Rhoé: Turning Predictive Maintenance into Reality at Dunkirk Port

In Dunkirk, France, railways play a vital role in keeping goods moving efficiently between ships, cities, and markets. But as extreme weather events become more frequent, these critical arteries are increasingly at risk of disruption. Within the SAFARI project, Greek company Rhoé is working to make port railway infrastructure smarter, safer, and more resilient.

Led by Dimitris Kontosfyris, co-founder and Head of Maritime at Rhoé, the team is developing a digital twin of the railway network at Port of Dunkirk. This virtual model allows engineers to simulate real-world conditions, test performance under stress, and predict maintenance needs before failures occur.

To feed this system, Rhoé is deploying smart sensors at key junctions across the port. These sensors continuously monitor the infrastructure, collecting real-time data on temperature, vibration, and other indicators that help detect vulnerabilities early. Combined with AI-driven planning tools, this data makes it possible to anticipate maintenance and optimise operations, reducing downtime and keeping rail traffic flowing, even during adverse weather.

By transforming predictive maintenance from theory into daily practice, Rhoé’s work in Dunkirk is setting a benchmark for digital resilience in port logistics. It’s a concrete example of how technology and foresight can help Europe’s ports stay on track, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

🎥 Watch the interview with Dimitris Kontosfyris and discover how Rhoé is driving the future of smart, resilient railways in ports.