This year, Western Hemisphere Ports Day will take place on April 5, 2019, and we will celebrate the skill, professionalism and commitment of the port industry workforce. Our workforce comprises thousands of people who ensure that cargo and passengers move efficiently through our ports every day. Join us and our Ports Day supporters, TransPorts and Lamar University, in saluting our ports and its workforce! Share with us what you have planned and we will share it with the industry; contact AAPA's Andrew Cameron (acameron@aapa-ports.org) for more information. In honor of Ports Day and our port workforce, recieve $100 off a job-posting package on the AAPA Career Center using the promo code: PORTSDAY2019

One of AAPA's two annual membership meetings, the Spring Conference was held in Washington, DC, and featured general sessions as well as committee and board meetings. This year’s conference looked closely at what is driving change in the industry and how to navigate a course to an uncertain future.

Partners at Masonville Cove, which include U.S. Fish and Wildlife, MES, the Port of Baltimore, the Living Classrooms Foundation and The National Aquarium, are collaborating to minimize disturbance to the eagles and establish a protected area in compliance with National Bald Eagle Nest Protection Guidelines. The Port of Oakland is converting 13 diesel-powered yard cranes to hybrid power. The result is expected to be an annual 45-ton reduction in diesel-related air pollutants.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance is once again hosting the Agriculture Transportation Coalition annual meeting as the association returns to Tacoma in June. Port Tampa Bay held one of its most popular annual events recently: Shrimperoo. Nearly 1,000 attended the shrimp boil at Port Tampa Bay's Cruise Terminal Two in downtown Tampa.

Crowley operates two liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered combination container/roll-on roll-off ships from Jacksonville to San Juan out of JAXPORT’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal. The Port of Virginia’s® Truck Reservation System has created an ongoing reduction in their turn times for motor carriers.