Tag: Spain

UN Refugee Agency published a report according to which apporximately 2.275 people died or went missing in attempts to cross the Mediterranean in 2018, despite an important decrease in arrivals reaching European shores. Overall, 139.300 refugees and migrants arrived in Europe, marking the lowest number in five years. The latest 'Desperate Journeys' report, released by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, says six lives were lost on average every day.

The Hypatia de Alejandría de Baleària, the first ship powered by LNG in the Mediterranean, made its first commercial trip between Barcelona and Palma. The ferry arrived on January 27 at the port of Barcelona, ​​coming from Venice. The ship is 186.5 meters in length and can accommodate 880 people, as well as 166 vehicles. In addition to Hypatia de Alejandría, its twin Marie Curie will follow.

The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras will cooperate with IBM on Tradelens, the digital platform based on blockchain that IBM and Maersk have developed. By the end of 2018, over 100 organizations and 20 port operators have joined Tradelens. The TradeLens project is a technological solution developed by IBM and Maersk that allows the blockchain to be applied to the global supply chain.

Stena Line, a Swedish ferry company, launched its first next generation RoPax vessel at the Avic Weihai Shipyard in China. The first new vessel, to be named Stena Estrid, sailed for the first time on January 16. The vessel is to start service on the Dublin to Holyhead route in early 2020. 

The European Commission has proposed, in two separate decisions, that Italy and Spain align their taxation of ports with State aid rules. The Commission remains committed to ensure a level playing field across the EU in this key economic sector.

Valencia is to become the first port in Europe to use hydrogen energy to reduce the environmental impact of its operations. A machine of the type reach stacker will handle containers and a terminal tractor for ro-ro operations will be the first machines powered by hydrogen batteries that will operate in real conditions in the harbour. 

A pilot project from big data and fleet management specialist is being conducted, aimed at providing better overview of traffic. The project is a collaboration of Traxens with the MSC Terminal Valencia, the Port Authority at the Port of Valencia and Fundacion Valenciaport using the IoT project.

Barcelona City Council subscribed to an initiative to create an Emission Control Area in the Mediterranean Sea to limit air pollution produced by ships. The success of the Emission Control Areas that exist in Northern Europe, North America and other areas, indicates that the creation of an ECA in the Mediterranean Sea would also generate significant benefits.

Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise shipping company, announced an agreement with Spain's Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to be the first concession-holder to operate the Canary Islands' and Mid Atlantic's newest cruise terminal. With more than 600,000 passengers each year, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is one of the busiest cruise ports in the Canary Islands and Spain.

Six Greenpeace activists boarded Stolt Tenacity for protest purposes, a giant tanker owned by Stolt Tankers, while the vessel was underway off the west coast of Spain, in the Gulf of Cadiz, on November 17. According to Greenpeace, the captain had already been informed via VHF radio for the protest.