The Ports of Madeira are taking a major step towards full digitalization. The Administration of the Ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (APRAM, S.A.), overseen by the Regional Secretariat for Economy, is in the final stages of launching a new Quay Reservation Management Platform for cruise ship calls.
This fully digital solution brings significant benefits in efficiency, transparency, communication, and data security for both APRAM and shipping agents, who will now have a single channel to request quay reservations for cruise ships.
“With this new tool, APRAM aims to streamline a process that until now was handled manually and on paper,” said Paula Cabaço, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ports of Madeira. She highlighted the “enhanced transparency” as one of the platform’s main advantages. “Every step of the quay reservation process will now be traceable and auditable, from the initial request to the final decision,” she added. Paula Cabaço presented the new system during the XI Congress of AGEPOR – Portuguese Shipping Agents Association, held earlier this week in Almancil.
Shipping agents have praised the platform as a “facilitating tool” for their work, and it has also attracted the interest of other ports attending the event. “Currently, we are manually managing 977 quay reservations for cruise ships, extending through the end of 2029, without any digital tool,” explained APRAM’s Chair. The new platform offers additional functionalities to the entire port community through the synchronized sharing of reservation and operational planning information.
During the peak cruise season, the Ports of Madeira often receive more quay reservation requests than available spaces. This platform will enhance transparency and communication with cruise lines. “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 Paula Cabaço, underlining the platform’s role in consolidating the port’s digital transformation.
The investment in the new platform totals €41,250 and is part of Project P4.14 – Creation of Port Community System, Sub-investment C19-i05.01 – Digital Transition of the Public Administration of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (RAM-DRI), within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
