecurity of the Port Authorities was implemented, offering different additional services to those already contracted by the APH.

In the latter, in order to guarantee cybersecurity measures, a double security barrier has been maintained with physical elements from different manufacturers, all remotely managed from the aforementioned SOC. In addition, probes and control elements have been installed on all servers and PCs in the organisation.

In 2024, various awareness-raising and training activities were also carried out among employees.

Quality in the provision of services based on Information and Communication Technologies

The Port Authority of Huelva has implemented a User Services system, which guarantees the operation of IT and Communications services. This service is managed through a Ticketing system from which service quality measurement indicators are obtained.

During 2024, the management of quality control indicators has continued with a centralised tool that allows the control and monitoring of the same, based on the reports obtained from the management tools, which was started in previous years, incorporating new indicators.

On the other hand, and following an ITIL management model, APH has installed a new IT project task tracking system in 2024, from which it will be possible to obtain information on the management of these tasks, and which will provide feedback for the management of projects in a process of continuous improvement.

The migration of the ticketing system to this new system is scheduled for 2025. This system will allow management by projects and will be the spearhead for the implementation of this methodology in the rest of the Port Authority.

In 2024, the Port Police management application (Appolo) was put into service. This allows the management of reports and incidents.

Likewise, in 2024, the operation of services based on Information Technologies was maintained through the use of an asset management tool (CMMS), already existing in the Port Authority of Huelva and extending its use to technological assets.

In 2024, the Port Police management application (Appolo) was put into service. This allows the management of reports and incidents generated by the Port Police to be digitalised.

Likewise, in 2024, 15 new thermal cameras and the entire CCTV system installed in the Juan Carlos I Dock have been put into service, allowing comprehensive monitoring of the Port of Huelva from the other shore. The coverage of the private wireless communications (WCD) facility has also been extended with the installation of a new repeater.

Smart Port

During 2024, APH continued with the development of an operational management platform based on an IoT system (Fiware) and the relevant tests have been carried out for its implementation. Its main objective is the integration and processing of data, guaranteed data capture from different sources (IoT, other applications, external sources, windows, etc.) and the use of this information in the different internal processes of the APH, orchestrated through BPM modules.

The objective of this platform is to be a Decision Support System based on real-time data that facilitates the work of Port Authority staff and allows companies to know the status of their applications at all times. The platform will also have an Open Data portal from which new solutions can be integrated or new projects can be carried out.

Since summer 2024, the Fiware-based stopover management system has been under test.

The management of third-party port services such as mooring, tug and pilotage services also came into service in 2024, and will start to be used on a one-off basis in January 2025.

Smart digital twin applications have also been added, which will be operational in 2025, as well as new sensor technology, which is expected to be installed in summer 2025.

Progress has also been made in the development of smart information in the management of meters through the platform, in tests since the last quarter of 2024, and the interconnection of railway information, which will be operational in 2025. Along this line, after the development in 2024 of several mobile applications to facilitate the work of various activities, these applications are being tested and analysed in order to be definitively put into service in 2025.

R+D+i projects promoted by the Port Authority (I_33)

In 2024, the management of the Technological Innovation Node La Lonja de la Innovación, inaugurated on 6 April 2022, continued. During 2024, more than 600 events took place at the Innovation Node with a successful rate of attendance.

Telefónica has made several calls for proposals through its Open Future platform, in which 10 projects were awarded and have been developed during 2024, as well as maintaining the development of the projects awarded in 2022. A total of 25 projects have already passed through the Innovation Marketplace.

Likewise, the Port Authority of Huelva has maintained the development of the four technological innovation challenges previously awarded in 2024, as well as tendering for new internal challenges.

During 2024, La Lonja de la Innovación received a second Star from the Fiware Foundation

In 2024, companies set up business with the intention of developing their products in the port area. To this end, an open call was established on the website where companies can apply for implementation.

In 2024, Vodafone continued training courses on 5G and IoT at Vodafone’s own Innovation Marketplace.

Likewise, the Port Authority of Huelva has been the facilitating port for 12 projects in the Ports 4.0 call for 2024, for which the results are still pending, obtaining funding for two of the three projects in the call for Ideas presented.

Finally, in 2024, the Port of Huelva launched an innovation initiative within the framework of its employees, where employees proposed innovative ideas to improve the Port. The winning proposals of the competition will be launched as challenges in 2025.

Foundations and socio-cultural initiatives supported by the Huelva Port Authority (I_34)

Within the values of the current Strategic Plan of the Port of Huelva 2023-2030, with vision 2050, transparency, commitment to its environment and people, innovation, people as an axis of the organisation, excellence, space for integration, sustainability, vocation for service and safety stand out.

As far as the Corporate Social Responsibility policies are concerned, they are also included within the strategic objective of “Strengthening the commitment to people and society”, under the premise of maximising “the role of the port as an economic engine of its environment, and maintaining the focus on people and society”.

Along these lines, the Port Authority of Huelva has been developing and improving its CSR actions in accordance with the provisions of its Corporate Social Responsibility Plan, approved by its Board of Directors at its meeting of 11 December 2013, and revised by agreements of the same body at meetings held on 21 April 2016, 21 September 2017 and 19 December 2024. It has been addressing various initiatives that are of interest, implementing strategies that allow a rapprochement and collaboration with the public in the areas it considered most appropriate (sporting-social and cultural-educational).

In order to carry out this policy of Corporate Social Responsibility, the Port Authority of Huelva has been developing the following formulas for action:

• Visits to the Port by Catamaran
• Guided tours of the Port
• Development of acts and events in Las Cocheras and the Reception and Documentation Centre
• Activities and events on the Paseo de la Ría
• Annual calls for sponsorship

Projects for the improvement of the Port-City Interface (I_35)

Las Cocheras del Puerto, inaugurated as a stage space by the Port Authority of Huelva in October 2011 after rehabilitating an old port warehouse built in 1912, is equipped with movable tiers and has a capacity of 256. The front row, as well as the stage, are adapted for people with reduced mobility. Today Las Cocheras del Puerto de Huelva is an innovative and modern cultural space for the enjoyment of the city and the province.

In 2024, a total of 43 events were programmed in the Espacio Escénico de las Cocheras, including cultural, social, technical and institutional performances and activities. Of the total programme, two were the Port Authority of Huelva’s own events and 41 were organised by private entities.

The provision, assembly and preparation of the events carried out by the Port Authority have entailed an overall expenditure of €43,000, which represents 0.09% of the total budget for expenses and amortisations carried out by the Port Authority in the year 2024.

Financial resources spent on safety and security (I_36)

As far as industrial safety and response plans are concerned, in accordance with the Agreement between H.E. Huelva City Council and the Port Authority under which the Fire and Rescue Service of the City Council will be the Response and Intervention Group for incidents, emergencies or contingencies that give rise to the activation of the Self-Protection Plan, Maritime Interior or any other response plan that the APH may be obliged to implement in the future.

On 23 October 2024, an addendum was signed to extend the Agreement between the Excmo. Huelva City Council and the Port Authority of Huelva for the prevention and extinction of fires in the service area of the Port of Huelva. Under the fifth clause of the agreement signed on 29 September 2020, the parties agreed to extend the agreement for a further period of four years with effect from 29 October 2024 until 28 October 2028.

Financial resources spent on the environment (I_37)

The total financial resources (expenditure plus investments) spent on the environment in 2024 amounted to €8,024.3 thousand.

The main expenditures and investments were as follows:

• New sewerage network at the bulk solids quay.
• Soil characterisation.
• Environmental studies on dredging.
• Environmental monitoring.
• Marpol waste collection and management.
• Cleaning.
• Landscape improvement.
• Decarbonisation and energy efficiency.