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Port Milwaukee reported a 3% increase in total municipal port tonnage and a 4% rise in total all-cargo tonnage in 2025 compared to the previous year. Dry bulk cargo, the Port’s largest commodity category, grew 6% year over year, with increases in limestone, agricultural products, and other materials offsetting lower salt tonnage. Steel volume increased by 2%, and Seaway tonnage rose 78%, driven largely by steel and agricultural shipments, primarily involving trade with European markets as well as the Middle East and Northern Africa. In 2025, the Port welcomed one new carrier and 10 first-time vessel visits, reflecting expanded maritime activity.

The Maryland Port Administration announced a new two-year agreement with Carnival Cruise Line that will bring the Carnival Miracle to the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore beginning in 2027. The Carnival Miracle will operate seasonal cruises from November to April and will join the Carnival Pride, which sails year-round from Baltimore under a separate five-year contract. The Carnival Miracle will offer 12- to 14-day voyages to Southern and Eastern Caribbean destinations, while the Carnival Pride continues service to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean, and Greenland/Canada. Carnival ships have sailed from Baltimore since 2004, and cruise activity in Maryland supports more than 400 jobs, including 220 direct jobs at the Port of Baltimore.

On February 12, the Port of Cleveland Board of Directors approved a series of actions supporting regional redevelopment, public safety infrastructure, and clean energy initiatives. The Board authorized bond issuances for multiple projects, including up to $10 million in Phase 1A infrastructure bonds and up to $46 million in lease revenue bonds for the $285 million Belle Oaks Marketplace redevelopment, a $15 million tax-exempt bond for a new 75,000-square-foot emergency dispatch center in Valley View, and approximately $10.6 million in TIF bonds for a 52-acre redevelopment in Seven Hills. The Board also approved the purchase of two fully electric reach stackers from Taylor and 2,672 high-efficiency solar panels from BILA, Inc., expected to generate 2.15 megawatts of electricity daily. Both clean energy purchases meet federal “Buy America Build America” standards.

Dredging is under way in the Port of Brunswick’s inner and outer harbor to return the channel to its authorized depth as part of federally funded annual maintenance conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with current work expected to be completed in March and additional work this summer. The project addresses shoaling and other natural processes and is intended to improve vessel transit efficiency and safety, particularly for Roll-on/Roll-off vessels, which are increasing in size and commonly range from 4,000 to 8,000 car equivalent units. Construction is also under way on a $100 million fourth RoRo berth at Colonels Island, scheduled for completion in fall 2027. A separate harbor improvement project, including a bend widener and turning basin expansion, has received $11.35 million in federal funding and just over $6 million in state funding. Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin a three-year, $3 million feasibility study—supported by $500,000 in federal funding—to evaluate deepening and widening the Savannah Harbor.

The Port of Virginia® is advancing a layered safety initiative designed to identify critical risks, reinforce safety as a core value, and promote its internal “We Protect What Matters” safety brand across terminals and offices. The effort was recently recognized by Signal Mutual, which presented its Executive Leadership Award to Virginia International Terminals Chief Operating Officer Joseph P. “Joe” Ruddy for advancing employee safety and reducing injuries, reportable incidents, and lost workdays. According to port data, lost workdays have declined over the past four fiscal years, from 1.82 days in FY2022 to 1.09 days as of February FY2026, compared to an OSHA industry average of 1.4 days. The initiative includes the creation of seven critical risks and six life-saving rules, safety audits, hazard identification, annual safety training, and collaboration with International Longshoremen’s Association leadership. The port’s FY2026 goal for lost workdays is 0.91 days.

The Port of Oakland has announced the launch of its 2026 paid Summer College Internship Program, with applications due by March 11, 2026, at 5 p.m. PST. The program runs from June 8 through August 14, 2026, and offers internships across a range of professional fields, including Aviation, Maritime, Commercial Real Estate, Engineering, Environmental Programs, Government Affairs, Legal, Technology & Innovation, and Utilities. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75, be currently enrolled or have graduated within six months of the program start date, and reside in one of the nine Bay Area counties during the summer.

 

Selected interns will gain exposure to the Port’s four business lines—Aviation, Maritime, Commercial Real Estate, and Utilities—and participate in activities such as meeting the Board of Port Commissioners, engaging in a Governmental Affairs roundtable, networking with Port leaders, and touring Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) and the Oakland Seaport.