A team of divers from Sorigué’s Underwater Activities division was responsible for submerging a Life Boosting Unit (LBU) structure at the northern entrance of the Port of Barcelona. This event marks the first full-scale installation of a pioneering marine regeneration system, the RegenPorts programme, which aims to enable the recovery of biodiversity in active port environments. 

The presentation of the initiative was presided over by Nadia Quevedo, Commissioner for Economic Promotion, Trade and Catering at Barcelona City Council; José Alberto Carbonell, President of Barcelona Port Operations; Miquel de la Mano, Technical Director of BCN Port Innovation; and Dafne Jose, Director of the RegenPorts programme. 

During the event, Carbonell highlighted that the direct connection between the Port and the city entails “an added responsibility, as we must demonstrate that port activity and marine regeneration can coexist seamlessly on a daily basis”. 

This is why the BCN Port Innovation Foundation is driving the RegenPorts programme, which specialises in designing bespoke solutions for diverse port spaces. The LBU structure submerged by Sorigué is the first of 100 units to be installed throughout the month in the waters of Barcelona. 

Replicas of natural reefs 

These mild steel sheets, coated in calcium carbonate, create the habitat required for complex ecosystems to develop by replicating the function of natural reefs and promoting the breeding, settlement and development of animal and plant species. The system holds technical, scientific and operational validation, allowing results to be tracked and the model to be replicated across other marine environments.  

The LBU panels marketed by RegenPorts have been developed by Ocean Ecostructures, a company specialising in technologies for the restoration and monitoring of marine ecosystems. This startup has, in turn, received funding from Sorigué’s venture capital division, which works with emerging companies seeking technological solutions geared towards decarbonisation and climate change adaptation. 

Marc Gelabert, Director of Projects and Maintenance for Catalonia in Sorigué’s Water division, noted that “the involvement of Underwater Activities in this initiative is a clear demonstration of our commitment to driving Sorigué’s ESG criteria, while simultaneously contributing to the development of Ocean Ecostructures, a company supported by the group”. 

Commitment to sustainability 

Sorigué has engaged with this project not only as an expert in underwater works but also as a collaborating company of the BCN Port Innovation Foundation. 

In this regard, Sorigué’s Director of Sustainability and Compliance, Miriam Porres, pointed out that “when knowledge, innovation and commitment come together, it is possible to turn environmental challenges into opportunities, and RegenPorts is a prime example. Participating in this project represents an opportunity to contribute to a future where port activity and nature not only coexist but thrive together”. 

Meanwhile, Alba Vates, Head of the Underwater Activities group, indicated that this project allows us to “apply our knowledge and operational capabilities in an unconventional setting, contributing directly to the improvement of the marine ecosystem and reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and innovation”.