The government of California is awarding $80,000,000 to the Port of Hueneme (USA) for its strategic PACED (Port Action, Climate, and Environment Development) project. The project aims to generate benefits for the port and surrounding communities by creating employment opportunities for local people that will support port operations and the development of clean technologies. Among other things, the funds will be used to install zero emission plug in units for containers, improve efficiency, safety, and emissions control.

The future Ocean Campus of Lisbon (Portugal) is starting to take shape. Last June, Lisbon’s Port Authority and the City council signed the 75-year concession contract for the installation of the Shared Ocean Lab in one of the warehouses of the Pedrouços Dock, which is part of the future Ocean Campus. The strategic objective is to create a space for scientific research and innovation, regarding Maritime Sciences and the blue economy. The investment of Lisbon’s City Council in this concession will be €26 million, to be complemented with an additional budget of €31 million for the rehabilitation of the building.

A recent study conducted by key San Francisco commissions and associations concluded that $110 billion was required to protect San Francisco’s (USA) shoreline from rising sea levels by 2050. Already, several projects are underway to protect San Francisco’s International Airport with a 10-mile-long seawall costing $587 million and to rebuild the sea wall along the Embarcadero through a $5 billion plan. Voters are supportive of a taxation increase to protect their bay as 75,000 households and 200,000 jobs are at risk by 2050. Although funds remain insufficient as only $5 billion is currently available, President Biden highlighted the opportunity for job creation and innovation in this combat against climate change.

The Port of Leith Distillery (United Kingdom) – a vertical, nine-story building with a £13m investment – will be opening its doors before the end of the year. The distillery will produce up to one million bottles of whisky per year, using locally grown barley. It will also have a social aspect by hosting tours, tastings and a top-floor bar. The opening of this new industry will create 50 new jobs and is expected to attract 25,000 visitors to the port area in the first year with the numbers growing to 160,000 in the following years.

Nigeria’s economic capital, the large city of Lagos, is affected by severe traffic jams caused by trucks. Congestion at the main port of Tin Can, which handles 60% of the country’s external trade, is an aggravating factor. At a consultation meeting with local stakeholders, the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) received numerous proposals, including developing the canals and rivers to carry traffic. The authority has since announced that is has approached financial institutions including the EIB, AfDB, or AFD, to co-fund the renovation of Tin Can’s infrastructures under a public-private arrangement.