MAD architects has won the competition to design a new international cruise terminal in Chongqing. It will be built on the site of an existing cargo terminal in Cuntan. Taking inspiration from the locality’s industrial past, the new complex will include six elevated buildings connected by a continuous 430 metre promenade overlooking the Yangtze River and a new landscaped park. There are also plans for 50,000 sqm of commercial spaces. Work is due to begin in November 2022, with the terminal expected to open in 2027.

The government of Zanzibar has signed a MoU with Oman Investment Authority to look at the feasibility of regenerating and developing the tourist port of Malindi and its waterfront. The project would also involve moving the activities at the existing commercial port to the new port of Mangga Pwani.

The mayors of Valparaíso and San Antonio in Chile delivered a Normative Initiative to the constituent body demanding more protection of maritime – port activities and local fiscal engagement. The mayors demand that port and coastal areas are recognized as “public domain, perpetual, unappealable and not alienable from the State”, as well as those ports pay taxes in the cities where they are hosted, facilitating a better redistribution of the wealth they generate.

The “Digital twins of the river – Jumeaux numériques du fleuve” Hackathon, organized by the Grand Port Maritime of Bordeaux (GPMB) and Nouvelle-Aquitaine Open Source (NAOS) took place between January 31st and February 2nd. The goal was to anticipate climate change and provide operational solutions to the various and bring operational solutions to the various users of water: navigation, nature protection biodiversity or improved knowledge. GPMB is leading this innovative programme, engaging other actors, to share efforts and develop a digital twin that can respond to multiple challenges, from climate change to dredging, fishing, navigation or the risk of floods. The jury will now select two finalists to develop an operational model and later final winner for digital tools to be used from 2023 onwards.

The navy, shipyards, and electricity suppliers have banded together with the port authority of La Spezia to develop green hydrogen. The technology currently makes up just 1% of the local energy sector. The aim is to raise that proportion to 20% by 2050, using solar and wind-powered electrolyzers. The hydrogen produced will be available to docked vessels, but will also be stored in batteries. The project, led by the Liguria Cluster for Marine Technologies (DLTM), boasts a unique supply chain from production to batteries for boats (including commercial, tourist, and even military vessels!).

A series of cyber-attacks has disrupted several port facilities in Northern Europe. Terminals in the ports of Hamburg (Germany), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), and Ghent and Antwerp (Belgium) had to therefore operate on limited capacity. It especially impacted the loading and unloading of barges and the ability to honor delivery contracts.

To prevent such threats, the Port of Los Angeles (United States) has launched a Cyber Resilience Center. Its aim is to improve the port’s and stakeholders’ cybersecurity readiness, ensure the sharing of cyber threat indicators, and strengthen recovery capabilities. The Center serves as a hub for the port to receive, analyze and share information among its stakeholders and as an advisory resource to assist with recovery.