The Port System Authority of the Eastern Ligurian Sea (Italy) launched on December 6th the works for the new waterfront of Marina di Carrara that will improve the connection between the sea, the port and the city. The most significant intervention will be a long path (870 m long by 5 m wide) situated above the breakwater. The panoramic aspect, with its views of the open sea and the port, will be the highlight. Additionally, two new areas will be redeveloped to include new public spaces: the first one at the start of the breakwater on land and a new square on the sea at the angle of the pier. The areas on the ground will be enhanced through paths made of dunes with native vegetation, cliffs, and gentle slopes. The economic investment for the realization of the project amounts to €. 13.870.000

To mark the 120th anniversary of its founding, the Port of Baku (Azerbaijan) has decided to temporarily transform into an Arts Centre. It will host a painting and sculpture exhibition called “Liman”, which means “Port” in the Azeri language. This cultural project also features an online competition. Internet users can vote for their favourite artwork from the forty or so currently on display. The port terminal in question, Baku Marine Terminal, will now regularly stage exhibitions, along with concerts, fashion shows, and participatory workshops.

The Port of Antwerp Bruges (Belgium) is breaking ground on mobility and circularity simultaneously with its new cycle path on Zomerweg, in the right bank of the port area. The new infrastructure is 800 meters long in total and consists of two sections with several innovative applications of recycled plastics. The first section of 75 meters is made entirely out of recycled plastic, equivalent to two million plastic coffee cups. Compared to a traditional cycle path, this results in a 72% reduction in CO₂ emissions. Additionally, this section also has innovative measures to improve water management. The rest of the cycle path consists of a mixture of asphalt and plastic waste, which replaces 6% of bitumen, a major component of asphalt. In the process no microplastics are produced. This section is equivalent to reusing 650,000 plastic bottles.

The European Maritime Pilot’s Association (EMPA) has published its Recommendation No32, highlighting the importance of pilots in implementing the European Green Deal in the shipping industry. As part of the pan-European logistics chain, EMPA is changing work practices and promoting technological evolutions that will reduce emissions for the part of the voyage that is under their control. The document encourages all its members to act proactively towards GHG emission reduction and the protection of the natural environment. They provide in depth recommendations for how pilots can act both ashore and at sea to reduce their emissions.

Hydrogen-powered gantry cranes, electrified dock loading equipment, efficient biofuel storage for ferries: these are among the pilot projects set to be rolled out at the Port of Vancouver (Canada). It will be the first Canadian agency to trial an alternative fuel source for shipping. The province of British Columbia and the port authority are to invest $1.5 million each. The tests will last six months and should accelerate the process of decarbonation, one of the port’s strategic targets for 2050. Local businesses taking an active role in the scheme include the operator DP World and Seaspan Ferries.