A celebration of a historic milestone for the Portuguese pilotage service!!!

On November 19, 2025, APIBARRA celebrated three decades of history with the 8th Conference, held at the Infante D. Henrique Auditorium, Port of Leixões (APDL). Under the theme “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, What Future?”, the event brought together national and international experts to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of pilotage services.

With over 100 participants, the initiative was a resounding success, reinforcing the importance of innovation, international cooperation, and the enhancement of pilotage services for the sustainability and efficiency of the logistics chain.

Program Highlights : 

Opening Session:

• Miguel Vieira de Castro (President of APIBARRA)

• João Neves (Chairman of the Board of APDL, S.A.)

Followed by three sessions:

Opportunities and Challenges in the Era of Digital Transition

Speakers: Hugo Bastos (APDL), Cláudio Pinto (APS), José Barros (SWITCH), Steffen Schmedes (TRENZ)

Moderator: Fernando Gonçalves (Transportes & Negócios)

Think Tank – The Future of Pilotage Service in Portugal

Speakers: José Simão (APS), António Belmar da Costa (AGEPOR), Duarte Piteira (Yilport), Nuno Soares (CPC), Rui Raposo (AAMC)

Moderator: António Nabo Martins (APAT)

Pilotage Service in Europe, Is Portugal So Different?

Speakers: Kaj Hahtonen (Luotsiliitto), André Gaillard (Fédération Française des Pilotes Maritimes), José Antonio Pérez (Colegio Oficial Nacional de Prácticos de Puerto), Willem Bentick (NLC), Erik Dalege (Bundeslotsenkammer)

Moderator: Miguel Vieira de Castro (APIBARRA)

Spoofing and jamming : 

Then came the keynote speaker Kaj Hahtonen (Luotsiliitto), who addressed the serious dangers of spoofing and jamming in the Baltic Sea.

Participants also enjoyed an excellent moment of humor provided by comedian António Jorge Serafim.

The closing session featured the presentation of the book :

“Responsabilidade da Autoridade Portuária pela prestação do serviço público de Pilotagem” (Responsibility of the Port Authority in Providing the Public Pilotage Service), by authors Sandra Aires and Carlos Serpa Carvalho.

APIBARRA also thanks all attendees and the essential support of our sponsors and partners:

Host:

• Administração dos Portos do Douro e Leixões, S.A. (APDL)

Premium:

• Reboport

• Rebonave

• Boluda

• PTR Holland Group

• Portugs

• Portrac

• Pioneiro do Rio

• Arm of Ocean

• Ocean Sea

• Yilport

• DOM

Gold:

• Lisnave

• Trenz

• Amura

• Cedros

• Safehaven Marine

• Navicom Dynamics

• NavInspect

Silver:

• Orey Shipping

• AIFE Liferaft SA

• WestSea

• Port of Lisbon

• Port of Setúbal

• Port of Sines

• QPS

• CPC

• Goodchild Marine Services

Partners:

• Apat

• Switch Digital

• Revista de Marinha

• Supply Chain Magazine

• Transportes & Negócios