News

On March 20–21, 2025, the Kickoff Meeting of the GRRinPORT2 project – Management of water, waste, and sediments to reduce pollution in ports – was held at the DESTEC Department of the University of Pisa. The project is funded by the Interreg Italy-France Maritime Program. GRRinPORT2 falls under Priority OP_2 of the program, which aims to make the cross-border area between Italy and France more resilient and resource-efficient by strengthening the protection of nature, biodiversity, and green infrastructure through concrete pollution-reduction actions. 

GRRinPORT2 was created to address environmental pollution in river mouths in a systemic way—areas highly vulnerable due to intense human pressure. It builds on the experience of the previous GRRinPORT project (2014–2021), which was funded under the same program and focused on port areas. GRRinPORT2 aims to develop integrated and innovative solutions for managing water, beached waste, and contaminated marine sediments. The approach is both multidisciplinary and cross-border, aiming to produce shared action plans, replicable tools, and sustainable methodologies—both environmentally and economically. 

Among the planned innovations, the use of drones equipped with thermal and multispectral sensors will allow real-time monitoring of fecal contamination in waters, enabling rapid and effective interventions to safeguard public health and bathing water quality. Regarding beached waste, the project will test biological and thermochemical treatments to transform waste materials into resources, following “End of Waste” criteria agreed upon with the relevant authorities. Contaminated marine sediments will instead undergo innovative decontamination processes that combine biological techniques with advanced oxidation, promoting their sustainable reuse. 

The project outcomes are intended not only for the direct partners but also for public bodies, environmental managers, and local administrations across the Mediterranean, contributing to more effective management of coastal and port areas. 

MEDSEA, one of the project partners, will play a strategic role in both communication and field activities. The MEDSEA team will be responsible for the communication and dissemination of activities and results, as well as for conducting sampling and monitoring of water, sediments, and waste in Sardinia. 

Vania Statzu, MEDSEA’s project manager for GRRinPORT2, emphasized during the meeting in Pisa: 
"With GRRinPORT2, we want to bring concrete, science-based solutions to the most fragile territories of the Mediterranean. Our commitment in Sardinia will focus on combining technology, environmental monitoring, and regeneration to truly enable sustainable management of ports and coastal areas.” 

GRRinPORT2 involves the following partners: lead partner DESTEC – University of Pisa (Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering), ISPRA – Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, the University of Cagliari – DICAAR (Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), OFB – French Office for Biodiversity / Cap Corse and Agriate Marine Nature Park, ATS Rifiuti – Authority for the Integrated Urban Waste Management Service of Southern Tuscany, MEDSEA – Foundation for the Mediterranean Sea and Coasts, and Petra Patrimonia Corsica – a cooperative active in sustainable development in Corsica.