The Barcelona Port Authority (Spain) has granted a concession to a private company for a nautical bus service set to begin in July 2024, connecting the Drassanes and Llevant wharves. Operating at least 12 hours daily with two zero-emission vessels capable of accommodating 70 passengers, the service features automated docking and boarding systems. It will have a maximum fare of less than €2 and discounts for specific groups, including seniors and children. The concession spans 15 years, requiring an initial investment of €1.9 million.

In Oslo, Norway, Hav Eiendom is implementing measures to monitor and safeguard the flora and fauna of the fjord while developing the Grønlikaia fjord district with a harbour promenade. In collaboration with the port and students, Hav Eiendom is launching a project to map life in the fjord along this new district over the next years. The development prioritizes minimal impact on water surfaces and employing marine-friendly materials to reduce ecological consequences. Building on past experience with mussel ropes and artificial fish reefs, Hav Eiendom aims to enhance local biodiversity in various parts of the fjord.

The waterfront at Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra (Australia) is set to be turned into an urban park recognising the culture of the Ngunnawal people, one of the Australian First Nations. Several sites of importance to the Ngunnawal community were flooded when the artificial lake was created, and the project aims to celebrate their heritage. The park will include an adventure playground, native plant species, and information about the Ngunnawal culture.

The special administrative region of Hong Kong is providing public funding to accelerate the energy transition in its port sector, a crucial mainstay of the local economy. By modernising infrastructures such as pipelines and logistics platforms, the aim is to make Hong Kong a hub for clean fuel bunkering. Monthly festivities organised by the government on the Victoria Harbour waterfront are a sign of the port’s cultural importance.

In La Rochelle (France), solar panels are set to be installed on the port’s roofs and canopies. A call for volunteers has gone out, to supply green power to around a dozen companies. The port authority is keen to set an example, and has halved the number of journeys made by its employees using ICE cars, by encouraging car-sharing and creating 3 km of new cycle lanes. The port is also following up on its commitment to install more shore power facilities for medium-tonnage vessels.