The SECURE PORTS project officially launches on December 9th, 2025, with a Kick-off Meeting and press conference hosted at BAC – Parco della Musica, Pavilion D1, in Taranto, Italy. Co-funded by the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme, the project sets out to increase the cyber and physical security of small ports in Italy, Albania and Montenegro through a coordinated cross-border strategy.

Small ports represent essential gateways for trade and tourism in the South Adriatic, yet they often lack advanced security systems and face fragmented regulations. This leaves them increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks, unlawful access and international criminal activities, particularly compared to larger commercial ports.

With a total budget of €1,094,417.81, of which €887,220.73 is co-funded by the European Union, SECURE PORTS will design and test an integrated security system tailored to the needs of small ports. The project will develop a Security Dashboard to monitor threats in real time, apply BIM-GIS tools to better manage port infrastructures and implement automated solutions for security testing and incident response. Alongside these tools, the initiative will produce a Joint Action Plan to guide future security policies across borders. The project aims to improve resilience, reduce vulnerabilities and support a safer maritime environment in the South Adriatic. Its replicable solutions will also benefit other ports in the region.

The project is led by ITS Academy Mobilità (Italy) in cooperation with DHITECH – High-Tech District (Italy), Municipality of Gallipoli (Italy), Municipality of Montenero di Bisaccia (Italy), Papillon 1 (Montenegro) and ENVIO NGO (Albania).

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