In a Transport Topics Radio news broadcast hosted by associate news editor Dan Ronan that aired Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, AAPA President and CEO Chris Connor shares his optimism for signs of economic recovery, a Biden administration and what it could mean for infrastructure and the port industry. “Clearly, there has been a replenishment of consumer goods, particularly out of Asia,” said Connor. “But there have been millions and millions of dollars poured into the health and safety of the workers at the ports.” Listen to the interview here, courtesy of Transport Topics and SiriusXM. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Port Everglades will conduct a virtual public presentation of its plan for deepening and widening the Port Everglades Harbor on Thursday, Nov. 19, online from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. All interested parties and the public at large are invited to participate in the presentation, during which Corps designers and managers will provide an overview of the project and discuss rock pretreatment methods, including confined underwater blasting needed for construction.

Container volumes through PhilaPort’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal are up 5%, and the port will continue to sustain surging cargo volumes thanks in part to its infrastructure work. The Port of Long Beach achieved another single-month record in October by processing more than 800,000 TEUs for the first time in its 109-year history. Trade was up 17.2% from October 2019. The Port of Los Angeles processed 980,729 TEUs in October, an increase of 27.3% compared to October 2019, as a result of retailers preparing for upcoming holidays. The Port of Oakland reported imports grew 10.4% in October compared to October 2019 and attributed the jump in imports to the pandemic changing consumer spending habits. The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s import volumes rebounded in October, jumping 4.7% compared to same month last year. The Port of Virginia® in October set a new record for monthly TEU volume having handled more than 274,000 units and processing that cargo in record time.

Aware of the local and regional artistic heritage and the desire to support its development and dissemination, the Port of Trois-Rivières recently acquired the collection of canvas artworks Hommage au Saint-Laurent, created by a group of artists that include Gérard Boulanger, Yvon Lemieux, Raymond Quenneville, Robert Roy and Yvon St-Aubin.

The Port of Portland Commission unanimously approved a Master Development Agreement (MDA) with Specht Development Inc. and Colas Development Group to manage land in Gresham for marketing and development services. As part of this MDA, the port is implementing a new framework focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) by leveraging its real estate assets to create a more equitable and prosperous region.

A new service at the Port of Hueneme stands to reduce the cost of transporting blueberries and would eliminate thousands of pounds of greenhouse gases, and support local California and Peruvian growers. As part of the Port of San Diego’s ongoing commitment to the environmental care of San Diego Bay and the surrounding waterfront and communities, the Board of Port Commissioners approved the installation of a microgrid, battery storage system, and electrical infrastructure at the port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has released its draft report on the Montréal Port Authority’s (MPA) Contrecœur container terminal project. MPA is dedicated to preserving ecosystems and is working closely with IAAC and various authorities on mitigation measures for the new terminal project.

For the eighth year in a row, Port of Brownsville Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 remains near the top in the nation for the value of exports, according to the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board’s annual report to Congress released this month.

Port Tampa Bay announced that ZIM Integrated Shipping Services will launch a new Tampa-Mexico Shuttle (MTS) container service beginning in mid-December. This new weekly, fixed-day service will provide importers and exporters a competitive new option to serve the expanding trade between Mexico, Florida, and Southeast reaching inland destinations throughout the United States. 

Port Milwaukee and Michels Corporation have formally signed a lease agreement for just over 17 acres at the port’s Grand Trunk site along the Kinnickinnic River. The agreement has an initial term of 20 years, and, with extensions, could continue for a total of 99 years.

For the 12th consecutive year, the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s state-owned, public marine terminals received a top security grade during an annual assessment by the U.S. Coast Guard. The assessment reviewed security procedures and protocols at the six public marine terminals: Dundalk, Seagirt, North Locust Point, South Locust Point (including the cruise passenger terminal), Fairfield and Masonville.

The Brownsville Navigation District (BND) unanimously elected Sergio Tito Lopez to serve as chairman, dring the board’s regular meeting this week. Lopez also was sworn in as a commissioner earlier this month, along with Ralph Cowen and John Reed, all reelected to the commission.

The Port of Long Beach has been named the best West Coast seaport in North America for the second consecutive year. The award was given Nov. 9 in Hong Kong at the 34th annual Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain Awards, hosted by shipping trade publication Asia Cargo News. The Port of Pensacola will be featured on the national television series "World's Greatest!" The show highlights the port as one of the premier and most historic deep-water ports in the world. The "World's Greatest!" episode will air Nov. 23 and Dec. 7. 

Executive Director, Panama City, FL; Port Panama City

Senior Program Manager, Long Beach, CA; Port of Long Beach

Chief Commercial Officer, Mobile, AL; Alabama State Port Authority

Department Chair, Ann Arbor, MI; University of Michigan