Following an initial version unveiled last year, the British architecture firm Heatherwick Studio has just released a reimagined version of Belvedere Park on the Louisville (USA) waterfront. Located along the Ohio River, this project aims to remodel a 2-hectare public space and breathe new life into it. A unique feature of this project is that it spans a highway, reestablishing the connection between downtown and the river through a loop-shaped promenade. The focus is on creating green spaces and rebuilding a venue for artistic events. The project was revised over the course of the year based on public consultations. Construction is set to begin in the fall and is expected to be completed in 2030.

The transport of agri-food products requires specific infrastructure, which can sometimes be highly energy-intensive. The ports of Rotterdam (Netherlands) and San Diego (USA) have recently launched initiatives to try to reduce the environmental impact of this sector. As part of the Rotterdam Food Hub project, which aims to make Rotterdam a key player in agri-food transport, an agreement has just been signed between the port and two private companies to develop 38 hectares of dedicated logistics infrastructure that will have its own energy supply. In San Diego, a new sugar storage facility is to be built to handle sugar imported through the port. The company will use only electric lorries in its operations and will install a solar panel system on the roof to charge them.

Ports are strengthening human capital as the energy transition and technological change reshape maritime activities. In Valencia (Spain), Fundación Valenciaport has joined the new Sustainable Maritime Mobility Hub, part of Spain’s national alliance for vocational training, to help develop skills adapted to the sector’s future needs. In Italy, the Port Network Authority of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea is allocating €1.5 million to training and professional development, supporting employment and the human factor in the port sector. Meanwhile, the Port of Long Beach (USA) has launched a program with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to prepare participants for careers in electrical trades, responding to growing demand for skilled workers linked to port electrification.

Ports are multiplying initiatives to strengthen their bond with local residents. In Marseille (France), the Grand Port Maritime exceptionally opens the Digue du Large to the public for picnics at sea, as part of the Été marseillais programme. In Szczecin (Poland), the Zagel festival brings together tall ships, concerts and family activities on both banks of the Oder River. In Alicante (Spain), the I Travesía Uniendo Faros offers an open-water swimming race between two historic lighthouses in the bay. The Bahía de Algeciras (Spain) launches the second edition of its photography contest “Puerto y Naturaleza”. Finally, the Port of Sept-Îles (Canada) is organizing a festive day to celebrate the inauguration of its new Mgr-Blanche terminal.

Driven by the energy transition, ports are becoming hubs combining renewable energy generation, storage and electrification. In Tarragona (Spain), Port Tarragona has just increased its solar capacity to more than 1 MWp, with two additional sites already under construction. In Valencia (Spain), the port has just doubled its power generation capacity, in line with its Net Zero Plan and 2035 Strategic Plan. In Leixões (Portugal), the cruise terminal is developing additional shore power capacity, while in Brisbane (Australia), the port is continuing to expand solar generation and energy storage at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal. Finally, near Bordeaux (France), the approval of a cobalt and nickel conversion plant is expected to support French battery production while contributing to the industrial development of the port in Gironde.