The overall objective of the WiderMoS project was to improve interoperability between the sea and the other transport modes by developing new port/ship/rail/inland interfaces. The project included the development of five Pilot Corridor Management Platforms in order to allow a seamless shipment management and communication within the supply chain. The pilots aimed at overcoming specific bottlenecks with a focus on paperless logistics/e-customs processes (eventually including e-seals) with priority for the integration of inland/seaport terminals and rail.

Within WiderMos, Magellan was subcontracted to design a roadmap proposing the first steps to be taken for the expansion of the WiderMoS project to Brazil by presenting a general overview of the maritime ports in Brazil, its correspondent inland connections and the customs procedures, considering the most relevant stakeholders. Capitalising on the knowledge created in the WiderMos project about European corridors, the analysis focused on the possibility of developing a corridor between the Port of Leixões and the Port of La Spezia on the European side, and the Port of Santos and Pecém on the Brazilian side, with a particular focus on the Fresh Food Corridor.

The project Douro’s Inland Waterway – Phase I (DIW) was part of a Global Project that aims at providing a safe and secure level of navigability to the Portuguese section of the Douro River. The Action consisted of hydrographic, topographic and geometric studies, development plans, and studies for the design of a River Information Services plan and modernisation of communications. It also addressed training and the preparation of an emergency plan. The Action improved traffic flows, contributing to a better connection between the Atlantic front and the rest of Europe, supporting economic growth and modal shift. The Global project Douro’s Inland Waterway 2020 aims to bring the maximum potential of Douro’s traffic flow.

This first phase aimed to plan the modernisation and correction of the river’s channel, design a River Information Services plan and design a rehabilitation plan for the five locks of the river. The impact of general cargo, bulks and cruise vessels’ navigation, and how the different freight flows can be accommodated will be assessed, considering the expected steep increase due to a large iron mine currently developing in the river’s hinterland. All to enhance the overall navigability capacity, safety and security of the river through the core seaport of Leixões and inner side of North and Centre regions, in Portugal, and the Spanish region of Castilla y León with the European and TEN-T standards.

Magellan was subcontracted to represent the figure of Technical Manager, providing the full project secretariat. The project management aimed to ensure that every activity goal was achieved and that the deadlines were met, to ease communication between all the intervenient parties and to elaborate all the mandatory control documents and tools such as the Quality Manual, the Action Status Report and the Financial Statements. This activity included the management of the project administrative questions and the management of all the activities in communication with all activity leaders (entities or persons responsible for each activity). The management structure procedures worked in a flexible manner in order to:

– Achieve perfect integration of the Partner and the involved experts enhancing their expertise, knowledge and networks in every stage of the project;

– Efficiently coordinate the processing of the work plan in a collaborative environment.

The second phase of Douro’s Inland Waterway 2020 – SSA (Safer and Sustainable Accessibility) focuses on improving the security conditions in the estuary of the Douro.
The estuary is the section of the canal with the greatest intensity of traffic (with most ships starting or ending their journeys there), with the project addressing immediate security concerns.
In addition, this is an opportunity to perform different pilots and tests regarding future activities envisaged for the waterway with emphasis on the following two activities:

– ICT Applications, sharing of information, communication technologies and GPS;
– Port Accessibility: nautical chart of the estuary.

Magellan was subcontracted by the Administration of the Port of Leixões and Viana do Castelo (APDL) to coordinate the preparation of the bid, and has taken over the role of Technical Manager and Secretariat of the DIW 2020 project – SSA, after its approval.