On Monday, February 4, The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) released the following statement in anticipation of new tariffs from the Trump Administration:
 

“Tariffs are taxes,” stated Cary S. Davis, AAPA President & CEO. “Though the port industry supports President Trump’s efforts to combat the flow of illicit drugs, tariffs will slow down our supply chains, tax American businesses and increase costs for hard-working citizens. Instead, we call on the Administration and Congress to thoughtfully pursue alternatives to achieving these policy goals and exempt items critical to national security from tariffs, including port equipment.”

The Port of Green Bay has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify potential partners for development opportunities at the former Pulliam Plant site, now owned by Brown County. The port plans to construct a new multi-use terminal facility at the site, located at the mouth of the Fox River.

 

Entities interested in learning more or responding to the RFI can find details on Brown County’s website: “RFI for Port Development Opportunities.”

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) and Lineage, one of the world’s largest providers of temperature-controlled warehousing, have introduced in-house USDA inspection services for imported proteins at Lineage’s Jourdan Road cold storage facility in New Orleans East. This addition streamlines regulatory processes for meat and poultry imports, complementing the facility’s existing USDA export inspection services. Lineage operates two major cold-storage facilities at Port NOLA, collectively spanning over 460,000 square feet and supporting Louisiana’s $1.6 billion poultry industry. The new inspection capabilities aim to enhance supply chain efficiency and increase the volume of imported beef, pork, seafood, and exotic meats moving through New Orleans.

Port Freeport has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking qualified firms to provide grant management services for its 2024 EPA Clean Ports Program project. The selected firm will oversee compliance, contract management, research, reporting, and coordination of planning phases aimed at reducing emissions and transitioning to zero-emission operations. Proposals must be submitted by February 28, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. CST, with electronic copies requested by March 3, 2025. Questions regarding the RFP must be submitted in writing to marketing@portfreeport.com by February 19, 2025. More details are available on the Port Freeport website.

The Port of Québec welcomed Le Commandant Charcot, a hybrid icebreaker from PONANT EXPLORATIONS, as it made its inaugural winter voyage on the St. Lawrence River. This marks the first time a polar exploration vessel has navigated the river in winter, reinforcing Québec’s position as a year-round cruise destination. The initiative aligns with the Port’s 2035 Vision, emphasizing innovation and sustainability in the maritime industry. PONANT EXPLORATIONS also announced the vessel's return in 2027 for two exclusive 14-night winter cruises, further expanding Québec’s role in winter tourism.

The Port of Lake Charles, one of the busiest ports in the U.S., has selected Harbour Mastery and NetSuite to modernize its port management operations. The cloud-based i-Seaports SuiteApp will provide real-time visibility across the port’s multimodal logistics, vessel scheduling, and cargo management. The system aims to enhance efficiency, collaboration, and transparency among port stakeholders. This initiative aligns the Port of Lake Charles with other major ports leveraging digital solutions to improve maritime operations.