Micro-reefs replicate natural seabed features. Integrated into existing port walls, they offer nature-based solutions to restore habitats and support marine biodiversity. At Shoreham Port (UK), the Southwick Reef project also serves as a community initiative, developed with local councils, environmental groups, and the University of Brighton. Presented in January 2026, its official launch planned for June, has already attracted over 400 participants. Similarly, Marbella’s Virgen del Carmen Marina (Spain) has installed six micro-reefs made of “Life Boosting Units” to support marine habitat recovery. The Costa del Sol project will monitor the seawall development using underwater drones.

Ports are upgrading cruise facilities with a focus on city integration. At the Port of Los Angeles (USA), Pacific Cruise Terminals LLC will develop the Future Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal, expanding capacity and modernizing passenger access. In Cartagena (Spain), the Port Authority launched a €7.25 million tender to remodel the waterfront around the cruise terminal, improving public spaces, accessibility, mobility, and heritage connections. In Seville (Spain), Global Ports and Ocean Platform Marinas were awarded the concession to manage cruise and megayacht operations, improving operational efficiency and coordination with the city. These projects show how ports are aligning terminal development with urban infrastructure and public spaces.

The New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (USA) is launching a call for projects to support citizen communities conducting research, planning, and infrastructure projects aimed at building resilience to recurring extreme weather events and water-quality challenges. This program is a collaboration between two US states and federal, state, and local agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit partners. These partners are working together to identify common priorities and a concrete path forward toward a healthy, resilient, and accessible estuary that benefits all residents and nature. This call for proposals offers a total of $350,000 in funding, which is expected to support 4 to 6 projects serving communities in the estuary watershed. It is open until February 13th.

The revival of the historic ferry service link between Rosyth (United Kingdom) and Dunkirk (France) has been announced. This announcement comes eight years after the last freight ferries linked Scotland to mainland Europe and 16 years after passenger services stopped. The reestablishment of the service by DFDS will launch in spring 2026 and initially targets 51 thousand passengers and significant freight volume, with plans to scale up in the following years. The ferry service launch is in line with Dunkirk’s reindustrialisation and regeneration masterplan and will also be beneficial to the Scottish economy, with an estimated £11.5 million annual revenue. The crossing will take about 20 hours.

The Little Museum of Dublin (Ireland), in partnership with Dublin Port, has launched the “I Love Dublin” initiative, a free educational program welcoming school groups from across Ireland every Wednesday. Designed for primary and secondary students, it offers an engaging exploration of the city’s history through curated collections, significant artifacts, interactive activities, and guided tours tailored to each age group. Participants learn about Dublin’s maritime origins, the evolution of its neighborhoods, and the historical figures who shaped the city. With Dublin Port’s sponsorship, adults also receive free entry each Wednesday.

The Port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire (France) is launching the “Portuaires” series in January 2026, a podcast available in both audio and video formats, dedicated to exploring port and maritime professions. This hybrid format aims to provide a fresh perspective on port activities by highlighting the people who bring them to life. The project seeks to showcase the diversity of roles beyond infrastructure and ships. Each episode combines an immersive audio interview of about ten minutes with a short three-minute video, following an employee through their daily work. Released every three weeks, the series already includes two episodes and is available on major platforms and social media.