ETA 62nd Annual General Meeting in Syracuse

At the 62nd Annual General Meeting of the European Tugowners Association (ETA), held in Brucoli, Italy, the ETA representatives of the GREENPORT Alliances project, joined over 140 delegates to explore the evolving role of AI in maritime operations. Themed “AI Horizons: Transforming Maritime Operations”, the conference highlighted cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence in port services—ranging from predictive planning and vessel design to emergency response and environmental optimisation.

Speakers from IBM, Sanmar, Webster University, and the UK SOSREP office emphasised the importance of ethical AI adoption, regulatory readiness (e.g., EU AI Act), and public-private collaboration — while also addressing AI’s role in emergency response, predictive operations, and the continued need for human oversight. These insights directly support Greenports Alliances’ mission to foster smart, sustainable, and resilient port ecosystems through innovation and shared knowledge.

The event also marked a leadership transition within ETA, as Mattias Helstrom (Svitzer Sverige) was appointed Chair, supported by Holger Schwesig (Fairplay Towage) as Deputy Chair — bringing renewed momentum to collaborative efforts in the port towage community.

GREENPORT at Oostende voor Aker: Conversations That Matter

Oostende voor Anker, a maritime festival honouring seafaring heritage and port innovation, featured the GREENPORT project from May 22–25, 2025. The event was an appropriate setting to highlight our initiatives to support sustainable port operations through more intelligent sailing techniques, without the need for new ships or sophisticated technological advancements.

The occasion generated fruitful discussions between shipowners, port experts, and the general public. Several stakeholders noted that many captains are hesitant to change their sailing routines with comments like “They’ve been doing it this way for years” and “It’s not easy to change that mindset”. Some also expressed concerns about  the environmental cost of retiring older ships too early while others expanded the conversation by highlighting the necessity of sustainability initiatives at the societal level in all sectors.

These candid discussions perfectly encapsulate GREENPORT’s mission that is to drive real-world change and a lasting shift in mindset, through ongoing awareness and dialogue, building momentum, one thoughtful exchange at a time.

Maritime Transport and Logistics Trends Conference

Participation in IAME 2025 Conference

GREENPORT Paper Published On ‘Sustainability’ Journal!