The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC) and the US Department of Transportation (US DoT) have just published their action plan to integrate river and short sea shipping into New York’s logistics transport networks. The plan aims to reduce road congestion, improve air quality, and create new jobs. More specifically, the action plan outlines three main service lines and 25 potential sites to be developed to realise the potential of the city’s waterways. It complements the report on the workforce development opportunities published in June. This will be one of the projects we will learn about at the upcoming AIVP World Conference.

On 31 October, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure launched a programme to build new small harbours in provinces outside the Western Cape, favoured during the apartheid. The harbours will be built at Port Shepstone (KwaZulu-Natal), Port St Johns (Eastern Cape), and Port Nolloth (Northern Cape) and aim for a more balanced regional development, addressing the spatial and economic inequalities remaining from apartheid. The programme includes Special Economic Zones and follows three different Spatial Economic Development Frameworks to integrate with local economies, promote fisheries, tourism, and small business growth. This initiative is part of the country’s strategy and projects to valorise its coastline, such as the District Development Model and the Eastern Seaboard Development.

Built in 1889, the same year as the Eiffel Tower, the Colbert Bridge in Dieppe (France) is Europe’s last large swing bridge still operating in its original configuration. Scheduled for replacement by the port authority, the bridge became the focus of a local campaign, as the people of Dieppe were deeply attached to this historic landmark, a symbol of their city. The fight, which began in 2009, ended successfully: classified as a historic monument in 2020, the bridge, under renovation since 2024, has just been returned to its original location and is expected to reopen to traffic in January 2026. Its preservation highlights port communities’ strong connection to industrial heritage and their role in shaping urban development projects.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority (the Netherlands) has presented its “Nature Vision 2025–2050”, developed in collaboration with the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, which sets out a new approach to the port’s environmental management. This strategy aims to balance economic development with ecological restoration, making the port a sustainable area fully integrated into its natural surroundings. It includes measures to consider living ecosystems in every development project, preserve or recreate habitats suitable for local species, and improve soil and water quality. Relying on close cooperation between public institutions, businesses, and the scientific community, the port seeks to strengthen the ecosystem of the Rhine-Meuse Delta.

The Finnish Port Association published their Biodiversity Roadmap for Finnish Ports, aiming to increase awareness and expertise on biodiversity issues and set concrete milestones and goals. The roadmap focuses on port management operations and includes the goals of strengthening expertise by 2026, conducting a baseline assessment by 2027, developing a biodiversity strategy and defining objectives by 2028, and implementing new measures in 2029. Finnish ports, notably the ports of Helsinki and Turku, were involved in its development to ensure that it acted as a strategic tool in the ports’ sustainability strategies.

On October 15, the Governor of California (USA) signed a new law, to take effect in January 2026, which will help revitalise Oakland’s waterfront by modernising restrictions on the use of public trust lands held by the port authority. It will allow vacant commercial spaces to be activated and deliver public-serving amenities. The Port will be able to support a broader mix of uses and allow visitors to enjoy the waterfront. At the same time, the port-city interface may also see the start of construction of the Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal at the previous Army Base dock. The project faced legal resistance from the city and local activists since 2015, as it included a rail-to-dock coal terminal. The settlement may cost the city $230 million.