SafeForPorts+: Advancing Smart and Sustainable Port Operations

The new initiative extends the current project by enriching VR training and intelligent support systems to transform operational safety and efficiency at ports

Tenova is strengthening its commitment to innovation in port operations through the SafeForPorts project and its new extension, SafeForPorts+. Developed within the framework of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) initiative RAISE (Robotics and AI for Socio-economic Empowerment), implemented under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Mission 4 funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, and carried out together with technology partners Prosoft Intesys and InformAmuse, SafeForPorts is integrating Industry 4.0 technologies to make port environments safer and more efficient. It combines remote training and assisted maintenance to improve the safety of machine operators and optimize workflows in port areas. At its core, the project is creating a virtual-reality simulator for ship unloader operators, developed in Tenova’s Genoa laboratory, together with an on-field assistance system that leverages computer vision and wearable devices to enable hands-free workflows, automatic recognition of cracks and other damaged parts, and real-time reporting to support predictive maintenance. This integrated approach is also laying the groundwork for future Digital Twin applications in unmanned cargo operations.

SafeForPorts+ represents a further development of this work. In parallel with the implementation of SafeForPorts, Tenova and its partners are extending and validating the solution, enriching both the VR simulator and the intelligent support system with new functions and improved performance. The virtual training environment is being expanded to include key kinematic variables, such as hold depth and trolley travel length, and simulate additional ship unloader types. The on-field support component is being enhanced through the integration of thermographic data into the head-mounted device, broadening the system’s diagnostic capabilities and opening the way to a multimodal model that combines visible and infrared imaging.

Through these developments, SafeForPorts+ increases the impact and applicability of the technology while consolidating the investments already made. It also lays the foundations for deploying Tenova’s solutions in new operational scenarios beyond the original application, reinforcing the company’s role in advancing robotics, AI and Industry 4.0 systems for sustainable and intelligent port operations.