The Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, UIRNet and Circle implement a last-mile railway dashboard that provides information to operators in real-time, thereby optimising rail freight flows to/from the Ports of Genoa.

Genoa, 31 July 2020 - The Ports of Genoa focus on digital infrastructure and announce the first results of the E-BRIDGE project. The Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, UIRNet and Circle have implemented a last-mile railway dashboard that supplies information to operators in real-time to optimize the management of rail freight flows to/from the ports of Genoa.

In the aftermath of the collapse of the Morandi bridge, and within the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2018 programme, the EU Commission approved the funding for the project “E-BRIDGE. Emergency and BRoad Information Development for the Ports of GEnoa”, with the objective of creating an innovative IT-platform capable of guaranteeing full digital data exchange between the Port Community and operators - both public and private - in the management of the last-mile port rail (and road) transport.

The first result released under E-BRIDGE is a web interface between the Port Community System (PCS) and the Integrated Traffic Platform (PIC) of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Italian Railway Group), for the integrated and real-time exchange of data on rail connections between the Ports of the Western Ligurian Sea and inland terminals.

This product is available to port terminals, MTOs, railway companies etc. and marks the first step in the broader development programme of the port rail freight cycle, to be completed over the coming months.

The beneficiaries of the European project E-BRIDGE are the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, UIRNet and Circle, co-ordinated by the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, whilst the container terminals and the MTOs operating in the Ports of Genoa are the implementing bodies. The project is also supported by RFI as stakeholder.

E-BRIDGE integrates and extends to all the Ports of the Western Ligurian Sea the know-how developed across the EU-CEF Vamp Up project which focused on innovation and automation of the last-mile railway system currently under completion in the Port of Vado Ligure.

E-BRIDGE has a total value of approximately 12 million euros, with 50% financed through CEF funds, and is part of a broader funding programme, released by the Italian Government in the aftermath of the collapse of the Morandi Bridge across the Emergency Decree for Genoa, which includes investment plans aimed at improving logistics integration between the Ports of Genoa and its hinterland, in particular in the management of data exchange along the supply chain.

Paolo Emilio Signorini, President, Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority: "The E-BRIDGE project marks an important turning point in upgrading relations between intermodal rail transport operators and represents the first step towards the coordinated management of information available in each segment of the supply chain (port terminal, rail and road transport operators and inland terminals). The new features and the introduction of the rail module of the PCS is set to optimise the management of incoming and outgoing freight flows and to support the ongoing implementation of infrastructure works in the port. An increasing integrated and coordinated management of the last-mile infrastructure of the Rhine-Alpine corridor is one of the crucial objectives set by the former European Commission, Ms Bulc, during her visit to Genoa in the aftermath of the collapse of the Morandi bridge.”

Rodolfo de Dominicis, Director General, UIRNet "E-BRIDGE provides an excellent opportunity for UIRNet to achieve full interoperability between hubs and rail and road carriers. The Ports of Genoa consolidates its role as a major logistics platform where a number of smart assets interact across services aimed at their operational organisation. This project plans to set forth a new operating model that can be replicated in other Italian ports and inland terminals. The homogeneity of technology and digital services will speed up operations, broadcast good practices and digitize information for the benefit of efficiency and safety. In today’s global context, these factors are fundamental conditions for economic growth. UIRNet designed a model featuring technological standards and homogeneous services, and E-BRIDGE represents the first step in this direction in the Ports of Genoa.”

Luca Abatello, President & CEO, Circle "This marks the first but important step of the E-BRIDGE project, an intangible asset that will run alongside the new Genoa San Giorgio Bridge in support of the development of intermodal and rail transport and the progressive implementation of digital services. It is set to boost the competitive edge of the Ports of Genoa by aligning last-mile operating performance to the standards of the “Terzo Valico”, the new railway line connecting Genoa to the Northern Italian and Southern European catchment area, scheduled to open in 2023.”