Stay up to date on AAPA’s advocacy efforts and legislative information that impacts ports @PortsUnited. Learn what Senators are saying about port funding and maintenance issues, the latest guidance on worker health and safety, as well as the direction of President-Elect Joe Biden’s international trade policy, and more.

Taylor Machine Works, Inc. offers a wide range of purpose-built container handlers geared directly toward the seaport and inland waterway industries. Taylor provides seaports removable counterweight lift trucks that can be lifted into ships, special lowered height trucks tailored for ro-ro applications and smaller lift trucks that can work in and out of containers. Products include wheel loaders and time loaders that support recycle and scrap facilities and other material handling needs.

AAPA is excited to share its newly enhanced Professional Port Manager (PPM^®) certification program. Utilizing a shorter time frame, budget friendly approach and enhanced learning opportunities, find out if AAPA’s PPM program is right for you. The application period begins December 20, so mark your calendars and keep an eye out for AAPA's website updates at https://bit.ly/2KUUEqT.

The Port of Long Beach had its best November on record, having handled 783,523 TEUs of container cargo, a 30.6% jump compared to November 2019. The Port of Virginia in November set a new record having handled nearly 280,000 TEUs, surpassing the previous mark set in October by more than 5,600 TEUs.

The new bridge at the Port of Long Beach will be illuminated by nearly 200 energy-saving LED lights beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST on December 14. The community is encouraged to watch the bridge lighting ceremony online via the live webcams on the newgdbridge.com website.

Galveston Wharves cruise activity in 2019 had a $1.6 billion economic impact in Texas and showed growth in all areas, including jobs and spending, compared to 2018. Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO said, “These newly released economic impact numbers remind us that the eventual resumption of cruising will be essential to boosting our regional and state economic recovery.”

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners approved a Project Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to move forward with the long-awaited Port Everglades Navigation Improvements Project. The Corps project will deepen the port’s navigation channel from 42 feet to 48-50 feet and widen narrow channel areas to take advantage of the greater economies of scale from larger container cargo and petroleum ships.

The Port of Montréal is proud to join the Montréal Climate Partnership, committing to its climate plan for achieving objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An underwater observatory commissioned by Transport Canada and developed by JASCO Applied Sciences aims to protect endangered killer whales and quiet ships. JASCO is operating the system and working with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority-led Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program to analyze and distribute the results.

The Duluth Seaway Port Authority finalized acquisition of the Duluth Lake Port dock on Rice's Point. "We're excited to acquire this property, which will help us strengthen the port's working waterfront, enhance trade and bring new opportunities to Rice's Point," said Deb DeLuca, executive director of the port.

The Port of Oakland is refinancing $544 million of debt with its new bond offerings. Due to favorable market conditions, the port expects to achieve net present value savings of approximately $87 million. In simple terms, it’s like refinancing a home at a lower interest rate to lower the cost of future debt payments. 

Taylor Machine Works has announced it will now be a distributor for Terberg Special Vehicles. Taylor will supply Terberg's YT terminal shunt tractors and RT ro-ro tractors to port operators, distribution centers and industrial customers, as well as provide services to maximize the vehicle uptime, such as telematics, proactive maintenance, and rental solutions.

The Port of Virginia welcomed the Hammonia Emden, the first container ship in a new vessel service that gives the port a direct link to both Northern Europe, which is an important market for imports, and the Caribbean, an emerging market for export cargo. Virginia is the only U.S. East Coast stop for this weekly service, called the Caribbean Express Service, or CES. 

The Port of San Diego advances to phase 4 of 5 of its Port Master Plan Update, another major milestone since launching the integrated planning effort in 2013, a multifaceted and comprehensive approach for managing and planning for the future of the port and San Diego Bay in a balanced way.

ION, an AAPA industry solution provider, has been awarded a contract to supply Marlin SmartPort™ as a port management information system to 17 of CalMac Ferries' ports and ferry terminals.  

Supply Chain Dive Magazine has named Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka as 2020 Executive of the Year, recognizing him for his leadership in a time of crisis.

The Port of Brownsville presented Keppel AmFELS with its 2020 Chairman’s Award in recognition of the company’s important work reintroducing shipbuilding to both the state of Texas and Brownsville.

The Port of Los Angeles entered an agreement with International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) to design and operate a Port Cyber Resilience Center at the port. Focused on detecting and protecting against malicious cyber incidents potentially impacting cargo flow, this first-of-its-kind system is also expected to greatly improve the quality, quantity and speed of cyber information sharing within the port community.

The Port of Baltimore provided the setting  for the Tenth Annual Maryland State of the Ports. Due to this year’s environment, the program was a virtural forum where attendees heard from Maryland Port Administration Executive Director Bill Doyle and other senior transportation officials on the latest results, major infrastructure projects, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The Port of Long Beach is collaborating with its marine terminal operators to bolster the number of two-way truck deliveries amid the strongest cargo surge in the port’s 109-year history. Increasing the share of dual trips will maximize opportunities for drivers and make the entire supply chain more efficient.

The Port of Lake Charles is soliciting proposals from interested firms qualified to provide the port with federal lobbying services regarding issues of importance to the port. Criteria for the selection process is detailed in the RFP. Proposals may be submitted via email to sdavis@portlc.com by 3 p.m. CST Dec. 15. Port Tampa Bay is soliciting bids for the design, manufacture, erection, testing, transport, commissioning and warranty of two ship-to-shore container handling gantry cranes (STS cranes) meeting the port’s technical specifications identified in the bid document. A mandatory pre-bid teleconference will be held on December 17 at 10 a.m. EST. Bids are due via DemandStar no later than January 28 at 1 p.m.

Senior Maritime Projects Coordinator, Oakland, CA; Port of Oakland

Director – Transportation Planning, Long Beach, CA; Port of Long Beach
Director – Master Planning, Long Beach, CA; Port of Long Beach