The Propeller Club Sevilla celebrated its first lunch-talk of the year with the participation of two professionals from NextPort.AI: Óscar Pernía, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Pablo Rodríguez-Rubio Mediavilla, SME of Port Operations and Optimization. Both delivered the conference "Technology and Transformation in Ports: Opportunities and Challenges," a meeting that brought together professionals from the Andalusian maritime-port sector around a detailed analysis of the role played by digitalization, artificial intelligence, and the advanced use of data in current port operations.
The speakers structured their intervention around the four pillars defined by the International Association of Ports (IAPH) for 2026: intelligent infrastructure, resilience, sustainability and decarbonization, and talent and the future of work. This is a reference framework that positions digital transformation as a cross-cutting axis of the evolution of the global port system, with regulatory frameworks, digital standards, and system interoperability as a common basis.
In terms of technological opportunities, the presentation identified six key areas that are shaping the landscape of port innovation. The first is the Internet of Things (IoT) and connectivity, which enables real-time data capture from sensors distributed throughout the infrastructure. This is complemented by data processing and transformation, where PCS (Port Community System), TOS (Terminal Operating System) and VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) systems constitute the central management platforms. The digital ecosystem, data modeling and analytics, process visualization and orchestration, and augmented intelligence complete the spectrum of technologies that are redefining port operations.
One of the aspects treated in greater detail was intelligent infrastructure applied to operations analysis and predictive simulation. According to the presentation, this evolution unfolds in three temporal phases: historical analysis, which allows learning from past disruptions; real-time monitoring of variables such as tides, wind, and crane status; and predictive simulation, capable of anticipating risks before they materialize. This "what-if" analysis capability (hypothetical scenarios) represents one of the most relevant transformations for operational decision-making in ports.
Regarding logistical resilience, the presentation showed how the connection between data domains and models allows for building a complete picture of port conditions in successive layers. The first layer corresponds to the physical geometry of the port, including the seabed and concrete structures. On top of that is real-time information about tides and depth, and finally, operational restrictions, such as berth availability, the dimensions of ships, and restricted areas. This multi-layered integration is essential for more accurately managing ship entry and exit operations.
Decarbonization was another focus of the conference. The speakers argued that sustainability is, to a large extent, a direct result of operational efficiency. In this sense, they explained how shared data standards allow for implementing Just-in-Time (JIT) arrivals, as opposed to the traditional model of "rush and wait," which generates high emissions due to anchoring times. The orchestration of processes, supported by information shared between ships and ports, significantly reduces idle times and fuel consumption.
Regarding the future of work in the port sector, experts from NextPort.AI addressed two complementary dimensions: the modernization of jobs and the so-called "human augmentation." This concept is based on the combination of context and intuition provided by professionals with the pattern recognition and scalability capabilities of artificial intelligence. Talent retention, according to the presentation, necessarily involves equipping port workers with digital tools that multiply their capabilities and make their roles more attractive.
A significant part of the intervention was dedicated to the Guadaltwin project, the digital twin of the Guadalquivir, an initiative developed by the Port Authority of Seville. This project aims to optimize the management of maritime-fluvial traffic in the river and enhance anticipation and decision-making in the Seville port environment. The digital twin integrates data from multiple sources to generate a virtual replica of the navigable canal, allowing for scenario simulation and operation planning with greater precision.
With this event, the Propeller Club Sevilla inaugurated its annual program of lunch-talks, a cycle that periodically brings together maritime sector professionals for analysis and exchange of experiences on the most relevant issues for the industry.