How do you view the development of Portuguese ports as platforms that are increasingly integrated with logistics chains, transport corridors and regional economies? 

Ports have long since ceased to be merely points of entry and exit for goods. Today, they are key hubs linking different modes of transport, logistics chains, industry, trade and regions. 

In the Portuguese context, this development is particularly significant. Our Atlantic location is a major asset for strengthening the link between Europe, international markets and global logistics chains. But location alone is not enough. We must transform this geographical advantage into competitiveness through good connections, efficiency, reliability and responsiveness. 

It is also important to consider the relationship between ports and regional economies. Leixões, for example, is not an isolated piece of infrastructure. It is deeply intertwined with the business and industrial fabric of the Northern region, the national logistics system and European transport corridors. The same is true – albeit with its own specific characteristics – of the Port of Viana do Castelo and the Douro Waterway. 

I therefore envisage a future in which ports will be increasingly integrated into the wider region and into value chains. Their competitiveness is not measured solely by what happens within their facilities, but also by the quality of the connections they are able to provide to the hinterland and the way in which they interact with the surrounding economy. 

Which trends are likely to be most significant in enhancing the efficiency and resilience of port operations, particularly in terms of intermodality, digitalisation, flow management and connections to the hinterland? 

There are several trends that I consider to be key and which are, of course, closely interlinked. First and foremost, intermodality. The ability to efficiently link maritime transport with rail and road will become increasingly important. It is not enough to have good port infrastructure; it is necessary to ensure that goods can reach their destination in a predictable, efficient and sustainable manner. 

In this area, APDL operates a network of rail freight terminals, strategically located and linked to the National Rail Network and the main seaports along the Atlantic coast. This infrastructure contributes to a more efficient and robust multimodal logistics system, strengthening the connection between the ports and the hinterland whilst simultaneously contributing to the objectives of decarbonisation and the energy transition. 

Digitalisation is another area that cannot be ignored. Ports are becoming veritable data ecosystems, where the sharing of information between operators, authorities, carriers and other stakeholders can help to anticipate traffic flows, reduce waiting times, improve the use of resources and enhance safety. 

The use of data, automation and artificial intelligence is also set to play an increasingly important role in the management of operations. The ability to anticipate needs and respond more quickly to fluctuations in demand or disruptions to supply chains will become increasingly important. 

And in recent years, resilience has taken on a significance that was perhaps not so prominent on the agenda a decade ago. Supply chains are exposed to geopolitical, economic and climatic disruptions. Ports must therefore be prepared not only to operate effectively under normal conditions, but also to respond and recover swiftly when disruptions occur. 

It is in this context that the link to the hinterland is of particular importance. The more diverse and efficient the transport options are, and the better the various infrastructure networks are integrated, the greater the capacity of the entire logistics system to respond to changes and maintain the continuity of supply chains. 

How can innovation support greater coordination between port operations, industry, the local area and environmental sustainability? 

Innovation must be geared towards tackling specific problems and creating value. In the case of ports, we have a particular advantage: they are physical infrastructure, with complex operations and a direct link to industry, logistics, cities and the environment. This makes ports very interesting places for testing, demonstrating and validating new solutions under real-world conditions. 

It is precisely here that initiatives such as the Hub Azul Portugal Network can play a very important role. Bringing together businesses, centres of expertise, training organisations, investors and infrastructure helps to build bridges between those who develop knowledge and technology and those who have specific problems to solve. 

At APDL, we believe that ports should increasingly position themselves as platforms open to innovation, creating the conditions to test, validate and accelerate new technologies and business models applicable to the maritime economy. 

This link is particularly important when we talk about sustainability. The decarbonisation of port operations, energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy, the reduction of emissions and adaptation to climate change require technology and innovation, but they also require new ways of working and collaborating. 

That should be precisely the aim: to ensure that competitiveness and sustainability are not seen as conflicting objectives. Innovation can help us find solutions that enable us to develop port operations, generate value for the economy and, at the same time, reduce their environmental footprint. 

Looking ahead to the coming years, which areas do you consider to be priorities so that ports such as Leixões, Viana do Castelo and the Douro Waterway can strengthen their competitiveness and relevance at national, European and Atlantic level? 

If I had to highlight a few priorities for the coming years, I would clearly place connectivity, efficiency, digitalisation, sustainability and innovation at the heart of that agenda. 

The Port of Leixões Strategic Plan 2025–2035 is an essential tool for shaping the future of this infrastructure, ensuring that it will continue to meet the demands of international logistics chains, keep pace with market developments, and address the challenges of the energy and digital transitions. 

This Plan reinforces the national ambition to make the port system more competitive, sustainable and multimodally integrated, in line with the national ‘Portos 5+’ strategy, which aims to promote a common vision and strategic investment plans for the entire Portuguese port system. 

In this context, one of the key initiatives planned is the expansion of the North Container Terminal, a major infrastructure project aimed at enhancing the port’s capacity, efficiency and competitiveness, preparing it to meet the current and future challenges of maritime transport and international logistics. 

This investment will enable us to keep pace with changes in ship size, improve the efficiency of port operations and consolidate Leixões’ role as a strategic infrastructure serving the regional and national economy. 

In Viana do Castelo, it is important to continue to foster the relationship between the port, industry and the local area, taking advantage of the opportunities that are emerging in the industrial sector, renewable energy and the blue economy. 

On the Douro Waterway, there is a further, highly significant aspect: the interplay between river transport, tourism, the local area and the economic and environmental benefits of the river. The Douro has unique characteristics and must be viewed in an integrated manner, seeking to capitalise on its potential as an infrastructure for mobility, economic activity and regional development. 

There is, furthermore, one priority that cuts across all three areas: knowledge and innovation. This is where initiatives such as the Hub Azul Portugal Network can make a difference, bringing together infrastructure, businesses, universities, technology centres and investors, and creating the conditions for good ideas to move more quickly from the realm of knowledge to practical application. 

APDL wishes to contribute to this movement by placing Leixões, Viana do Castelo and the Douro region at the service of an integrated vision for the national blue economy. We want these facilities to be not just transit points, but also drivers of innovation, competitiveness and sustainable development, helping to establish Portugal’s position within the European and Atlantic contexts.