Sustainable Reindustrialisation and the Future of Ports

French state-owned maritime ports are transforming, driven by European Union (EU) and national policies promoting sustainable reindustrialisation and strategic autonomy. Beyond logistics, ports are becoming active players, fostering low-carbon sectors (e.g., hydrogen and offshore wind) and aiding existing industries' green transitions. This transformation is primarily achieved by activating and stabilising ‘peripheral routines'– emergent, project-specific practices that bridge policy and institutional action, rather than disrupting core operations. This process reflects ports' dynamic capabilities: sensing opportunities and reconfiguring practices. Through analysis of investment data (2008–2024) and interviews, the study highlights how land and energy management routines are pivotal. New land management focuses on proactive ‘ready-to-build' site development and strategic land use. Ports are also evolving into complex energy hubs, requiring new coordination and safety protocols for multi-directional energy flows. The stabilisation of these routines, which varies geographically, demonstrates ports' adaptive capacity. While some become embedded through repetition or strategic alignment, others are legitimised by institutional expectations. This selective routinisation redefines ports from mere logistics platforms to crucial industrial and energy actors, showcasing their active role in navigating policy-led change.