AAPA’s President and CEO Chris Connor discusses port infrastructure needs and other topics with Jeff Berman, host of Logistics Management's podcast series, in an interview that aired May 16 on the Supply Chain 24/7 Podcast channel. In the interview, Connor shares insights about AAPA’s advocacy for port infrastructure investment, the association’s letter to President Biden on the American Jobs Plan, as well as the impact of the pandemic on the global supply chain and the vital role of ports in the way forward. Listen to a recording of the podcast here.

Join AAPA and Industrial Defender for a webinar on June 15 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. The webinar on How to Navigate Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity in Port Environments will focus on enhancing the digital arena for ports. Increasing digitalization and connectivity in ports has exposed critical safety and operational systems to new cyber threats. With systems such as cranes, video cameras and physical access controls now being connected to organizations' network infrastructures, or even to the cloud, they are more vulnerable than ever. The potential impacts of a disruption from a cyberattack at a port could affect not only the supply chain, but also the safety and security of people on the property.

Register Here

Jason Atwell, Senior Manager of Government and Mandiant Threat Intelligence with FireEye, Inc., will give an exclusive briefing at the AAPA Security Seminar and Expo, July 14-16, on What’s Happening Now in Cyber Security and What Does the Future Hold? In his presentation, Mr. Atwell will share his expert insights on the current cybersecurity threat landscape and provide guidance on how ports can further enhance their port security posture. 

 

Attend AAPA’s Port Security Seminar and Expo July 14-16 in New York City to hear more exclusive perspectives from industry experts on cyber and other port security topics. For more information about the 2021 Port Security Seminar and Expo, a draft agenda is available online.

 

Mr. Atwell has over 17 years of experience in cyber and risk intelligence from across the military, government, and commercial sectors. His intelligence analysis is utilized by many of the world’s top government and commercial entities to defend against targeted attacks.

 

The deadline is quickly approaching to submit project entries for the AAPA Lighthouse Awards. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday, June 1, at midnight EDT. Select the awards categories below to open submission portals and upload project entries.

Questions? Contact AAPA staff for assistance. Submit your project entries today!

The Port of Stockton Commission has selected Kirk DeJesus as the new port director after reviewing an exhaustive list of potential candidates and conducting interviews. Earlier this year, the Port of Stockton Commission launched a national recruitment process in search of an experienced port director to step in following the retirement announcement of current director, Richard Aschieris. Aschieris has been at the helm of the Port of Stockton since March 2000 and has guided the port in partnership with the commission and his staff toward success year after year with huge growth in the port’s physical acreage, trade and business partners, annual tonnage and job opportunities.

To reaffirm the Port of Hueneme’s commitment to equality, the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Commissioners recently passed a board resolution to promote tolerance and denounce racism. “The Board’s commitment to equality is just one way of showing our community our support and drive to be a safe, inclusive place for everyone who keeps our cargo moving,” said Kristin Decas, Port of Hueneme CEO and director.

The Port of Galveston, the fourth most popular cruise homeport in North America, is scheduled to be the first U.S. port to welcome cruise passengers with a Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) sailing planned for July 3. The cruise line announced that it is planning to begin sailings in July aboard the Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista. Both ships are currently in Galveston. “We’re proud that Carnival Cruise Line chose Galveston to be the first port to resume sailing in the U.S.,” said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO. “This decision will have a huge impact on our regional and state economy.”

The Alabama State Port Authority announced the Mobile Harbor modernization project is underway to deepen and widen the Mobile Ship Channel and improve the lower harbor turning basin. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has executed two construction contracts in a multiphase, $365.7 million construction program engineered and designed to deepen the existing Bar, Bay and River Channels Bar to a project depth of 50 feet, with additional depths for wave allowances and advanced maintenance. The project also includes widening the Bay Channel by 100 feet for three nautical miles to accommodate two-way vessel traffic and other safety improvements. The contractor is Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company.

Ocean carriers bringing the greenest ships to the Port of Long Beach can earn the world’s most generous sustainable vessel financial incentives, beginning July 1. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners earlier this month approved changes centered around incorporating the international Environmental Ship Index (ESI) into the port’s Green Ship Incentive Program, which began in 2012. The program helps improve air quality by encouraging shipping lines to send their newest, cleanest oceangoing vessels to the Port of Long Beach. More than $1.7 million in incentives were paid to participants in 2020.

Port Everglades welcomed the first ship from Ocean Network Express’s (ONE) revised transatlantic schedule. The AL5 (Atlantic 5) replaces the AL3 weekly service with additional European ports on the service rotation opening up greater opportunities for South Florida importers. Port Tampa Bay welcomes the announcement that SeacatLine will add a second vessel to its Costa Rica – Tampa container service, increasing the frequency from biweekly to weekly. The M/V Univision will join the M/V Juice Express on the service from Puerto Moin, Costa Rica and is scheduled to make her inaugural call at Port Tampa Bay in mid-June.

The Port of New York and New Jersey welcomed the CMA CGM Marco Polo to APM Terminals at the Elizabeth Port Authority Marine Terminal last week. The arrival set a new record for the largest ship to call on the Port of New York and New Jersey, unseating the CMA CGM Brazil, which arrived on September 12, 2020. The massive 16,000-TEU vessel also docked at the Port of Savannah’s Berth 9, to load and unload an estimated 6,000 TEUs of cargo. The biggest container ship to ever come to the U.S. East Coast also called at The Port of Virginia this week. “The $800 million that has been invested to expand and modernize our port enhances our ability to safely and efficiently handle vessels of this size,” said Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.

The Montréal Port Authority (MPA) and the Adani Group renewed their cooperation agreement on April 22, 2021, for a period of five years. This new agreement continues the joint work begun in 2018 with the signing of the first agreement between the two port authorities: a collaboration focused on business development, marketing, information sharing on marine operations, new technologies and industry best practices.

Multi-family housing developer team SeaLevel Properties and Gracorp, together with the Port of Everett, hosted a small ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the official grand opening of the new Waterfront Place Apartments at Fisherman’s Harbor – the first phase of the Port of Everett’s 65-acre Waterfront Place mixed-use development.

National Business Development Manager - Logistics Sector, Nationwide; Terracon

Chief Financial Officer - Maritime Industry, Tacoma Area, WA

Terminal Director, South Boston, MA; Massachusetts Port Authority

Director of Real Estate and Business Development, Everett, WA; Port of Everett