In recent years sustainable development has become a problem of primary importance. This article focuses on the currently marine ports situation, offering a perspective through some relevant research works, from the past until today. In the second part of the paper a simulation based-tool for measuring the environmental impacts in marine ports area is briefly presented. The simulator is able to consider the impact of the main factors affecting the sustainability of port processes and operations such as CO2 emission, ship air emissions, air quality, ship discharge, etc
