This program aims to identify and promote innovative financing solutions that can support the transition of the port-city ecosystem in the face of climate and environmental challenges. AIVP members know well that ports and coastal cities, at the heart of global trade, are on the front lines of the impacts of the climate crisis. But they also bear some responsibility for this crisis. Their duty is to transform quickly to ensure maritime development that respects the ocean and local populations. As a program partner, AIVP reaffirms its role in supporting port territories toward more sustainable and innovative models, fostering dialogue between public, private, and financial stakeholders.

The city of San Francisco (USA) has unveiled new renderings of a plan to redevelop Fisherman’s Wharf by destroying the historic Alioto’s restaurant that has been empty for the past 5 years. In its stead, the port city wants to create visual axes to the waterfront and the Golden Gate Bridge. The wharf will retain its historic significance but include new attractions such as an experiential museum and a seafood market. In Argentina, the Rosario River Terminal is also set for redevelopment. With a budget of $2.7 million and a completion deadline of 270 days, the project will recover 2000m2 space and connect the city with the river. It will also allow for the arrival of river cruises.

In Brittany, France, the ports of Brest, Lorient, and Saint-Malo have joined forces to launch the Brittany Port Strategic Alliance (BPSA). This new partnership is designed to position Brittany as a strategic player on both the national and global stage. The alliance is driving forward an ambitious agenda, with priorities that include the energy transition, digital transformation, and innovation. By leveraging their complementary strengths, the three ports aim to boost the visibility and competitiveness of Brittany’s maritime gateway. Looking ahead, the BPSA intends to scale up by working closely with local industrial ports, reinforcing Brittany’s role as a hub for sustainable growth and international trade.

From 12 to 14 September 2025, Hamburg (Germany) hosted the 10th Hamburg Cruise Days, welcoming eight cruise ships and turning the city into Europe’s cruise hub for the weekend. The event coincided with the inauguration of the Hanseatic city’s new Cruise Center on 12 September. Located in Hamburg’s HafenCity, the now fully operational terminal features two berths of 345 m and 230 m, and spans 10,300 m², with two underground floors for arrivals and departures by taxi, car, and bus. Still in Hamburg, the Hamburg Metropolitan Region will host the Days of Industrial Culture festival from 27 to 28 September, featuring over 50 locations linked to the city’s industrial heritage and waterways, including tours of the four-masted barque Peking and the restored tugboat Fritz.

The UK government and industry have announced a £1.1 billion joint investment for the maritime sector, focused on ports, clean technology, and coastal communities. The package includes £700 million from the private sector as well as £448 million of government investment through the UK SHORE programme, designed to reduce emissions from shipping. The initiative will support research and deployment of electric, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and wind-powered maritime technologies and guide the UK towards net zero by 2050.

In La Spezia (Italy), the cooperative Mitilicoltori associati will devote itself to experimenting with the cultivation of vineyards at sea. La Spezia Authority has granted the installation of a floating pier of 10 by 5 meters in the oyster nurseries inside the harbour’s outer breakwater for one year. Combining aquaculture and agriculture, floating boxes containing vines will be observed to see their development in this environmental context without production or commercial purposes. In the Port of Rotterdam (Netherlands), half a million flat oysters will be introduced as a trial to combine nature restoration with the installation of marine infrastructure. Juvenile oysters are raised in a dedicated hatchery before being transferred to a harbour, where they are expected to restore reefs next to marine structures.