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, are as follows:

• 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.
• Streamlining 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 the interested parties. 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 that appears on the social media such as 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.

Moreover, in 2021, after the award to the successful bidder, Huelva Port Authority joined a Security Operations Centre (SOC), meaning that the cybersecurity is managed remotely.

A double security barrier with physical elements from different manufacturers and all remotely managed from the aforementioned SOC was set up in order to guarantee the cybersecurity measures. Furthermore, control elements and sensors have been fitted in all of the organisation's servers and PCs.

Given the new needs resulting from the pandemic, the cybersecurity management regulations were updated and new tools installed to monitoring the equipment activity and anti-malware in order to guarantee the security of the equipment.

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 2021, 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 previous years 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 2021, the APH award the setting up of data platform to allow their smart management. This platform is in the pipeline and the first version is expected for the first half of 2022. Its main aim 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 know 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.

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

In 2021, 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 put out to tender and is planned to be in service in the first quarter of 2022.

The Port of Huelva Data Acquisition Platform has been awarded. 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. A preliminary version will come into service in the first half of 2022.

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.

Huelva Port Authority has likewise taken part in innovative projects as part of the Ports 4.0 of Puertos del Estado call, as the facilitator of 17 projects, two of which were awarded the grants envisaged in the call.

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, envisaged 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.

The Port-City Call approved by the Governing Body on 21 April 2016 drew on the commitment to the needs of its stakeholders in different spheres of action set out in the Corporate Social Responsibility Plan of Huelva Port Authority previously approved in December 2013.

During 2021, 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 89.10% of the 101 projects submitted being successful and passed on to the next stage. Furthermore, the port authority also collaborated with a further 124 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 in 2011, slowed down in 2021 due to the pandemic and restrictions arising from the State of Alarm.  Despite the restrictions, different promoters organised a total of 60 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 €128,581, which represented for 0.30% of the total costs and depreciation executed by the Port Authority in 2021.

As regards the works related to the integration with the surroundings and, specifically, with the Port-City strategic line, work started  this year on rebuilding the Fountain of Nations on the Paseo de la Ría, a hallmark of the city that strengthens the links between Huelva and the American content and the Avenida Francisco Montenegro was opened after its transformation into a large boulevard, with gardens and a bike lane for the enjoyment of the city's residents.

Economic resources used on protection and security (I_36)

In 2021, the installation perimeter security and surveillance system for the Outer Port was completed. This fulfilled the requirements and undertaking for the approval of the Port Protection Plan in keeping with the conclusions resulting from the protection assessment in the framework of the PBIP legislation and of the Critical Infrastructure legislation.

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

With regard to industrial safety and response plans,  the APH contributed the second annual payment of €240,000 as envisaged in its budget in accordance with the Agreement 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, Inland Maritime or any other response plan that the APH may be required to implement in the future.

Economic resources used for environment aspects (I_37)

The total economic resources (expenditure plus investments) used for environmental aspects were €6,615,058 thousand in 2021.

The main costs and investments were as follows:

• New sanitation network on solid bulk wharf
• Soil characterisation
• Dredging environmental studies
• Environmental watch tasks
• Marpol waste collection and management
• Clean-ups
• Landscape enhancement
• Energy efficiency