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The port of Helsinki (Finland) doubles down on its strategy for achieving carbon neutrality by…
In March, the port of Helsinki took the decision to accelerate its programme aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, originally adopted in 2019. To neutralise its carbon footprint by 2030 instead of 2035, the port will focus on modernising its heating and lighting systems, and securing a green energy supply. This decision will bring the port into line with the city of Helsinki, which is basing its sustainable development strategy heavily on renewable energies. At the end of this first phase, the port will strengthen its efforts to cut ship emissions by 25% and heavy vehicles and machinery emissions by 50%.
Singapore introduces a data collection programme to anticipate rising water levels
In early June, NTU Singapore and the Singapore Land Authority joined forces to launch an environmental data collection project. For the last year, the government has been working on a coastal protection plan to limit the damage caused by rising sea levels. The geospatial data collected will be used to protect mangroves and coral reefs that shield the coastline from waves, build new polders, and conduct climate research.
Resilient operations: Durban (South Africa) set for a new floating container terminal
Two months ago, massive flooding claimed several hundred lives in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and […]
The IMO approves a Mediterranean Area for low Sulphur and Particulate Emissions
The 78th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), approved the designation of the Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter (Med SOx ECA) on the 10th of June. The area will cover the entirety of the Mediterranean Sea, from the Gibraltar to the waiting zone of the Suez Canal. To achieve this low emissions zone, the Sulphur content in fuel oil used on board ships operating within the Med SOx ECA will have to be lowered to 0.10% m/m. This could lead to up to a 78.7 % drop in SOx emissions. There would be significant benefits for nature, human health, air pollution, ocean acidification, and agriculture.
The ports of Saguenay (Canada) and Aalborg (Denmark) join forces for sustainable development
On 14 June, the two ports signed a collaboration and twinning agreement. The partnership came about as a result of the port of Saguenay’s desire to take inspiration from the best examples of sustainable development in the maritime industry. A delegation from the port of Aalborg travelled to the port of Saguenay for the official signing. In addition to their willingness to work together, the two organisations share numerous similarities. Both ports are located on rivers, near similarly sized urban centres, surrounded by a vast intermodal industrial port zone. The twinning arrangement aims to create a long term channel for communication on the issues of technological innovation and industrial port best practices.
The Port of Quebec: accelerating towards sustainable development
Two recent initiatives by the Port of Quebec (Canada) shows its capacity to lead towards sustainable port city relationship and environmental responsibility. The port authority will use RightShip’s greenhouse gas rating tool to assess and manage the emissions of ships in its waters. The EcoCargo initiative aims to drive shipping decarbonization through fee reduction based on RightShip data. On the other hand, the new Port of Quebec Oasis, a harbor bathing area will connect with the local population and make the port accessible. The port basin, located at Bassin Louise, will allow the community to ice fish in the winter, swim in the summer, as well as other recreational activities. Additionally, along with the ports of Montreal and Trois-Rivières, a new regional port vision is on the making to guarantee more sustainable port activities. We will learn about these initiatives in the upcoming special event linked to the United Nations Ocean Conference, which will be held June 25th, 2022 in Matosinhos, Portugal. In this session co-organized by the AIVP and the OECD, he will discuss the blue economy, the energy transition, and the role of ports in local and regional development.
The port authorities of the Northern Adriatic (Italy) commit to promoting their maritime heritage
At the most recent boat show in Venice, the port authorities reaffirmed their attachment to maritime history. As part of the European Remember Project, the port authorities presented their plan to create a virtual tour of the ship pavilion, to mark the launch of the historic naval museum guide. They also presented a platform dedicated to the history of three naval buildings, in collaboration with the Navy, the Foundation of Civic Museums of Venice, and the Museum of the South Lagoon in Chioggia. Visitors will be able to learn about the port system, shipbuilding, and the workings of the port of Marghera.
Valencia (Spain): the port serves as a springboard for the green transition in the region
A hefty 130 million euros will go towards a number of innovative green projects, under […]
Can nature-based solutions protect our coastlines?
The EU-funded REST-COAST project aims to show that coastal ecosystems can help to protect us from the effects of climate change. It promotes three solutions: • Restoring dunes and vegetation on beaches. • Planting submerged sections of beach with local flora. • Reconnecting the coast with the river by eliminating existing barriers to bring sediment to the coast. However, according to Jordi Vila, Chief Environmental Officer at the Port of Barcelona, these nature-based solutions currently do not look to be enough. Ports have a part to play in restoring coastal environments. For this reason, they are looking at installing blocks ECOncrete or panels from Ocean Ecostructures.
Creation of green hydrogen plants in Europe
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges (Belgium) and Plug Power Inc. have agreed to build a 35-tons-per-day green hydrogen generation plant on 28 acres of land leased by the port authority. Plug will erect it using its own electrolyzer and liquefaction technology. The plant will produce around 12,500 tons per year of liquid and gaseous green hydrogen for the European market.
Our events
Discover all the events where you can meet the aiVP network.
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Oct
2023
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May
2024
Programme of courses: Port City Sustainability (in French)
WEBINAR – DIGITAL
The ‘Port City Sustainability’ programme of remote courses is a joint initiative by the International Association of […]
from
Wed
11
Oct
2023
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Fri
28
Jun
2024
Online Associate Degree in Port City Sustainability (in Spanish)
WEBINAR – DIGITAL
The ‘Port City Sustainability’ programme of remote courses is a joint initiative by the International Association of […]
from
Tue
18
Jun
2024
to
Wed
19
Jun
2024
River Port Cities Meeting
Strasbourg, France
First meeting of the working group dedicated to river port cities, in June in Strasbourg.
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Tue
18
Jun
2024
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Wed
19
Jun
2024
River Port Cities Meeting Strasbourg
STRASBOURG – FRANCE
As the first meeting of the working group dedicated to river port cities, this workshop […]