The former German submarine base already houses cultural spaces. Now, its vast three-hectare roof is also set to be re-used, with plans to install solar/thermal energy generation units. They will provide power for the district heating network. An urban aquaponics farm will also be created, along with a new public promenade with views over the Bassins à Flot district, which is undergoing major redevelopment.

Dubbed the “Jellyfish” by locals, the structure covers the coal terminal and helps to mitigate its impact on air quality. But the terminal has been out of use for three years, and the Jellyfish needs to be dismantled. It has become a symbol of the city, and could be moved to a new site. Alternative uses have already been suggested, including an auditorium or port museum, …

The two organisation, both members of AIVP, embarked on a collaboration in 2017 that has resulted in the creation of new, more durable and resistant types of asphalt, extending the working lifetimes of heavily used roads. To test these surface materials, five pilot sections (each 75 metres in length) were created on the right bank of the Nieuwe Westweg, with innovative sensors to measure the deformation of the asphalt. The ultimate aim is to lay these new kinds of asphalt on all of the port’s roads.

On Tuesday 8 March, AIVP has once again been doing its part for gender equality.  Geraldine Knatz, an expert from AIVP, co-wrote a chapter on ports in the recently published book “Women in Infrastructures”. Some ports were also keen to celebrate the place of women in fitting style. Valencia (Spain) organised an exhibition on “working for equality”, while its neighbour Tarragona organised a special webinar. Across the Atlantic, Quebec decreed a “women’s month” to highlight its female port workers.

As the war continues to rage, recent weeks have seen increasing acts of solidarity with Ukraine. These initiatives have come in all shapes and sizes. Some ports, such as Quebec (Canada) and Long Beach (USA) have shown their support with publications on their social media. Others have taken commercial action, by suspending container ship lines (CMA-CGM, Maersk or ONE) or banning Russian vessels from their ports (Canada, UK, etc). But most are focusing on humanitarian aid, with fundraising in Marseille (France) and collections of goods in Lisbon (Portugal) and Tarragona (Spain), while CMA-CGM has made aircraft available.