This week, port leaders from across the Americas gathered in Lima, Peru for the AAPA LATAM Congress — a key forum for advancing regional collaboration and addressing shared challenges in trade, infrastructure, sustainability, and innovation.

 

AAPA President & CEO Cary Davis delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of unified industry leadership, hemispheric alignment, and public-private partnerships in driving growth throughout the region.

 

We’re proud to recognize the many AAPA member ports and industry partners who sponsored this year’s event, including:
Portos do Paraná, Port of Corpus Christi, Port Miami, Louisiana Gateway Port, Port Everglades, Kale Logistics, DP World, APM Terminals, Konecranes, Kalmar, Cummins, Synthetex, and ForSHORE (Soletanche Bachy).

 

We look forward to continuing the conversation this October at the AAPA Annual Convention in Québec City, October 6-8, 2025.

 

📅 Submissions close tomorrow, June 27th, at midnight ET.

 

The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has issued urgent security advisories (MMN 04/2025 and MMN 03/2025) warning Panamanian-flagged vessels of heightened risks in Middle Eastern waters, particularly near Iran, Israel, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and Yemen’s Ras Isa port. Citing rising regional conflict and the lapse of U.S. sanctions relief, the AMP recommends increased security measures, including elevated threat assessments, constant bridge surveillance, and strict boarding controls. Vessels operating near Ras Isa are also cautioned of potential U.S. sanctions, as delivering petroleum to ports controlled by the Houthi movement is now considered material support to a terrorist organization under U.S. law. The AMP strongly advises vessels to consult legal experts before operating in these high-risk areas.

Ports of Indiana has selected global agricultural powerhouse Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) to operate the international grain terminal at the Burns Harbor port on Lake Michigan. Once responsible for exporting over 500 million bushels of corn and soybeans, the terminal closed in 2023 but is now set to reopen under LDC’s management in early 2026. The partnership brings together LDC’s global expertise in agricultural trade and the port’s vast multimodal infrastructure, which includes storage for 7.2 million bushels, capacity to load 1 million bushels onto ocean vessels, and connections to 16 railroads. The move is expected to significantly boost export capabilities for Midwest farmers and enhance Indiana’s role in global food supply chains.

In May, Port Houston handled 381,640 TEUs, a 5% increase year-over-year, with year-to-date container volumes reaching 1,837,813 TEUs, up 4% from last year. Both loaded container imports and exports rose by 1% in May, while general cargo and steel imports grew 12% and 11%, respectively, contributing to a 2% increase in total tonnage year-to-date. The port recently implemented the Express Pass appointment system to improve trucking operations and launched the cloud-based Execution and Visibility Platform (EVP) to provide real-time operational data to customers. CEO Charlie Jenkins highlighted ongoing investments including the upcoming completion of Project 11, part of the Houston Ship Channel Expansion. Port Houston’s terminals have outpaced growth among major U.S. container terminals over the past decade, with the Houston Ship Channel maintaining its status as the nation’s busiest waterway by tonnage.

The Port of Savannah handled 500,900 TEUs in May, marking its third straight month exceeding half a million TEUs and a 2.2% increase compared to May 2024. This volume represents the port’s second busiest May on record, supported by new capacity at Garden City Terminal West for long-term cargo storage. For the fiscal year to date, Savannah has moved 5.3 million TEUs, up 10.3% from last year. Meanwhile, the Port of Brunswick’s new south side rail yard will begin operations by the end of June, doubling rail capacity and increasing annual auto shipment capacity from 150,000 to over 340,000 units. In May, Brunswick handled 79,134 Roll-on/Roll-off units, with a slight year-over-year decrease, but fiscal year volumes remain up 1%.

On June 12, the Port of Everett celebrated the opening of its new $8.1 million fuel dock at the Port of Everett Marina with a dedication ceremony attended by more than 125 people. The 500-foot fuel dock expands fueling capacity and improves visitor experience while supporting recreational boaters, commercial vessels, and key partners including the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and local emergency services. The project was partially funded by a $5.3 million grant from the Department of Defense’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. Port officials highlighted the dock’s importance for both regional resilience and national defense collaboration. The new facility represents continued strategic investment in Snohomish County’s waterfront.

The Port of Benton has completed its sixth railroad crossing replacement project, reopening the State Route 240 rail crossing near Horn Rapids Road on June 1, ahead of schedule. The project was supported by an $865,000 National Highway Freight Program grant secured by Sen. Matt Boehnke, with nearly $800,000 in matching funds contributed by the Port. Upgrades included new concrete panels, pavement, signals, and track infrastructure to improve freight movement along the 16-mile White Bluffs Southern Connection Rail Line. Previous improvements have doubled allowable track speeds from 5 to 10 mph, with future work expected to raise speeds to 25 mph. One remaining crossing at Steptoe Street is scheduled for replacement in partnership with the City of Richland later this year.

The Port of Albany has been recertified by Green Marine, a leading environmental certification program for the maritime industry, recognizing the Port’s continued commitment to sustainability. As the first port in New York State to join the program in 2016, the Port has consistently improved its environmental performance, achieving top scores in Environmental Leadership and Community Impact categories. Recent initiatives include installing EV charging stations, implementing a recycling program, upgrading to LED lighting, enhancing stormwater management, and updating truck idling and fueling policies. The Port’s participation in Green Marine supports its goal of exceeding environmental regulations through measurable improvements and industry collaboration. The Port remains a significant economic contributor, supporting 1,400 local jobs and generating over $428 million in annual regional impact.

The Port of Cleveland will host a dedication event on Monday, June 23, 2025, at 11 a.m. to unveil a new artist-designed gate at the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve (CLNP), located at 8701 Lakeshore Blvd. The gate, created by Cleveland artist Steve Manka, symbolizes the preserve’s natural beauty and ecological diversity. The event will include remarks from Port leadership and honor former Port President and CEO Will Friedman for his decade of service. The 88-acre preserve, managed by the Port, offers 2.5 miles of trails and diverse habitats for birdwatching, hiking, and wildlife observation. The new gate marks an ongoing commitment to enhancing public access and celebrating the preserve’s transformation into a vibrant urban greenspace.

The Port of San Diego is conducting two public scoping meetings in June 2025 for a proposed zero-emissions electric truck charging hub in West National City, developed by Skychargers, LLC. The project aims to reduce diesel truck traffic and pollution in the area, aligning with the Port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy and commitment to public health and environmental equity. The Port has issued a Notice of Preparation and Initial Study as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process and is accepting written comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) through July 21, 2025. The 4.8-acre hub would feature 70 charging ports, a solar and battery storage system, and a Trucking as a Service (TaaS) program, with construction expected to take six months upon approval.

Chief Financial Officer; Duluth, Minnesota; Duluth Seaway Port Authority

 

Director of Engineering & Facilities; Stockton, California; Port of Stockton

 

Chief Revenue Officer; New Orleans, Louisiana; Port of New Orleans

 

Enterprise Safety Director; Seal Beach, California; The Pasha Group

 

SENIOR MARITIME PROJECTS ADMINISTRATOR; Oakland, California; Port of Oakland

 

Assistant Professor of History (two positions); Kings Point, New York; United States Merchant Marine Academy

 

President and Chief Executive Officer; Cleveland, Ohio; Port of Cleveland

 

Manager of Environmental Permitting; Corpus Christi, Texas; Port of Corpus Christi Authority

 

Chief Operating Officer; Houston, Texas; Port Houston

 

GIS Industry Solutions Manager - Ports; Redlands, California; ESRI, Inc

 

Deputy Executive Director of Commercial Development; California; Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)

 

Chief Financial Officer; Pascagoula, Mississippi; Port Pascagoula

 

Risk Manager; Stockton, California; Port of Stockton

Laura Robb

Journal of Commerce

 

Katia Dmitrieva

Bloomberg

 

Collin Eaton

Wall Street Journal

 

Jessica DiNapoli and Emma Rumney

Reuters

 

Mike Schuler

gCaptain

 

Bill Mongelluzzo

Journal of Commerce

 

Stas Margaronis

AJOT

 

Maritime Executive

 

Maritime Logistics Professional