SaferSEA Study Visit in Lisbon & Sines
On April 28 & 29, 2026, the project partners gathered in Lisbon and Sines (PT) for the 2nd SaferSEA Study Visit, organised by Sines Tecnopolo and UPTEC.
For two days, we had the opportunity to meet local stakeholders and agencies, committed to supporting innovation and safety in the shipping industry.
European Maritime Safety Agency
While in Lisbon, we were received at the premises of the European Maritime Safety Agency. Ms Radina RUSSEVA, Policy Adviser, Executive Officer, Mr Ricardo CENTENO, Project Officer for the Decarbonisation of Shipping, Unit Sustainability, Department Sustainability and Technical Assistancen and Ms Monica ROMALHO, Project Officer for the Ship Safety, Unit Safety and Security, Department Safety, Security and Surveillance presented the agency’s goals, with a focus on sustainability and safety. The introduction to EMSA was followed by a visit to the European Maritime Awareness Centre (EMAC) and an exchange between EMSA’s representatives and the SaferSEA project partners.
Operational Experimentation Centre of the Portuguese Navy
We then drove off to Troia for a visit to Centro de Experimentação Operacional da Marinha/CEOM, the Operational Experimentation Centre of the Portuguese Navy. CEOM is a NATO testing center specialised in unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced materials. It aims to foster innovative ecosystems of startups and industry partners, focusing on emerging and disruptive dual-use technologies, spanning both civilian and military applications, and aligned with Industry 4.0.
With a particular emphasis on the ocean, CEOM strengthens its position as a catalyst for national and international technological advancement. It achieves this by engaging academia, industry leaders, and experts in cutting-edge technologies, while also positioning the region as a global hub for innovation.
The visit was followed by a presentation of the Portugal Blue Digital Hub, a project promoted by the Portuguese sea cluster Fórum Oceano, which aims to promote the digital and environmental transition of the blue economy.
Partner Meeting
On the second day, we started off with a Partner Meeting, to review the project progress and upcoming activities.
Visit to the Port of Sines
The Study Visit ended with a guided tour of the terminals at the Port of Sines, followed by a presentation of key figures. With its strategic location on the Atlantic Coast and its capacity to receive the largest ships in the world, the Port of Sines is indeed a national leader for trade. Although it is the youngest port in Portugal, it is also the most important, handling more than 50% of the national freight. It currently includes 5 specialised terminals for hosting all types of cargo, and plans to expand in the coming years.
Port of Sines is also the leader of Nexus, the largest scale innovation agenda for the port, multimodal and transport sector in Portugal. It brings together 35 partners (port authorities, logistics operators, technology suppliers…) and aims to create an ecosystem of 28 products and services.
A warm THANK YOU to our hosts – EMSA, CEOM, Fórum Oceano, Port of Sines – for the visits, the enriching exchanges, and the opportunity to learn more about their activities.
Thank you also to our Portuguese partners, Sines Tecnopolo and UPTEC, for the organisation of these 2 days!
