On March 2nd, 2026, Port Atlantique La Rochelle (France) formalised its participation in the CAPéMARE consortium (Professional Campus for Marine Renewable Energies) by signing the consortium agreement alongside La Rochelle Université, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Academic Region, and the GIP Continuing Education Group. Launched on January 29th, 2026, the project aims to develop specialised training aligned with upcoming offshore wind tenders. Supported by the France 2030 program with €3 million out of a total €4.9 million budget, CAPéMARE will run for five years (2025–2030) and position La Rochelle as a key player in the maritime energy transition.

On Wednesday, March 4th, the European Commission unveiled its long-awaited ports strategy. Among the most prominent topics likely to quickly become part of the European legislative process are the regulation of foreign investment and the control of strategic infrastructure, as well as port security and resilience. The text also includes a new roadmap for competitive small and medium-sized ports, new developments regarding the Coastal Communities Strategy and Island Strategy, and an Electrification Action Plan for ports. The AIVP welcomes the strategy as the Commission announced that it will strengthen dialogue and support the development of best practices and guidance to improve port-city relations. The Commission’s intention to put together a high-level Maritime Industries and Ports Board should also help bring EU institutions, Member States, and industry stakeholders to the table to implement the strategy.

The regional environmental evaluation commission has approved the TCVAL port expansion project proposed by the port authority of Valparaíso (Chile). The project is the biggest infrastructure developed in the port city in the last 100 years, even if it envisages a reduction of around 50% from the original 2018 initiative. It includes the construction of a new quay, with a 430-meter-long docking front, and the opening of a 1.2-kilometer coastal promenade that will connect Parque Barón to the Bellavista sector, where there will be an underground passageway, as well as a plaza, a bike path, and a viewpoint. Added to this is the construction of the Arrayán elevator, located in the heart of the port district, plus mitigation measures and voluntary commitments associated with the local fishermen.

The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has presented its Maritime Master Plan, which will be launched in 2027. Meanwhile, the Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare Adriatico Meridionale (AdSPMAM; Italy) has announced an investment of €728 million. In both cases, the strategic guidelines focus on similar areas aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of ports: infrastructure development, acceleration of technological innovation, strengthening competitiveness by enhancing human capital, and taking into account the ecological transition.

The port authority of Corfu (Greece) has just inaugurated a cultural space within the port. This space is dedicated to the maritime history of Corfu and the preservation of the art of wooden shipbuilding and seeks above all to highlight the central role of the port in the cultural identity of the region. Memory, experience, and interpretation of maritime heritage are at the heart of the initiative, thanks to immersive installations, including virtual reality. The venue is named ‘Spyros Zervopoulos’ in memory of the former port director who led its transition and modernisation beyond its economic and commercial functions. It covers more than 500m2.

Mexico is constructing the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a 303 km rail bridge that links the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico in under 6 hours. It is a modern dry canal, connecting the ports of Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos through railway tracks, gas pipelines and 14 industrial parks. It aims to provide an alternative route to international logistics flows than the Panama Canal, especially in the likelihood of a drought situation such as the one in 2023. Although this project could reduce GHG emissions, precautionary measures must be taken to ensure that the area’s ecosystem is conserved and that the impacted communities are consulted and included in the growth of this corridor.