The first session of 2025 of the plenary session of the Valparaíso (Chile) Port City Coordination Council was held, bringing together 80 participants, including numerous civil society organizations. Discussions focused on project progress and the inclusive participation of diverse stakeholders, with particular emphasis on the development of the urban-port project at Barón Park. Talcahuano also recently held its Port City Coordination Council meeting, the first to include the newly appointed regional and municipal authorities, who convened to discuss accelerating the extension of the Interport Route. San Antonio has also previously convened Port City Coordination Councils aimed at fostering community involvement.

Argelès-sur-Mer (France) will soon host the Maison de la Mer, a 1,746 m² building in its port area. Designed by A+ Architecture, the project will house the Gulf of Lion Marine Natural Park headquarters, the harbour master’s office, and shared workspaces. The building features a largely vegetated roof and is designed to generate more energy than it consumes through solar panels and a geothermal system. Scheduled for completion at the end of August 2025, the nearly €7.5 million project is backed by several public partners.

The Flemish (Belgium) and Dutch governments recently signed a cooperation agreement to develop the North Sea Port District, a mixed-use urban and port zone that straddles the border between the two countries, surrounding Vlissingen and Ghent. The stakeholders, including the North Sea Port transnational port authority, are set to work together on a variety of issues from energy and public transport connections to housing and water management. Covering an unusually wide range of areas and incorporating a long-term approach to planning, the ambitious and somewhat unique agreement is expected to drive sustainable economic growth for the region.

In Japan, several businesses specialising in the maritime industry energy transition have formed a consortium with MUFG Bank and the City of Yokohama to create an offshore data center. A memorandum of understanding has been signed for a floating data centre that will be powered by battery-stored solar energy, ensuring it is able to run on a standalone basis. The new facility will begin testing in autumn 2025 to ascertain whether it is capable of steady and stable operation. The ultimate goal will be to scale up the prototype to make optimal use of renewables and limit reliance on onshore power grids.

A 50 million euro investment will set up the Blue Tech Port in Barcelona (Spain) to become an essential hub for the local blue economy. The project involves regenerating 25,000 m² of warehouse premises on the Sant Bertran quays to provide workspaces for nearly 2,500 people. Redevelopment work is due to be under way in October 2025 and will be delivered in autumn 2027. The Blue Tech Port is the fruit of a lead partnership between the Port of Barcelona and the World Trade Center Barcelona (WTCB). The Port of Barcelona handed the WTCB a 36-year license to use the quays in March 2025. The project is aiming for a high-impact internationally by hosting global institutions and start-ups at the new site.

The Australian Border Force is looking for members of the public to foster labrador puppies that may eventually serve as sniffer dogs for maritime and border enforcement. The Detector Dog Program forms a significant component of Australia’s border security system. Once trained, the dogs work at seaports and other facilities to detect narcotics, tobacco, firearms, explosives and currency. Foster families are expected to help with the puppies’ development by bringing them to busy locations for socialization purposes, which is vital for their future careers. Under the arrangement, the Border Force assumes financial responsibility for the puppies, covering costs for food, equipment and veterinary care.