The National Secretariat of Ports of Brazil is the institution responsible for formulating policies and guidelines to develop and promote Brazilian maritime, fluvial and lacustrine ports and port facilities. The National Secretariat of Ports has authority over 37 organized public ports, whose administration is delegated to municipalities, states or public consortiums, and an additional 39 river ports. The secretariat also prepares grant programs, approves port development and zoning plans, establishes guidelines for the representation of the country in international organizations, sets business performance objectives, and promotes the modernization, efficiency, competitiveness and quality of Brazilian port operations.

The Port of Everett has received designation by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as a Federal Maritime Administration Marine Highway Project for the Puget Sound Container on Barge Service under the America’s Marine Highway Program. Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean joined BMW North America and GLOVIS America to secure their presence at the Port of Hueneme with long-term contracts.

The Port of Seattle joined in support of Governor Jay Inslee’s ‘Maritime Blue Strategy’ at the official kickoff meeting at Pier 66. The strategy aims to advance the region’s maritime-based, “blue economy” through increased collaboration between its diverse sectors to promote innovation and sustainable practices that support a competitive gateway with a 21st century workforce. The Port of South Louisiana has announced plans to pursue a $2.2 billion capital investment in a new methanol complex.

Port of Oakland container volume reached an all-time high in 2018. The port handled the equivalent of 2.55 million TEUs last year. The Port of Virginia set a new annual record for container cargo volume having handled more than 2.85 million TEUs in calendar year 2018.