Two events have recently put livestock shipping in the spotlight. The first was the tragic loss of 43 sailors and 6,000 cows when a ship sank off the coast of Japan. The second involved a carrier becoming stuck in the Suez Canal, with thousands of animals stuck in the holds at temperatures of more than 30°C. A recent report by ISEMAR highlighted the lack of maintenance of livestock carriers, and the conditions in which they arrive in ports. Port authorities have little in the way of responsibility when it comes to these vessels. Most ports have no animal welfare officer. Negative externalities can be generated for local residents, as in Las Palmas (Spain), when offensive odours from livestock carriers are carried into the city by the wind. In addition, under the MARPOL convention (annex 5), carriers have special dispensation to dispose of carcasses at sea. Local residents sometimes find animal carcasses washed up on the beaches of Spain and Italy. This macabre reality should give us all pause for thought.

Port city actors like the Port of Algeciras in Spain (APBA), are decisively encouraging innovation and new technologies with different initiatives, such as idea competitions. The third edition of “Travesía de la Innovación – Innovation Journey” invites the complete port ecosystem to join the Data Driven Innovation Challenge to find new ways to add value to the use of data. At the same time, the EU project SPEED (European Smart Ports Ecosystem Development) has extended the period to apply to the TomorrowPorts innovation award, focusing on collaboration within port ecosystems. AIVP has been collaborating with SPEED in the past months. The project has also launched the Smart Port Barometer, to assess and benchmark each smart port maturity how far each organization is on the road to be a smart port. Innovation ecosystems in port cities will be one of the key topics for the next AIVP events in Brussels, don’t miss it!

Port City actors are increasingly supporting the development of Human Capital. One example is the internship program promoted by the Port and River Foundation of Bilbao (Spain). Young people under 30 from the riverside municipalities can apply for a position in the port authority. Another example is in Oslo (Norway), where the port authority cooperates with engineering company COWI in their COWI Try programme. For 7 weeks, 11 students reflected on the future of Filipstad, climate change and the role of water. It is also necessary to cooperate with local actors, as the port authority of San Pedro (Ivory Coast) does in the Regional Day of Merit and Excellence (JRMEX), promoting professional and academic excellence. Education is the base for a good career. Fortunately, worldwide, maritime educational programs are becoming more common, including scholarships such as in Hamilton (Canada) or Los Angeles, or awareness actions, such as in New York (USA).

The masterplan for Mordern Wharf has just been given the green light. The development concerns a 2.4 hectare former industrial port site. An existing warehouse will be preserved and converted to accommodate small enterprises and creative industries, building on the area’s industrial past. Some 1,500 new homes, of which 35% will be affordable, will be spread across twelve residential buildings, while there are also plans to create commercial space. A key highlight of the project is access to the river, along with a new 1.6 hectare public park on the banks of the Thames. The project is expected to create 700 permanent jobs..

The Port of Valencia is set to begin work on renovating the former shipyard, which will house its new passenger terminal. Some aspects of the shipyard will be preserved for their heritage value. The passenger terminal is intended to set a new benchmark in terms of sustainability and the environment. The project is using a host of solutions to achieve this goal, including energy autonomy, solar panels, shore power, recycling of waste from the terminal and ships in a specially built biogas plant, and more. The building will also house a Centre of Innovation and Eco-Efficiency, along with a training centre for the Baleària Business School. The project is designed to integrate cruise activity into the city more effectively. This is a key concern for our port cities, which we will have the opportunity to discuss at our upcoming AIVP Days gathering in Brussels on 25 and 26 November.