One of the most ambitious port-city projects of New York City (USA) is moving forward with two new achievements, guaranteeing financing and implementing new shared leadership. NYC administration has received a federal grant of 164 million dollars to modernize Brooklyn Marine Terminal, improving the area’s pier infrastructure and mobility solutions. At the same time, the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has announced the creation of a 28-member task force to guide the future development of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal. The task force includes local officials, community leaders, and industry experts. It aims to transform the 50 Ha site into a modern maritime port and mixed-use community. Public engagement is a key focus, with community workshops and surveys being conducted. The redevelopment is part of a broader vision for New York City’s “Harbor of the Future,” bringing jobs and infrastructure improvements.

World Rivers Day, which has been organised by the body of the same name since 2005, is a global event held annually on the last Sunday of September. This year, numerous activities will take place around the world to highlight river issues. There will be collective river clean-up operations, along with conferences, cultural festivals (including Totally Thames, organised by the Thames Festival Trust in the UK), and more. All of these events are aimed at forging a closer relationship between the public and their waterways, and promoting the importance of maintaining them sustainably.

Across the world, AIVP port members are opening their doors to the public to learn more about the maritime world and celebrate their port heritage. In Canada, the ports of Quebec, Vancouver, and Montréal hosted their port days on the 7^th, 21^st, and 22^nd of October respectively with a variety of maritime-themed activities. The Port of Quebec hosted a Family Maritime Festival during which participants could even discover some boats for a day. The Port of Vancouver used the opportunity to introduce its new Maritime Career Zone while the Tower of the Port of Montreal was freely accessible. In Portugal, the Port of Leixoes also offered visits and expositions on the 22^nd of September during their Port Days. The Port of Kribi (Cameroon) also hosted Open Days under the theme “State-of-the-art security for a safe port” on the 13^th of September. Even maritime companies CMB.TECH and MSC will host a maritime-themed festival in Antwerp (Belgium) on October 24th to raise funds for donations to educate disadvantaged youth.

Severe drought conditions in Brazil’s Parana river basin are disrupting traffic on Argentina’s inland waterways. The river is currently at the second lowest level recorded since the 1970s, and the water level continues to fall. Whereas nearly 80% of the country’s cereal and oilseeds exports would normally transit via the river, the impact on shipping has had major repercussions for the agricultural sector. The Paraguay and Amazon rivers are also experiencing serious droughts, with similar effects on waterway traffic. To tackle the difficulties faced by the logistic industry, some agricultural produce is being moved by rail and road, but the switch means much lower capacities, significantly higher energy use, and more pressure on those infrastructures.

AIVP members, the Bordeaux Métropole and the Grand Port Maritime de Bordeaux, have joined forces with the Union Maritime et Portuaire de Bordeaux (France) to create “Le Pavillon – Bordeaux Port Center”. This association, whose aim is to strengthen links between the port, the urban area and its residents, will be in charge of events and content for the future Port Center. The Port Center, which will be situated in the Bassins à flot district, held its first general assembly meeting on September 20^th under the leadership of Mr. Philippe Dorthe. Soon, a container fitted out as a travelling exhibition, with VR headsets, will bring a taste of what the Bordeaux Port Center will bring. Port visits for students and the public will also be organized.