The cities and ports of Helsinki (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) as well as several other key stakeholders signed an MoU on the 9^th of October to ensure and accelerate the creation of a climate neutral corridor. The aim of the collaboration is to reach their emission targets sooner than anticipated with the other joint projects already in place. The Green Corridor will focus on both cargo and passenger traffic. The cities of Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Oslo (Norway) also have signed an MoU to create a new green corridor for short sea shipping. It will introduce the zero-emission hydrogen vessels “SeaShuttle” which will do weekly loops between the ports.

The Port of Halifax (Canada) has released a report on building its workforce capacity in line with the transition to a net zero future. In an ever-shifting industry and with job openings demanding a higher level of skill as the port advances towards more sustainable practices, the approach to building and curating workforce should be revised. The report introduces and provides insight onto the concept of green skills that are needed in the Ports, supply chain, and maritime sector. It also highlights the need for transition pathways from jobs in both thriving and vulnerable sectors to leverage the high demand skills and experience that are readily transferrable.

In line with the goals of AIVP’s 2030 Agenda, the Port Authority of Montreal (Canada) has, for some years, been investing in projects to improve the port-city interface. The latest is a new promenade currently being created in the Cité du Havre district, close to the Bickerdike terminal. The promenade will include storyboards explaining the port’s activities, designed to help the port fit more seamlessly into the daily lives of local residents. To promote access to active modes of transportation, a dedicated cycle path will be created, along with a bike repair facility. The promenade will also have new viewing points from which to admire the river, the Old Port, and the city’s industrial heritage. Work is expected to be completed by December 2023.

A newly refurbished site at the port will house a number of emergency and environmental stakeholders in one location. The port authority of Oslo (Norway) has provided the use of a port terminal situated at the port-city interface to act as HQ for its own team of safety officers, alongside marine law enforcement, firefighting crews, sea rescue, and also the environment agency. The aim is to pool technical resources, while enabling the different teams to get used to working together, a vital requirement for effective crisis management.

The metropolitan municipality of eThekwini (South Africa), which includes the district and city of Durban, capital of KwaZulu-Natal, has been working closely with the country’s national port authority Transnet since 2006, under a memorandum of agreement. Together, the city and port agreed on special joint arrangements for data sharing, decision-making, and project management. The deal has gradually been expanded into new areas, with a first amendment adopted in 2016 extending its remit to include cooperation on spatial planning and urban development. A second amendment has now been signed to prioritise port-city interface zones and mixed-use functions.