From 26–28 May 2025, the Port of Valencia became the epicentre of maritime innovation as it hosted the second annual plenary meeting of the Port Call Optimisation (PCO) Network, organised by the Valenciaport Foundation, the Port of Rotterdam, and the Horizon Europe projects MISSION and DYNAPORT. This landmark gathering brought together leading voices from across the maritime-port sector, united by a shared goal: to accelerate the global adoption of harmonised standards and digital solutions for port call optimisation.
The PCO Network, an independent and neutral coalition, is focused on improving the coordination and efficiency of maritime port calls – from a vessel’s approach and berthing to operations during the call, unberthing, and departure. At its core, the initiative seeks to reduce idle times for both ships and berths while optimising the use of critical infrastructure like port depth and draughts.
The port call process is an intricate dance involving a broad range of stakeholders. Exchanging timely and accurate nautical, administrative, and operational information is key to executing safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible port calls. Recognising this complexity, the PCO Network is currently developing the Port Call Optimisation Guide – a comprehensive reference document compiling practical recommendations for ports, shipping lines, terminal operators, and nautical service providers. The guide is particularly tailored for vessels operating under the SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) framework.
Among the expected benefits are better coordination and optimisation of port calls, resulting in an estimated 15% reduction in emissions, thanks to the reduction of waiting times. In addition, greater visibility and transparency in the port call process is envisaged for all actors involved, leading to improvements in operational efficiency, safety, service levels and cost reduction for both ports and shipping lines.
This year’s meeting in Valencia welcomed more than 90 representatives of reference ports such as Singapore, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremen/Bremerhaven, Algeciras and Tangier, as well as international organisations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents (FONASBA), among others.
Also present were providers of digital maritime solutions, nautical and maritime services companies, and initiatives focused on the optimisation of port calls applied to both the ship’s voyage and its stay in port.
