AD Ports and Archireef partner to boost marine biodiversity at Abu Dhabi’s ports

AD Ports Group + Archireef partner to restore marine biodiversity: The UAE’s AD PortsGroup and nature-tech company Archireef are partnering to deploy Eco Sea Wall Panels at Abu Dhabi’s Al Aliah Ferry Terminal and Saadiyat Marina and Ferry Terminal to restore marine biodiversity along shorelines, according to a statement. The project is supported by investment and holding company ADQ’s AED 100 mn R&D fund which aims to promote sustainability throughout the UAE.

How it works:The Eco Sea Wall Panels, made from nature-based materials including oyster shell powder, are designed to increase the natural complexity of flat quay walls to attract intertidal marine life back to the shore, the statement notes.

AD Ports is no stranger to sustainable activity: The firm inked a scientific cooperation framework agreement in January with French global shipping conglomerate CMA CGM and French aquatic biodiversity company Ecocean to install 48 biohuts in Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port. The biohuts are being installed in 1Q 2024 at CMA CGM’s terminal, which is currently under construction. The pilot phase will last five years.

This isn’t Archireef’s first UAE venture: The startup developed a pilot project for 160 of its 3D-printed clay tiles in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region in March 2023. The purpose of the tiles is to restore marine ecosystems 4x more effectively than traditional methods, with visible results within a few months. The tiles have a biometric layer inspired by the shape of the Platygyra coral — a type of coral with one of the best characteristics for tolerating sedimentation stress — to allow corals to latch on the Reef Tiles and “easily adapt to the new environment.” After the 3D-printing process is completed, the tiles are then installed with the help of divers from the local communities.