Institutional commitment

Communication projects by Internet or other electronic means (I_32)

The Port Authority, through its website, offers different services to companies of the sector, users or stakeholders. The services are grouped by the type of information to be accessed and, specifically, they can access:

• Organising stopovers (DUEWeb) and Notifying Hazardous Goods (IMOWeb), services accessible from the Portal Community System (PCS), which is set up to be a one-stop shop to manage port operations.
• Information on calls to tenders, where the bidders can download their documents and monitor the process or allow any person to access that information, through the Contractor Profile.
• Sundry general information: corporate, port plans, port services rates and tariffs, technical characteristics, tide tables, contracts of the Port Community companies, etc.
• Information on the concessions. With comprehensive information on location in the Port of Huelva, surface area, ownership, etc.
• Communication channel for suggestions and requesting general information on the Port of Huelva.
• Access to the entity’s electronic office is facilitated to process online procedures.
• Members of the Board of Directors can also access online all the documents for the meetings of the Board and Governing Body of the Port Authority.
• To streamline the processing of invoices, Huelva Port Authority offers, in addition to the electronic office, a mailbox for sending invoices, from where they are directly processed in the internal electronic administration systems.
• An electronic notification service has been set up for users. Notifications will be sent through the Notific@ service and which will be available in “My Files” in the electronic office.
• The remote signature service has been included, where users can sign the contract digitally and remotely using the existing electronic signature platform.

On the other hand, as part of the corporate communication policy, the Press Office disseminates on the website all the press releases related to projects, works and activities of the Port Authority in general, given that it is the most appropriate communication tool to share all the information relating to the APH. In fact, all the information appearing on social media, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, is linked to the website to access the corporate news item.

Information on Cybersecurity

Huelva Port Authority has an operating continuity plan for information technologies that allows it to overcome possible attacks. It also has a best practices catalogue used to govern the functioning of the configurations and access procedures to the systems.

Furthermore, in 2020, Huelva Port Authority, apart from continuing the relevant maintenance of its different security and cybersecuity systems, implemented improvements to the On-Premise backup copy system, increased the scope of the password centralisation system to be able to serve the whole workforce of the organisation, and embarked to the formalities associated to putting the cybersecurity management and SOC services out to tender. The awards are expected to be announced during the first quarter of 2021.

The pandemic has generated extensive cybersecurity requirements, given that the step had to be taken to work remotely during the weekend that the State of Alarm was declared (14 March 2020). Having such an efficient network meant that was no delay and that everybody at the port was working remotely within 24 hours.

Given the new needs resulting from the pandemic, the cybersecurity management regulations were updated and tools installed to monitoring the equipment activity, for the purpose of guaranteeing the security of the equipment connected from outside the secure environment of the office, particularly when working remotely.

Quality in providing services based on Information and Communication Technologies.

Huelva Port Authority has implemented a User Attention Services system, which guarantees the operating of the IT and Communications services. This service is managed using a Ticketing system used to obtain indicators to measure the quality of the service.

In 2020, the APH continued to manage its quality control indicators in a centralised tool that allows their control and monitoring, based on the reports obtained from the management tools, which began in 2019, and new indicators were added.

On the other hand, and following an ITIL management model, the APH continued to use a system to monitor tasks in IT projects, which will provide information on their management and which will provide feedback on the project management in a continuous improvement process.

Smart Port

In 2020, the APH prepared a call to tender (planned for the first quarter of 2021) for a data platform to allow their smart management. The main aim of the platform will be to integrate and process the data, guarantee the data capture from different sources (IoT, other applications, external sources, entry points, etc.) and the use of that information in the different APH internal processes, orchestrated through the BPM modules.

The aim of this platform is to be a Decision-Making Support System using real time data and which facilitates the work of the Port Authority staff and allows companies to access the status of their requests at any time. Furthermore, the platform will have an Open Data portal where new solutions can be integrated or new projects implemented.

The platform is scheduled to come into service at the end of 2021.

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

In 2020, the Innovation Management System for Huelva Port Authority continued to be implemented.

Work continued to carry out the comparative study of the best available techniques for treating dredging sediments.

The setting up of a technology innovation hub associated to implementing state-of-the-art technology tools in the port operating area has been addressed and is planned to be put out to tender in the first half of 2021.

The Port of Huelva Data Acquisition Platform has been put out to tender. It is a fundamental tool to develop innovation and which is an innovative product in itself as it the first PMS over IoT on the market. The contract is expected to be awarded in the first quarter of 2021.

Work continued on the 5G pilot scheme that Vodafone is implementing in the port, known as "Use of 5G technology for the smart management of freight at ports", with the 5G hub coming into service at its permanent location on the South Wharf.

Social-cultural initiatives and foundations support by Huelva Port Authority (I_34)

The 2012-2017 Port of Huelva Strategic Plan, with a view to 2022, envisages the need to define the corporate social responsibility policy, as one of the measures to achieve the goal of “achieving a positioned, valued and recognised image in the vicinity of the Port of Huelva” within the Strategic Line: Relationship with its Surroundings. This line currently needs to be strengthened by recovering the Port-City Agreements brand.

That call has instrumentalised the commitment in Huelva Port Authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility Plan to reflect the needs of its stakeholders in different areas of activity, which was approved by the Board of Directors in December 2013 and amended by the Board in its meeting on 21 April 2016.

During 2020, and as part of the "Port-City Call", the Committee duly set up for that purpose awarded grants to 76 educational, social, cultural and sport entities, with 97.4% of the applications being successful. Furthermore, the port authority also collaborated with a further 108 entities in Huelva and its surrounding areas by sponsoring sport, cultural and social events, as part of our Corporate and Social Responsibility policy.

Projects aimed at improving the Port-City interface (I_35)

The activity of the “Las Cocheras del Puerto” performance venue, which was opened, slowed down in 2020 due to the pandemic and restrictions arising from the State of Alarm. Despite the restrictions, different promoters organised a total of 63 institutional, technical, social and cultural actions and activities, with strict safety measures in place to avoid infections during the pandemic.

The support, organisation and preparing the events by the Port Authority resulted in overall spending of €72,019, which represented for 0.16% of the total costs and depreciation executed by the Port Authority in 2020.

As regards the works related to the strategic line regarding integration with the environment and specifically with the Port-City, actions were implemented this year including the restoration of historical features such as the Monument to Columbus or the implementation of an ideas contest to rebuild the Fountain of the Nations, a monument that no longer exists but which used to be on the port domain. On the other hand, work began on remodelling Avenida Francisco Montenegro, an iconic avenue for the city and the Seafood City continued to progress.

Economic resources used on protection and security (I_36)

Following on from the project begun in 2018 relating to protecting the Outer Port, headway was made in 2020 with the second phase of the perimeter security system in order to ensure the necessary standards of security and protection of the facilities. In particular, those required to comply with the implementation conditions indicated in the approval of the Port Protection Plan and contained in it as undertakings to be executed; according to the conclusions resulting from the protection assessment in the framework of the PBIP and the Critical Infrastructure legislation.

The following actions were implemented in this second phase of the projects started in 2018:

• Continuing with the high security fencing from the Petroleros pier to the Minerales Wharf.
• Fitting sensors on the remaining sections of standard fencing of the first phase of the project.
• Installing 75 dome cameras, 28 thermal cameras with video analytics and 2 dual technology cameras. In order to provide surveillance and intruder alarm for the whole perimeter along with installing sensors on the fencing.
• Completing the laying of fibre optic.

This second phase will be completed in 2021.

The economic cost of this second phase is €2,671,617.00.

With regard to industrial security and response plans, it should be noted that a new Agreement was signed this year between Huelva City Council and the Port Authority for the City Council's Fire-Fighting and Rescue Service to be the Response and Intervention Group in the case of incidents, emergencies or contingencies leading to the triggering of the Self-Protection, Internal Maritime or any other response plan that the APH may be required to implement in the future.

During the four years that the Agreement is in force, the APH will provide €240,000 a year from its budget to Huelva City Council.

Economic resources used for environment aspects (I_37)

The total economic resources (expenditure plus investments) used for environmental aspects were €8,714.47 thousand in 2020.

The main costs and investments were as follows:

Main environmental expenditure and investment 2020
Water quality		Collecting water on the wharfs and improving the surface of the Ing. J. Gonzalo and C. de Palos wharves
Air quality		Plant screens on MIJG
Dredging		In-depth and 4b Complex Construction Environmental Impact Study
		Channel for New Traffic Environmental Impact Study
		Maintenance dredging
Waste		Road cleaning
		Building cleaning
		Other cleaning
		Wharf cleaning
		MARPOL Levante waste withdrawal
		Vessel waste collection
Energy		Energy efficiency Plan
		Entrusted energy efficiency management
Dredging R&D		New techniques to manage dredged material
		AT Estudios for a pilot project for dumping at sea by means of an underwater dredging confinement technique
		AT Consultoría for LIFE  call submission of the "Capping" dredging project
Maintenance Technical Assistance		Air Quality and Meteorological System Maintenance
Publications		Environmental leaflet
Landscape		Garden Maintenance
Management system		Contracting internal and external audits