Ports are essential to global trade, but traditional marine infrastructure often reduces biodiversity by replacing natural shoreline habitats with smooth concrete surfaces. To address this challenge, DP World partnered with Living Seawalls, the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and local scientific partners to integrate eco-engineered habitat panels into Callao Port in Peru.
Installed in 2023, the project incorporated habitat-enhancing panels across 10 pilecaps during port expansion works. Designed to mimic natural rocky shorelines through textured surfaces, overhangs and microhabitats, the panels support the colonisation of algae and marine species while maintaining operational requirements. Combining research, engineering expertise and long-term monitoring, the project represents one of the first applications of its kind within operational port infrastructure and directly contributes to SDG 14: Life Below Water.
Ecological monitoring conducted 12 months after installation recorded 66 species across 12 groups of marine life, including worms, shellfish, crabs and seaweeds. Seven species were found exclusively on Living Seawalls-modified pilecaps, accounting for more than 10% of all species recorded in the surveyed port extension area. Monitoring identified increased algal diversity and habitat complexity, while no non-indigenous or invasive species were detected.
DP World installed its first 1,000 Living Seawalls panels at Jebel Ali Port, with plans to scale to 6,000 panels by 2028. In Ecuador, 28 piles of the new port extension were fitted with living seawalls panels in late 2025. Further opportunities are explored in Senegal, India, the Philippines and the Democratic Republic of Congo, demonstrating the scalability of the approach.
Living Seawalls pilot required strategic commitment from DP World’s leadership. This commitment included additional investment, engineering adaptation and scientific monitoring to deliver long-term environmental value and port resilience. The initiative is linked to DP World’s Blue Bond, the first issued in CEEMEA, which finances marine ecosystem restoration, sustainable port infrastructure and nature-based solutions.