SeaTech – Improving transport sustainability through the development of digital solutions
The Economics and Spatial Policy Department of the Maritime Institute at the Gdynia Maritime University is the leader of the seed money project SeaTech – Improving Transport Sustainability through the Development of Digital Solutions. The SeaTech project, implemented under the Interreg South Baltic 2020 Programme and cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund, is being implemented with the participation of the Lithuanian partner, Klaipeda Shipping Research Centre (KSRC), and the Polish partner – Port Władysawowo "Szkuner" Sp. z o.o. The objectives of this project are partly a continuation of the INCONE60 project (www.incone60.eu), also implemented under the Interreg South Baltic Programme.
The South Baltic region is highly diversified in terms of the development of local seaports and the degree of their digitalisation. Some are characterised by a high level of knowledge and competence, while others face challenges in fully developing their functions.
The main goal of the SeaTech project is to understand the needs of local seaports in the South Baltic region in terms of digitalisation and computerisation of processes and to support their development. As a result, a regular project will create a universal tool for digitising individual processes in the maritime and logistics sectors. Furthermore, the tool will aim to streamline port operations, increase their efficiency, and simplify processes using new technologies (for example, blockchain). Thus, it will be a comprehensive IT tool that will enhance the innovation and competitiveness of small ports, reducing the disparity in the level of development of local ports in the South Baltic region.
The regular project will also include the development of a transport simulator based on the results of the INCONE60 project. This simulator demonstrates the environmental and economic benefits of shifting some cargo from land to sea and demonstrates the benefits of short-sea shipping. The model calculates all transport-related costs as well as external costs, such as accidents, noise, pollution, climate, congestion, and damage related to habitat loss. Expanding its functionality to include new ports, new cargo types, and the ability to personalise transport details will enable the tool to be used in the transport decision-making process.
As part of the SeaTech seed money project, together with partners and project stakeholders, we will develop detailed goals and tasks, which we will implement as part of the regular project.
SeaTech – Improving transport sustainability through the development of digital solutions
Project duration: July 1 to October 31, 2022
Cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund: EUR 34,000.00