On August 1, the Georgia Ports Authority obtained certification from U.S. Customs and Border Protection for all GPA terminals to unload cargo from vessels prior to being cleared by CBP. To participate in the Advanced Qualified Unlading Approval (AQUA) Lane benefit, ocean carriers must be enrolled in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program, be in good standing with CBP and stipulate AQUA Lane status when they transmit their manifest to U.S. Customs prior to arriving in a U.S. port. 

Crowley and the Port of San Diego broke ground for the shoreside charging station designed to provide clean energy for Crowley’s forthcoming zero-emissions tugboat, eWolf. Joined by key partners and community stakeholders, the ceremony marked a significant step forward in the industry’s journey to decarbonization and reducing emissions in the San Diego community.

Pasha Hawaii and the Port of Oakland celebrated the arrival of MV Janet Marie to the Port of Oakland with a christening ceremony on August 9, marking the company’s second Liquified Natural Gas-powered container ship to call the Bay Area. Chris Connor, AAPA President and CEO, and Board Member of The Pasha Group, served as emcee for the christening ceremony. Connor was joined by guest speakers Executive Director of the Port of Oakland Danny Wan; Oakland Deputy Mayor Kimberly Mayfield; Seafarers International Union President David Heindel; and Pasha Hawaii President and CEO George Pasha, IV.

During a three-day visit to Alaska, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the designation of two new Marine Highway Routes, as part of the U.S. Marine Highway Program (MHP). The newly designated M-11 and M-79 routes will help speed up the movement of goods, strengthen supply chains, and support local economies in Alaska, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. These designations allow any eligible applicant on these routes to apply for future U.S. Marine Highway Program grants.

The Georgia Ports Authority handled 447,590 TEUs in July, up 17% from 381,825 TEUs moved in June. Dock renovations increased annual berth capacity by 25% and extended the port’s ability to serve vessels capable of carrying 16,000+ TEUs.

During the month of June, 234,204 tons of cargo moved through the Port of Green Bay. Year-to-date totals of 664,196 tons show an increase of 10% over the same period last year when the tonnage total was 604,666.

Trade dipped at the Port of Long Beach in July due to adjusted trade routes, full warehouses and a shift in consumer spending to travel, entertainment, and other experiences. Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 578,249 TEUs last month, down 26.4% from July 2022, which was the Port’s busiest July on record.

The Port of Hueneme’s annual Banana Festival returns on September 30. This 10th annual, family-friendly, free admission festival will provide a day filled with entertainment, vendors, port tours, banana-inspired food, and more. As the number one banana port on the West Coast, the festival will highlight some of the positive impacts and contributions the port has made to the local community as well as the world.

Taylor Machine Works, Inc. presented SSA Marine with their 50,000th machine at SSA Oakland, California, on August 15. The XLC-976, which offered the DREAM cab, Vision Plus Pedestrian Detection among many other state-of the-art features, had a unique American flag wrap to commemorate this special event.

Port Freeport announced the execution of a Lease Agreement to commence in 2024 with Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (Del Monte), one of the world’s leading producers, distributors, and marketers of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, with products sold in more than 80 countries around the world. The company also owns Network Shipping, its third-party ocean logistics arm that carries goods between the Americas. Del Monte ships will offer weekly calls to Port Freeport to import bananas, pineapples, and plantains, serving a large portion of the Texas market and beyond.

In what are considered the Oscars of brownfield remediation, the Port of Tacoma was presented with a Phoenix Award on August 9, for cleaning up and redeveloping a 113-acre site. In a ceremony at the Brownfields 2023 conference in Detroit, the port was honored for remediation of a port-owned property known as Parcel 14, which is now home to a redeveloped wetland, a high-tech regional logistics center, and a future highway interchange.

The Montréal Port Authority (MPA) announced the appointment of Geneviève Deschamps as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 21. Deschamps is currently Vice-President, Finance.

The Department of Homeland Security awarded a $2.72 million grant aimed at enhancing security at the Port of Long Beach to ensure the safe and efficient movement of cargo in the wake of an emergency. As a recipient of the agency’s Port Security Grant Program, the port will use the funding to modernize its core security network, strengthen existing security systems and enhance resiliency and business continuity in the event of a disaster.

The North Carolina State Ports Authority reported record operating revenue of $79.3 million for FY 2023, which is a 16.7% increase from the previous record of $68 million set in FY 2022. This strong performance was driven by year-over-year growth in throughput volume, a record year for general cargo, and strong annual intermodal growth.

Ports of Indiana has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify railroads interested in providing intra-port switching and track maintenance services at Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon. The 1,200-acre port is seeking companies that can demonstrate a strong capacity for business expansion, best-in-class operations, and exceptional customer service, which are integral to the future growth of the busiest inland port district in the country.

Chief Executive Officer, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; Port of Thunder Bay

Enterprise Assistant Director of Operations (Cruise Services), Broward County, FL; Port Everglades

Director of Environmental Programs & Planning, Oakland, CA; Port of Oakland

Director, Real Estate, Tacoma, WA; Northwest Seaport Alliance

Port Equipment Supervisor, Oakland, CA; Port of Oakland

Assistant Manager – Aviation Maintenance, Seattle, WA; Port of Seattle

Workforce Development Program Manager & Data Analyst, Seattle, WA; Port of Seattle

Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor, Tacoma, WA; City of Tacoma

Electronics Officer, U.S. Merchant Marine, Nationwide; American Radio Association