AAPA’s 2025 Legislative Summit—Revitalizing America's Ports, brought together 250 port executives and industry professionals for three days of impactful programming, advocacy, and connection in the nation’s capital—making it our largest Legislative Summit to date.

 

With nearly 50 speakers across panels and keynote speeches, this year’s program covered a wide range of critical topics, from LNG and port security policy to tariffs and infrastructure funding.

 

Attendees heard from high-level keynote speakers including:

 - Kellyanne Conway, Former Counselor to President Trump
 - Diane Sabatino, Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
 - The Honorable Jennifer Homendy, Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board
 - Louis E. Sola, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission

 

We were also proud to recognize two extraordinary individuals for their leadership and contributions to the port industry:

 - Recipient of AAPA's Distinguished Service Award: Deb DeLuca, Executive Director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority
 - Recipient of AAPA's Port Person of the Year Award: Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36)

 

The summit concluded with a powerful day of advocacy on Capitol Hill, where port leaders held meetings with lawmakers and congressional staff to advance shared priorities and elevate the voice of our industry.

 

 

We’re carrying this momentum forward to the 114th AAPA Annual Convention, taking place October 6–8, 2025, in Québec City, Canada.

 

The Port of Los Angeles is now accepting applications for its 2025 Summer Internship Program from March 17-28. The 10-week program runs from June 16 to August 22 and offers college-enrolled undergraduate and graduate students hands-on experience in fields such as engineering, finance, marketing, and real estate. Interns can work up to 40 hours per week during business hours and will earn between $17.28 and $35.01 per hour, depending on their role and educational level. The program provides an opportunity for students to gain practical skills and network within one of the world’s busiest ports. Application instructions and further details are available on the Port of Los Angeles website.

The Port of Long Beach hosted a high-level forum on March 17, bringing together California and Shanghai transportation and environmental leaders to advance the Green Shipping Corridor initiative. The event included representatives from the California State Transportation Agency, the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, and the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, along with industry experts and researchers. Discussions focused on decarbonizing maritime trade between California and Shanghai, infrastructure investment, and policies supporting clean marine fuels. The forum highlighted the progress outlined in the first Green Shipping Corridor Partnership Annual Progress Report and reinforced commitments to deploying zero-lifecycle carbon container ships by 2030. This international collaboration aims to accelerate the transition to low- and zero-carbon fuels for one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

On March 8, 2025, PortMiami celebrated the launch of the CMA CGM California Bridge Service, a new weekly first-in service connecting European ports to Miami, Latin America, and the U.S. West Coast. The service links key locations, including Southampton, La Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Cartagena, Rodman, Los Angeles, and Oakland. Designed to optimize supply chain efficiency, it offers lower carrying costs, competitive backhaul rates, and rapid distribution via extensive rail and truck networks. The service will facilitate the import of time-sensitive cargo such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, luxury automobiles, and premium beverages. PortMiami leadership emphasized the port’s role as a key global trade hub and expressed appreciation for CMA CGM’s partnership in delivering efficient transit times.

The Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District has rebranded as the Louisiana Gateway Port to reflect its growth as a global trade hub. Positioned at the entrance to the Mississippi River, the port features deepwater access of over 50 feet, no air draft restrictions, and rail connectivity, making it a key logistics center. A planned privately funded container terminal with APM will further enhance its capacity to handle larger vessels efficiently. The port is projected to become the fifth-largest U.S. port by tonnage within five years, supporting industries such as oil, gas, grain, LNG, and chemicals. Louisiana Gateway Port aims to strengthen the region’s role in international commerce while driving economic growth and infrastructure development.

The Puyallup Tribe and The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) have signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand shipping capacity in the Pacific Northwest through the construction of a new berth on the East Blair Waterway. The new "Puyallup Tribal Terminal" will operate alongside the existing East Blair Terminal 1, supporting roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) and breakbulk cargo operations. The partnership aims to enhance global trade competitiveness, attract new business, and create job opportunities in the region. The Puyallup Tribe will fund, construct, and own the new terminal, while NWSA will continue managing cargo activities at the adjacent facility. The project also includes environmental initiatives, such as carbon reduction technology, and a Tribal Employment and Development Program to support workforce training in the maritime sector.

The Port of Albany has been awarded an $18.79 million grant from Empire State Development’s FAST NY program to support utility infrastructure upgrades at its expansion project on Beacon Island. The funding will be used to install a high-voltage substation, a sanitary wastewater treatment plant, and a fire protection system. This grant was the largest among seven awards totaling $32.6 million for shovel-ready site development across New York. The expansion aims to enhance the port’s capacity for manufacturing and maritime commerce, positioning it as a key hub for economic growth. The Port of Albany contributes over $428 million in annual economic impact and supports approximately 4,500 jobs statewide.

The Port of Seattle’s South King County Community Impact Fund (SKCCIF) is now accepting applications for $2 million in funding through its Economic Opportunities for Communities (EOC) Program. The program supports community-based organizations that provide workforce development and career preparation in industries such as aviation, maritime, construction, and green jobs. Eligible organizations can apply for up to $115,000 for single-year funding or between $100,000 and $275,000 for multi-year projects, with applications open through April 10, 2025. The initiative aims to expand economic opportunities in historically underrepresented communities in South King County, the Duwamish Valley, and Beacon Hill. Since its inception, the SKCCIF has awarded over $9.25 million to more than 50 organizations to advance job training and environmental improvements.

The Port of Galveston is driving job growth as its cruise and cargo activities continue to expand. In 2023, these operations generated over 6,000 direct jobs and nearly 24,000 total jobs, contributing approximately $2 billion in personal income and spending. The port collaborates with local schools, colleges, and businesses to attract and train students for maritime careers through programs like the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Career Cluster. Employers such as Texas International Terminal, Gulf Copper Dry Dock, and Ports America provide career pathways, while the port offers paid internships in maritime operations, engineering, and finance. These initiatives aim to support workforce development and ensure a steady pipeline of skilled professionals for the growing maritime industry.

A new economic impact study from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business found that Georgia’s ports now support over 609,000 full- and part-time jobs, representing 12% of total state employment. The study, announced at the 2025 Savannah State of the Port event, shows an 8.6% increase in job support since 2021. Port activity also contributes $171 billion in business sales, $40 billion in income for Georgians, and $5.3 billion in state and local taxes annually. The top export commodities include food, forest products, and automotive cargo, while leading imports consist of machinery, retail goods, and furniture. The Georgia Ports Authority continues to expand, with $4.5 billion in planned investments over the next decade to enhance cargo handling capabilities and infrastructure.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will present a quarterly update on the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) on April 2 at 10 a.m. The meeting, held at Banning’s Landing Community Center in Wilmington, CA, will cover the ports’ 2024 air quality achievements, 2025 priorities, and updates on truck and cargo handling equipment feasibility assessments. Since 2005, port-related emissions have significantly decreased, including a 91% drop in diesel particulate matter and a 72% reduction in nitrogen oxides. The CAAP aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050. Public comments will be accepted in person, and meeting materials will be available on the CAAP website.

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Acreto addresses the security requirements identified in the U.S. Coast Guard's latest cyber guidance. The Acreto cloud delivered platform protects all purpose-built technologies (OT/ICS/PLC) as well as the IT technologies that they connect to. Advanced segmentation enables complete isolation of all assets from internal and external threats.

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