The City of Port Alberni (Canada) has taken on an active role in its waterfront management, planning for a more active economic development strategy with its assumption of direct control of Clutesi Haven Marina since the start of March. Previously, the lease was held by the Port Alberni Port Authority. This shift in governance is due to various factors, including a need for significant infrastructure repairs in the coming years and growing demand for visitor accommodations within the community. Plans also include activating the site through leasing the food truck area and unlocking the economic potential of waterfront assets. Marina users with existing moorage agreements will receive new contracts directly from the City, and the existing waiting list will be retained. 

In March 2026, the cross-border port authority North Sea Port inaugurated a public electric truck charging hub at its Ghent (Belgium) terminal. Equipped with four fast-charging points up to 400 kW, it can recharge a vehicle in 45 minutes and is part of the European North Sea-Mediterranean Corridor under the TEN-T network, strengthening logistics connections to France, the Netherlands, and Germany. Additionally, a feasibility study commissioned by North Sea Port and the province of Zeeland (The Netherlands) confirms that an ammonia pipeline linking the port to Antwerp (Belgium) and the Ruhr area (Germany) is technically viable and economically relevant long-term, with a projected volume of 3 million tons per year by 2040.

In France, a three-year research programme has been commissioned to study emissions from river cruise ships. The Estaca engineering school, the University of Nancy Lorraine and the Eiffel Lab will jointly study the dispersion of fine and ultrafine particle emissions from river cruise ships as part of the “Nafquair” programme. The study will begin with a cruise ship sailing on the Rhine, departing from Strasbourg. Meanwhile, the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine has published a report on the state of European shipbuilding for inland waterway transport. It forms part of the preparations for the European maritime industrial strategy. It highlights the expertise of European companies and the opportunities arising from the growth of the river cruise sector, as well as the push for modal shift and the energy transition. It also highlights the reliance on certain non-European manufacturers for specific components, as well as the growing shortage of labour in the sector.

In Kobe (Japan), the “Tottei Green Hill” project converts a former container port pier into a multifunctional public space at the waterfront. Located at the end of the city’s main urban axis linking the mountains and the sea, the intervention redefines the port land, no longer used for cargo, into an accessible civic area. The design introduces an artificial green topography inspired by amphitheatres, combining open plazas, seating areas, and covered spaces for year-round use. Part of a broader transition of port infrastructure toward public use, the project aims to reconnect the waterfront with the city, enhancing continuity between the urban fabric, landscape, and the sea.

The four-year Sustainable Smart Ports (SSP) project, run by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), just concluded in Ghana, Mauritius, and Morocco. Based in three pilot ports – Port Louis (Mauritius), Tanger Med (Morocco) and the Port of Tema (Ghana) – the project followed a “Sustainable Smart Port assessment methodology”, based on quantitative and qualitative evidence. The initiative examined energy use across the three ports, the electrification readiness of the national grids, the local potential for renewables, and the various regulatory and institutional frameworks. The project helped with data governance and improved coordination between port and energy stakeholders. Drawing on the project’s lessons, UNCTAD is now preparing an online training course on sustainable and smart ports, scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2026.

The architectural firm Riparia MX has developed an original project in Sierra Morelos Park (Mexico), involving the creation of a circular wooden pavilion dedicated to wetland restoration. The project combines environmental infrastructure with architectural design, focusing on habitat restoration, water management and low-impact construction. The design features an educational area where children can sit on boats modelled on ‘trajineras’, traditional boats. The pavilion allows for direct observation of ecological processes. Its design integrates spatial conditions above and below the water, creating a continuous relationship between architecture and habitat. The structure of the building is built using recycled concrete – particularly for the submerged section – and recycled timber. The use of these materials underscores the commitment to delivering a project with sustainable