The environmental assessment phase is underway for the Navy SEAL museum on the North Embarcadero site in San Diego (United States). The total cost of the project is estimated at $256 million. The concept centres on showcasing the history, service and values of the Navy SEALs (a special operations unit of the US Navy). The museum is expected to attract up to one million visitors a year by improving public access to the waterfront, complementing existing facilities. The plans were designed by ZGF Architects. They feature an angular, modern structure intended to evoke the shape of a warship.

The Ports of Sardinia (Italy) and Tangier Ville (Morocco) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in the luxury yachting sector. The agreement aims to create an integrated nautical circuit between Sardinia and Morocco, combining marina infrastructure, tourism services and winter refit activities. Joint initiatives will focus on yacht reception, customs simplification, international promotion, and shared branding strategies. The partnership also includes collaboration on environmental sustainability, digitalisation, renewable energy and smart marina solutions, including biofuel practices. The agreement reflects growing Mediterranean cooperation around nautical tourism, waterfront economies, and high-value maritime services.

The Port of Long Beach (USA) has launched a $1m incentive programme, titled “Clean Fuel Bunkering Challenge Incentive Award”, aimed at accelerating commercial-scale methanol bunkering. The aim is to directly incentivise alternative marine fuel supply infrastructure to facilitate the growing fleet of dual-fuel methanol vessels to make the switch to the low-emission fuel more easily. The port authority is also continuing its $4.7-billion Pier Wind project to support wind power. It involves a 400-acre terminal for the positioning, storage and assembly of offshore wind turbines. This project is in line with California’s strategy to advance offshore wind preparations within the ports’ jurisdictions until the federal government provides support for the installation of circa 1000 turbines in Morro and Humboldt bays. 

The Flemish government (Belgium) approved the second tidal dock of the Extra Container Capacity Antwerp (ECA) project, the Container Cluster Left Bank (CCL). The five new berths are expected to boost port capacity from 15 to 22 million containers a year. Estimated at €2.9 billion, the first berth could be operational by 2034, with full completion planned for 2042. The Province of Antwerp launched an Innovation Fund granting up to €1 million per project to bridge research and industrial application. It targets ports and logistics, chemicals and life sciences, construction and agribusiness. Projects must develop new processes, circular solutions or technological applications and strengthen regional economic activity. Applications open on June 1st, 2026.

Since 2021, the Port of Cotonou’s (Benin) modernisation programme, valued at more than CFA 500 billion (USD 885.7 million), has reflected the government’s ambition to build an integrated port ecosystem combining maritime services, the blue economy, fisheries, and business activities. The programme includes projects such as the construction of a maritime business centre. It also aims to ease congestion in the city by reconfiguring urban spaces and activities around the port. As part of this effort, the port is building a covered market to accommodate and support traditional street vendors.

This season, ports are reaffirming their role as hubs for community activities too. From Dunkirk (France) to Brest (France), via Barcelona (Spain), three landmark events are taking over the quaysides and opening up the waterfront to the general public, each with its own identity. What do they have in common? Free access and a desire to reconnect locals with their maritime heritage. In Dunkirk, as part of the 400th anniversary of the French Navy, the traditional Fête de la Mer transforms into “Dunkerque fête la mer!”, featuring tall ships, concerts and the sponsorship of a frigate on 5, 6 and 7 June. In Brest, the Jeudis du Port will celebrate their 36th edition on 30 July, 6 and 13 August, bringing together some 80,000 spectators, for free concerts and street arts. In Barcelona, finally, the Blaumarí Music festival will, for the first time, launch a major summer concert series at the Port Vell.

The studio of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has just unveiled a new mixed-use space covering over 4,400 m² in Guangzhou (China): Shipyard 1914. Situated on the site of a former shipyard built in 1914 on the banks of the Pearl River, this new urban development offers residents an artistic, commercial, and cultural space. The port’s heritage is well represented by a sloping roof reminiscent of the ramps that guided ships into the water. The roof surface is made of volcanic stone to better integrate the building into its surroundings and transform the roof into a space for sensory experience.