UniversidaddeCádiz

The University of Cádiz (UCA) and the Bay of Algeciras Port Authority have reinforced their international cooperation within the framework of the European University of the Seas (SEA-EU) Alliance at the 15th International Maritime Transport and Logistics Conference (MARLOG 15), one of the leading global forums on maritime transport and logistics. The event was held in Egypt from 8 to 10 February 2026 under the theme “Smart & Resilient Logistics Corridors: Future Gateway to the Green Trade”.

UCA’s participation in MARLOG 15 took place by invitation of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), facilitated by the Bay of Algeciras Port Authority and within the context of the port authority’s involvement in the MEDPorts association, enhancing strategic dialogue between universities and port authorities across the Mediterranean region.

Representing the SEA-EU Alliance, Professor Fernando Pérez, UCA’s Director General for European Projects, delivered a presentation entitled “From Stakeholders to Strategic Partners: Engaging Port Authorities in the SEA-EU Alliance.” His talk focused on how collaboration between universities and port authorities can evolve from traditional institutional relationships into strategic partnerships with structural impact on regional development. He highlighted the essential role of port authorities as strategic partners in co-creating international joint degree programmes and developing microcredentials tailored to the real needs of the maritime sector. This education-industry alignment supports higher education responsiveness to key challenges such as sustainability, digitalisation, and resilience in international logistics corridors.

In this context, the Bay of Algeciras Port Authority was emphasised as a key SEA-EU affiliated member and coordinator of the Alliance’s Port Council, a pioneering structure that organises cooperation between universities and port authorities from the nine partner countries. Also present at MARLOG 15 were Luis Núñez and Álvaro Sebastián from the APBA’s Strategy Department, further strengthening the European and international dimension of this collaboration.

Participation in MARLOG 15 has also opened up new opportunities for cooperation with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, particularly through academic and training initiatives with Professor Alaa Mahmoud Morsy, Dean of the Port Training Institute & Maritime Research & Consultation Center. These exploratory efforts aim to broaden the international reach of SEA-EU throughout the Mediterranean region.

The joint presence of the University of Cádiz and the Bay of Algeciras Port Authority at this major international forum highlights the strength of UCA’s territorial innovation model, driven by university-port cooperation — a strategic alliance that positions the Bay of Algeciras as a real academic laboratory for knowledge transfer, sustainable development and international impact.