Gronlikaia, a former industrial district on the Oslo Fjord (Norway), is set to be transformed into a mixed-use precinct. It will eventually be the site for some 1,500 new homes and offices for up to 3,000 people. The project also includes a new promenade running the length of the port, along with leisure amenities and meeting spaces. The development is being watched closely and complies with very strict environmental and social criteria. Its construction is designed to meet the needs of residents, while safeguarding local biodiversity and minimising the use of resources.

The project concerns five rivers around the capital city, Dhaka. Of the 52 km of pedestrian walkways planned in this initial phase, 20 km have already been built. The idea is to improve riverfront areas by preventing waste from polluting the water by reducing garbage dumping and by opening up these areas to residents. The project also aims to combat illegal occupation of the waterways and protect the natural environment. Since the first sections of the new paths were opened to the public, there has been an influx of visitors and new shops and restaurants have sprung up nearby.

Living Breakwaters, the prize-winning project of 2023, stretches a half-mile alog the south shore of Staten Island in New York (USA). The near shore breakwater project is a mix of stones and ECOncrete units placed strategically to reduce erosion, calm the waters, rebuild onshore beaches, and support marine species such as oysters and fin fish. The oysters and the ECOncrete structures will jointly form an artificial reef. The project also includes almost a decade’s worth of educational and engagement-related programs to increase community stewardship and citizen science with the help of a coalition of local stakeholders. The $107 million project also aims to connect people to the shoreline through recreational activities.  

The Port Authority of Cartagena (Spain) is developing a series of projects along 10 km of coastline dedicated to the local citizens, in order to open up the port and facilitate its integration. One of the main projects is the “Plaza Mayor”, completed in 2023 with a budget of 3 million €. This intervention will be completed in the next stages, with projects focusing to improve mobility and visibility in the port cruise sector, and new public spaces for sports, games, and children’s playgrounds. The broader ambition is the “lighthouse-to-lighthouse” plan, which will see the construction of a 10km pedestrian and bicycle path that will have spaces along its route so that citizens can enjoy the seafront.

In countries where land is at a premium, such as the mountainous islands of Taiwan or the Philippines, installing solar panels on land poses a challenge. Floating solar technology uses the wide open spaces of the sea instead. A field of floating solar panels is set to be installed in Tainan (Taiwan), using an existing aquaculture farm as a platform. The panels will be attached to roofs and structures extending above the waterline. A similar project is currently being designed in Cadiz (Philippines). The current, tide and wind all pose significant technical challenges, and so a trial carried out by the port of Valencia (Spain) could be invaluable for determining how ports could potentially play a role in the development of floating solar. The pilot project is called PVFOILX1-PORTS.