GIBRALTAR PORT AUTHORITY: GPA Reinforces Golden Position in Mediterranean

As the key to the Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar’s strategic position has long made it a hub for vessels travelling around 87 seaports across the region, including to Valenica, the major Spanish operation responsible for more than 12 million tonnes of goods in 2023.  

The Gibraltar Port Authority (GPA) on the 200-million-year-old Jurassic Limestone rock looks after 60,000 vessels that traverse the Mediterranean and Atlantic crossroads every year. A maritime centre of excellence, the 12 km coastline comes to head at the port on the west of the territory where a range of world-class facilities are on offer.

But this is not simply a port on the Rock. The GPA is taking a leading position on transformation, as more and more stakeholders look to chart a new course when it comes to fuelling and operational sustainability.

Currently undergoing a re-strategisation, the GPA is developing a fresh masterplan to welcome more traffic than ever while driving efficiency with every interaction.

GPA’s CEO and Captain of the Port, John Ghio, tells Energy Focus about how the masterplan will leverage commercial opportunities to build long-term sustainability.

“We are a very specialised port being service-oriented rather than a port that has a captive client base in discharge or loading. That means we are much more focused on trying to deliver a quality service,” he opens. “The flagship of this quality aspect is our bunkering regulatory framework where we have our own code of practice alongside an LNG code of practice, which covers everything from licensing to enforcement, to checks and balances on supply chain, safety, and ethics.

“We are busy working with the government team to focus on how we can make better use of the limited space that we have on the port estate. It is about reorganising to make the port even more efficient. Most of our operations take place at anchorage but we are trying to squeeze more efficiency out of landside operations so that we can carry on supporting high efficiency at the anchorage, but also increase efficiency of everything happening landside. The government has launched a new study labelled the port masterplan where we are looking at available land and infrastructure to see how we can optimise to further support our operations.”

INTRINSICALLY GREEN

With an operations room open 24/7 365, the GPA is constantly moving and changing to accommodate industry requirements. But its unique position as a British Overseas Territory, attached to the Spanish mainland, make it critical for comprehensive processes to be in place when making decisions.

“Our people cover the remit of a port authority as well as being the coastal state duty holder, so we have coastal state responsibilities for Gibraltar. That includes the safety of navigation aspect, regulation and licensing of port operations, and search and rescue and oil spill response,” reminds Ghio.

Some changes that are underway include increased bunkering of biofuels and LNG as more vessels opt for modern energy to drive systems. At the same time, the GPA is also looking at how to most effectively manage traditional fuels to ensure maximum efficiency.

“Being a service port, it is important that we keep sight of how we can support the industry and the transition to sustainability,” offers Ghio. “I am a believer that the shipping industry is intrinsically green – it is the most efficient mode of transport there is. Reputationally, it has taken a few blows because of perception rather than fact. Having said that, the industry is very much on track to increase sustainability measures dramatically. We are working hard to make sure we support that transition going forward.”

LNG is often cited as a strong return on investment for seafarers compared to traditional marine fuels and, despite still creating a carbon footprint, the environmental impact is significantly reduced. Some reports suggest reductions of greenhouse gas emissions of 23% and NOX emissions reductions of 80%.

“LNG is a bridge but has been identified as a cleaner fuel,” Ghio confirms. “We have been taking significant steps to ensure we overcome the chicken and egg scenario. We are a major bunkering hub which can offer a whole range of conventional fuels as well as LNG by way of having two independent suppliers with their own LNG barges. How that transitions into us supporting the industry taking steps forward is very important.”

For the industry to become more sustainable it is paramount that new, cleaner fuels are available for vessels, he adds. Modern vessels passing Gibraltar, but with no option for refuelling with the right fuels, would be a major missed opportunity for both the port and the industry.

“Not only those operating in a liner market, but also those in the spot market. They need to know they can call here and that we have availability of these fuels,” he says. “We put a lot of work into that, and that together with the ramping up of biofuel availability is very important. We are one of the few ports right now that has both LNG and biofuel together with conventional fuels. The importance of the supporting infrastructure – bunker barges that are able to supply B24, B30, and soon full biofuel cargoes – is also very important in how we support industry sustainability.”

RAFT OF SERVICES

In May 2024, the GPA welcomed the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship from Norwegian Cruises. On a scheduled stop after departing Valencia earlier on its voyage, the ship was home to 2289 passengers over 14 decks and the stop highlighted the ability of the port to manage vessels of scale without interruption. The company’s sister ships, the Norwegian Star and the Norwegian Viva, also visited Gibraltar in 2023, highlighting the appeal of the area not only from an infrastructure perspective but also through demand from tourists.

This growing sector is one which Ghio hopes to encourage through implementation of the new masterplan. Cruise liners are valuable arrivals for the port and its supply chain, and currently GPA receives around 200 per year.

“The port is primarily a bunker and service port,” admits Ghio. “We don’t have significant loading or discharge facilities. One of our key services is bunkering – conventional oil-based bunkering, biofuels, and LNG. Biofuels is growing and LNG has picked up significantly in the past year. We are also active in the provision of ancillary services to vessels taking bunker calls, anything from crew change to husbandry and underwater cleaning. As part of that, we want to develop our services for cruise companies. We also have some activity in terms of commercial STS transfer of cargo, oil-based and LNG.”

Key service lines include port tariffs and licenses, berthing, towage, port waste management, cargo handling and forwarding, pilotage, ship agency, ship management, ship repairs, and much more.

COMMERCIAL FOCUS 

Established in 2005, the GPA has always been dedicated to promoting development through an ocean economy around the peninsula. This means utilising opportunities presented by cruise, energy, and shipping industries to benefit local businesses and people. Here, the organisation has been successful, and is now building a value chain that incorporates local and international businesses, encouraging the best possible service delivery.

“The port is set up to create a framework for private companies to supply services. We need infrastructure and support around ensuring our IT systems and radars and other hardware is fully operational. The electronic environment in terms of fibre connectivity is integral to how we manage the operations. We have a web-based portal which we use as a vessel clearing system pre-arrivals. That is a bespoke programme that we have created which is focused on delivering as much efficiency as possible, while cutting down bureaucracy,” explains Ghio, highlighting the ability of the GPA to focus on problem solving that makes a difference.

“Private companies that we license to provide services to end users are working in a tightly controlled environment where we regularly carry out checks,” he adds of the ongoing focus on quality. “This is what sets us apart; for example, we do our own random sampling for bunker cargoes before they are supplied to vessels. That encourages the bunker supplier to have their own quality assurance systems. The approach we have taken is not the punitive one but we also count on am partnership type relationship with our operators, particularly for bunker suppliers, both oil and LNG. But they also operate in a framework where there is supervision, unannounced visits, operational audits, sampling etc. That derives a better service being provided to the end user.”

The result is a high-performing, high efficiency system that offers the correct fuel for whichever vessel is traversing the port, and ensures ongoing success for all businesses involved.

Alongside ensuring quality across the entire port, Ghio is also tasked with building commercial capacity. Driving a profitable organisation as well as an effective one is a key part of the longer-term master plan. Using his experience across the commercial sector, combined with vast knowledge of port operations, he is confident that GPA can create a thriving space with entrepreneurialism embedded in its culture.

“One of the issues that we could have when a port authority is a regulator for commercial activity is that we can become too fixated on the regulatory side without giving due consideration to commercial activity. My background is almost a melting of the two,” he says.

“The Port Authority Act, which sets the authority as a statutory organisation, has as one of its core missions, optimisation of commercial activity in the port. That means we have a duty to deliver a viable port from a commercial sense.”

In March 2024, Ghio and a delegation of representatives from across the maritime sector joined industry peers in London as part of International Energy Week to participate in events and learn from counterparts about new opportunities. With so much potential thanks to the port’s blessed geographic position, there is no doubt that Ghio and team will be able to unlock further economic opportunity and the beauty and unique positioning of the Rock will be able to fuel a thriving Mediterranean maritime industry.