More than 200 boats have come to a halt at the mouth of the Panama Canal due to measures being adopted in the wake of the drought. In an effort to conserve water, the number of ships passing through the canal each day is being decreased and the draft has been reduced, hence also lessening the amount of cargo being transported. The current drought is due to a diminished rainfall earlier this year, reducing the water levels of the Gatun and Alhajuela Lakes. Extreme summer temperatures and the start of El Niño exacerbate the drought. With the measures remaining for the next 10 months, the Panama Canal is looking to reduce its vulnerability through a “Water Program” research project.

In 2020, the Port of LA (USA) agreed to host a homeless shelter on port property, as part of a network of temporary shelters brought in by former Mayor Garcetti. The Wilmington Bridge Home shelter, which can house 100 homeless and is overseen by US VETS, has now been extended until February 2027, after long discussions with the city and the Neighborhood Council. The communities living in proximity were also invited to debate the extension as they had voiced concerns about security, encampments outside of the facility and the proper removal of trash. The Port will take care of tree trimmings and the city will set up a board with regular updates on how the issues are being addressed. A neighborhood council representative will also participate.

In this time of the year, many ports open their doors and celebrate the maritime culture. In Helsinki (Finland), the port is engaged in two festivals: the Vuosaari Harbour Day on the 26th of August and the Baltic Sea Day on the 31^st, with many educational activities to discover the port and maritime logistics, as well as inspire actions for the Baltic Sea. In Oslo (Norway), the Port Days will take place on the 3rd of September, with 40 activities for all audiences being organized, from test-drives of sea-going robots, to dockside dancing, visits to ships or Oslo’s first floating experience center against marine pollution in the Fjord. On the same weekend, the port of Rotterdam (The Netherlands) is celebrating the 46^th World Port Days, one of the biggest maritime festivals in the world with a rich program including excursions and shows on the river, but also information sessions on maritime careers and the energy transition.

At the end of August, the Indian federal government announced plans for substantial investment to improve the inland water transport (IWT) network in the north-east of the country. The investment is intended to improve trade in the region and facilitate relations with neighbouring countries. It is focused on the development and maintenance of of five rivers’ infrastructure. The announcement comes as the Indian authorities have sought to increase the modal share of inland water transport in recent months. IWT currently enjoys a low share of around 2% of the country’s modal mix. The Indian government sees it as an important way to promote sustainable economic growth in this more remote region. Several other projects are currently being considered or are under way.

In early August, passengers on a cruise liner were forced to wait up to 45 minutes to access public transport after disembarking at the terminal in Hong Kong (China). In response, the port authority and local government have now introduced a special arrangement to facilitate connections between the cruise terminal and public transport to the centre of the city. When the next cruise ship arrived, free shuttles were prepared to take passengers to a subway station. Additional taxis were also arranged. The emergency operation proved a success. The question now is whether to keep the measures in place over the long term, and if so who should pay for them.