The Associated British Ports (UK) have released their plans to create a new 250-hectare area of intertidal habitat. Much of the new habitat is compensatory for flood risk management work and port development in other parts of the estuary. The embankment has been created by building a new 5.5km flood embankment and creating a breach in the old defence. It helps reduce flood risk in South Holderness. Singapore plans to construct coastal barriers by the 2030s, linking Sentosa to the mainland, to protect the Greater Southern Waterfront from storm surges. From the 2030s, three novel structures that will protect Singapore from rising sea levels will start to take shape on the nation’s southern coast.

The redevelopment of the Marquis d’Aiguillon Quay reflects Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port’s ambition to drive major urban renewal. Once a declining industrial site, the quay will undergo safety works in 2026, followed by the removal of Warehouse 12 and the restoration of its structures. By 2033, it will host ‘L’Escale’ a vibrant new destination combining green spaces, leisure facilities, and a mixed-use development with restaurants, shops, offices, and a hotel. By opening the quay onto the Loire, the project will create a place to strengthen the ties between the city, its people, and the river.

The ports of Dublin (Ireland), Lisbon, Setúbal, and Sesimbra (Portugal) are highlighting the human and cultural side of their activities through programs that emphasize “soft values.” The exhibition Soft Values of Seaports 2015–2025 in Dublin combines concerts, films, and installations to showcase the history and dedication of port communities. Meanwhile, the Cidade dos Arquivos in Portugal opens its archives to the public, offering guided tours and roundtable discussions to share industrial knowledge and cultural heritage. These initiatives foster collaboration and intergenerational exchange, underlining the vital role ports play today.

The Cruise Terminal of the Port of Leixões (Portugal) recently conducted its first national supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to a cruise ship in a simultaneous operation on September 12th. LNG can help improve local air quality and contribute to more sustainable tourism. Furthermore, the MAGPIE Port-City Workshop will take place in Port of Leixões’ Auditório Infante D. Henrique on the 2nd of October. Participants will present and discuss synergies between the MAGPIE project and local projects, the transferability of the demonstrators to the Portuguese context, and non-technological barriers that need to be overcome in the energy transition. Subjects that will be discussed throughout the day include digitalization, multimodality and decarbonization, alternative fuels, and non-technological barriers and how to address them.

DP World announced earlier this year plans to expand the London Gateway Port, adding two 400-metre berths and a second rail terminal. It seems that these plans now also include a small nuclear reactor to power the extension. An English government statement on 15 September, titled “Golden Age of Nuclear Power Delivers UK-US Deal for Energy Security” namely revealed the inclusion of one of the world’s first micro modular nuclear power plants to power the container terminal expansion. The project reflects a wider trend of “nuclearizing” ports and shipyards, as Australia is investing $8 billion in a nuclear submarine shipyard under the AUKUS pact.

At a special General Council meeting on 15 September, WTO members marked the entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which commits members to drying up overfishing subsidies that threaten marine stocks. In the same tide, the UN ‘high seas’ treaty, that had received a lot of attention during UNOC 3, will follow shortly and take effect in January 2026. Morocco and Sierra Leone became the 60th and 61st ratifying states on 19 September, crossing the threshold for entry into force. Covering two-thirds of the world’s oceans beyond national jurisdiction, the treaty sets binding rules to protect marine biodiversity, share benefits from marine genetic resources, and establish new protected areas.