Grupo Kresala Technologies inaugurates Siport21´s Maritime Simulation Center
Grupo Kresala Technologies celebrated Siport21´s 25th Anniversary with the inauguration of the most powerful Spanish Maritime Simulation Center, with an investment of over one million euros, partially funded by the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI). The event gathered over a hundred representatives from public administrations and maritime sector companies, clients, and collaborators at its new offices in Las Rozas.
The event´s speakers included: José Ramón Iribarren, General Director of Siport21; José de la Uz, Mayor of Las Rozas; Manuel Arana, Director of Planning and Development of State Ports; Gustavo Santana, General Director of the Merchant Marine; Álex García, General Director of Prosertek (a company of the Grupo Kresala Technologies); and Iñaki Lasfuentes, President of the Grupo Kresala Technologies.
During the inauguration, José Ramón Iribarren expressed his pride in the evolution of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) founded by a group of engineers from CEDEX in 1999 to bring advanced maritime simulation techniques to the private sector. A company that installed the first private simulator in Spain a year later and today, a quarter of a century later, has conducted nearly 2000 studies and 800 training courses and has “a very high international profile with projects in 60 countries and 70%-75% export,” according to Iribarren. “Siport21 is a success story based on quality, knowledge, flexibility, innovation, and above all, people,” he summarized.
Regarding the new Maritime Simulation Center, the General Director of Siport21 highlighted that it is “the most powerful in Spain and comparable to the best worldwide,” as well as the DNV certification as a Maritime Training Provider, “a guarantee of quality in our activities,” which is the only one in our country. The Center, which features three interconnected bridges and cutting-edge simulation technology developed by Kongsberg, a world leader in the sector, involved an investment of over one million euros, part of it in the form of aid from the CDTI. Iribarren emphasized that it strengthens the company’s capacity to innovate and lead the future of maritime transport.
In turn, Álex García, General Director of Prosertek, reviewed the evolution of the Grupo Kresala Technologies, “with a business perimeter close to 30 million euros,” and emphasized the solid financial trajectory of the companies that comprise it, which he referred to as a “hidden champion” in technology. He also mentioned “ambition” as the fuel that drives the Group and recalled the DANA that devastated Valencia to highlight Responsibility as “the first of the values,” accompanied by “resilience” and “business orientation.” In his opinion, joined leadership, these values will ensure another 25 years for the company’s new generations. He concluded that the Group will remain a “land of opportunities.”
Iñaki Lasfuentes, President of the Grupo Kresala Technologies, which Siport21 joined in 2021, concluded the speeches by highlighting the courage of the founders of Siport21, who “embarked on an adventure that forced them out of their comfort zone” and “have been able to set a course, weather storms, and find a niche in this complicated global market,” thanks to their technical and technological capabilities. He also recognized the importance of the entire human team that has grown the company throughout its trajectory, stating that “they are the cornerstone of its successes.” Regarding the future, he emphasized the Kresala Group’s commitment to Siport21, noting that it faces the challenge of adapting to market demands and pointed out that the keys will be: “A greater emphasis on internationalization, new market proposals, and differentiation from our competitors in terms of capabilities, service orientation, and technological innovation. For this, the four values we have already identified in the Group must be applied: Responsibility, Resilience, Business Orientation, and Leadership.”
