**1. Introduction**

In recent years, major ports around the world have been implementing new technologies to realize "Smart Ports," in order to enhance international competitiveness, reduce environmental impact, and improve the workplace environment. In addition to the automation and labor-saving measures that have been actively pursued so far, smart ports are nowadays expected to benefit from the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Big Data1 , as well as more focused initiatives, in specific the Physical Internet (PI), based on the development of

<sup>1</sup> Big data refer to various types of data in various forms and with various characteristics. Big data consist of three V's: Volume (amount of data), Variety (types of data), and Velocity (frequency of data generation and update).

high-speed communication infrastructures, such as the fifth generation mobile communication system (5G). The robust use of the numerous digital technologies, such as the ones above-mentioned, offers substantial business innovation opportunities and requires numerous organizational adjustments [1].

In specific, the digitalization of ports is enabled by 5G networks that provide low latency, high capacity, and increased bandwidth, hence allowing the collection and intelligent processing of vast amounts of data shared over an IoT information network infrastructure. 5G is foremost supporting the PI objectives, namely the widespread adoption of interconnected, sustainable logistics systems and applications.

A smart port is realized by means of wireless devices, smart sensors, actuators, data centers, and other IoT-based systems being connected and exchanging information. The seamless communication of ships, cargoes, and waterway and shore-based facilities, based on 5G and IoT technologies, constitutes the infrastructure of the smart port and shapes the innovation potential of the emergent maritime logistics services and applications. The efficiency, security, and safety of port operations and the achievement of the highly prioritized sustainable development goals are substantially improved by automating port operations, such as vessel management, container terminal operations, and yard automation.

Competitiveness and henceforth the competitive positioning of ports being nodes of multiple, global supply chain networks are of paramount importance and are directly determined by the adopted digital strategy and infrastructures implemented in each port.

This chapter outlines the main technologies' capabilities, as well as the current status of policies and initiatives for the development and deployment of various technologies, primarily for automated terminals and automated ships in ports, as innovations for ships and various automated machinery, mainly for cargo handling, toward the realization of smart ports. Moreover, the chapter introduces a particular technological framework for creating a sustainable next-generation maritime logistics system, by applying PI to digitize maritime logistics networks and BC technology for secure information exchange to improve the overall efficiency of maritime logistics, at ports.
