Last Friday night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes over $5 billion exclusively for port programs and an additional $27 billion of funds eligible to ports. Funding in this bill is spread over five years. AAPA is thankful for the hard work of lawmakers, port leaders and transportation industry partners, as well as our Ports United Infrastructure Task Force for their input and help along the way. President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law quickly.

On Wednesday afternoon, President Biden visited the Port of Baltimore following the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684). President Biden's use of a U.S. seaport as the backdrop for the very first stop on his celebration tour reflects the importance of ports in our global economy, as well as the cruciality of this key legislation for ports.

This Federal legislation is a success for maritime ports across the United States. The effects of this more than $5.2 billion in direct funding for seaports will bolster programs like the Port Infrastructure and Development Program (PIDP), which will fund port equipment and facilities improvements; the Army Corps of Engineers Coastal Navigation Program, which will dredge and maintain Federal coastal navigation channels; and initiatives like Marine Highways funding, on- and near-dock rail infrastructure and safety funding, and emissions reduction upgrades – are just some of the benefits of this infrastructure bill.

AAPA and its members applaud Congressional champions of the two-year-old PIDP grant program, including Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Susan Collins (R-ME), along with Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Sam Graves (R-MO), David Price (D-NC), and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL). The bipartisan support for port funding is critical to keeping freight infrastructure working for all Americans, no matter the party, state or region.

AAPA is pleased to welcome Stephanie Casella as Manager of Strategic Advocacy Communications. In this newly created position within the Government Relations Department, Casella will help to tell the stories of American seaports and advocate for policy on their behalf. Ms. Casella is a seasoned communicator, political strategist, and policy analyst who has worked in the campaign, media, strategy, and government affairs spheres for well over a decade. A veteran of the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, she has worked on several campaigns for democratic organizations such as SKDK, Organizing for America, and NextGen Climate Action.

JPW Communications is a team of talented marketing and communication experts born from government to provide award-winning service for government. Its team brings decades of experience from inside cities, counties, states and special districts, and couple that with an unrelenting pursuit of creative excellence to bring the public sector a consulting firm like no other.

As part of AAPA’s efforts to take a leadership stance in the fight against climate change, AAPA recently joined as a founding member of the Blue Sky Maritime Coalition. The coalition’s mission is to accelerate the transition of waterborne transportation in the United States and Canada toward net-zero GHG emissions.

“We are thrilled to have AAPA join the Blue Sky Maritime Coalition as a Founding Member,” said the organization’s president and CEO David Cummins. “Ports in the U.S. and Canada are at the heart of North American waterborne transportation operations, and AAPA’s proven ability to connect and unite the diverse voices of the ports around common interests is perfectly aligned with Blue Sky’s mission to achieve commercially viable maritime decarbonization through collaboration along this entire value chain. We whole-heartedly welcome AAPA to the Blue Sky Maritime Coalition, and we know they will be an integral part of the conversation, solutions and our overall success.” 

It is important for ports to be a part of this collaborative effort among the maritime industry. AAPA encourages members to learn more and get involved as it best fits their operation. Contact info@bluesky-maritime.org for next steps.

Hear from Max Bobys, vice president of HudsonCyber, on how to protect your balance sheet and strategies for safeguarding your organization’s technology against cyber risk at the AAPA Commissioners Seminar December 7-9, 2021, in San Diego, Calif. Governing board members, commissioners and port leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere will convene for the preeminent event on timely and expert advice to be successful in their roles. View the draft agenda and register today.

The Port of Long Beach announced the promotion of Theresa Dau-Ngo to lead the Transportation Planning Division at the nation’s second-busiest seaport. As the director of transportation planning, Dau-Ngo will be responsible for guiding analysis of regional, state and national transportation policies, regulation and legislation; developing immediate and long-term transportation priorities; and assisting with managing port-related traffic in support of supply chain optimization efforts. Dau-Ngo has received the Engineering Team Award presented to the Port Traffic Flow Task Force in 2017 and the 2016 Visionary Award for Women’s Leadership from the Port’s Women’s Leadership Circle since joining the port in 2013.

The Port of San Diego invites the public and stakeholders to review and provide input on its Draft Program Environmental Impact Report for the port Master Plan update. The port’s objective is to create a holistic, thoughtful, and balanced approach to future water and land uses on and around San Diego Bay for generations to come.

A recent study for the Northwest Seaport Alliance, Port of Long Beach and other California ports reveals that Canadian ports have received more than double the federal funding levels compared to U.S. West Coast ports. To maximize U.S. ports’ trade opportunities along the West Coast, an increase in U.S. port infrastructure funding is needed to enable ports to handle current volumes and grow capacity to remain competitive.

The South Jersey Port Corporation, which operates the Port of Salem, will use a $9 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to expand its vessel capacity and intermodal rail connectivity at the Salem Marine Terminal, one of the oldest ports on the East Coast.

The Port of Harlingen reported a 29% increase in total tonnage for FY 2020-21 with 3,013,124 tons of cargo shipped in and out of the port. Located 25 miles inland of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, the port has accelerated its viability as a competitive hub for transportation in the region and has experienced a 112% growth in the volume of cargo moving through the port since 2017. PortMiami reported a record 1,254,064 TEUs in cargo activity, up 17.6% for FY 2021, the busiest year in the port's history, which started October 1, 2020, and ended September 30, 2021. Despite the ongoing supply chain disruptions, PortMiami attributes its smooth cargo operations to solid partnerships and collaboration with the trade community, including truckers, terminal operators, the International Longshoremen's Association, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and so many others.

Port Milwaukee is seeking high-quality proposals from prospective tenants for development at its South Shore Cruise Dock. This waterfront five-acre site, located immediately east of the Lake Express High Speed Ferry terminal, is available for development of recreational, entertainment, tourism, cultural, passenger vessel and public access uses that will enhance the port’s future growth. Proposals should be received by 12:00 p.m. CST on December 17.

The Port of Port Arthur is requesting qualification statements for professional engineering and construction management services for its Transit Shed 1 Replacement Project. The Port of Port Arthur has been awarded a 2020 Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the project. The deadline to submit qualification statements is 9:00 a.m. CST on November 30.

Director of Trade Development, Corpus Christi, TX; Port of Corpus Christi

Staff Accountant, Washington, DC; American Association of Port Authorities

Director of Governmental Affairs, Philadelphia, PA; PhilaPort

Director of Program Management, Long Beach, CA; Port of Long Beach

Construction Project Manager Supervisor, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Port Everglades

Marine Terminal Manager, Aberdeen, WA; Port of Grays Harbor

Director of Policy & External Affairs, New Bedford, MA; New Bedford Port Authority

Human Resources Manager, Stockton, CA; Port of Stockton