PPM Spotlight: The Cost of Standing Still: PPM Candidates Examine Why Investing in Port Infrastructure Can’t Wait

The Cost of Standing Still: PPM Candidates Examine Why Investing in Port Infrastructure Can’t Wait

Ports nationwide face aging infrastructure, rising repair costs, and complex permitting challenges. This edition features a capstone paper, A Tale of Two Piers, authored by two upcoming graduates of the Port Professional Manager® (PPM) program.
 
Erik Gerking, Chief of Planning and Development at Port of Everett, and Todd Krout, Director of Operations at Port of Vancouver USA, combined decades of leadership to explore how small and medium-sized ports balance commercial opportunity, financing, and regulatory hurdles while modernizing waterfront facilities vital to regional economies and national security.
 
Pier 3 at the Port of Everett, built in 1973, is critical for bulk cement and shipyard operations but suffers structural damage from delayed ettringite formation, limiting load capacity. Port of Vancouver’s Piers 8 and 9, constructed beginning in 1977, cannot efficiently handle today’s heavy cargo. Both ports face maintenance and modernization costs exceeding revenues, highlighting the need for state and federal support.
 
The paper highlighted a survey of 30 ports that showed nearly 90% have piers in need of repair, with permitting delays and limited funding being major barriers. Payback periods often span decades if measured solely on revenues, underscoring broader economic, job creation, and national security benefits.
 
Erik and Todd emphasize proactive, phased planning, grant-seeking, and cross-functional teams to align projects with commercial demands. Their work also stresses strategic engagement to support permitting reform and infrastructure funding. Policy support, innovation, and advocacy are key to keeping these assets operational for decades.
 
If you are interested in learning more, join us at the AAPA Annual Convention in a few weeks. The session titled “The Cost of Standing Still: Why Investing in Port Infrastructure Can’t Wait,” part of the Infrastructure Modernization Track, is scheduled for Tuesday, October 7. Port professionals interested in AAPA’s PPM® program can contact Shannon McLeod at smcleod@aapa-ports.org.