In Toronto (Canada), redevelopment work on a former waterfront port zone south-east of the city center is going to schedule. One of the aims of the huge 100 hectare urban regeneration project is to prevent flooding, which happens regularly during extreme weather events. Storms currently cause the river Don to break its banks and flood the surrounding area. The project will create another naturalized river valley to absorb the extra quantities of water present during storms. Launched in 2017, it is currently progressing on schedule. The flood protection measures should be completed by the end of the year, with parks opening as planned in the spring of 2025.

Australia’s federal government has told the port of Hastings (State of Victoria) to go back to the drawing board, following its proposals for an offshore wind terminal. The original project included a new 28 hectare area of land, where components would be assembled for the Portland and Gippsland wind farms. The Department of the Environment has rejected plans to create artificial wetland areas, which are vital bird nesting environments. The State of Victoria aims to have 2 GW of offshore wind capacity installed by 2032, but must balance that laudable goal with the need to protect its coastal species.

The Port Authority of Castelló will be a facilitator in the Ports 4.0 funded “Crystal Lung” project. The project will create a crystalline structure to control noise and atmospheric pollution. The key component of this structure are “sounds crystals”, which form a permeable acoustic barrier that has a capacity to absorb particles (e.g. PM10, PM2.5, and black carbon) when combined with a water diffusion system. The barrier will be implemented for a period of 6 months in an area of special interest for the measurement and capture of these pollutants. The Crystal Lung has several advantages including its permeability, its low visual impact, and its capacity to address two important sources of pollution in the port city environment.

AIVP member Ecocean will collaborate with AD Ports Group and CMA CGM to install 48 Biohuts in Khalifa Port (United Arab Emirates), AD Ports Group’s deep-water port. Biohuts are designed to restore biodiversity and promote marine life in coastal and harbour areas as they create spaces for marine species to seek refuge with minimal impact on the existing environment. The Biohuts will be installed in the start of 2024 at CMA CGM’s future terminal, which is currently under construction. The pilot phase will last 5 years and will be monitored. The project is part of AD Ports Group and CMA CGM’s commitment to reducing their activities’ impact and supporting research and innovation.

Citizens of New York City (USA) will soon enjoy a new floating pool in the Hudson River, concluding a decade-long ambition, as the project +POOL secures $16 million of public funding. Conceived in 2010, the floating plus-shaped pool aims to purify East River water, with plans to clean one million gallons (3 785 m3) daily. The final project is the result of a decade-long process of collaboration with experts, testing, and fund-raising campaigns. The decision to invest in +POOL responds to a rising demand for water-based recreation while also promoting swimming skills. With $12 million from the state and $4 million from the city, this marks the largest statewide swimming investment since the 1930s New Deal. The timeline envisions testing at scale in summer 2024, with hopes of establishing a public pool by the following year.