## 4 Met-Ocean Strategy for Assessing the Feasibility of Marine Renewable Energy near Ports  
### Introduction  
As highlighted earlier, ports are emerging as critical hubs in the transition to sustainable maritime transport, not only by adopting low-emission operational measures and alternative fuels but also by exploring the integration of marine renewable energy systems. Building on this framework, this section emphasizes that the successful deployment of \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l} \hline
**Level** & **Name of Activity** \\ \hline
**1** & **Business-Oriented Activities (Managed by Concessionaires)** \\ \hline
1.1. & Passenger Terminals \\ \hline
1.2. & Cargo Terminals: \\ \hline
1.2.1 & Ro-Ro and Vehicle Terminals \\ \hline
1.2.2. & Container Terminals \\ \hline
1.2.3. & Multipurpose Terminals \\ \hline
1.2.4. & Bulk Terminals \\ \hline
1.2.5. & Petroleum and Chemical Terminals (Dangerous cargo) \\ \hline
1.3. & Private Services: \\ \hline
1.3.1. & Storage of Cargo \\ \hline
1.3.2. & Repair of Ships and Shipyards \\ \hline
1.3.3. & Supply to Ships \\ \hline
1.3.4. & Nautical Services \\ \hline
1.3.5. & Hospitality Services \\ \hline
**2.** & **Service-Oriented Activities (Managed by the Port Authority)** \\ \hline
2.1. & Infrastructure \\ \hline
2.1.1. & Maintenance and Construction/Road Lighting \\ \hline
2.2. & Port Services: \\ \hline
2.2.1. & Pilots \\ \hline
2.2.2. & Tugs \\ \hline
2.2.3. & Mooring services \\ \hline
2.3. & Administrative and Community Services: \\ \hline
**3.** & **Other activities** \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Port activities’ classification. such renewable energy infrastructure near ports depends heavily on the availability and accuracy of meteorological and oceanographic (met-ocean) data. This section underscores the necessity of precise met-ocean data at every stage of renewable energy project development--from site selection and energy potential assessment to infrastructure design, operational planning, maintenance scheduling, and environmental compliance. Technologies such as offshore wind turbines and wave or tidal energy converters require highly detailed and localized data on wind speeds, wave heights and directions, and current velocities. The accurate characterization of these parameters is critical for developing reliable and efficient energy, particularly in complex coastal and port environments. It is also important to emphasize the role of met-ocean data in ensuring the structural safety and operational resilience of marine infrastructure. Exposure to extreme weather events, high waves, and strong currents poses a significant challenge to offshore and nearshore installations. Engineers rely on precise environmental data to design structures that can withstand these forces over time, minimizing the risk of damage, costly repairs, or operational downtime. Moreover, the economic viability of these projects is tightly linked to data-driven planning, especially in relation to maintenance activities, which must be carried out during favourable conditions to avoid delays and risks. In line with the broader sustainability goals discussed in the introduction, the integration of marine renewables into port operations must also consider energy demand compatibility and seasonal variability. Ports require a continuous and stable energy supply, and any renewable energy system must be designed to align with daily and seasonal fluctuations in wind, wave, or tidal resources. This is especially true for wave energy systems, where power output is directly derived from parameters like wave height and period, necessitating accurate, long-term datasets for proper evaluation. To address these challenges, this section compares two main strategies for acquiring met-ocean data: direct measurement using in situ instrumentation, and the use of numerical models and virtual buoy networks, such as those provided by SIMAR [20] or international systems like CMEMS or NOAA. While direct measurements offer high precision and local relevance, they are costly and geographically limited.