The Ports of Madeira have announced plans to advance their digital transformation efforts.
The Administration of the Ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (APRAM), operating under the Regional Secretariat for Economy, is nearing completion of a new digital platform designed to manage quay reservations for cruise ships.
According to APRAM’s press release, the new system will improve efficiency, transparency, communication, and data security by providing shipping agents and the port authority with a unified channel for handling berth requests.
“With this new tool, APRAM aims to streamline a process that until now was handled manually and on paper,” said Paula Cabaco, chair of the board of directors of the Ports of Madeira.
Cabaco emphasized the system’s increased visibility, noting the “enhanced transparency” as a key benefit.
“Every step of the quay reservation process will now be traceable and auditable, from the initial request to the final decision,” she added.
Cabaco introduced the new platform at the XI Congress of AGEPOR, the Portuguese Shipping Agents Association, held in Almancil.
“Currently, we are manually managing 977 quay reservations for cruise ships, extending through the end of 2029, without any digital tool,” she explained.
The system will also provide added functionality for the port community by integrating real-time sharing of booking and operational planning data.
APRAM noted that during peak cruise periods, Madeira’s ports often receive more requests than available berths, and this new platform will improve communication and transparency with cruise operators.
“We neither like nor want to refuse reservations, but sometimes we must due to limited space. This system will help us communicate more effectively with the cruise companies,” said Cabaco.
The €41,250 investment forms part of Project P4.14 (Creation of Port Community System, Sub-investment C19-i05.01), part of Madeira’s Digital Transition of the Public Administration initiative under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
