The seaport of Ostend has signed a logistics partnership with the inland port of Liège (Belgium) to process scrapped wind turbines. Belgium’s fleet of 1,500 onshore and offshore wind turbines is set to be gradually replaced from 2030 onwards. Some 400 wind turbines will be affected in Ostend alone. Significant quantities of materials can be retrieved and re-used when the turbines are dismantled. The initiative has already drawn interest from potential private sector partners.

European port sector labour shortages are particularly acute in Antwerp-Bruges (Belgium), where there are more than 5,000 unfilled positions. To tackle the problem, an exhibition has been organized to tell young people as well as training and education institutions about the opportunities existing in this fast-growing sector. Meanwhile, along the Rhine, initiatives such as the use of remote-controlled barges are being encouraged, in an attempt to attract new talents. A remote control centre created by a Belgian firm in Duisburg (Germany) is already up and running, with plans to expand in the future.

While developing the port area to accommodate new economic activities, HAROPA Port also created ecological corridors in Rouen (France). These corridors aim to restore and recreate connections between reservoirs of biodiversity, creating more favourable conditions in which species can thrive. They will also host treasure hunts for school children to discover the biodiversity present in the port zones. The treasure hunts intend to raise awareness and share information about the ecological functions of the corridors. The treasure hunt will focus on various topics and areas, including the impacts of invasive species.

Construction is underway for Italy’s largest undersea road tunnel beneath Genoa’s port. Costing 1 billion euros and due for completion by 2029, it aims to save 1 million travel hours annually while enhancing environmental sustainability. The project encompasses urban and green regeneration initiatives, including 10 hectares of parks and cycle lanes. The tunnel brings together several public authorities, national, regional, and local, as well as the port authority, and the national highway company. The project’s masterplan was developed by Genoese architect Renzo Piano. The 3.4-km tunnel, descending to -45 meters below sea level, aims to enhance road access to Genoa’s port and urban areas, supporting broader urban development objectives.

The New York (USA) City Council has approved legislation mandating cruise ships with shore power capabilities to connect to shore power at terminals, reducing harmful emissions from idling diesel engines. The bill requires the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to enforce this requirement and develop community traffic mitigation plans. This move aims to cut pollution and noise in neighbourhoods surrounding cruise terminals, benefiting both communities and the environment.