Now’s the time to secure your spot as a sponsor or exhibitor at the 114th AAPA Annual Convention & Expo, taking place October 6–8 in Québec City. With nearly 1,000 port professionals, supply chain leaders, and government officials expected to attend, this is the largest port-focused gathering in the Western Hemisphere — and a prime opportunity to connect with key decision-makers.

 

Sponsorship packages offer high-visibility benefits like speaking opportunities, branded experiences, exclusive networking access, and more. Exhibit booths are also available for companies looking to build business and brand recognition among a highly engaged audience.

 

👉 Explore sponsorship & exhibitor options.

 

For questions or to reserve your package, contact Jonathan Toomey at jtoomey@aapa-ports.org.

As negotiations with the U.S. continue ahead of the August 1 deadline, Prime Minister Mark Carney has acknowledged that any trade deal with President Trump will likely include some level of tariffs — but has also insisted Canada will only accept an agreement that protects national interests. While Canadian premiers were united in condemning Trump’s latest threats, divisions exist on response — particularly on retaliation and infrastructure priorities. Ontario Premier Doug Ford pushed for a forceful reply, citing impacts to auto and steel sectors, while others, like Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe, warned of unintended harm to Canadian producers. Simultaneously, a delegation of U.S. Democratic senators — including Ron Wyden, Lisa Murkowski, Maggie Hassan, and Catherine Cortez Masto — visited Ottawa in a rare show of cross-border outreach, aiming to de-escalate tensions and explore common ground on trade irritants like lumber and digital services taxes.

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and Konecranes are celebrating a 30-year partnership that began with GPA’s purchase of its first rubber-tire gantry (RTG) crane in 1995. Since then, GPA has grown its fleet to 257 Konecranes RTGs across six locations and 42 ship-to-shore cranes at the Port of Savannah, the largest container terminal in the U.S. The milestone was marked with a visit by GPA leadership to Konecranes’ headquarters and manufacturing facility in Finland. GPA credits Konecranes’ electric-powered cranes, uptime performance, and software systems for supporting its growth and operational efficiency. Konecranes continues to supply advanced cranes, including hybrid diesel RTGs with modern safety and assistance systems, contributing to GPA's high container throughput and rapid port expansion.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) has appointed Katherine Bamford as its new Vice President of Business Development. Bamford brings over 25 years of experience in business development, stakeholder engagement, and international market expansion, most recently serving as Director of Trade Development at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. In her new role, she will lead national and international marketing efforts, drive terminal development and expansion, and support market diversification. PRPA President & CEO Shaun Stevenson noted her deep understanding of global supply chains and existing industry relationships as key strengths. Bamford holds an Executive MBA and other academic credentials from institutions including Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia.

The Port of Edmonds has been awarded $412,000 in the Washington State capital budget to support its Mid-Marina Breakwater Restoration Project. The funding will allow the Port to complete structural repairs — replacing deteriorated wood lagging, repairing sheet pile structures, and adding a steel strong back — extending the breakwater’s lifespan by 10–12 years. The project protects key marina infrastructure that supports recreation, tourism, and marine businesses in the Puget Sound region. Construction is scheduled for late 2025 or 2026, pending permit approval. The restoration is part of a broader infrastructure strategy while planning for a full replacement continues.

The Port of Everett has received its 28th consecutive clean financial audit from the Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO), confirming no findings for the 2024 audit period. The audit, conducted this spring, reviewed financial documents, federal reporting, and operational accountability for the calendar year ending December 31, 2024. The scope included nine areas, such as financial condition, procurement, and compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Port leadership credited the finance team, led by CAFO Monique Liard and Finance Director Bob Marion, for their role in maintaining fiscal responsibility. The SAO conducts these annual audits to ensure transparency, legal compliance, and effective stewardship of public resources.

The Port of Oakland has joined the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies (BWBS) initiative as a Program Ambassador to support efforts in reducing harm to endangered whales and coastal air pollution. BWBS is a voluntary vessel speed reduction program led by NOAA and regional partners, asking shipping companies to reduce speeds to 10 knots in designated zones from May to December. As an ambassador, the Port will promote the program to its shipping partners, 84% of which participated last year. Slower vessel speeds help lower fatal whale strikes, greenhouse gas emissions, and underwater noise pollution. The program independently verifies cooperation and recognizes shippers for responsible environmental practices.

The Port of San Diego has recognized Ocean Connectors as its Anchors of Excellence awardee for July, celebrating the nonprofit's contributions to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and youth engagement. Based in National City, Ocean Connectors partners with the Port through its Environmental Education Program, serving approximately 2,500 students annually in the National City School District with ocean-focused STEAM education and hands-on activities. Since its founding, the organization has engaged over 50,000 students, restored more than 8 acres of coastal ecosystems, and removed over 2,000 pounds of trash from protected habitats. The award was presented by Port Chair Danielle Moore during the July 15 Board of Port Commissioners meeting.

On July 16, South Jersey Ports welcomed 24 high school students from Rowan University’s National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) program for a tour of the Camden Marine Terminals. The visit provided students with hands-on exposure to port operations, logistics, and career opportunities in maritime commerce. Funded by federal and state transportation agencies, the NSTI summer camp offers free participation, including housing and meals, and features site visits, engineering labs, and industry engagement. During their port tour, students observed active cargo operations, including steel and furnace slag discharges at Balzano and Broadway Terminals. The program aims to inspire future careers in transportation and engineering.

On July 7, 2025, the Port of New York and New Jersey hosted a delegation from the Port of Tokyo to celebrate and renew their 45-year sister port collaboration. Port Director Bethann Rooney and Director General Akira Tanaka signed a Sister Port Joint Statement, reaffirming their commitment to cooperation and shared priorities. Delegation members visited Port Liberty Bayonne and Cape Liberty Cruise Port as part of the event. The renewed agreement focuses on exchanging best practices in business development, marketing, emerging markets, supply chain efficiencies, and sustainability. The partnership aims to identify common challenges and promote mutual growth in port operations.

Port Houston exceeded 2 million TEUs year-to-date in June, reaching a total of 2,169,677 TEUs—a 3% increase over the same period last year. June container volumes totaled 331,864 TEUs, with a 16% year-over-year rise in loaded exports, largely driven by continued demand for resin shipments, while loaded imports declined 9%. The Port holds a 60% market share for resin commodities. Starting August 1, a reefer import dwell fee will take effect to improve terminal efficiency. General cargo and steel imports also rose by 6% and 3%, respectively, contributing to a total tonnage of 27,460,673 short tons through June. Port Houston will host the Houston International Maritime Conference (HIMC25) later this year, gathering global maritime leaders to discuss trade, infrastructure, and industry challenges.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Wallenius Wilhelmsen have completed the Annacis Auto Terminal Optimization Project in Delta, BC, consolidating two terminals into one and increasing vehicle handling capacity by 36% to 480,000 units annually. Upgrades include expanded rail yards with 60 new rail car spots, a new vehicle processing building, and installation of eight electric vehicle charging stations. The terminal serves over ten top global auto manufacturers and supports a record-setting auto import volume of nearly 470,000 vehicles in 2024. Funded by the Government of Canada, the port authority, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the project aligns with the Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030 strategy to drive economic growth and supply chain efficiency.

 

Brendan Murray

Bloomberg

 

Ava Benny-Morrison and Chris Strohm

Bloomberg

 

 

Stas Margaronis

AJOT

 

Ian Austen

New York Times

 

Mark Szakonyi

Journal of Commerce

 

AJOT

 

Stephen Lee

Bloomberg

 

 

Communications Coordinator; Corpus Chrisit, Texas; The Port of Corpus Christi Authority

 

Director of Facilities; Vancouver, Washington; Port of Vancouver USA

 

Chief Executive Officer; Longview, Washington; Port of Longview

  

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

 

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