EO4PORT builds on input and feedback from a broad community of ports and maritime stakeholders, ensuring that the roadmap reflects real operational needs rather than purely theoretical use cases.
Throughout the project, EO4PORT has engaged with a diverse set of ports that differ in size, geography and traffic profile. These include, among others:
Μajor Mediterranean ports such as the Port of Piraeus, the Port of Thessaloniki and the Heraklion Port Authority,
European core network ports and regional gateways, including the Port of Gdynia and ports in Bremen/Bremerhaven, and
Ιnternational ports outside Europe, such as the Port of Vancouver.
Some ports act as pilot or reference cases where selected EO solutions are explored in more depth, while others contribute primarily as interviewees and reviewers of requirements, concepts, and findings. This mix ensures that the EO4PORT roadmap is relevant for both large global hubs and smaller regional or specialised ports.
Beyond port authorities, EO4PORT involves a wider group of organisations that are essential to the port ecosystem and to the uptake of EO:
Terminal operators, including container terminals such as EUROGATE in Limassol;
Maritime clusters and associations, bringing together companies and institutions across the maritime value chain;
Infrastructure managers and port development companies, responsible for planning and maintaining port assets;
Classification societies, consultancies and technology providers, contributing expertise on standards, safety and digital solutions;
Research and academic institutions, supporting methodological development and evaluation.
These stakeholders help to position EO4PORT within the broader context of port digitalisation, safety, environmental performance and competitiveness.
The pilot ports and stakeholders are involved at each stage of the EO4PORT roadmap:
in identifying user needs and information gaps,
in validating geoinformation requirements and feasibility,
in reviewing EO capabilities and gaps from an operational viewpoint, and
in testing concepts and commenting on best practices and recommendations.
Their contributions ensure that the EO4PORT roadmap is practical, transferable and aligned with the realities of port operations and policy frameworks, making it a useful reference for other ports considering the adoption of Earth Observation.