Securing the Future of Ports: The Oulu Initiative

Oulu Port, Finland’s key northern harbor, is spearheading a €12.8 million international development project focused on bolstering security and resilience in critical cyber-physical systems.  The project, a collaboration between VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and 20 partners, including technology providers and universities, addresses the complex security challenges inherent in port operations.

Ports, vital nodes in global transportation networks, require robust security measures.  This initiative aims to develop a secure situational awareness concept, enhancing trust and building autonomous resilience within the port’s systems. This will enable faster recovery from incidents and mitigate risks associated with digital and physical attacks.

“In today’s volatile world, secure situational awareness is paramount,” says Juhani Latvakoski, Principal Scientist and project lead from VTT. “Ensuring digital trust and security for critical cyber-physical systems, coupled with enhanced situational awareness, is key to building resilience.  The port environment, with its diverse and complex operations, provides an ideal testing ground.”

Oulu Port, a leader in port digitalization, plays a crucial role, actively researching and implementing the latest technological solutions.  The port’s responsibility for safe and efficient traffic flow makes real-time situation and condition data essential for the entire port ecosystem.  With 90% of Finland’s exports passing through its ports, the project holds significant importance for Northern Finland’s supply chains.

“We are developing a digital twin of the port area, utilizing various sensors, detectors, and radars,” explains Soila Riutta, Development Manager at Oulu Port. “Innovative tracking and identification systems for port traffic are also a priority.  While new technologies offer opportunities, they often operate in silos.  This project aims to create a unified situational overview, particularly for managing safety and critical incidents.”

The project’s ambitious goal is to research and develop solutions for secure situational awareness applicable to various critical cyber-physical systems, beyond just ports.  “Unexpected events, like accidents or cyberattacks, can severely impact critical systems,” Latvakoski emphasizes.  “These events can lead to blocked access, data breaches, compromised physical safety, and resource depletion, potentially causing fatalities, financial losses, and even societal instability. Our project aims to develop secure situational awareness solutions crucial for logistics, mobility, energy, and security systems operating in ports and other critical infrastructures.”

Participating companies will research, develop, and pilot their products and solutions within the port environment, testing interoperability and targeting export-ready offerings. The project fosters collaboration and supports international growth for these companies.

“This project is vital for developing the port’s security and resilience,” concludes Riutta. “We are excited to collaborate with leading technology providers to create innovative solutions that will benefit all stakeholders.”

The Sa4CPS project, under the ITEA framework, facilitates international collaboration in software innovation and digital transition. Led by VTT, the consortium comprises 20 organizations from five countries, including 15 companies and four research organizations, with Oulu Port providing a crucial cross-sectoral role, practical application needs, and a real-world testing environment.

More information about the project can be found at: https://itea4.org/project/sa4cps.html