The Compass+ project is making steady progress in its development since its launch at the beginning of 2024. The system, selected in the Ports 4.0 funding call by Spanish Ports Authority and showcased as one of the success stories at the II Smart Ports Chair Conference, is currently in the execution phase and is expected to be completed by next summer. In this regard, the director of the Smart Ports Chair, Francisco Toledo, highlights “the value of this innovative project developed with funding from Ports 4.0, which stands as the largest open innovation call in our country”.
The consortium driving this cutting-edge solution for maritime traffic management is led by the maritime-port engineering firm Siport21, together with the Port of Barcelona and the Laboratori d’Enginyeria Marítima (LIM) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC). They are working together to mitigate the consequences of the phenomenon known as passing ships. This phenomenon presents significant operational and safety risks, since the passage of a vessel can cause hydrodynamic interferences that affect another vessel docked at the port. The effects can range from interrupted operations to broken mooring lines or even spills, resulting in high costs, delays, and environmental risks.
Jose R. Iribarren, CEO of Siport21, highlights the project’s strategic importance: “Compass+ is not just a technological advance; it is a direct response to the critical needs for safety and efficiency in port operations. With this project, we are applying artificial intelligence to predict and mitigate risks, transforming data into decisions that protect ports and optimize operations. With less than a year to go before completion, we are validating how predictive technology can transform real-time decision-making. It’s not just about optimizing traffic, but about establishing a new safety standard in port operations, turning data into a protective shield for people, cargo, the environment, and infrastructure.”
The project, currently in the execution phase, will span a total of two and a half years. The first 15 months are being devoted to developing and validating the pilot at a strategic location: quay 34B of the Port of Barcelona, an area especially exposed to the effects of ship traffic due to its proximity to the mouth of the channel.
Compass+ technology integrates low-cost IoT sensors, advanced simulation models, and artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze, in real time, port traffic data (AIS), oceanographic and meteorological conditions (wind, waves, currents), and the movements of the moored vessel itself. Based on this analysis, the platform generates a risk map and issues prescriptive recommendations—such as adjusting passing speed, modifying moorings, or requesting tug assistance—to ensure maximum safety and efficiency.
With a budget of 1.15 million euros, Compass+ is set to become a modular and scalable tool, designed to be implemented in different types of ports and terminals, strengthening Spain’s position at the forefront of port innovation and creating a safer, more sustainable, and more competitive environment.
