The Port of Barcelona (Spain) is providing €50 million for the conversion of 25,000 square metres of warehouses into an innovation hub. The first of the six warehouses at San Bertran will be transformed into a coworking space for individuals and businesses. Work began at the end of May and the entire project is due for completion in 2027. The BlueTech Port is set to become a key player in the sustainable blue economy. The World Trade Center Barcelona, a partner in the project, emphasised the vital role of innovation for the sector, particularly in terms of sustainability and efficiency. Once renovated, these premises will also have a cultural vocation, particularly in relation to research and port identity.

In Rotterdam (Netherlands), the Luxor Theater launched a fundraising campaign this Friday to finance the construction of container stairs on its neighboring area, Rijnhaven, under construction until 2035. This Containertrap would serve a dual purpose. Firstly, it would connect the construction area to Luxor’s rooftop terrace, a cultural venue offering stunning views of the ongoing worksite. Secondly, it aims to promote cultural activation of this construction dock. Inside the containers, there will be exhibition spaces for new creators, surrounded by welcoming and green outdoor areas. The project is set to proceed, as the goal of fifty thousand euros in donations has just been reached.

The motto “experience the port from the inside” was the focus of the event held on May 30th in Degrad-des-Cannes (French Guiana). The major maritime port of French Guiana was inspired by the idea of the Port Center Charter, a document initiated by the AIVP, to open its doors to young people and job seekers. The skills in the maritime sector are not well-known in French Guiana, despite the port being the origin of 95% of the products consumed in this French overseas region. A partnership was established with the regional authority, with adjacent cities such as Cayenne and Remire-Montjoly, and with the employment agency “France Travail.”

The Port Authority of Trieste (Italy) and Systematica, two AIVP members, are currently working with other stakeholders to convert a former oil refinery into a seaside urban park dedicated to renewable energies. Former reservoirs will find a new use by storing water that can be converted into energy using agrivoltaic technology. This is not just an urban development project, but also a way of integrating renewable energy production directly into the urban environment. Systematica is involved in developing the master plan for the area, with a particular focus on issues relating to traffic flows.

The PNG Ports Corporation signed a tri-party Memorandum of Understanding on Mangrove Conservation and Rehabilitation at Motukea Port on May 21^st. This agreement intends to help protect port infrastructure from rising sea levels through mangroves as a nature-based solution, resulting in the mangrove planting programme. Another objective is to promote awareness and conservation of mangroves and the ecosystems they sustain as rising tides and erosion are an ever-growing concern for PNG’s coastline. The mangroves will have a crucial role in mitigating climate change’s effects that result in coastal erosion and storm surges.