Escola Europea - Intermodal Transport

Every international shipment involves a series of decisions.

Which transport mode should be used? Which Incoterm best fits the operation? How do transit times, customs requirements, payment methods, insurance, and costs affect the final outcome?

This week, participants from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC BarcelonaTech) and Universidad del Pacífico explored these questions as part of the Maritime Logistics Certificate, a four-day programme held aboard a vessel sailing between Barcelona and Civitavecchia.

Through practical exercises, teamwork, and direct exposure to maritime transport operations, participants developed a broader understanding of how international trade works in practice and the many factors that influence supply chain decisions.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this edition and contributed to an engaging and enriching learning experience. ⚓🚢

Chi pagherà davvero la del trasporto marittimo?

È questa la domanda che ci siamo portati a casa dopo l'Annual Meeting di , dal titolo "Istruzioni per non navigare nel buio".

Negli ultimi anni abbiamo chiesto al settore marittimo di fare moltissimo.
- le emissioni.
- in nuove tecnologie.
- le flotte.
- processi e infrastrutture.

Tutto giusto. Ma durante il confronto è emerso un tema che merita una riflessione più ampia: 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲́ 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶 𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶?

Come Escola Europea, osserviamo questi cambiamenti da una prospettiva particolare: quella delle .

Perché mentre discutiamo di nuove flotte, carburanti alternativi e decarbonizzazione, non possiamo dimenticare che serviranno anche nuove in grado di gestire questa trasformazione. 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝗲̀ 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗠𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗼.

Un piacere, come sempre, confrontarci con partner e amici come Matteo Catani, CEO di GNV e tutto il team dell'Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare di Sicilia Occidentale con la sua presidente Annalisa Tardino, con cui condividiamo la convinzione che il futuro del Mediterraneo si costruisca attraverso collaborazione, innovazione e persone.

💭 E voi come la vedete? L'Europa sta creando le condizioni giuste per accelerare la transizione dello shipping o rischia di renderla più difficile da realizzare?

The doesn't need more competition. It needs more collaboration.

Last Friday in Rome, we had the opportunity to participate in the WestMED Italy-Malta Workshop, bringing together institutions, universities, training centres and industry representatives from both sides of the Mediterranean to discuss the of Blue Skills and Jobs.

Representing Escola Europea, our Country Manager Italy, Alessia Mastromattei, shared how experiential learning, international cooperation and projects such as MOST, Port Virtual Lab and Open Trade Med are helping connect with the real needs of the maritime and logistics sectors.

What emerged from the discussion was clear: The challenges facing our sector — sustainability, digitalisation, talent attraction and workforce development — are too big to be solved alone.
Whether in Italy, Malta or elsewhere in the Mediterranean, we all share the same objective: preparing people for the future while building stronger between education, industry and institutions.

A sincere thank you to the WestMED Initiative for the invitation and to all the organisations that contributed to such an open and inspiring discussion.

Because the future of the Mediterranean will not be built by individual actors.
It will be built by . 🌍⚓

From customs and trade to digital simulations and international cooperation, this week was a reminder that logistics is ultimately about people learning, collaborating, and preparing for what’s next.

In Barcelona, we hosted the OPEN TRADE MED seminar, bringing together partners from across the Mediterranean to discuss skills, employability, and the future of trade ecosystems. At the same time, University of Barcelona students concluded their Port Virtual Lab journey, while professionals joined the first sessions of our new Aduanas: Estrategia Ejecutiva programme to explore the evolving customs landscape.

Elsewhere, logistics came to life through workshops, maritime visits, simulations, and industry events, from CSCMP in Madrid to the Joint WestMED Malta–Italy Workshop in Rome.

Different audiences, different challenges, one common theme: investing in the knowledge and partnerships that will shape the future of transport and logistics. 🌍⚓

🌍 Building the foundations for the future of trade and logistics in the Mediterranean.

This week, the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport welcomed representatives from the Port of Tripoli, MARSATI and the Urban Community Al Fayhaa to Barcelona for the OPEN TRADE MED Pre-Pilot Seminar.

Over two intensive days of discussions, working sessions and exchanges with representatives from AECID, IEMed, MEDPorts, Barcelona Activa and the Fundació BCN Formació Professional, participants came together to define the next steps of an ambitious initiative aimed at strengthening vocational training, employability and international trade ecosystems across the Mediterranean.

The seminar provided a valuable opportunity to explore how port authorities, training centres, public institutions and the private sector can work together to develop the skills needed for the future of logistics and international trade.

One of the most encouraging outcomes was the strong commitment shown by our Lebanese partners. The Port of Tripoli confirmed its willingness to support the initiative through its facilities, expertise and network of stakeholders. MARSATI expressed its interest in expanding its educational offer to include logistics and international trade, while the Urban Community Al Fayhaa highlighted the importance of linking training initiatives to employability and local economic development.

Together, we identified key stakeholders, discussed priority professional profiles and began shaping a roadmap for the implementation phase of OPEN TRADE MED.

This seminar marks an important step forward. More importantly, it confirmed that there is a shared vision and a genuine willingness to work together to create new opportunities for young people, strengthen local capacities and foster closer cooperation across the Mediterranean, while highlighting the important role that institutions such as AECID, the Union for the Mediterranean and other regional partners can play in supporting sustainable skills development, employability and economic growth across the region.

A big thank you to all participants, partners and institutions who contributed to making these two days such a success. We look forward to the next chapter of OPEN TRADE MED.🙌

Last week at 2026, Eduard Rodés, Director of , had the honour of participating in the 24th Diploma Ceremony for graduates of the Higher Degree in Transport and Logistics, organised by the Generalitat de Catalunya.

Behind every diploma there is a collective effort: students who persevered, families who provided support, teachers who shared their knowledge, and companies that helped transform learning into real-world experience.

Many of these graduates have also participated in Forma’t al Port, our flagship programme that connects vocational education with the port-logistics community, helping students discover operations, professions, and career opportunities firsthand. The programme reached more than 580 students in 2024 and continues to strengthen the connection between education and industry.

At the , we are proud to support initiatives that bring education closer to the realities of logistics and intermodal transport, helping prepare the professionals who will shape the future of our sector.

Congratulations to all graduates of the 2025–2026 class. We look forward to seeing where your journey takes you.

Last week's 2026 gave us the opportunity to showcase two initiatives that are helping shape the future of logistics education and transport innovation.

Phygital Corridors: Presented by Marta Miquel and Alex Ariza, SURCO combines simulation-based learning with real operational environments to strengthen skills development along the Mediterranean and Atlantic rail corridors. The project supports greater port-rail integration while promoting more sustainable and efficient freight transport within the TEN-T network.

: Eduard Rodés and Orlando Reveco presented Port Virtual World, our digital learning ecosystem that enables students and professionals to simulate logistics operations, analyse transport flows, and explore the development of sustainable green corridors through digital tools and collaborative learning.

Both initiatives reflect a shared vision: preparing the next generation of logistics professionals through innovative, practical, and technology-driven training. At the , we believe that the transition towards more sustainable and interconnected transport systems starts with education.

Thank you to Port de Barcelona and for providing a platform to share these projects with the logistics community.

Nos complace dar la bienvenida a como nuevo patrocinador de Forma’t al Port, reforzando una red de empresas e instituciones comprometidas con el desarrollo del talento joven para el futuro del sector logístico-portuario.

Desde hace más de diez años, Forma’t al Port acerca a los estudiantes a la realidad del Puerto de Barcelona a través de una formación práctica, colaborativa y conectada con las necesidades del sector. Hoy, el programa cuenta con el apoyo de más de 35 patrocinadores y una decena de entidades colaboradoras que comparten un mismo objetivo: ayudar a las nuevas generaciones a descubrir las oportunidades profesionales que ofrece la comunidad portuaria y logística.

🤝 La incorporación de Grupo Arola refuerza el vínculo entre empresa y formación que define la esencia de Forma’t al Port.

🎓 A través de los programas Introduction y Talent, los estudiantes conocen de primera mano las operaciones portuarias, el transporte intermodal y las competencias que demanda un sector cada vez más innovador, sostenible y conectado.

Además, nos hace especial ilusión contar este año con Ariadna Arola, Chief Research and Development Officer de Grupo Arola, como madrina de Forma’t al Port Talent. Su experiencia y trayectoria serán una fuente de inspiración para los participantes que comienzan su camino profesional en el ámbito logístico.

En creemos que el futuro de la logística se construye desde la colaboración. Gracias a la implicación de empresas, asociaciones e instituciones, seguimos acercando la educación al entorno profesional y creando oportunidades para el talento del mañana.

¡Bienvenidos a la comunidad de Forma’t al Port, ! 💙

One week after 2026, we are reflecting on one message that resonated across every conversation: the future of Mediterranean logistics depends on people, knowledge, and collaboration.

During MedaLogistics, organised by ASCAME within , the Escola Europea contributed to three discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities shaping our region’s logistics ecosystem:

📦 Marta Miquel highlighted the importance of placing talent development at the centre of logistics strategies. Infrastructure and digitalisation are essential, but their impact depends on the professionals who make them work.

🚀 Orlando Reveco shared how simulation-based learning and digital training environments can help strengthen more connected, sustainable, and resilient port-logistics communities across the Mediterranean.

🤝 Eduard Rodés moderated the round table on competitiveness and cooperation, reinforcing a key idea: technology enables progress, but people make transformation possible.

These conversations reflect the mission of : connecting education, innovation, and industry to build a stronger and more collaborative logistics sector.

Thank you to ASCAME and SIL Barcelona for creating a space where ideas, experience, and partnerships come together.

Today is .
A day to celebrate the oceans that connect our countries, support our economies, and make global trade possible.

A few days ago, at Posidonia 2026 in Athens, we had the opportunity to reflect on what it will take to and those oceans for future generations.

Through the BLUE PORTS project and thanks to the support of the WestMED Initiative, our Country Manager Italy, Alessia Mastromattei, joined experts from across the to discuss the future skills needed for greener ports and a more sustainable blue economy.

One idea emerged clearly from the discussion. When we talk about protecting our oceans, we often think about cleaner fuels, targets, , or new .
But, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 #𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻.

As the maritime sector is evolving faster than ever before, the question is no longer whether change is coming. The real question is: are we developing the needed to keep pace?
One conclusion stood out above all:
⚓ If we want greener ports, we need greener certified skills.
🌊 If we want healthier oceans, we need people capable of driving that change.

Happy World Oceans Day.