Publications
Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals in the Seawater Samples of the Port of Cartagena (Murcia, Spain): A Pilot Study
A pilot study reveals significant pharmaceutical contamination in the seawater of Cartagena's port, with diclofenac and multiple antibiotics detected at concentrations exceeding environmental safety thresholds. The research analyzed 15 pharmaceuticals across nine sites, identifying hotspots near high human activity areas and even within a Special Area of Conservation, suggesting diffuse pollution likely linked to inadequate wastewater management in nearby informal settlements. These findings underscore the vulnerability of port environments to emerging contaminants and highlight the urgent need for continuous monitoring and improved environmental management to protect coastal ecosystems.
Analysis of Pollutant Accumulation in the Invasive Bivalve Perna viridis: Current Status in the Colombian Caribbean 2020–2023
Research confirms that the invasive bivalve Perna viridis (Asian green mussel) effectively biomonitors heavy metal pollution—including mercury, cadmium, lead, and selenium—in Cartagena Bay, Colombia. From 2020 to 2023, seasonal variations linked to climate phenomena like La Niña and El Niño significantly influenced pollutant accumulation in both soft tissue (ranging from trace to low microgram levels) and suspended particulate matter (up to 25.66 µg/g for lead). The study highlights P. viridis as a sensitive indicator of complex pollution scenarios, though its invasive presence poses ecological risks to native species. These findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring to mitigate environmental impacts in the Colombian Caribbean.
Herencias de la Esclavitud en Cartagena de Indias: los Lugares de Memoria
Cartagena de Indias' legacy of slavery is intricately linked to its urban and rural development, shaped by the slave trade's economic and demographic impact. The study reveals how the port city's growth was significantly influenced by the role of slave owners and the enslaved population, with a focus on historical figures that defined this era. It further explores the spatial dynamics of slavery in Cartagena, analyzing both the places occupied by victims and those constructed as sites of resistance by escaped slaves. This work bridges history, memory, and heritage to provide a nuanced understanding of the enduring effects of slavery on the region's landscape.
A Frontier Approach to Eco-Efficiency Assessment in the World’s Busiest Sea Ports
Qingdao and Cartagena stand out as the most sustainably performing seaports globally, based on eco-efficiency assessments using key maritime sustainability indicators. This study employs a non-parametric frontier approach to evaluate 21 of the world's busiest ports, integrating inputs like CO2 emissions, electricity consumption, waste, and water usage with outputs such as employee numbers, revenue, and container throughput. By analyzing data from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) database, the research identifies projection pathways for less efficient ports to enhance sustainability performance. The findings support strategic policy-making for port managers, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals 14 (marine ecosystem) and 13 (climate mitigation), while addressing critical challenges in decarbonizing maritime operations.
Air Quality in the Cartagena Basin in South-Western Europe and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
A significant decline in nitrogen oxide (NOx) concentrations, particularly NO2—a strong indicator of human activity such as car and maritime traffic—was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cartagena, Spain. Analyzing 15 years of air quality data, researchers found that while NO2 levels dropped sharply post-pandemic, other pollutants like SO2, O3, and PM10 remained stable or showed irregular trends. The study also identified distinct seasonal patterns for NOx and O3 but noted no weekly cycle for SO2. Weather types, particularly anticyclonic and eastern flow conditions, were linked to the most pronounced changes in pollutant concentrations. This research highlights the sensitivity of NO2 to human activity disruptions and provides insights into long-term air quality trends in a highly trafficked port city.
Multicriteria Decision Model for Port Evaluation and Ranking: An Analysis of Container Terminals in Latin America and the Caribbean Using PCA-TOPSIS Methodologies
A hybrid multi-objective approach combining Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) has identified Cartagena as a leading container port in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), not only in annual TEU throughput but also in efficient resource utilization. Despite global disruptions, LAC's main container terminals have shown growth, necessitating adaptations to meet new logistical demands. This study analyzed operational criteria such as berth length, draught depth, crane numbers, and proximity to the Panama Canal, revealing key factors influencing port performance from 2014 to 2023.
A Critical Assessment of the Current State and Governance of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias, Colombia's UNESCO-listed port, fortresses, and monuments face significant threats to their heritage status due to governance gaps and material degradation. A five-year interdisciplinary study reveals that fragmented decision-making authority between local and national bodies hampers conservation efforts, while urban encroachment, vehicular traffic, and environmental factors accelerate deterioration. Hyperspectral imaging identified asbestos-cement roofs and vegetation issues, offering a data-driven perspective on tangible heritage decline. The research proposes a unified governance model to address these challenges and prevent the site's potential 'in Danger' classification by UNESCO, emphasizing systemic solutions over isolated fixes.
Arriving at a Good Port: Urban and Historical Archaeology in Three Cities of the Colombian Caribbean
Urban and historical archaeology in Colombian Caribbean cities, including Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta, has uncovered significant data on pre-Hispanic occupations alongside reconstructing daily life since the cities' founding. These findings, primarily driven by compliance with protection regulations for cultural heritage sites, highlight the need for tailored work strategies to address the unique challenges of urban infrastructure projects in these contexts. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating archaeological research into restoration efforts to preserve and understand the layered histories of these UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Marine Pollution and Advances in Biomonitoring in Cartagena Bay in the Colombian Caribbean
Recent studies reveal that Cartagena Bay, a vital coastal ecosystem in Colombia's Caribbean, faces significant marine pollution threats from pollutants such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These contaminants exceed sediment quality guidelines and bioaccumulate, causing damage across trophic levels. The research employs a systematic literature review using RStudio's bibliometrix to analyze pollution impacts on biodiversity over recent decades, while also examining socioeconomic dynamics through the DPSIR framework. Findings underscore the urgent need for strengthened monitoring, policy enforcement, and conservation efforts to mitigate environmental degradation and support decision-making for this historically significant and ecologically sensitive site.
Spatial Patterns of Turbidity in Cartagena Bay, Colombia, Using Sentinel-2 Imagery
Research reveals significant seasonal and spatial variability in turbidity levels in Cartagena Bay, Colombia, with the southern area experiencing the most pronounced changes. Using Sentinel-2 imagery from 2018 to 2022, scientists developed an empirical algorithm validated with high accuracy (R² = 0.83), identifying turbidity peaks of up to 35 FNU during the rainy season and as low as 1 FNU in the dry season. This study provides a new tool for monitoring water quality, addressing challenges posed by sediment influx from the Canal del Dique, which threatens the bay's economic and environmental importance.
Statiscal and optimization tolos for the efficient mangement of port terminals. Application to the port of Cartagena
Research demonstrates that optimizing port terminal operations can significantly reduce congestion and improve efficiency. A study applied statistical tools, including sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulations, to evaluate economic and financial risks in port planning, revealing critical variables like terminal performance and infrastructure utilization as key factors. The findings highlight the importance of flexible scheduling for ships, showing that even a 6-hour window can halve congestion-related anchoring, while a 24-hour window can eliminate it entirely. To address complex multi-client liquid bulk terminals where competing interests arise, the study developed HADES, a multi-agent platform tested in Cartagena's port, which effectively reduces congestion through limited information sharing among stakeholders. This approach leverages mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) models to optimize berth allocation, offering solutions for dynamic and challenging port management scenarios.
Sustainability impacts of sediments on the estuary, ports, and fishing communities of Cartagena Bay, Colombian Caribbean
Cartagena Bay, Colombia, faces significant sediment challenges due to freshwater discharges from the Dique Canal, which drains the Magdalena River watershed. These discharges transport 2.3 million tons of sediment annually, leading to deposition rates of 1.8 cm/year and requiring frequent dredging for port sustainability. However, this process poses a health risk as it can resurface mercury dumped by a chemical industry in the 1970s, found in concentrations up to 18.8 μg/g below the bay's bottom. The study highlights the need for effective governance and monitoring tools, such as the Cartagena Bay Observatory, to manage these complex socioenvironmental challenges and protect vulnerable coastal communities.
Development of the marine Holocene environment in a drowned paleovalley with final anthropic influence in the Cartagena Bay (Murcia, SE Spain)
A sediment core from Cartagena Bay reveals that the Holocene marine environment began around 7300 years ago, marked by dynamic interactions between marine conditions and a fan delta linked to a reorganized fluvial network. The study, using radiocarbon and amino acid racemization dating, shows an initial phase of robust sediment deposition followed by the development of a rich Posidonia-Cymodocea meadow with diverse marine life. Around 3800 years ago, the bay transitioned into a brackish marsh due to silting, altering its biodiversity. Carthaginian port construction works later introduced marine species, demonstrating anthropic influence on the ecosystem.
Location Advantages of the Container Port for Perishable Goods in the Murcia Region
Cartagena's port offers significant advantages for the transport of perishable goods, particularly when using refrigerated (reefer) containers. A study reveals that its strategic location can drastically reduce transportation time, thereby minimizing the risk of perishable cargo arriving in suboptimal condition. The research employs a gravity model to assess the feasibility and benefits of establishing new container terminals in Cartagena, considering factors such as vessel waiting times in Mediterranean ports and the perishability dynamics of goods. This approach not only evaluates the potential for shorter transport routes but also provides a framework that can be applied to other intercontinental perishable cargo networks, enhancing logistical efficiency and reducing spoilage risks.
Military or trade port cities? About the form and function of the Hispanic colonial cities in Latin America and the Caribbean
Hispanic American colonial port cities, particularly Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, were primarily designed for military defense while also serving as vital trade hubs. This dual function was found to be interdependent, with fortifications evolving throughout the colonial era to balance security and commerce. The study, based on primary sources such as colonial laws, viceregal reports from the 18th century, and secondary literature, reveals that while trade was significant, military defense remained the dominant priority in urban planning. This insight challenges the perception of these cities as solely commercial centers, highlighting their strategic importance during the colonial period.
Gender and the Work of Missionary Translation: Black Women Interpreters among the Jesuits in Seventeenth-Century Cartagena de Indias
Seventeenth-century Jesuit missionaries in Cartagena de Indias relied on Black women interpreters to evangelize newly arrived Africans, employing them as part of a broader missionary strategy more typical in Asia than in Iberian America. Analysis of missionary texts reveals that the Jesuits justified this practice by framing these women as analogous to Jesus's female followers in the New Testament, which allowed their roles to be acknowledged but also obscured deeper insights into their significance for both the interpreters and the African communities they served. This study reconstructs the context of these portrayals, uncovering ideological effects embedded in missionary writings and highlighting patterns of gendered language used across Iberian missionary projects during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
HADES: A Multi-Agent Platform to Reduce Congestion Anchoring Based on Temporal Coordination of Vessel Arrivals—Application to the Multi-Client Liquid Bulk Terminal in the Port of Cartagena (Spain)
A six-hour window of flexibility in vessel arrival times can cut congestion anchoring at multi-client liquid bulk terminals by half, with 24 hours reducing it to near-zero levels. This key insight comes from a mixed-integer linear program analysis applied to the Port of Cartagena’s liquid-bulk terminal, demonstrating how temporal coordination among vessels—facilitated by the HADES multi-agent platform—can optimize berth allocation and alleviate congestion without costly infrastructure changes. By enabling shared but limited information exchange among stakeholders, HADES promotes consensus-based scheduling that enhances operational efficiency in high-demand port environments.
To Walk with Slaves: Jesuit Contexts and the Atlantic World in the Cartagena Mission to Enslaved Africans, 1605–1654
Jesuit missionaries Alonso de Sandoval and Pedro Claver adapted missionary practices to accompany enslaved Africans in 17th-century Cartagena, Colombia, reflecting the global Jesuit tradition of engaging with marginalized communities. Their work, rooted in Sandoval’s treatise De instauranda Aethiopum salute and Claver’s sainthood process, demonstrates how early modern Atlantic World dynamics shaped Jesuit missionary theology to prioritize African salvation. The study reveals this innovative approach through analysis of annual letters, personal correspondences, and interactions in Cartagena’s cosmopolitan port, illustrating a unique blend of apostolic zeal and contextual adaptation.
Black Africans’ Freedom Litigation Suits to Define Just War and Just Slavery in the Early Spanish Empire
Enslaved Black Africans in the early Spanish Empire successfully challenged their enslavement through litigation, arguing that their conversion to Christianity rendered their captivity unjust. This legal strategy, examined in port cities like Cartagena and Seville, revealed how enslaved individuals' legal arguments influenced broader discourse on the morality of slavery and warfare within the Spanish Empire. The study highlights the intersection of diverse intellectual traditions—those of enslaved Africans and European elites—and demonstrates how these interactions reshaped justifications for slavery and war.
Caracterización Fisicoquímica de Aguas y Sedimentos en Puerto de Carga de la Bahía de Cartagena, Colombia
A study on the Cartagena Bay, Colombia, revealed significant levels of mercury (Hg) and dissolved/dispersed hydrocarbons (DDH) in sediments and waters, particularly at a loading port. Mercury concentrations ranged from 109 to 288 µg/kg dry weight, with an average of 183.33 ± 55.41 µg/kg, while DDH levels varied between 4.51 and 18.04 µg/L in port waters—no hydrocarbons were detected at distant sampling points. The findings suggest ongoing or residual contamination, necessitating further monitoring to assess trends. Researchers also recommend expanding analyses to include other heavy metals and coal due to observed pollution linked to improper cleaning practices at the port.
El Castillo de La Atalaya (siglo XVIII), en Cartagena (Región de Murcia, España). Análisis formal y constructivo
Atalaya Castle, an 18th-century military fortification in Cartagena, Spain, exemplifies the defensive architecture of its time. Positioned west of the city, it protected against both land and sea threats, featuring a pentagonal design with five bastions and a U-shaped interior building on a bastioned platform, surrounded by a dry moat. The study reveals that while the fort shares formal elements with other contemporary structures in Cartagena, its construction exhibits heterogeneity due to the use of stone and brick. Currently in a state of semi-abandonment, the research proposes a new cultural use for the castle to ensure its restoration and conservation. This analysis underscores the importance of preserving such historical sites while offering insights into their architectural significance.
Le mura di Cartagena de Indias tra sperimentazione metodologica e protocolli operativi. Strumentazioni digitali a confronto per lo studio del sistema difensivo antonelliano
Research comparing digital tools for studying Cartagena de Indias' Antonelli defense system reveals that mobile laser scanning with SLAM technology provides the most efficient and reliable method for documenting fortifications. The study, conducted by the Lab DAda-LAB at the University of Pavia, analyzed the perimeter walls and Fort San Felipe de Barajas, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach for rapid survey activities. Additionally, a detailed comparison of different data acquisition technologies on the Baluarte of Santa Catalina walls confirmed the reliability of 3D databases generated by these methods. The findings contribute to the development of analysis protocols for heritage enhancement and protection, offering insights into the construction technologies of Cartagena's historic fortifications.
Levantamiento y modelización tridimensional de la Torre del Negro o de Arráez, torre post-litoral del siglo XVI en El Algar (Región de Murcia, España)
A groundbreaking study has achieved the exhaustive graphic documentation of the Torre del Negro or Arráez, a 16th-century post-coastal tower located in El Algar, Cartagena (Region of Murcia, Spain). This work, employing digital photogrammetry and 3D laser scanning, provides unprecedented insights into the tower's construction and current state of conservation. The research contributes significantly to the understanding, consolidation, and volumetric recomposition of this heritage site, which is threatened by structural instability and lack of cover. By integrating historical monument analysis with advanced survey techniques, the study aims to enhance the preservation of the Torre del Negro while promoting its integration into its natural and landscape environment.
Social inequalities, sexual tourism and HIV in Cartagena, Colombia: an ethnographic study
A five-year ethnographic study in Cartagena, Colombia, reveals that social inequalities—rooted in class, skin color, gender, and sexual orientation—synergistically increase vulnerability to HIV infection, particularly within the city's sexual tourism industry. The research found that poverty, racialization, and gender disparities historically sustain dynamics that fuel this industry, thereby elevating HIV risk for marginalized groups. The study highlights a distinct link between globalized sexual tourism and Cartagena's colonial-era racialized social structure, illustrating how these intersecting factors complicate safe sex practices and perpetuate HIV transmission.
Un rilievo speditivo di emergenza. Forte San José a Cartagena de Indias (Colombia)
A rapid emergency survey using advanced digital imaging and laser scanning technologies has successfully documented the structural condition of Fort San José, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The study, conducted by researchers from the Italian Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities, integrated laser scanner data for accessible areas with aerial photogrammetry to capture details of the fortress facing the sea. This approach enabled the first comprehensive architectural survey of the fort, which has been plagued by flooding due to land subsidence. The findings provide critical insights into the ongoing instability of the structure, offering essential data for future conservation strategies and intervention plans.
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