AAPA has announced the Steering Committee for the 2026 POWERS + Smart Ports Summit & Expo, taking place May 11–14 in Tampa, Florida. The committee is made up of industry leaders from ports and maritime organizations across the country who helped shape the event’s program by reviewing session proposals and identifying key issues and innovations facing the port industry.
Their input ensures the agenda reflects the priorities of the port community and the future of resilient, technology-enabled port operations.
Early bird registration rates are available through March 27. Click here to learn more about the Steering Committee and register.
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The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) joined a coalition letter led by the Transportation Trades Department calling on Congress to reauthorize federal surface transportation programs at funding levels consistent with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including advance appropriations. Sent to lawmakers across authorizing and appropriations committees, the letter was signed by a broad group of government, industry, and labor stakeholders that develop, build, operate, maintain, and rely on the nation’s transportation infrastructure. The coalition discussed the benefits of predictable federal funding, which supports long-term planning, encourages additional investment, and helps sustain stable workforces across the infrastructure sector. It also highlighted the impact of advance appropriations in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provided funding certainty that helped support more than 60,000 infrastructure projects across all states and nearly 750,000 jobs nationwide.
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The Port of Vancouver handled a record 170.4 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2025, an increase of nearly 8% over the previous record set in 2024. International trade volumes through the port rose 11% to 147 million metric tonnes, with exports increasing 12% to 127.5 million metric tonnes. Record export volumes were reported for grain, crude oil, and potash, while containerized cargo reached 3.8 million TEUs, a 9% increase over 2024. Auto volumes also reached a record of nearly 480,000 vehicles moving through the port in 2025.
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Port Tampa Bay is expected to set a new monthly record for cruise ship calls in March with 51 scheduled visits as spring break travel drives strong demand for cruises departing from Tampa. The port is home to five major cruise lines — Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Margaritaville at Sea, and Celebrity Cruises — and recently welcomed the luxury ship Oceania Insignia, which will make three calls this month. Port Tampa Bay anticipates 394 cruise ship calls in 2026 and expects 53 days during the year when three cruise ships will be in port simultaneously. In 2025, the port welcomed a record 1.66 million cruise passengers and is currently tracking toward 1.8 million passengers in 2026.
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LOGISTEC announced the acquisition of Travero’s Logistics Park Dubuque (LPD), a multi-purpose marine terminal located in East Dubuque, Illinois, on the Upper Mississippi River. The 100-acre multimodal terminal handles bulk and breakbulk commodities and connects barge, rail, and truck transportation, with direct rail access via CN and barge access to the Upper Mississippi River. According to LOGISTEC, the acquisition expands its inland waterways network and strengthens routing options for agriculture, manufacturing, and energy supply chains across the U.S. Midwest and the Gulf Coast. LPD serves manufacturers in sectors including agriculture, steel, manufacturing, and energy.
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Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Celina Zacarias received the 2026 Trailblazer Award from Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) during an International Women’s Day luncheon marking the organization’s 35th anniversary in Camarillo, California. Zacarias, who became the first Latina elected as an Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner in 2020, helps set policy and guide activities at the Port of Hueneme. She currently serves as Executive Director of Community and Government Relations at California State University Channel Islands and has more than 25 years of business experience, including roles at GMAC Mortgage, Wells Fargo, and Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation. The award recognizes women whose leadership has strengthened local communities.
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The Port of Vancouver USA will host a three-part public lecture series in March and April 2026 at the Kiggins Theatre in Vancouver, Washington. The free lectures will feature speakers from the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, Tidewater Barge Lines, and The Northwest Seaport Alliance discussing topics related to regional waterways, inland marine transportation, and port collaboration. The series begins March 18 with a presentation by Pacific Northwest Waterways Association Executive Director Neil Maunu on the role of the Columbia River and regional waterways in supporting trade. Additional lectures on April 15 and April 29 will highlight Tidewater’s operations on the Columbia-Snake River system and the partnership between the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma that formed The Northwest Seaport Alliance. All events are open to the public, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and lectures beginning at 6:30 p.m.
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The Port of Brownsville announced the America First Refining project, which will be the first new U.S. Gulf Coast oil refinery built in nearly 50 years. The refinery will be constructed on more than 240 acres within the port and will process 100 percent domestic shale oil using hydrogen-powered systems to produce ultra-low-carbon fuels. According to America First Refining, the project is expected to create 500 direct full-time jobs with projected annual salaries ranging from $80,000 to $100,000, along with thousands of indirect jobs across construction, logistics, and operational support industries. The company is currently working with federal, state, and local agencies to secure the necessary environmental permits as the project advances.
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Kelly: U.S. maritime ‘critical’ to national, economic securitySHIPS Act would help revive American shipping fortunesStuart Chirls FreightWaves
Congressman Mike Ezell Receives AAPA’s 2026 Port Person of the Year AwardMarine Link
Port of Hueneme: Leadership Lived | WEV Recognizes Celina ZacariasAJOT
OPINION: Reform HMT rather than taxing shipping more: analystJay Derr is a transportation policy analyst at the Reason Foundation and author of the report, “Navigating port funding: Alternatives for reforming the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.”Journal of Commerce
LA terminals to extend gates to mitigate disruption during bridge closureBill Mongelluzzo Journal of Commerce
Container Shipping Diversions Surge 360% Amid Hormuz ClosureMike Schuler gCaptain
BlackRock Donates $100 Million to Trade-Worker Training in Infrastructure-Investing PushThe world’s biggest money manager tells lawmakers trillions are needed for infrastructure build-outJack Pitcher Wall Street Journal
U.S. Maritime Administrator Carmel Warns U.S. Must Rebuild Entire Maritime ‘System,’ Not Just ShipyardsMike Schuler gCaptain
Globalization Is Still Here, New Report ShowsBrendan Murray Bloomberg
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Port Director; San Francisco, California; City and County of San Francisco
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May 2026
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Dates: May 11–14, 2026
Location: Tampa, FL
The 2026 AAPA POWERS + Smart Ports Summit & Expo brings together port leaders and industry professionals from around the world to explore the intersection of energy, resilience, sustainability, and emerging technologies shaping the future of ports. The event features discussions on topics ranging from decarbonization and climate resilience to digital innovation, AI, and smart port solutions.
**Early bird rates end March 27**
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28
Sep 2026
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Dates: September 28–30, 2026
Location: New Orleans, LA
The 2026 AAPA Annual Convention & Expo will bring together port leaders and industry stakeholders from across the maritime and supply chain sectors to discuss key issues shaping the future of ports. The event features executive-level programming, networking opportunities, and an exhibit hall highlighting solutions for the global port industry.
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