AAPA and the Professional Development Board are pleased to announce the latest addition to our esteemed Port Professional Manager (PPM) program – the Echo Cohort. Comprising 20 exceptional port professionals, this cohort marks a significant milestone in AAPA’s commitment to fostering leadership excellence and diversity within the maritime industry.

 

The PPM Echo Cohort stands out as the most diversified group since the program began in 1995, representing a wide spectrum of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives within the port sector. From seasoned executives to emerging leaders, each member brings a unique set of skills and insights that will enrich their collective professional development.

Over the next two to four years, these PPM candidates will embark on a transformative journey of professional development, networking, and collaboration. Through a blend of coursework, hands-on projects, and peer-to-peer interactions, they will deepen their understanding of port management best practices and emerge as visionary leaders poised to drive positive change in our industry.

 

The PPM program is highly competitive, and each candidate’s successful admission is a testament to their achievements and potential in the port industry. Congratulations and best wishes to the members of the PPM Echo Cohort. For questions about the PPM program, contact Julie Barelas. 

The Port of Los Angeles will host a site tour of one of its recently upgraded air quality monitoring stations on February 20, allowing stakeholders access to air monitoring equipment. The tour, weather permitting, is open to the public with no reservations required. Port Environmental Management staff and equipment technicians will be available to answer questions.

The Port of New York and New Jersey finished 2023 with volume totals that exceeded 2019’s pre-COVID numbers by 4.4%. December’s total volume reached 633,925 TEUs (351,402 containers), a 3.4% increase compared to December 2022, bringing the 2023 total to 7,810,005 TEUs (4,328,153 containers). Terminal 46 marked a significant milestone on February 2, as it welcomed the arrival of the GLOVIS vessel Silver Sky transporting automobiles destined for Canada. More than 2,500 automobiles discharged at Terminal 46, in The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) gateway, where they will await transport to Canadian KIA and Hyundai dealerships later this month.

The Galveston Wharves, a major U.S. cruise home port, and MSC Cruises, a leading international cruise company, have finalized an operating agreement for a fourth cruise terminal complex at the Port of Galveston. The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) finished calendar year 2023 with nearly 1.2 million cruise passenger movements and renewed commitments to the New Orleans cruise market from both oceangoing and river cruise lines.

The Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) and Tropical Shipping signed agreements that will advance projects to improve VIPA's cargo port infrastructure. VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe and Tropical Shipping President Timothy P. Martin executed long-term lease agreements on January 22, at a meeting held at Tropical’s headquarters in Riviera Beach, Fla. 

Georgia Ports Authority has announced plans to invest $29 million in an overpass linking Ocean Terminal to Route 17, designed to keep terminal truck traffic from impacting local neighborhoods. The project is the outcome of joint collaboration among Georgia Ports Authority, the city of Savannah and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

A recent report shows Port of Palm Beach among Florida ports seeing record cargo and cruise passenger growth. Port of Palm Beach Board of Commission Chairman Wayne Richards said “Internal figures from Fiscal Year 2023 reveal we saw an 11 percent increase in net operating revenue, coupled with a seven percent reduction in operating expenses, resulting in a $3.3 million total net income.”

The Port of Virginia^® is expanding its portfolio of international connections with two new services that connect directly with the Latin American market. One service is a combined effort by ocean carriers CMA CGM and ONE. The CMA Americas XL and the ONE FLX are now linking The Port of Virginia to ports in Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Panama.

Life for Tyres Group Limited, Europe’s largest end-of-life tire recycling company with manufacturing facilities for sustainable commodities, announced it will invest $46 million to establish its first U.S. processing facility on 10 acres at the Port of South Louisiana. The recycling and manufacturing plant, L4T Louisiana LLC, will convert end-of-life tires into high-quality sustainable commodities such as advanced biofuel feedstock, recovered carbon black and scrap steel.

Industrial Expansion Driving Boost in New Orleans Project Cargo Volumes
Keith Wallis, Journal of Commerce

 
Red Sea Chaos Causing Global Oil Buyers to Shop Local
Sharon Cho, Bloomberg

Stavridis Says Cyber and Military Escalation Against Iran Could Last Weeks
John Konrad, GCaptain

ILWU, ICTSI Oregon End Long Legal Dispute with $20.5 Million Settlement
Bill Mongelluzzo, Journal of Commerce

Beacon’s O’Connell Says U.S. West Coast Port Surge Over Rivals Might be Lengthy
Stas Margaronis, AJOT

Shipping Industry Proposes Fund to Accelerate Net-Zero Transition
Mike Schuler, GCaptain

Biden’s Worst Energy Decision
The Editorial Board, Wall Street Journal