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SAES and the Port Authority of Cartagena sign an agreement to promote the sustainable development of the Port of Cartagena

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SAES, a leading technology company in underwater defence and protection, and the Port Authority of Cartagena (APC), the entity responsible for the management and development of the Port of Cartagena, have signed a commitment agreement for the sustainable development of the Port of Cartagena, within the framework of the United Nations‘ 2030 Agenda. Thus, SAES joins the APC’s platform ‘Commitment to the Sustainable Development of the Port of Cartagena’ alongside 28 other companies and institutions. 

SAES and the Port Authority of Cartagena have signed an agreement to join the platform ‘Commitment to the Sustainable Development of the Port of Cartagena’ to advance as the most sustainable port in the Mediterranean. This initiative, driven by the Port Authority of Cartagena, now includes a total of 29 organisations that come together to work towards a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous port community in Cartagena, based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The signing took place at the headquarters of the Port Authority, with the Vice President of the APC, Pedro Pablo Hernández, and the President of SAES, José Javier Mármol, committing to advance towards the SDG objectives in a common strategy that aims to make Cartagena the most sustainable port in the Mediterranean.

The Vice President of the Port Authority, Pedro Pablo Hernández, highlighted that “each organisation and company that is part of this Platform is a new added value that allows the measures and projects we carry out in the Port of Cartagena to have a greater benefit for society and our environment. The sum of efforts allows us to go further in our common objectives, guaranteeing greater socio-economic momentum, while always caring for and protecting an environment that includes seven protected areas within the Natura 2000 Network.”

For his part, the President of SAES, José Javier Mármol, stated, “At SAES, we are deeply committed to sustainability and environmental protection. Joining this platform allows us to collaborate closely with other organisations to implement innovative and sustainable solutions that benefit both the port community and the natural environment of Cartagena. We firmly believe that by working together, we can achieve ambitious goals and significantly contribute to the sustainable development of our region.”

The Commitment to the Sustainable Development of the Port of Cartagena is based on the goals outlined by each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, through an open and inclusive space for new companies, entities, and organisations in the community that have a common interest in advancing the sustainability of the Port of Cartagena.

Driven by the Port Authority of Cartagena, the Commitment to the Sustainable Development of Cartagena is a platform comprised of SMEs, large companies, and educational and research organisations that was launched at the end of 2020. The group includes Agencia Marítima Blázquez, Agrupación de Boteros y Amarradores del Puerto de Cartagena, Arsenal Militar de Cartagena, Capitanía Marítima, Ascar, Alkion Terminals, Bergé Marítima División Cartagena, Boluda Towage Spain, Bunge Ibérica, Buran Energy, Cartago Marpol, Cementos Colacem, Daniel Gómez Servicios Portuarios, Enagás, Engie Cartagena, Ership, Grupo Inglés, Iberian Lube Base Oils Company, Masol Cartagena, Navantia, Offshore Special Services, Real Club de Regatas de Cartagena, Repsol Petróleo Refinería Cartagena, Terminal Marítima de Cartagena, Astilleros Cartagena, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Yacht Port Cartagena, and Zamora Company.

The signing of this agreement reflects SAES’s alignment with the values of the 2030 Agenda and its intention to be an active part in building the most sustainable port in the Mediterranean. Among the commitments made by SAES are the incorporation of the 2030 Agenda into its organisational strategy, networking with APC and the Port Community of Cartagena, and prioritising actions that ensure compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SAES and the Port Authority of Cartagena sign an agreement to promote the sustainable development of the Port of Cartagena 

SWAT-SHOAL: 1st General Assembly Meeting

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Six months after the kick-off meeting of the SWArm and Teaming operation of manned & unmanned underwater vehicle SHOAL (SWAT-SHOAL) project, funded by the European Commission under the European Defence Fund (EDF2022) and coordinated by Navantia, the first General Assembly meeting brought the members of the consortium together at the Navantia Training Centre (NTC), in Cadiz, Spain. 

Hosted by Navantia, the first SWAT-SHOAL General Assembly meeting gathered the 20 partners of the project: Navantia (Spain, project coordinator); Naval Group Belgium, SEA Europe (Belgium); Cafa Tech (Estonia), Naval Group (France); Atlas Elektronik, Develogic, Fraunhofer, WTD71 (Germany); Prisma Electronics, SOTIRIA (Greece); Fincantieri NexTech (Italy); Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Norway); Akademia Marynarki Wojennej, PIAP (Poland); Adyta (Portugal); GMV, Sener, SAES (Spain); and Saab Kockums (Sweden).

General Assemblies, especially the first one, are key milestone for the project. It allows the partners to meet each other every six months, update the consortium on the current progress, align the different workpackages, address difficulties, and agree on actions to undertake for the following months. In addition to the workshops, Navantia organized a visit to the NTC and its simulator classrooms (including the Navantis Avatar Immersion Room). At the NTC, Navantia provides training programs for ship crews, training and coaching for Navantia personnel, and hosts various events and exhibitions.

“I am proud to say that our collaboration is solid and allows us to work efficiently as a European team. This first General Assembly showed our strong motivation and dedication to achieving the expectations set by the European Commission, and the Ministries of Defence, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the results of our research.” – said Victor Moreno Ortiz, SWAT-SHOAL Project Coordinator.

SWAT-SHOAL is a 36-month research project, which aims to develop a concept of a systems-of- systems based on swarming technologies to integrate manned and unmanned naval assets, collaborating effectively as a team to achieve greater performance and efficiency in a broad spectrum of underwater missions against moving subsurface threats. The system will enable different vehicle types, working in a team as a single unit, can face more complex scenarios, or that they are organized as a squad assigning a defined task to each platform. 

SWAT-SHOAL - 1st GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

SAES and Airbus Defence and Space strengthen submarine defence with the implementation of acoustic systems in C295 maritime patrol aircraft

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SAES, a leading technology company in submarine defence and protection, and Airbus Defence and Space, a driving company in the aerospace sector in Spain, have signed an agreement for the purchase and implementation of SAES sonobuoy acoustic systems in the C295 maritime patrol aircraft, recently acquired by the Spanish Ministry of Defence from Airbus Defence and Space. This agreement reinforces the commitment of both companies to innovation and submarine defence.

SAES and Airbus Defence and Space have sealed an agreement for the development and supply of Sonobuoy Acoustic Processing Systems (SPAS), designed and manufactured by SAES, in the C295 maritime patrol aircraft of Airbus, which the Spanish State has recently acquired. This agreement reaffirms the constant commitment of both companies to enhance and update Spanish anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. 

The SPAS system supplied by SAES will be integrated with the Tactical Mission System (FITS) of Airbus Defence and Space. This contract also includes ground support, through the acoustic analysis and mission support system (FTAS – Fast Time Analyser System) and the acoustic training system (TAT – Tactical Acoustic Training). 

Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions are complex to operate, requiring the participation and coordination of surface and air platforms, such as the C295, which enhance the probability of success thanks to their ability to cover wide areas of operation.

The C295 aircraft, in Maritime Patrol or MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) configuration, deploys different types of sonobuoys (deployable acoustic sensors) that will be processed by the SPAS system, which includes the processing capability of the most advanced sonobuoys on the market. 

The collaboration between Airbus and SAES dates back to 2001, when SAES participated in the modernisation programme of the P-3 Orion aircraft of the Air and Space Army. Since then, the alliance between both companies has not only prospered, but has continued successfully through the programmes implemented in the C295s of Chile and the P-3 Orions of Brazil. 

The General Director of SAES, César Solano, highlights that “the integration of the SPAS system on board the C295 maritime patrol aircraft represents a significant milestone for us. This system enhances the aircraft’s capabilities, enabling anti-submarine warfare operations. It’s not just about equipping the aircraft with cutting-edge technology: it’s about providing our operators with the tools they need to ensure security”. 

As an integral part of the development of these systems, SAES includes the collaboration of Spanish companies. This cooperation “not only promotes technological advancement, but also contributes to the creation of qualified employment”, indicates Solano.

Sara García Alonso: “the world cannot afford to lose 50% of talent”

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The ‘WomIn‘ forum manages to bring together, in its first edition, great references in engineering to promote the role of women in the sector. It was held today at the facilities of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, with the attendance of more than half a thousand students – schoolgirls and university students. Sara García Alonso, the first Spanish woman Reserve Astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA), recommends future engineers to have courage to innovate and infinite curiosity.

Sara García Alonso, the first Spanish woman Reserve Astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA), recommends future engineers to have courage to innovate and infinite curiosity. The molecular biologist has participated in ‘WomIn’, the meeting to awaken STEM vocations that is held at the UPCT, and which has the attendance of more than half a thousand students. Before this large group of students, Sara García, has remembered her early years of studies, “my vocation began in a playful way, my parents encouraged me to investigate, to see things through a microscope and to ask myself many questions. We have to apply technology to almost all sectors, so that society improves, so I ask you not to limit your curiosity”. 

She concluded that Science is passion and that she has been selected among 23,000 candidates, through a process of 18 months, “with exams of all kinds, astronauts are dedicated to research from space, so it is always too early to give up, dare to pursue your dreams”. She also explained how most of the technology has been developed by men and for men, a trend that is slowly changing, because “the world cannot afford to lose 50% of talent”.  

The meeting has had the testimonies of Beatriz Miguel, first rector of a polytechnic university in Spain; Anabel Díaz, general manager of Uber for Europe, Middle East and Africa; Consuelo Lázaro, director of Operations SAES; Noelia Ortega, director of the Naval and Sea Technology Centre and Cristina Abad, director of Navantia Systems, have made Cartagena today the epicentre of engineering in our country.

They and the more than half a thousand students, who have attended “WomIn, the Women’s Forum in Engineering 2024”, have made the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) vibrate. 

This innovative day started today in the Isaac Peral Room of the CIM Building with a full house and eyes set on the stars. It could not be otherwise since it brought together two unstoppable forces: that of vocation and that of experience.  

At the meeting, Anabel Díaz Calderón, CEO UBER explained that “engineers design the products of the future and women must participate and contribute to the solutions and sustainability of tomorrow”. 

For her part, Consuelo Lázaro, Chief Operating Officer at SAES, appealed to social responsibility stating that “there is no need to wait for us to be dictated rules to demand equality, in society and the workplace”.   

Throughout the morning, the masterful interventions of these women engineers who are a reference at national and international level, have sought a triple common objective: to value the role of women in engineering, promoting the access of young women to STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), to make visible the importance of female talent in industry and social development and to awaken professional vocations among the youngest students. 

For her part, Cristina Abad, director of Navantia Systems, highlighted that “we have to make engineering attractive for young women” and Noelia Ortega, from the Naval and Sea Technology Centre, explained that “being a woman is a value that contributes a lot to society, also in engineering”.

Along with them, we have three other women who well represent professionalism and female talent in the Region, Noelia Arroyo, mayor of Cartagena; Azucena Marín, CEO of Comunicología, and Eva Franco, director of Communication, Sustainability and Social Action at Hidrogea, moderator of one of the experience tables. 

The initiative of the UPCT has had the collaboration of companies such as SAES, which this year celebrates its 35th anniversary, and Hidrogea, as well as the Naval and Sea Technology Centre. 

Spain’s first female astronaut lands in Cartagena to inspire professional vocations

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Sara García Alonso participates on Monday 8th April in Cartagena, alongside other leading national engineers, in ‘WomIn, the Women’s Forum in Engineering 2024′.

The first edition could not start with more strength. “WomIn, the Women’s Forum in Engineering 2024″, which will be held in Cartagena on April 8 with the firm purpose of inspiring professional vocations among the youngest students, will feature engineers of recognised prestige at national and international level.

Within the framework of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT), the meeting is born with the aim of valuing the role of women in engineering, promoting the access of young women to STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and highlighting the importance of female talent in industry and social development. 

Alongside Sara García Alonso, the first Spanish female Reserve Astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA), the students will have the opportunity to learn from the experiences of female role models such as Beatriz Miguel, the first female rector of a polytechnic university in Spain, the one in Cartagena; Anabel Díaz, General Manager of Uber for Europe, Middle East and Africa; Consuelo Lázaro, SAES Director of Operations; Noelia Ortega, Director of the Naval and Sea Technology Centre; and Cristina Abad, Director of Navantia Systems.

The event, which will take place in the Isaac Peral Room of the CIM building from 10 am with the sea as a backdrop, will allow free entry for school and university students until full capacity is reached.

This is an initiative of the UPCT in collaboration with the companies SAES, which this year celebrates its 35th anniversary, and Hidrogea, as well as the Naval and Sea Technology Centre.

The event will be hosted by journalist Azucena Marín and will feature Eva Franco, Director of Communication, Sustainability and Social Action at Hidrogea, to moderate one of the round tables. In addition, the audience will be able to ask questions and interact with each of the participants.  

Great role models for the younger generations 

It was in 1929 when a woman received the title of industrial engineer for the first time in Spain. Today, 58 percent of people graduating from Spanish universities are women. But only 29 percent of young people enrolled in engineering degrees are women.

“WomIn, the Women’s Forum in Engineering 2024”, which is born with the vocation to become a national benchmark, aspires to increase these figures in the future to match those of other university disciplines.

It will do so with the help of Sara García, Beatriz Miguel, Anabel Díaz, Consuelo Lázaro, Noelia Ortega, Cristina Abad, as well as Eva Franco and Azucena Marín. Women, all of them, who have broken into predominantly male sectors becoming, without a doubt, great examples to be followed by the younger generations.

SAES begins the celebration of its 35th anniversary with the exhibition ‘Women in Engineering’

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The public company SAES, SME commemorates its 35th anniversary this year with a series of events that aim to highlight the strategic contribution of the company over more than three decades. The first of these events has been held in commemoration of The International Women’s Day (8th March), with an exhibition in the Heroes of Cavite square in Cartagena. SAES shows its commitment to gender equality and recognises the achievements of illustrious women in the world of engineering who contribute to inspire future scientific vocations.   

The exhibition can be visited at the port this weekend and will then move to the facilities of the UPCT until the month of April. 

SAES has today kicked off the celebrations for its 35th anniversary with the exhibition “Women in Engineering”. The event took place today at 12:30 pm in the Heroes of Cavite square, in Cartagena (Spain). The exhibition, which showcases the legacy of ten women who have marked the history of engineering, was presented by the President and CEO of SAES, Joaquín López Pagán. “It is a pride for us to commemorate our anniversary by highlighting the fundamental role of women in engineering. We want to motivate future generations and help increase female presence in this sector,” said López Pagán during the presentation.

The event was attended by several authorities, including Mariola Guevara, Government Delegate of Spain in the Region of Murcia, and Rosa Badillo Amador, Secretary General of the UPCT, as well as members of the SAES Management Committee, like Sara García Ruiz (Telecommunications Engineer), Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation, and Esther Corbalán (Mathematician) Head of People Development.

Other authorities present: Caridad Rives Arcayna, national deputy and deputy spokesperson of the Socialist Group in the Defense Committee of Congress; Carmina Fernández, regional deputy of the Socialist Group; Pedro Contreras Fernández, councilor and spokesperson for the PSOE Cartagena; Isabel María Andreu, councilor of the Cartagena City Council; and Manuel Torres, general secretary and spokesperson for the PSOE Cartagena.

The exhibition “Women in Engineering” is a further demonstration of SAES’s commitment to gender equality, the promotion of scientific vocation and innovation, and marks the beginning of a year of celebrations for the company’s 35th anniversary.

SAES continues to work on high-level technological development and solutions in more than 20 countries and participates in major strategic projects for national defence led by Navantia, such as the S80 class submarines and the F110 frigates.

SAES successfully hosts a real-time connection initiative with Antarctica for children from the TALENTOS association

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The TALENTOS association, which brings together parents with children diagnosed with high intellectual abilities, has joined the 37th Antarctic Campaign on Deception Island along with several educational centres and participated in a video call with the scientific base at the SAES facilities. This collaboration is a unique opportunity to foster scientific vocation among the youngest and bring them closer to the research carried out in one of the most remote places on the planet.

Today, Monday 4th of March, SAES has hosted a real-time connection initiative with Antarctica for a group of 30 children from the ‘TALENTOS High Intellectual Abilities Region of Murcia‘ association: a collective of parents with children diagnosed with high intellectual abilities. The video conference connection with the civilian and military personnel stationed at the Spanish Antarctic Base “Gabriel de Castilla” has allowed the children to learn first-hand about the scientific activity taking place in the XXXVII Antarctic Campaign on Deception Island.

During the connection, which began at 10 o’clock sharp in the morning and lasted approximately two hours, the children were able to ask questions to the scientists and learn more about their daily life and their activity in Antarctica.

The scientists told the children present, from various educational centres and associations, among other things, about the long journey with the Hespérides ship [built for multidisciplinary scientific research in any sea or ocean, including Arctic and Antarctic Areas] or how they prepare for a year before starting the mission (in the months of the Antarctic summer). In addition, the base personnel talked about their daily life, the importance of waste management to leave no trace of their passage, and interesting details of small daily missions or even the lack of trees and plants there. In this task, they have the logistical support of the Army, which also protects and preserves the area. Among the local fauna, they highlighted the sea lions, the crab seal, Weddell seal, the elephant seal and a wide variety of birds. Although, according to their words, “the chinstrap penguins are the kings of Deception Island.”

The scientists of this year’s campaign arrived at the base on December 31, 2023, and return in March: the arrival of the Hespérides ship in Cartagena (Spain) is expected for the month of April.

The possibility of sponsoring a penguin from Deception Island was also mentioned, an initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Defence that seeks to promote environmental care.  

For Esther Corbalán, Head of People Development at SAES, “this event has been a unique opportunity to foster scientific vocation among the youngest and bring them closer to the research carried out in one of the most remote places on the planet”. In addition, this initiative “is aligned with the promotion of STEM vocations (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in children from an early age in which SAES has been committed for years”

In addition to the children from the TALENTOS association, a dozen Primary and Secondary students whose parents are part of the SAES staff, a company specialised in underwater technology that innovates for a safer world, have joined this activity.

Consuelo Lázaro speaks on SAES’s capabilities in underwater technologies and their application in the S-80

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The design and construction of the S-81 submarine has been a historic technological milestone for Spain. Our Chief Operating Officer, Consuelo Lázaro, was interviewed on this topic a few days ago on the Cadena SER radio station.

Consuelo Lázaro, directora de Operaciones en SAES

Consuelo Lázaro highlighted the technological maturity that SAES has achieved thanks to projects like the S-81 submarine, because with this participation “we have deepened our base knowledge and developed our capabilities in hydroacoustics and underwater multi-influence”. She also emphasised the importance of obsolescence management in projects as long as this one, as well as the life cycle support #LCS plans that include technology updates throughout its useful life.

 

You can listen to the complete interview here (audio in Spanish):

Vocational Day with students from Maristas School in Cartagena

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On November 23rd, a group of first-year high school students from the Maristas educational centre visited the SAES facilities in Cartagena and La Palma as part of the ’24 hours with you’ programme. The aim of this vocational day, organised by the school, is to give students the opportunity to firsthand experience the professional experiences and career paths that can be achieved by studying degrees such as Engineering or Mathematics.

During the visit to the Cartagena head office, the students were welcomed by César Solano, General Manager and former student of the Maristas school, who welcomed them and shared his professional experience in the field of engineering. For her part, Esther Corbalán, Head of People Development, presented the activities developed at SAES and highlighted the study of different activities and the benefits of performing different roles in the professional field.

At the La Palma facilities, the students were accompanied by José Ramón Martínez, Production Area Manager, and Manuel Castilla, Manufacturing Manager in the Production Area. Both showed the students the different areas of the manufacturing process and shared their knowledge and experiences in the field of engineering.

During the day, the students had the opportunity to interact with colleagues from SAES, who shared their experiences and knowledge, providing advice and resolving doubts about the professional future.

For Esther Corbalán, “SAES’s participation in activities of this type is fundamental as we contribute to our environment, and at the same time it allows us to foster vocations in STEM degrees”.

SAES will equip the S-80 class submarines with the latest generation smart mines

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The public company will provide state-of-the-art multi-influence mines that will allow the detection of underwater threats and address different scenarios based on the signals received. 

SAES has been awarded this important contract from the Ministry of Defence, which represents another technological leap in this type of weaponry that will be incorporated into the S-80 class submarines and will be developed over five years with an amount of more than 15 million euros. 

The Council of Ministers on July 4th authorised the framework agreement for the acquisition of last generation smart mines for the S-80 class submarines that Navantia is building for the Spanish Navy, the first delivery of which was on Thursday, November 30th. This framework agreement is a five-year operation with an estimated value of 15.5 million euros. The aim is to incorporate new mines with the latest technological advances. 

SAES’s naval mines are the most advanced intelligent naval mines currently in production. They are manufactured in three different models, depending on the different depths and characteristics of the waters: moored mines, low-profile mines, and those that will go on the S-80, the cylindrical bottom mines. Their sensors allow the measurement of magnetic, electric, acoustic, pressure, and seismic influences. However, the true intelligence of the mine lies in the processing of these influences, making it a more effective and safer naval mine in the detection of possible underwater threats. 

This is the second mine contract for the S-80s signed by the Ministry of Defence and SAES, following the one formalised at the end of 2022 for the supply of multi-influence bottom mines in their training version (known as dummy), for an amount of 650,000 euros and a duration of two years. They are used for training tasks in the mining area and are prepared for launch from the torpedo tubes of the submarines, an activity that has been successfully carried out as part of the S81 acceptance test schedule. 

As stated by the General Manager of SAES, Cesar Solano, “the signing of this contract with the Ministry of Defence represents another technological leap in this type of weaponry that will be incorporated into the S-80 class submarines, demonstrating that we continue to be at the forefront in the development of intelligent naval mines, competing internationally and once again putting our capabilities in hydroacoustic and multi-influence at the service of the Spanish Navy.” 

Other contributions from SAES to the S-80. 

SAES is the only Spanish company with sonar (design and production) and underwater acoustics capabilities. The company’s extensive collaboration in the S-80 class submarine programme is backed by its technological capacity, proprietary developments, high specialisation in acoustics, and solid experience in large naval programmes at a national and international level.

In addition to the bottom mines, SAES contributes to the S-80 programme the acoustic classification system, the sonar performance prediction system, the noise monitoring system, and the target motion analysis system. It has also developed the towed sonar, the HMI of all sonars, the stimulation of sonars, and the simulation of the acoustic environment for the Tactical Simulator.

Furthermore, it is in charge of the fine-tuning of the towed sonar, and provides various engineering works for the tactical system, the acoustic system, and the development of the submarine’s tests. Finally, SAES’s participation is also essential in supporting the life cycle and maintenance of the submarine throughout its useful life.

In summary, SAES develops technology so that the S-80 class submarines can listen under the sea and interpret what they hear, identifying and classifying what is happening around them.