1.11 Institutional commitments

Projects for communication and service provision via internet or other telematic means (I_32)

The Port Authority, through its website, offers different services to companies in the sector, users or interested persons. The services are grouped by the type of information you want to access, and in particular you can access:

• Processing of port calls and Dangerous Goods Notifications (DUEPort), services accessible from the Portal Community System (PCS), which is intended to be a one-stop shop for the management of port operations.
• Tender information, where tenderers are allowed to download their documentation and to track or give access for this information to any person, through the Contractor Profile.
• Various general information: corporate information, port maps, port service fees and tariffs, technical characteristics, tide tables, contracts of the Port Community companies, etc.
• Information on Concessions. With all the information on location in the Huelva Port, surface area, ownership, etc.
• Communication channel for suggestions and requests for general information relating to the Huelva Port.
• For the processing of electronic procedures, access to the entity’s electronic headquarters is facilitated.
• Also, for the members of the Board of Directors, all the documentation associated with the meetings of the Boards and the Government of the Port Authority is available via the web.
• To facilitate invoice management, the Huelva Port Authority offers, in addition to the electronic headquarters, a mailbox for sending invoices, from which they are processed directly in the internal electronic administration systems, and the FACE system has been operational since September 2022 and linked to the HPA’s internal systems.
• The service of electronic notifications to interested parties has been included, which will be received through the Notific@ service and visible in the “My Files” view of the electronic headquarters.
• The remote signature service has been included, where stakeholders can sign digital and remote signature contracts through the existing electronic signature platform.
• La Lonja de la Innovación has been created through the domain lalonja.tech, which provides information on the actions of the Huelva Port Authority in the field of innovation, as well as the calls for tenders issued by the Port Authority itself through its official media and the calls for tenders developed by Telefónica through its Open Future platform.
• Different domains and websites have been created for the management of different initiatives with sufficient weight of their own, such as Route 1400, with information on Huelva-Canary Islands traffic, the Huelva ZAL website or, in the future, information on the Muelle de Levante.
• A template has been created for accessing applications for the most recurrent administrative authorisations (occupation of specific spaces), in order to simplify administrative procedures. These templates will be integrated into the e-Headquarters during 2024.
• Requests for access to the various HPA sites through an authorisation portal.

On the other hand, as part of the corporate communication policy, the Press Office disseminates on the website all press releases related to projects, works and activities of the Port Authority in general, given that it is the most appropriate communication tool for publicising all information related to the HPA. In fact, all the information that appears on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn has links to the website to access the corporate news.

During the spring of 2023, the migration to the single window proposed by Puertos del Estado, DUEPort, replacing the previous one called DUEWeb, was carried out.

In 2023, the access control of the South Wharf was also migrated and a new access authorisation portal was put into service, which is expected to be extended to the rest of the port areas in 2024, integrating through B2B systems with other systems of companies related to the port ecosystem.

A complete overhaul of the website was carried out in 2023, simplifying updating and improving response times.

The contact management system (CRM) was also put into service, in a first phase for the Commercial Department, and is expected to be extended to the rest of the departments during 2024.

Cybersecurity information

The Huelva Port Authority has a business continuity plan for information technology that enables it to withstand possible attacks. It also has a catalogue of best practices that governs the operation of system configurations and access procedures.

Likewise, during the year 2023, the Huelva Port Authority carried out vulnerability analyses based on the mechanisms offered by the SOC contracted in the year 2021.

In 2023, a complete overhault of the website was carried out, simplifying its updating and improving its response times.

In the latter, in order to guarantee cybersecurity measures, a double security barrier has been maintained with physical elements from different manufacturers, all remotely managed from the aforementioned SOC. In addition, probes and control elements have been installed on all servers and PCs in the organisation.

In response to the new needs imposed by the pandemic, cybersecurity management regulations have been updated and new computer activity monitoring and anti-malware tools have been introduced to ensure computer security.

Likewise, in 2023, various awareness-raising actions were carried out among employees, including a simulation exercise that yielded excellent results, both in terms of early warning and response to phishing.

In 2023, the migration of the HPA’s public cloud was also carried out, and is now fully managed by the HPA, thus increasing its security and potential.

Quality in the provision of services based on Information and Communication Technologies

The Huelva Port Authority has implemented a User Services system, which guarantees the operation of IT and Communications services. This service is managed through a ticketing system from which service quality measurement indicators are obtained.

In 2023, the management of quality control indicators continued with a centralised tool that allows for control and monitoring of same, based on the reports obtained from the management tools, which were started in previous years, with the incorporation of new indicators.

In line with an ITIL management model, the HPA has continued with a system for monitoring project tasks in the IT field, from which it will be possible to obtain information on the management of these tasks and which will provide feedback for the management of projects in a process of continuous improvement.

The migration of this system is planned for 2024, with a view to integrating all the tasks to be carried out at a single point. This system will enable project management and will be the spearhead for the implementation of this methodology in the rest of the Port Authority.

Likewise, in 2023, the operation of services based on Information Technologies was maintained through the use of an asset management tool (CMMS), already in place in the Huelva Port Authority and its use was extended to technological assets.

Smart Port

In 2023, HPA continued with the development of an operational management platform based on an IoT system (Fiware) and the relevant tests were carried out for its implementation. It will have as its main objective the integration and processing of data, the guarantee of capture from different sources (IoT, other applications, external sources, windows, etc.) and the use of this information in the different internal processes of the HPA, orchestrated through BPM modules.

The objective of this platform is to be a Decision Support System based on real-time data that facilitates the work of the Port Authority staff and enables companies to know the status of their applications at all times. The platform will also have an Open Data portal from which new solutions can be integrated or new projects can be carried out.

The extension of this philosophy to the management of third-party services in the port area, such as mooring, tug and pilotage services, has also been initiated, and it may be operational in 2024.

Two mobile applications were developed in 2023 to facilitate the work. One of them is geared towards internal work (measured application of quayside collections), while the other is focused on facilitating the work of external companies (obtaining accreditations on the application itself). Both are scheduled for commissioning in 2024, along with an expansion for new services.

R+D+i projects promoted by the Port Authority (I_33)

In 2023, the La Lonja de la Innovación Technological Innovation Node, inaugurated on 6 April 2022, continued to be managed. In the same year, more than 500 actions were carried out in the Innovation Node, with a high attendance rate.

Tenders were offered by Telefónica through its Open Future platform, and 8 projects developed in 2023 made successful bids, while the 7 projects that successfully bid for tenders in 2022 continue to be in operation.

Likewise, in 2023 the Huelva Port Authority maintained the development of the three technological innovation challenges awarded in 2022, while new internal and external challenges were also put out to tender (from a company of the MSC group).

In 2023, La Lonja de la Innovación was awarded the first Star by the Fiware Foundation and was also awarded with the title of best Public-Private Collaboration in Andalusia by the Andalucía Emprende Group.

In 2023, companies were set up with the intention of developing their products in the port area, opening up the fourth possibility of setting up in the Node according to management specifications. To this end, an open tender was established on the website where companies can apply for implementation.

In 2023, Vodafone initiated training courses on 5G and IoT at the company’s own Lonja de la Innovación.

Likewise, the Huelva Port Authority has been the facilitating port for 4 granted Ports 4.0 projects, obtaining in this tender the best ratio of projects presented – projects approved in the port system.

Foundations and socio-cultural initiatives supported by the Huelva Port Authority (I_34)

The Huelva Port Strategic Plan 2023- 2030 includes the need to define the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy as one of the actions to bring about the objective of “Achieving a recognised, valued and positioned image in the environment of the Huelva Port” within the Strategic Line: Relationship with the Environment.

The Port-City Call for Tenders approved at the session of 21 April 2016 by the Board of Directors implemented the commitment to the needs of its Stakeholders in different areas of action included in the Corporate Social Responsibility Plan of the Huelva Port Authority that was previously approved in December 2013.

In 2023, as part of the framework of the “Port-City Call”, the Commission appointed for this purpose granted aid to 157 sporting, cultural, social and educational entities, thus responding to 85.79% of the 183 projects presented and which confirmed their continuity in the Call.We have also collaborated with 103 organisations in Huelva and the surrounding area, sponsoring social, cultural and sporting events as part of our Social and Corporate Responsibility policy.

Projects for the improvement of the Port-City Interface (I_35)

Las Cocheras del Puerto, inaugurated as a stage space by the Huelva Port Authority in October 2011 after rehabilitating an old port warehouse built in 1912, is equipped with movable tiers with 256 seats. The front row as well as the stage are adapted for people with reduced mobility. Today Las Cocheras del Puerto de Huelva is an innovative and modern cultural space to be used and enjoyed by the city and the province.

In 2023, a total of 60 events were programmed in the Espacio Escénico de las Cocheras, including cultural, social, technical and institutional performances and activities. Of the total programme, 11 were the Huelva Port Authority’s own events and 49 were organised by private entities.

The provision, assembly and preparation of the events carried out by the Port Authority entailed an overall expenditure of €72,000, which represents 0.16% of the total budget for expenses and amortisations paid by the Port Authority in 2023.

Financial resources spent on safety and security (I_36)

As far as industrial safety and response plans are concerned, in accordance with the Agreement between H.E. Huelva City Council and the Port Authority by which the Fire and Rescue Service of the City Council will be the Response and Intervention Group for incidents, emergencies or contingencies that give rise to the activation of the Self-Protection Plan, Maritime Interior or any other response plan that the HPA may be obliged to implement in the future, the HPA, charged to its budget contributions in the third yearly payment of 240,000 €.

Financial resources spent on the environment (I_37)

The total financial resources (expenditure plus investments) spent on environmental matters in 2023 amounted to € 12,411.73.

The main expenditures and investments were as follows:

• New sewerage network at the bulk solids quay.
• Soil characterisation.
• Characterisation of dredged material for productive use in beach regeneration.
• Environmental studies on dredging.
• Environmental monitoring.
• Marpol waste collection and management.
• Cleaning.
• Landscape improvement.
• Decarbonisation and energy efficiency.