International Port City News
9 june 2022
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Wednesday 8 June : World Oceans Day! The future of the Oceans was at the heart of the discussions of the 17th World Conference Cities and Ports by the AIVP – find the Opening speech of Edouard Philippe, President of the AIVP.
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Governance
Port of Barcelona (Spain): Leading the blue innovation path
Port cities are at the forefront of the blue economy and in an excellent position to lead, as it is the case in Barcelona. The Port Authority recently launched the Innovation Plan with three main goals: strengthening the Port of Barcelona’s role as a driver of economic growth and recovery; driving innovation and digitization of the logistics ecosystem; and fostering synergies with the city in this area. In order to operationalize this plan, the Port Authority will also create the BCN Port Innovation Foundation, with the support of logistics and technology companies, accelerating the implementation of projects. The Innovation Plan will also promote the Blue District in the Port Vell, connected to the creation of the Blue Tech Port, the new blue economy innovation centre bringing together start-ups, large companies and maritime institutions. Blue Economy was the main topic of the 17th World Conference Cities and Ports, with a specific session available in the replay.
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Energy transition and circular economy
One industrial company in Amsterdam (Netherlands) is betting on a genuine biofuel
A common criticism of biofuels, sometimes called “agrofuels”, is that they are made from oils or cereals that could otherwise have been used for human food consumption. With hundreds of millions around the world suffering from poor nutrition, it is a not unreasonable observation. That is why the “Argent Energy” plant based at the port of Amsterdam (Netherlands) will soon be producing some 540,000 tonnes of biofuel every year, from waste vegetable oils and fat residues. Recovering these “waste” substances is a logistically complex task, which is why the plant is located at the port and has its own jetty and two docks.
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Port City interface
The port of Riga (Latvia) set for a new RoPax terminal by 2025
On 27 March 2022, the port of Riga announced plans to construct the new Riga RoPax Terminal. Designed with the help of SIA Metrum and R-Konsult OU, and with support from the City of Riga and the Ministry of Transport and Economy, the RoPax project consists of two separate but complementary aspects. The new terminal building will house a range of infrastructures (shopping mall, restaurants, and creative spaces), and will allow public access to the waterfront. It will also include the infrastructures needed for roll-on roll-off operations. The project is expected to improve competitiveness for the port and for Riga as a whole, with the city looking to establish itself as a major Nordic metropolis.
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Climate change
The World Bank grants $350 million to Morocco for the Blue Economy
The blue economy development program of the Moroccan government aims to stimulate job creation and economic growth while also improving the sustainability and resilience of natural resources and food security. The World bank has signed a $350 million loan to develop institutional frameworks, improve integrated natural resource management and strengthen sectors for a blue economy resilient to climate change in coastal areas. Another component which will be funded by this loan are the sustainable tourism and aquaculture sectors as well as vocational training linked to blue economy management.
During AIVP’s 17th World Conference, several Moroccan representatives addressed the work that their organizations are doing to strengthen their country’s blue economy. You can find the replays and presentations here. This content is only available to those who registered for the event.
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Biodiversity
New Bedford (Massachusetts, USA): operations to clean up the port are almost complete
It has taken around 30 years and $1 billion, but the clean-up operation at the port of New Bedford is almost at an end, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. The site was polluted by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals as a result of the activities of two firms manufacturing electronic components from the 1930s until 1978. PCBs were banned in the US in 1978 on health grounds (they are endocrine disruptors, and can cause cancer and other diseases). More than 100,000 people living in a three-mile radius around the site have been affected by this pollution through fishing, which is an essential activity for the port’s economy.
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Welcome to the La Rochelle Ports Center!
The AIVP Port Center network has officially welcomed its newest addition. On 2 June 2022, Christophe Bertaud, President of La Rochelle Port Center and Bruno Delsalle, General Manager of AIVP, signed the Port Center Missions Charter. It was an opportunity to remind the City Port community in La Rochelle about the Port Center concept, created at the initiative of AIVP over a decade ago and now going from strength to strength, judging by the number of projects in the pipeline around the world.
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Port City interface
AIVP goes to Chile!
JosĂ© Manuel PagĂ©s Sánchez, Director of the AIVP Agenda 2030 participated as speaker in the 7th edition of ENLOCE organized by FISA and EPV (Port Authority of ValparaĂso). The visit was also an opportunity to highlight the work done by AIVP’s Chilean members and our intentions to develop new projects in the region.
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AIVP highlights the importance of public engagement in the ecological transition of ports, at the ESPO conference in Valencia (Spain)
A special session was held in Valencia with the European MAGPIE and PIONEERS projects, which are funded by the EU Commission, and coordinated by the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp respectively. AIVP’s Head of International Projects and Cooperation, Théo Fortin, spoke about the crucial importance of including local communities in projects of this kind. Théo Fortin is also promotion coordinator for the MAGPIE project (see above). As part of this role, local workshops and consultations with stakeholders are organised. AIVP continues to promote the belief that the ecological transition of port cities must involve citizens, local communities and authorities, through consultation resources such as Port Centers.
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4th Meeting of the AIVP – MedCruise Working Group on Cruises and Port Cities
The 4th meeting for the Working Group on Cruises and Port Cities took place in a hybrid format, with participants meeting in Tangier and online. The Moroccan port city hosted the 17th World Conference Cities and Ports, hence providing the perfect opportunity for the members of the working group to meet physically after several virtual meetings. This initiative, launched by AIVP and MedCruise in 2021 gathers 25 members from both organizations to exchange good practices that can foster a sustainable interaction between cruises and port cities. Â
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Evaluation on Social Acceptance and Spatial Impacts of Energy Transition Projects
impact the technologies in the MAGPIE Project will have on their surroundings, we would like to ask you to fill out this questionnaire to better understand the impacts your similar projects may have had. We would be grateful if you could answer the questionnaire so that we can obtain more information on a global scale.
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Energy transition and circular economy
The port authority of Virginia (USA) signs a deal with the local government targeting a clean electricity supply by 2024.
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Port City interface
The port of Leith (UK) unveils a new waterfront regeneration plan
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Climate change
From 7 to 10 June, visitors are invited to attend the inaugural Seine and Water Conference, to take place at the Pavillon des Transitions in Rouen (France)
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Culture and identity
The Port of Brussels (Belgium) was in festive mode on 29 May, with nautical demonstration, ship tours, entertainments, and games.
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Governance
The Port-City dialogue goes continues in Valparaiso (Chile), as the new port president meets the city’s mayor.
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Energy transition and circular economy
The Ports of Tallinn (Estonia) and Gdynia (Poland) have signed a letter of intent to cooperate on green hydrogen management in logistic supply chains
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