Optimizing Sustainable Port Logistics in Spanish Ports with Emerging Technologies

Nicoletta González-Cancelas (), Jean Pierre Celso Palacios Calzada, Javier Vaca-Cabrero and Alberto Camarero-Orive
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Nicoletta González-Cancelas: Department of Transport, Territorial and Urban Planning Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Jean Pierre Celso Palacios Calzada: Department of Transport, Territorial and Urban Planning Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Javier Vaca-Cabrero: Department of Transport, Territorial and Urban Planning Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Alberto Camarero-Orive: Department of Transport, Territorial and Urban Planning Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-24

Abstract: Maritime transport is essential to global trade, but port activities have a substantial environmental impact. This study develops and applies a structured evaluation framework—combining SWOT-CAME (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats–Correct, Adapt, Maintain, and Explore) analysis with Delphi Panel validation—to assess the digital transformation readiness of Spanish ports and to prioritize strategic actions that align emerging technologies with sustainability and operational objectives. Through expert-driven analysis, this study identifies and ranks strategic factors across four categories: strengths-opportunities (SO), strengths-threats (ST), weaknesses-opportunities (WO), and weaknesses-threats (WT). Among the highest priority actions are strengthening cybersecurity, implementing workforce training in digital competencies, and promoting public–private collaboration to support technology adoption. The resulting strategic map provides port authorities with a practical decision-making tool that supports the integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Metaverse in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Future research could further explore the cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability impact of these digitalization strategies.

Keywords: sustainable port logistics; emerging technologies; digitalization; SWOT-CAME; Delphi panel; smart ports; sustainable development goals (SDGs) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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