2020 threw us all a curve ball. This meant there were a lot of quick decisions being made, timelines changing, projects going astray and missions getting sidetracked. There were also a lot of challenges that were overcome and missions that were accomplished. What was one of your top challenges, and how did you solve it or work around it? Or, what project made you especially proud in 2020?

 

In the next issue of Seaports, we are going to spotlight some of ports' successful missions – and we'd love to include you! Send us a photo (or two) and some details on what your challenge was and how you solved it. Stories could touch on everything from relationships with vendors to port infrastructure and personnel to finance – with COVID-19 being the curve ball that each one has had to address.

 

Send details and/or questions by January 20 to Shani Calvo at shani@naylor.com.

 

The Port of San Diego Board has selected Joe Stuyvesant to serve as its next president and chief executive officer. Stuyvesant, who currently serves as executive director at Navy Region Southwest, is expected to assume his duties February 1. “The Board and I are thrilled to announce the selection of Joe Stuyvesant to lead the Port through what will continue to be a challenging time as the Port and the world navigate through the pandemic and its toll on people, businesses, and communities,” said Chair Ann Moore, Board of Port Commissioners.

Cruise ships – all without passengers – will be seen in and around the Port of Los Angeles in the weeks ahead. The visits for fuel, supplies and services are part of the cruise lines’ operations to reestablish the ships in U.S. waters as a prerequisite to meet federal regulations in order to resume cruising in the future.

The time to apply for the revitalized Professional Port Manager (PPM®) Program is now! AAPA and the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives (IAMPE) are working together to provide a premier level of training to all candidates. Gather all your materials and submit your application now. The submission portal is open until January 31 and can be accessed here: https://t.co/uXuKkPWyzs?amp=1.

Santa and his merry crew have been waterskiing into Old Town Alexandria, Va., one of America’s first ports, for 35 years. He happily continued that tradition, though he did not perform live this year due to the pandemic. Check out the Waterskiing Santa Channel to view the 2020 video.

Join AAPA, YOUNG & Associates and YA Engineering Services for a webinar titled Evaluation of a Partially Collapsed Seawall – Scope and Lessons Learned on Thursday, January 28 from 1:00–2:00 p.m. EST. YOUNG & Associates CEO Wade Bushman, and YA Engineering Services President Richard A. Dethlefs, PE, SE, will discuss their involvement evaluating a partially collapsed seawall in remote Alaska, including consideraton of project costs, scope of repair, and causation. Register today! 

In the final executive broadcast of 2020, Port Director Sam Ruda provides updates and reviews the challenging year at the Port of New York and New Jersey. It’s been a record year of imports for the Port of Los Angeles. Executive Director Gene Seroka joins ‘Power Lunch’ to discuss the port’s busiest year and what support the port needs most.

The Port of San Diego and California State Coastal Conservancy are collaborating to create a living shoreline to attract and establish native oyster populations while also protecting the shoreline from impacts related to future sea level rise.

The Belledune Port Authority welcomed “The First Ship of the Year,” a bulk carrier under the flag of the Philippines. Calling on multi-cargo Terminal 3, MV Cielo Di Capalbio began the loading of 25,000 MT of wood pellets, a commodity that has seen tremendous growth over the past few years at the port. 

Continuing its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) leadership, the Port of Corpus Christi has completed its third consecutive year operating on 100 percent renewable energy, the first port authority to do so in the world.

South Jersey Port Corporation and officials from the State of New Jersey recently announced a $250 million investment in EEW manufacturing facilities for Ørsted at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal to develop and support wind-energy turbine farms off the Atlantic coast. “This is where the dream of protecting our planet, protecting and creating family-sustaining jobs, and building a new industry becomes reality,” said Andy Saporito, CEO and Executive Director of the South Jersey Port Corporation.

In the latest monthly reporting period for the Port of Baltimore, general cargo, containers and roll on/roll off (farm and construction equipment) categories each posted double-digit gains for the fifth consecutive month, while autos/light trucks had a triple-digit increase for the fourth straight month compared to early pandemic-related lows. Port of Galveston reported efforts to build up lay ship and cargo revenues have paid off. The port expects to set a new all-time record of almost $5 million in lay ship revenues and surpass 2019 cargo numbers with strong performance in grain, wind energy components and fresh produce.

The Port of Oakland Board has extended the port's landmark project labor agreement (PLA) that increases East Bay hiring on port-related capital projects. Negotiated in 2016, the PLA serves as a model for increasing the number of disadvantaged workers in the construction trades especially the highly competitive list trades.

Channel & DMPA Project Manager, Corpus Christi, TX; Port Corpus Christi Authority

Chair, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI; University of Michigan