Fundación Valenciaport organises the annual meeting of the “Port Call Optimization Network” to optimise port calls worldwide

The meeting, organised by the Fundación Valenciaport together with the Port of Rotterdam and the European projects MISSION and DYNAPORT, brought together more than 90 representatives of leading ports and international organisations in the sector

The PCO Network is working on a Port Call Optimisation Guide to improve the efficiency of port-logistic processes and reduce emissions by 15%

Valencia, 27 May 2025 – From yesterday, Monday, until Wednesday, the Port of Valencia is hosting the second annual plenary meeting of the Port Call Optimization Network, an event organised by Fundación Valenciaport in collaboration with the Port of Rotterdam and the Horizon Europe programme projects MISSION and DYNAPORT.

The aim of this meeting was to bring together the main international players in the maritime-port sector to share progress and coordinate efforts to improve the efficiency of port calls at a global level.

The PCO Network is an independent and neutral coalition of maritime-port sector organisations that seeks to accelerate the adoption of common standards for the exchange of nautical, operational and administrative data throughout all phases of the call: approach and entry, berthing, operations during the call, unberthing and departure. The main objective is to improve process efficiency, reduce vessel and berthing downtime, and optimise the use of depths and draughts.

In this context, the PCO Network is developing the reference document ‘Port Call Optimisation Guide’, a guide compiling recommendations addressed to shipping lines, nautical service providers, terminal operators and port authorities, among other key actors. The document aims to optimise port-to-port and berth-to-berth operations for ships operating under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

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.

The meeting was attended by 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.