The Hong Kong government (China) promulgated an Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering to promote its development into a green maritime fuel bunkering center. The Action Plan sets out targets, such as reducing carbon emissions from Hong Kong-registered ships by 11% (compared to 2019) and ensuring that 55% of diesel-fueled government vessels switch to green maritime fuels by 2026. The Action Plan includes the supply of green maritime fuels, infrastructural support, incentive measures, and talent training. The Government has identified a land parcel near the port for green maritime fuel storage. It will also facilitate the conduct of the LNG ship-to-ship bunkering demonstration in 2025 and establish the Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme to encourage green maritime fuel bunkering businesses.

There was a big win for the authorities in the fight against drug trafficking early in December, with over 16,100 pounds (7,300 kg) of cocaine seized at Port Everglades (USA). Local coast guard and helicopter crews were able to intercept a haul with a street value of $182.8 million following a deployment lasting nearly three and a half months. The operation is part of a crackdown by the authorities aimed at preventing the illegal transit of narcotics in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and off the coasts of South and Central America.

November marked a key milestone in plans to rebuild the ferry terminal in Brest (France) as SemBreizh, the firm overseeing the project on behalf of the Brittany Region, revealed sketches of the new building. The new terminal has been designed to keep freight traffic, passengers, and people walking on the promenade apart, while linking up the port with the rest of the city. The project’s design also addresses the challenges posed by climate change and in particular rising sea levels, by making the terminal capable of withstanding submersion without compromising its structure. The terminal will be a functional, secure and open space using sustainable materials. Work is due to start in spring 2026 and should be completed in Q1 2028.

Hunterston Marine Yard in Ayrshire (UK) has been given the go-ahead for a major upgrade that will see a former coal terminal transformed into a renewables infrastructure hub, particularly for offshore wind. The site is owned by Clydeports, part of the Peel Ports Group, which will be overseeing the redevelopment. As part of the £150 million investment, the current dry-dock basin will be filled in and a new quay wall built, while a new Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) facility will also be created, the largest of its kind in the world. Scheduled to get underway early in 2025, the two-year redevelopment is expected to attract more than £3.5 billion in inward investment and create 5,000 new jobs.

The Port Authority of Almeria (Spain), has tendered a €1.66 million project to rehabilitate the historic Muelle de Ribera I shed, aiming for completion by Christmas 2025. The renovation will integrate the structure into the city, transforming 2,600 square meters into a versatile event space while preserving its use for shading port facilities, particularly relevant for the passengers in the Operación Paso del Estrecho – Crossing the Strait Operation (the yearly holiday travel of North African migrants to their home countries). Upgrades include repairing its corroded metal frame, replacing the asbestos roof with aluminum, and adding advanced lighting. Originally a storage hub for goods in the 20th century, the shed’s modernization reflects its new role as a cultural and functional city landmark.