On Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released its FY 2022 Work Plan, which distributes additional Congressional funding to specific projects in investigations, construction, operations and maintenance, and more. The Energy and Water Development appropriations bill was signed into law on March 15. Congress directed USACE to develop and issue its Work Plan within 60 days. This report's release brings the distribution of funds to USACE districts, to initiate funding obligations and expenditures. View the project-level detail here. Congress is presently developing FY 2023 appropriations bills, which are due for enactment before the start of FY 2023 on October 1, 2022.

Last week, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted to advance the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA 2022). The legislation would authorize crucial investments in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) programs and projects across the country, including improvements to rivers and harbors. Read the bill's text here.

AAPA and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) are holding a follow-up for AAPA members to a past listening session on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the investments in the nation's transportation network. Anticipate an interactive session with BTS, which seeks to discuss the challenges local infrastructure decision-makers face in managing the demands of evidence-based decision-making and the development and interpretation of new data sources, along with traditional statistics, to make decisions in a timely and adept manner. Please share your infrastructure decision-making experiences to help develop a plan for prioritizing the Federal government’s support and funding requests for updating and honing the data assets needed to support your communities.

The session will take place on Monday, June 13, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. PT). BTS is looking forward to a dialogue with AAPA members. Use the following Zoom link to access and join the session:

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AAPA is proud to announce a new panel discussion on How We Build: Can We Get the Cargo We Need? at the upcoming Shifting Trade Seminar. The event will cover many of the major questions being contemplated by the builders of America’s infrastructure systems. Can we get the cargo we need? How do we put half a trillion dollars of federal infrastructure investments to work? And how do we make sure building supplies are available? Through this panel, attendees will gain perspectives from the building and construction industry when it comes to whether the supply chain is up to the task of historic investment in the nation's infrastructure.

The AAPA Shifting Trade Seminar will be held in Tampa, Fla., at the Westin Tampa Waterside, June 15-16. This event will focus on the worldwide trade lanes, global trade predictions, and the newest economic trends that affect our industry. The Seminar will also feature global carriers, supply chain partners, beneficial cargo owners, and port representatives on key themes such as global decarbonization, big picture economic forecasts, and alternative fuels and energies. 

Register here to reserve your spot today for this must-attend event.

AAPA's Lighthouse Awards recognize the best programs and projects that stand out as a beacon of excellence across the port industry throughout the Western Hemisphere. The Lighthouse Awards acknowledge excellence in four disciplines: Communications, Environmental Improvement, Information Technology, and Facilities Engineering.

The deadline for entries for all categories has been extended to June 10. Judges will evaluate nominations and present the Lighthouse Awards of Excellence at the AAPA Annual Convention, October 16-19, in Orlando, Fla. Use the links below to submit applications in the respective project categories:

For questions, contact AAPA’s Jen Wilk at jwilk@aapa-ports.org.

Do you have any open positions that require a specific skillset and you’re having trouble finding qualified candidates? The AAPA Career Center is a place for both job seekers and employers in the port industry to come together. This targeted site works much like LinkedIn or Indeed, but it is geared toward the port industry. Registered job seekers can browse and apply for positions that employers have posted. Employers can create a profile that allows them to post positions. Interested? Take a peek here: www.aapa-ports.org/empowering/CareerCenter.aspx.

 

Plus, we are celebrating United for Infrastructure 2022 (May 16-20) for a month instead of a week! Until June 20, use code "250FF4INFRA" for a 25% discount at the AAPA Career Center.

Dutch subsea cable firm WIND has signed a long-term cooperation agreement with Rhode Island-based terminal operator Waterson Terminals to set up a cable storage yard in the United States. The cable storage yard will be located at the Port of Providence (ProvPort) and is expected to be fully operational by the beginning of Q3 2022. From Providence, WIND will provide all cable and accessories storage and handling, while the project management will be carried out from the company’s headquarters in Alkmaar, the Netherlands.

The Port of Los Angeles handled 887,357 TEUs in April 2022, the second-best April in its 115-year history. Four months in to 2022, the port has processed more than 3.5 million TEUs, 1% ahead of last year’s record pace. Last month, the Port of Savannah handled 495,782 TEUs, a record for April and the Georgia Ports Authority’s third busiest month ever. 

The Port of San Diego is moving forward with a system to control and capture cargo vessel emissions, also known as a bonnet. The bonnet will be available for use by cargo vessels that aren’t yet equipped to connect to shore power. “The bonnet will give some of our cargo carriers a great option in reducing their air quality impacts while they work to transition their vessels to being shore power compatible,” said Chairman Dan Malcolm, Board of Port Commissioners.

In keeping with their commitment to service and efficiency, the Alabama Port Authority and APM Terminals inked a deal to add container capacity at the Port of Mobile. The new $104 million Phase IV expansion program adds a new sheet pile wall on the north side of the terminal to facilitate the filling of approximately 13 acres of manufactured water-bottoms generating new land.  Under the agreement, the port authority and APM Terminals will add a total of 32 acres to the existing 134-acre facility, bringing the facility’s annual throughput capacity to one million TEUs.

Corn Belt Ports in the Quad Cities area has successfully established itself as a new statistical port district, setting the stage for further public and private investment and development. Another grouping of counties, ports and other entities on the Upper Mississippi River is also seeking to become a statistical port district, to be dubbed the Northern Grain Belt Port Statistical Area. The new areas would stretch from Red Wing, Minn., south to Prairie du Chien, Wis., and would embrace both banks of the Mississippi River.

The Saint John Port Authority will receive up to $21 million through the National Trade Corridors Fund to increase the cargo laydown capacity of the West Side Terminal, to enhance the crane capabilities of the terminal, and add to allow wheeled cargo capabilities. As the applicant, the Saint John Port Authority will contribute $4.2 million, and the Province of New Brunswick will invest $16.8 million, which represents a total investment of $42 million.

PortMiami is seeking bids for Cruise Terminal Improvements and Terminal F Fender Improvement Project. Bid requirements, deadlines and additional details can be found here: Shore Power for Terminals – Project # 2021-010 and Terminal F Fender Improvement Project – Project # 2021-015.

Director of Operations, Shreveport, LA; Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission

Director of Communications, Galveston, TX; Port of Galveston

Director of Transportation System Operations, San Diego, CA; SANDAG

International Student Coordinator, Cheshire, CT; Cheshire Academy