Smart port city champion gets smarter

The Port of Le Havre’s Smart Port Project has 80 public and private sector partners and aims to tackle the challenges of integrating port, industry and city to deliver an integrated logistics solution for the Seine corridor.

“We want to create the port of the future and provide a ‘smarter’ territory through a new integrated industry and port model,” said Jérôme Besancenot, information systems manager at HAROPA Port of Le Havre.

“The project will include developing and innovating a data exchange platform to provide more added value from digital data, including developing KPIs.”

Environmental benefits

The Port Authority of Le Havre already operates a port community system which deals with ship calls, port operations, dues and other matters. And a few years ago, the Port Authority launched S-WiNG – Single Window Next Generation, which brings together the PCS with SOGET’s new S)ONE solution.

It is also focusing on digital solutions to optimise traffic flow when locks or bridges are closed; tracking the movement of dangerous goods and using big data to monitor air quality, water quality and acoustic underwater pollution.

Mr Besancenot says that because the port is at the heart of the supply chain it has to provide standard interfaces to connect with other partners and interact via Maritime Single Windows between countries.

To this end it has also joined the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA) which should give it a broader vision about international trade and allow it to work together with other members on what it calls “numerous exciting initiatives” ahead.

Le Havre is part of HAROPA, which also includes the ports of Rouen and Paris. The ports are progressing towards a full merger to become one company from January 2021.