River pollution is a major concern for many port cities. Fortunately, we are increasingly seeing clever inventions using new technologies to deal with problems such as plastic litter, collecting it and avoiding that it ends on the seas. One example if the Great Bubble Barrier, already active in Amsterdam and in trial phase in Porto, that with air bubbles directs the plastics from the bottom to the river to the surface and the side. Other solutions focus on collecting the floating litter, such as “the WasteShark” or “Mr Trash Wheel”, developed by Dutch and American companies. Finally, some non-profit organizations are more ambitious, focusing both on rivers and seas, such as the “The Ocean Cleanup”, combining the work of interceptors of garbage in rivers with large scale devices to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Image: Mr Trash Wheel Baltimore Inner Harbor – by A.Currell

Dutch cities including Amsterdam, Rotterdam are continuing to develop floating offices and housing amid rising demand. This solution addresses the issue of rising sea levels and flood risks, as well as the shortage of available land. It is inspiring similar projects in other countries, for example in the Baltic Sea where a series of floating islands are set to be created near Tallinn, or the Maldives, where there are plans for a new city of up to 20,000 inhabitants.

The coalition for a resilient and inclusive waterfront has published the findings of a survey of 622 voters in Boston.  Those surveyed support the creation of a new employee position dedicated to the waterfront, and the introduction of mandatory CSR standards for real estate developers. Finally, the vast majority identified climate change and economic growth as priority issues.

The trend is towards grouping waste recycling facilities close to ports and their logistic and industrial capacities.  A new tyre recycling plant is set to be built in Sunderland (UK), directly on the quayside.  Every year, some 80,000 tonnes of used tyres will be turned into products that can be re-used in the petrochemical industry. It’s a similar story in Gennevilliers (France), where 50,000 tonnes a year of organic waste is to be methanised to obtain bio-CNG, which will power vessels at the port of Paris. Finally, the port of Antwerp (Belgium) and the Flemish office for waste have launched a call for projects for the circular economy. The two winnings entries will be announced on 10 February.

The regional government of the Balearic Islands in Spain has reached an agreement with CLIA and the major cruise lines to regulate cruise arrival. The five-year agreement, signed on the 20th of December 2021, will limit the number of cruises berthing on the The regional government of the Balearic Islands in Spain has reached an agreement with CLIA and the major cruise lines to regulate cruise arrival. The five-year agreement, signed on the 20th of December 2021, will limit the number of cruises berthing on the same day to the port of Palma to 3 ships, of which only one can have capacity over 5000 passengers. In 2022, this will mean an effective reduction of 14,5% of cruises compared to 2019. The agreement also includes 20 exceptional days for 2022 only in which to comply with already programmer cruise arrivals. The agreement also includes a weekly limit of 8500 cruise passengers. Further on, the cruise companies also agreed to continue their environmental policies, that will also be discussed in the following weeks.