Fewer than 35 spots remain for the 2025 AAPA Port Leadership Summit, taking place May 19–22 in Milwaukee, WI. This multi-day event brings together top port executives and industry leaders to share strategies, best practices, and insights on effective port leadership through keynotes, panels, and interactive workshops.

The Port of Grays Harbor has announced the appointment of Brian Fry as Marine Terminal Superintendent, effective April 1, 2025. Fry brings over a decade of experience in stevedoring and marine terminal management, along with a 15-year military background in the Navy and Army National Guard. In his new role, he will oversee bulk loading facilities and marine cargo operations, including vessel loading, train movements, labor supervision, and facility maintenance. The Port operates four deep-water terminals, the Westport Marina, Bowerman Airport, and the Satsop Business Park, with over 1,000 acres of industrial property and 1,200 acres of forestland.

The Port of Columbia is offering a series of workshops in April through its Choose Columbia County Business Boosters program. The workshops are funded in part by a grant from the Washington State Microenterprise Association. Sessions will take place from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Port Conference Room or via Zoom. A flyer with dates and workshop topics is available.

The Port of Long Beach has awarded $1,138,300 in sponsorships to 320 nonprofit organizations through its Community Sponsorship Program, marking the largest amount and number of recipients in a single cycle. The program supports events and projects focused on the environment, education, social justice, the arts, and historic preservation, while also promoting awareness of Port operations. A record 345 applications were submitted in January, with 41% coming from first-time applicants. The Harbor Commission has approved a $3 million sponsorship budget for fiscal year 2025, with the next application window open from May 1–30. More information is available at www.polb.com/sponsorships.

The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department will host a Coffee with a Cop event on Friday, April 4, from 7 to 11 a.m. at Portside Pier, 1360 North Harbor Drive. Attendees will receive a free cup of coffee and have the opportunity to meet officers, ask questions, explore career opportunities, and view a fire boat and other equipment on display. Community Service Officers, dispatchers, and members of the Maritime Tactical and Homeless Outreach Teams will also be present. The event is part of the larger Coffee with a Cop program held nationally and internationally to foster positive community relations.

Port Saint John has been recognized as one of Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers for 2025 by MediaCorp’s annual competition. The recognition highlights the Port’s efforts to provide a positive and safe workplace that supports innovation, growth, and employee well-being. Specific areas of distinction include community investment, family-friendly benefits, retirement planning assistance, and holistic compensation packages. The annual competition honors employers across Atlantic Canada that lead their industries in creating exceptional workplaces.

The Port of Everett will host its 31st Annual Marina & Jetty Island Cleanup Day on April 19, from 9 a.m. to noon in celebration of Earth Day. Volunteers of all ages are invited to help clean the Everett waterfront and Jetty Island, with children welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Last year, more than 115 volunteers collected 960 pounds of litter across nearly 100 acres. Volunteers will meet at Fishermen’s Tribute Plaza, and limited transportation to Jetty Island will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Supplies and snacks will be provided, and participants are encouraged to sign up at portofeverett.com/marinacleanup.

Port Tampa Bay, the Propeller Club of Tampa Bay, and Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful will host the fifth annual Great Port Clean Up on Friday, April 11, from 9 to 11 a.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. The clean-up will take place at several waterside locations around Tampa Bay. In 2024, over 1,000 volunteers removed more than 100,000 pounds of trash and nearly 39,000 pounds of invasive plant species. The event aims to reduce marine debris and promote a cleaner, healthier bay. Registration is available at keeptampabaybeautiful.org/greatportcleanup.

Port Milwaukee marked the start of its 2025 international shipping season with the arrival of the Singapore-flagged vessel Patagonman on March 30. The vessel traveled through the St. Lawrence Seaway after unloading cargo in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The Seaway reopened on March 22, enabling access between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. Port staff presented a commemorative plaque to Captain Eduard Kovalevskiy in recognition of the season's first arrival. Following its stop in Milwaukee, the Patagonman departed for the United Kingdom.

The Georgia Ports Authority moved 479,850 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) in February 2025, marking the busiest February on record and a 6 percent increase over the previous year. GPA set new records in rail and truck operations, including 2,246 rail lifts in a single day and 78,950 truck gate moves in one week. Efficiency improvements included average truck turn times of 35 minutes for single container moves and 54 minutes for dual moves, which accounted for 85 percent of container transactions. GPA also announced measures to reduce vessel idle time at berth and increase capacity, including additional vessel work start times and the introduction of a lay berth at Ocean Terminal starting in May. The Port of Brunswick handled 61,667 Ro/Ro units in February, a 10 percent decrease compared to February 2024.

St. Bernard Port has been awarded the 2025 Louisiana Transportation Excellence Award by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) for the rehabilitation of the Chalmette Slip. The project was recognized in the Intermodal/Public Works Design/Project Development category for excellence in transportation planning, design, and construction. The $40 million project was funded by state, federal, and port resources and is the Port’s largest to date. Award recipients include Drew Heaphy of St. Bernard Port, Jan Evans of Volkert, and GJ Schnexnayder of Boh Brothers.

Port Freeport has announced the winners of its 25th Annual Take-A-Child Fishing Tournament (TACFT) logo drawing contest, held in conjunction with the Port’s centennial celebration. Luz Juarez of West Brazos Junior High School won first place, receiving a $150 Visa gift card and a framed print of her design. Second and third place were awarded to Cora Albarran and Anthony Salazar, respectively, both students at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic School. The contest received over 350 entries from students in Pre-K through 8th grade across the Port’s Navigation District. The winning design will be featured on event materials for the fishing tournament, which will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Freeport Municipal Park.

Ted Oberg, Katie Leslie, Jeff Piper and Carlos Olazagasti

NBC 4 Washington

 

Reuters

 

Elaine Kurtenbach and David McHugh

Associated Press

 

Siobhan Hughes, Gavin Bade and Lindsay Wise

Wall Street Journal

 

Alex Longley

Bloomberg

 

Andrea Shalal

Reuters

 

Mike Schuler

gCaptain

 

Weilun Soon and Laura Curtis

Bloomberg

 

David Shepardson

Reuters