The criteria for professionals of the sector and for the licence needed for the provision of cargo handling services in sea ports are publicly available, as well as the criteria for the operation of sea ports  (Decree Law 18/2008 establishing the Code of Public Contracts, Adopted 29/01/2008, Last modification 20/06/2021, Annex, Article 1-A(1), Link: https://dre.pt/dre/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/2008-34455475).