The Port Authority of Santander (APS) has initiated a project aimed at identifying, assessing, and quantifying the port's contribution to the social well-being of its surrounding area. The study, conducted by strategic consultancy Trancendent, will establish a system of indicators to measure the value generated by port activities beyond their economic dimension.
César Díaz, president of the APS, stated, “This project will provide us with tools to make better decisions, guide our actions, and understand the needs of citizens with objective data.” The APS is focused on developing a specific model to measure, evaluate, and enhance the social impact generated by the port's activities in its area of influence. This initiative aims to provide “tools that allow us to make better decisions, guide our actions, and understand the needs of citizens with objective data,” as explained by Díaz.
The purpose is to incorporate this information into decision-making and the strategic planning of the APS, enabling the evaluation of the port's social contribution using measurable and verifiable criteria. Díaz emphasised, “This is an excellent opportunity to position ourselves as leaders in promoting the social dimension within the port sector,” noting that while European ports are trending in this direction, Spain has yet to develop it systematically.
Díaz highlighted that “a modern port” cannot measure its success solely by economic results or logistical capacity; it must also contribute to the well-being of people, businesses, and the territory in which it operates.
Measuring the port's social contribution
The project will unfold in three phases. The first phase will involve diagnosing the current situation, identifying the main social impacts of port activities, and prioritising them based on the challenges and needs of the surrounding area. The second phase will design a measurement and quantification framework based on clear, objective, and easily obtainable indicators. This system will include a management tool that allows for the integration of results into the monitoring of the APS's strategic plan objectives.
The third phase will culminate in the preparation of a social impact report, which will summarise the main findings of the analysis and propose improvements, accompanied by a roadmap for advancing impact management in the short and medium term. The model will reference international standards specialised in impact measurement to ensure a rigorous and comparable analysis tailored to the characteristics of the Port of Santander.
Through this project, the APS aims to complement traditional indicators of activity and economic results with a broader view of its contribution to the territory. “It is about understanding not only how much the port contributes to the economy but also how it transforms its environment, what opportunities it generates for people, and how it can continue to improve its relationship with society,” concluded Díaz.
