With an increasingly leading role in the global economy, Latin America is contending with uncertainty and economic vulnerability due to the crisis that began in 2020 with the pandemic, intensifying global climate change issues, the conflict in Ukraine and new health concerns. This situation has been undoubtedly relevant for the region's port and logistics activity. The current impact on Latin America’s port industry will be addressed at the upcoming AAPA Latino 2022. A panel titled Scenarios and Predictions for Shipping and Ports will discuss areas for improving competitiveness, diversifying and more at the Latin American Congress of Ports, to take place in Santos, Brazil, November 28-30, 2022. 

Concentra, a division of Select Medical, is the nation’s leading provider of workplace health, providing convenient, high-quality care for companies and their employees. With a network of nearly 520 community medical centers and 130 employer-based onsite centers, its expert clinicians continue to advance the occupational medicine industry through innovative care delivery. Concentra’s suite of services includes occupational medicine, urgent care, telemedicine, and physical therapy, as well as a broad range of health advisory services for employers. It all adds up to improved care for patients, smarter solutions for companies, and enhanced outcomes for everyone – that’s health at work.

AAPA, operating under a cooperative agreement with MARAD, issued a request for proposals (RFP) for consultants, educational institutions and/or other qualified contractors to provide survey research services. Proposals are due to AAPA by August 5, 2022, at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT (by close of business on the West Coast).

The selected contractor/team will (1) work with AAPA and MARAD to scope, develop and execute a comprehensive survey for U.S. ports and terminals to determine their future cargo handling equipment needs, and (2) identify manufacturers of cargo handling equipment and port items, with a particular focus on electrified equipment and domestic manufacturing. For more information, contact Derek Miller at dmiller@aapa-ports.org.

The Panama Canal celebrated the six-year anniversary of its expansion last month, and welcomed CMA CGM’s containership Zephyr, the largest vessel by cargo capacity to ever transit the waterway. The Neopanamax containership Zephyr has a total capacity of 16,285 TEUs. While the expanded Neopanamax locks were initially expected to serve vessels with a maximum of 12,600 TEUs, the Panama Canal team surpassed this threshold, due in part to experience gained in operating the docks and its close collaboration with customers. Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales stated, “There’s no better way to mark the anniversary of the expanded canal than with this month’s Zephyr transit, which exemplifies the continued growth potential that it offers for our clients.” Panama Canal Deputy Administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta said, “This milestone demonstrates the potential that our customers can unlock, thanks in part to our team’s flexibility and willingness to meet new challenges.”

PortMiami issued a Request for Price Quotation (RPQ) for the North Cruise Boulevard Road Widening project. RPQ requirements, deadlines and additional details as well as other opportunities can be found here: RPQ No: 2021-021 - North Cruise Boulevard Road Widening. The RPQ bid due date is September 1, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. ET. A mandatory pre-bid and site meeting will be held August 10 at 10:00 a.m. ET  at 1015 N. America Way, 2nd Floor Main Conference Room, Miami, FL.

Port Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson announced the hiring of Laura Lenhart as its new vice president of government affairs. Lenhart joins the port with nearly 15 years of experience in government affairs. As vice president of government affairs for Port Tampa Bay, Lenhart will be responsible for advocating on behalf of the president and CEO, Port Tampa Bay and its stakeholders to implement legislative policies and secure sponsors for both legislative and appropriations’ requests.

It is time to go bananas at the Port of Hueneme when it opens its port to the public for the 12th annual Banana Festival on September 24. After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this family-friendly festival promises to provide the community with a fun-filled day of entertainment, banana-themed food and drinks, harbor boat rides, land tours of the port, vendor booths, activities and more.

Port of Long Beach Deputy Executive Director Dr. Noel Hacegaba speaks with Mac Hewett, senior managing director of JLL, about warehousing and industrial real estate, a vital sector in the supply chain. Watch the latest installment of the port’s Supply Chain Insights video series.

The Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor launched an exciting electric vehicle demonstration program recenty. This pilot program is unique in its focus. Heavy-duty trucks, yard jockeys and forklifts are now available to port operators, businesses and trucking companies to use as part of real-world port trucking operations.

The Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway (BRG) recently completed the first phase of the expansion of the Palo Alto Yard at the Port of Brownsville, increasing the total static capacity of railcars at the yard to 398. In 2021, the shortline railroad handled a record high of 65,865 loaded railcars, a 22% increase from its 51,115 railcar movements in 2020. Industries across North America rely on the port for the efficient movement of steel, wind energy components, refined petroleum products, aggregates, agriculture products and other commodities to support a thriving supply chain.

Port of South Louisiana Chief Executive Officer Paul Matthews celebrates the enactment of a new innovative law, which will significantly address the supply chain and traffic issues that consumers are facing every day. Act 551, which became effective upon Governor Edwards’ signature on June 17, allows for the permitting of a single truck driver to haul two containers both headed to a port or to pick-up two containers from a port and take to their destinations.

The development of ports requires a long-term vision that incorporates an integral approach across sectors, taking a dynamic environment into account. Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA) understands this first-hand.

The Port of Corpus Christi has partnered with Learning Undefeated, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides life-changing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) experiences for communities, to launch the new Port of Corpus Christi PORT-Able Learning Lab, bringing a unique and innovative educational resource to students in schools across South Texas.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance, Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma are partnering with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to establish two liaison positions that will help expedite permitting for critical port projects. The port-funded liaison positions will work alongside port staff to assist with NMFS’ informal and formal consultation process.

Port Everglades was the host site for the official commissioning of the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship on July 30 in its namesake city, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A recording of the ceremony via live webcast can be viewed at www.dvidshub.net/webcast/28949.

Chief Financial Officer, Everett, WA; Port of Everett