The Panama Canal has activated an alert level due to rising water levels in the Gatún and Alajuela lakes, which feed the inter-oceanic route. Indeed, these two reservoirs are close to their limits due to the intensity of the rainy season. In the event of extreme rainfall, controlled discharges will be made by opening gates.  A flood control program keeps a 24-hour watch on areas at risk. Local communities have been alerted and public spaces closed. A case in point is the Muelle Gallo recreational area, where preventive spillages could be carried out. At the same time, a water reservoir project is being considered to manage excess water in the event of drought.

The recently inaugurated “La Kaz” Port Center in Guadeloupe (France) has opened its doors to the general public. Designed in the form of a Creole hut, this space enables visitors of all ages to familiarize themselves with the port world through virtual tours, guided tours and themed events. The project has multiple objectives. Through this space, the port hopes to promote port professions, engage the port community, develop synergies with local players and make itself more accessible to citizens. Since signing the Port Center Charter in 2015 with AIVP, the GPMG has become part of a network of port cities committed to developing their port-city interface.

Barcelona (Spain) has become the first Mediterranean port to certify the carbon footprint of its entire port community using ISO 14064 standards. In 2022, the Port’s carbon footprint was calculated at 495,356 tCO₂eq (tonnes of CO2 equivalent), incorporating new activities like industry, port works, and ship waste, alongside previous operations. Ships were the largest contributors (64%), followed by port concessions (29%), works and waste (4%), and land mobility (3%). This certification, conducted by DNV, enhances data reliability for future assessments and supports the Port’s Energy Transition Plan, which aims to decarbonize operations and promote sustainable fuels. Collaborative efforts highlight the importance of data collection and a cultural shift toward sustainability.

In November, the Scottish, UK, and municipal governments approved funding for the Falkirk development plan. The plan will see the canal-side district transformed from one of UK’s most polluting industrial areas into a leading-edge business park in the field of energy transition. The £80 million project has a number of components: CO2 capture and utilization mechanisms, a center linked to canal activities, a training center for transitional professions, a new multimodal hub to promote active mobility, and the transformation of former industrial areas. The project is expected to create 2,000 new jobs and greatly improve the quality of life for residents thanks to new public spaces and work on the transport hub.

In November, the Port Commissioners of the city in Washington State (USA) approved the Port Maritime Center project. The 8-hectare project will include facilities for a wide range of sea-related activities. It will include the creation of a public training school for seafaring professions, called Maritime|253, as well as new spaces for port administration and associations. Explanatory footpaths will surround the various buildings, linking them to the nearby waterways. The partnership between the educational network and the port will highlight and offer little-known career opportunities for the city’s pupils and students. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2025, and the school’s programs is to be launched in the fall of 2025.