Since 2021, Miami-Dade County (United States), which is responsible for the port of Miami, called for the process of rolling out shore power facilities at its cruise terminals to be accelerated. The stated aim was to put PortMiami, renowned globally as one of the world’s biggest cruise ports, at the forefront of the energy transition. Five of the ten cruise ship berths will be ‘shore power-ready’ by the end of 2023, using systems supplied by Danish firm PowerCon. Miami-Dade County expects air quality to improve significantly once the systems are activated. The port has embarked on close collaboration with cruise operators in recent years.

Several deliverables were announced at the first ever African conference on maritime decarbonisation. The event was organised by the Ghanaian maritime authority in Accra, under the patronage of the IMO. Concrete measures include Somalia’s programme of training for women in the maritime sector. The ITF presented a report which found that there will be 90,000 job vacancies in the maritime sector by 2026, representing a major opportunity for African workers. Funding has also been unlocked across Africa for port infrastructures, including bunkering of low-carbon fuels, as well as training and human capital.

The council of ministers of Spain has approved a crucial section of the ambitious port-city plan, Plan Natzaret, to be developed in Valencia, which will make 230.000 sqm available for citizens. The sports complex of the Levante UD will have 95.000 sqm, including training facilities, football fields, and a residence for athletes, besides several green areas for the citizens. The Port Authority will give a 35-year lease, with a potential 10-year extension. The area will both work as a buffer between the port activities and the Natzaret neighborhood and as a socio-economic catalyst for an area suffering an unemployment rate of 50%. The Plan will also include another 4 major actions, besides the sport complex, such as the Turia riverbed par, tertiary use areas, Marblau facilities (including a youth centre, popular university and museum of the Huerta) and the Natzaret South Park. A green corridor will connect the different areas with other neighborhoods.  

The Municipality of Trieste (Italy) and the Port System Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea are collaborating on a project which will create a new logistics center and a fruit and vegetable market in the former Prosecco Station area. The project, estimated at 65M€, entitled “Trieste Fresh Hub” will create a food hub separated into two parts. One will provide temperature-controlled goods to the port of Trieste and will serve as a hub to distribute foods locally and regionally. The other will be a strategic marketplace, occupying 2700 m². This market will reduce the environmental impact of agri-food transport in the region, improve the storage and traceability of products, and improve accessibility of operators. The structure has also been designed to reduce its environmental footprint.

The Port and City of Saint John (Canada) have taken several steps to promote citizen participation in shaping their sustainable future. The port partnered with Pond-Deshpande Centre to invite students from New Brunswick to participate in a business plan competition to stimulate ways for the Port to engage with its tenants and customers on the question of collectively reducing GHG emissions. With applications due on March 10^th, the port seeks to be challenged by the young, local thinkers. The City, also wishing to ensure a joint discussion on sustainability, has invited the public to provide feedback on the City’s Community Energy Action Plan on March 2^nd.