The overall SMART-PORT objective is to analyse the situation of Med container ports based on the “smart-port” (SP) trends and to identify the path to be followed in order to enhance the leading role of the Southern European containers ports and to consolidate them as the main entrance door to the great European centres of consumption, rather than the ports of Northern Europe. Thus, decongesting these ports, encouraging the use of maritime transport instead of road one and achieving a well-balanced socio-economic development in the whole EU. SMART-PORT entails the definition of the SP criteria (specifically, the key factors of competitiveness in the operational, energy & environmental aspects) and the current situation of the Med Ports as well as the identification of their competitive advantages and disadvantages taking into special consideration their competitiveness potential. Eventually the project offers an action plan to exploit the existing potential and promote the creation of a specialized network in the MED area.