This paper examines the current state of Romanian seaports from the perspective of their transformation into smart ports, using the SWOT model to identify the most suitable strategies. It highlights the strengths and weaknesses of existing infrastructure, as well as the opportunities and risks, to outline coherent and sustainable courses of action for future development. A SWOT analysis was conducted based on information collected from a questionnaire sent to members of the maritime port authority, directors, and staff from various departments of the analyzed ports, as well as direct interviews with experts from the three ports. This analysis served as the foundation for developing strategies aimed at accelerating digitization, improving operational efficiency, and reducing environmental impact. The identified strategies were subsequently ranked using the AHP method. The weights assigned to the ten strategies emphasize the relative importance and systemic influence of each one on the process of ports transforming into smart entities. This study makes a significant contribution to the emerging literature on the transformation of Romanian seaports into “smart ports” by approaching this process through the lens of sustainable port development.
GASPAROTTI et al. (2026) studied this question.