Port of San Diego approves marine biodiversity pilot project
The Port of San Diego has approved a new marine biodiversity pilot project with Ocean Ecostructures, expanding its Blue Economy Incubator programme with technology designed to support marine life on existing waterfront infrastructure.
The agreement, approved by the Port’s Board of Port Commissioners, provides for a two-year pilot programme at multiple locations throughout San Diego Bay. The project will test technology intended to encourage biodiversity around human-made marine structures while allowing normal port and waterfront activities to continue.
The initiative represents the 15th pilot project launched through the Port’s Blue Economy Incubator since the programme was established in 2016.
New technology targets marine biodiversity
Ocean Ecostructures has developed biodiversity regeneration technology intended to encourage marine organisms to colonise artificial structures in coastal and port environments.
The technology is designed to improve ecological conditions around existing marine infrastructure and provide a means of monitoring its environmental impact.
Under the agreement, the company will deploy its technology at several locations within San Diego Bay, where its performance will be assessed over the two-year period.
The project will examine the potential for marine infrastructure to contribute to biodiversity restoration without disrupting everyday operations.
Ocean Ecostructures has previously deployed its technology in Europe and the Middle East. The San Diego agreement marks a further step in the company’s expansion into the United States.
Ignasi Ferrer, CEO and Co-Founder of Ocean Ecostructures, said the collaboration would provide an opportunity to demonstrate the technology’s potential in the US market and assess its environmental and socioeconomic impact.
Port approves funding arrangement
The agreement provides for funding capped at US$208,000 in exchange for royalties on future gross revenues of up to US$1.25 million.
The arrangement follows the financing model used by the Port of San Diego’s Blue Economy Incubator, which supports early-stage companies through funding, access to port property and assistance with regulatory and operational requirements.
In return, the Port receives royalties associated with the participating companies’ operations or technologies.
Since establishing the incubator in 2016, the Port’s Board of Port Commissioners has approved 15 agreements, including one reinvestment, supporting the development and testing of ocean-based technologies.
The Port has committed approximately US$3.4 million in funding to the programme to date, while also helping participating businesses attract external investment and obtain access to facilities for pilot deployments.
Blue Economy Incubator supports port innovation
The Ocean Ecostructures agreement adds to a portfolio of projects covering maritime digitalisation, emissions monitoring, electrification, coastal intelligence and marine environmental protection.
Among the participating companies is PortXchange, which is developing digital tools for port emissions monitoring and operational efficiency.
Other projects include VoltSafe’s marina shore power technology, MarineLabs’ coastal monitoring systems and HyperKelp’s smart buoy platforms for collecting environmental data.
The incubator also supports aquaculture initiatives and technologies designed to improve water quality and monitor pollutants.
Through the latest pilot, the Port of San Diego aims to evaluate whether existing marine structures can play a greater role in supporting biodiversity while continuing to serve their operational purposes.
The environmental performance of Ocean Ecostructures’ technology in San Diego Bay will be assessed during the pilot programme, with the agreement establishing a framework for testing rather than confirming any biodiversity improvements in advance.
