This year's Annual Convention and Expo will host a first-ever Commissioners Symposium which includes a full day of tailored sessions and networking. The convention will also include keynotes, panels, roundtable discussions, and interactive workshops on the port industry’s most important issues: Smart Ports, Federal Funding and Private Investment, Green Ports and Sustainability, Crisis Communications, Big Data, Digitalization, Women in Leadership, Artificial Intelligence, Electrification, and Workforce Development.

In addition, attendees will have numerous occasions to network with port industry executives from all over the world. This is a tremendous opportunity for your team to forge new relationships and broker new business.

AAPA’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Cary Davis will be the association's next President and CEO, effective October 1, 2023.

 

“Cary speaks our business in a way policymakers and international maritime partners can grasp,” stated Paul Anderson, AAPA Board Chair and Port Tampa Bay CEO. “With incredible enthusiasm, he creates an understanding that seaports are at the heart of a modern, global economy, and most importantly, he knows how to tell a compelling, collaborative industry story. Cary is the right leader to keep AAPA growing and innovating together now and in the future.”

 

Following the announcement of Chris Connor's pending departure as President and CEO earlier this year, the vetting process considered multiple strong candidates over a period of five months, after which the specially convened selection committee unanimously recommended Cary to the board. The board unanimously adopted that recommendation. Read the full press release here. 

Recent events underscore the importance of the Foundation for Seaports of the Americas Emergency Relief Fund (ERF). From aiding the recovery efforts after Typhoon Mawar at the Port of Guam to extending assistance to those affected by the wildfires in Maui and the Florida ports impacted by Hurricane Idalia, the ERF plays a pivotal role in providing swift assistance to port employees during times of need. The current balance in the Foundation account is not nearly enough as we enter the peak of hurricane season and continue to be faced with other extraordinary natural disasters.

Your support is instrumental in helping us offer financial aid that can directly impact the lives of those facing emergencies and provide essential supplies and temporary accommodations for port personnel and their families. Please consider making a generous donation to the Foundation enabling us to be well positioned to quickly respond to impacted port employees in the coming weeks or months. Donate by mailing a check to the Foundation for Seaports of the Americas, Emergency Relief Fund, 1201 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 860, Washington, DC 20024. If you prefer to pay by ACH or wire transfer and need instructions or require further information, contact Shannon McLeod, Vice President of Member Services.

The ERF provides a cash grant — up to $1,000, depending on need — to port employees severely impacted by a disruptive event, such as inland flooding, tropical storms and hurricanes, extreme heat events, wildfires, and earthquakes. Over the last 16 years, the ERF has distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to port employees, enabling them to find temporary accommodations or buy provisions after disasters strike. In 2021, the Fund assisted more than 315 employees at various ports with their immediate critical needs.

The Port of Harlingen hosted Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for a roundtable with leaders of the local agriculture industry to discuss important issues and provide an update on matters in Washington, D.C., that affect their region. As part of a three-day tour focusing on the needs of agriculture, Cruz met with industry leaders and stakeholders from cotton, sugar, Texas Department of Agriculture, citrus, produce, grain, and local farmers organizations.

NWSA July 2023 container volumes reached 234,875 TEUs, with total container volume decreasing 9.9% over July 2022. Full imports increased 0.2% while full exports for the month decreased 7.6%. Year-over-year comparisons continue to reflect the pandemic-driven conditions of 2022 and ongoing soft import demand relative to last year.

The Port of Oakland’s loaded container volume climbed to its highest level since October 2022. Full TEUs grew 16.8% in July 2023 with the port handling 136,181 TEUs compared to 116,629 TEUs in July 2022.

Port Tampa Bay is proud to serve as the host facility for the Naval Commissioning of the USS Jack H. Lucas DDG 125 warship on October 7. During the week of the commissioning, the public will be invited to take part in celebrating the ship’s arrival, including a culinary challenge and a fireworks display, and culminating with the commissioning ceremony on October 7. Members of the U.S. Naval Department, federal, state and local lawmakers, and the widow of Jack H. Lucas, will take part in the milestone celebration. To learn more about the schedule of events, the ship and her history, view photos of the vessel, explore the legacy of Jack H. Lucas, and to reserve tickets to the commissioning ceremony and other public events, visit www.ddg125.org. 

The Port of South Louisiana (PortSL) and Ukraine Sea Ports Authority (USPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 29, launching a cooperative alliance directed at technical guidance toward planning, development, construction, administration, and operation and maintenance of port infrastructure, particularly when reconstruction begins in Ukraine. This non-binding agreement was signed by PortSL CEO Paul Matthews and USPA-head Yurii Lytvyn (not in attendance) and witnessed by Ukraine Consul General Vitalii Tarasiuk; Consul for Economic Issues Pavlo Moiseischenko; PortSL Commissioners Katie Klibert, D. Paul Robichaux, and Joey Murray; and PortSL staff.

The Port of Savannah received four Super Post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes on August 24, upgrading the crane fleet to 34 machines at Garden City Terminal after four older cranes are retired and recycled. Designed by Konecranes of Finland, the all-electric cranes arrived on the vessel BigLift Barentsz.

Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees has been recognized as a 2023 Most Admired CEO by the Houston Business Journal (HBJ). Rees was among the honorees celebrated at a luncheon of hundreds of corporate and community leaders hosted by HBJ on August 24 in Houston.

The Port of Pascagoula, which is Mississippi’s largest seaport, has become the newest participant in Green Marine, the leading voluntary environmental certification program for North America’s maritime industry. Bo Ethridge, Port Director at the Port of Pascagoula, said, “The environmental certification program’s comprehensive framework will help us improve the sustainability of our maritime activities by ensuring that we incorporate optimal management practices along with cutting-edge technologies.”

Oregon International Port of Coos Bay and NorthPoint Development have submitted a Mega Grant proposal to support the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) project, which is considered to be a project of national significance, by creating a new gateway for west coast imports and exports for the movement of containers through the port. Once constructed, the state-of-the-art facility is expected to handle 1.2 million containers per year and support approximately 2,500 direct jobs in Coos, Douglas, and Lane Counties.

The Port of Cleveland kicked off the $60 million Irishtown Bend stabilization project, after more than a decade of work and collaboration. The project will transform the hillside at the Cuyahoga River into a 23-acre public park and community amenity, in total a $100 million-plus project.

Efforts by the Port of Long Beach to include more small businesses among its contractors and vendors are raising awareness of opportunities in doing business with the port. Nearly half of port funds spent on contracts applicable to the Port’s Small Business Enterprise Program goals in the most recent fiscal year went to buy services and materials from companies defined as “small business enterprises” and “very small business enterprises.” 

The Port of Los Angeles last week celebrated the achievements of over two dozen shipping lines and carriers for participating in the Port’s Vessel Speed Reduction Program (VSRP), an air quality and annual incentive program for vessel operators who reduce their speed as they approach or depart America’s Port^®. The voluntary program is one of many sustainability efforts currently underway at the port to reduce emissions and decarbonize operations.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management, through Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (MSIP), and U.S. maritime, energy and logistics solutions leader Crowley announced the creation of a new joint venture to advance offshore wind energy solutions for the United States. The joint venture combines Crowley’s end-to-end maritime and logistics capabilities through the newly created Crowley Wind Services Holdings, LLC, and the financial strength and expertise of MSIP.

Manager-Transportation Development, Long Beach, CA; Port of Long Beach

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

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

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