AAPA corporate members are invited to nominate individuals for consideration as AAPA's 2021 Port Person(s) of the Year. Each year this prestigious award is given to an individual/s whose outstanding work has made a significant contribution to public ports and/or maritime commerce either internationally or within a particular country or region. Typically, nominees are not members of the public port community itself, but friends, allies, and ambassadors of ports.

For your consideration, AAPA staff urge you to remember the major accomplishments in 2020 to achieve the long-sought legislative solution to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund distribution. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) were key leaders in the CARES Act legislation and WRDA 2020, assuring full funding of annual HMT revenues, scheduled funding from the $10.1 billion in unspent tax collections and a funds distribution approach consistent with the AAPA’s ‘4 pillars’ agreement. We encourage you to consider nominating one or both of these champions to recognize their significant efforts on behalf of ports.

The formal criteria for eligibility, judging and submission can be found on the AAPA website. Please review the judging criteria and send at least one paragraph that describes why your nominee should receive the Port Person of the Year Award to Mary Beth Long, Vice President of Marketing and Workforce Development, at mlong@aapa-ports.org no later than Friday, February 5. Selection of those receiving the honor for 2021 will be made by the AAPA Board.

Bruks Siwertell is a market-leading supplier of dry bulk handling and wood processing systems. With thousands of installations worldwide, Bruks Siwertell machines handle raw materials from forests, fields, quarries and mines, maintaining critical supply lines for manufacturers, mills, power plants and ports. Bruks Siwertell provides complete engineering and delivery of systems for loading, unloading, conveying, storing, and stacking and reclaiming dry bulk materials, alongside equipment for chipping, screening, milling and processing wood for the biofuel, board, saw mill, pulp and paper industries.The main offices are located in the United States, Sweden, Germany, China, Philippines, Russia and Taiwan, and are supported by a dedicated network of hundreds of representatives and dealers worldwide.

Don't miss your chance to attend a free webinar on An Evolution of a Partially Collapsed Sea Wall – Scope and Lessons Learned. Young & Associates will host this webinar on January 28 from 1:00– 2:00 p.m. EST. Secure your spot and register online today at https://bit.ly/3qpqmMD.

Join AAPA for its first event of the year. The AAPA Anywhere: Communications, Administration & Legal Issues Seminar will provide participants with an informative experience over five days (Feb. 22-26) with industry experts, and exclusive networking opportunities. Register for the event online at  http://bit.ly/3qyFmb9.

The road to success is paved with continued learning and professional development. For port professionals looking to continue their education, the Port Professional Manager (PPM®) Program is unparalleled within the industry and is designed to shape the future of port leadership. Apply for the PPM® Certification Program here: http://bit.ly/3p8ITMj.

AAPA signed onto a letter with Transportation Infrastructure Coalition partners to state governors urging support for early COVID-19 vaccination of surface transportation workers stating: “As we saw at the outset of the pandemic, when supply lines are disrupted, consequences are fast to follow. A recurrence of that ordeal can be avoided – by authorizing access in Phase 1 of COVID-19 vaccinations for essential freight, rail, port and waterway, and energy workers.”

The Port of Albany has been selected as the site of America’s first large-scale offshore wind tower manufacturing facility. In partnership with Marmen Inc, Welcon A/S and Equinor Wind, the project is expected to expand the Port of Albany’s footprint into the town of Bethlehem and create 500 construction jobs as well as 300 long-term, well-paying manufacturing jobs.

Essential workers at the Port of Long Beach moved more than 8.1 million TEUs in 2020, setting a record in the face of economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing trade war with China.The nation’s busiest container port moved 9.2 million TEUs in 2020, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka announced at the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association’s sixth annual State of the Port of Los Angeles – a virtual event this year. Port Milwaukee finished 2020 with its highest annual cargo volume in the past seven years, as overall tonnage rose more than 5%, led by agricultural exports and handling of cement. The Northwest Seaport Alliance handled a total of 301,814 TEUs in December, a 6.1% increase compared to last December, and full import volumes grew by 15.7%, as import volumes continue to increase through the Seattle and Tacoma harbors. 

The Port of Coos Bay announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 2021 Workplan includes $34.65 million to repair Coos Bay’s North Jetty. The port has worked closely with Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the Corps, the Pilots and Commercial Fishing Fleet and other users to secure the funding to execute this work.

The Montréal Port Authority (MPA) announced the completion of the call for qualification process for the design and construction of the container terminal in Contrecoeur. Three teams have been qualified, marking another important milestone toward the realization of the project. In addition, the government of Quebec granted $55 million in financial assistance to MPA toward the Contrecoeur project.

The Greater Lafourche Port Commission (GLPC) begins 2021 with a new logo. Check out its new look and read the story behind the development of the logo that will serve as Port Fourchon's new identity. GLPC Executive Director Chett Chiasson said, “As we enter 2021, we are filled with fresh hope and optimism that this year will be a better one for our region, state and country. This logo reflects that optimism with its bold coloring and design. It also sets the stage for the future to create new opportunities for our port and community through its use.”

PortMiami is welcoming Sir Richard Branson’s cruise line with the construction of a new lush tropical terminal. In this Miami-Dade Minute, see highlights from Virgin Voyages Terminal V groundbreaking ceremony.

When the Port of Vancouver USA’s popular public tours were canceled due to the pandemic, to continue to offer a look inside the port, a new online presentation takes the audience through an overview of the port and its operations.

The Port of Los Angeles is launching a new incentive program to move trucks faster and more efficiently through its terminals. The port’s Truck Turn-Time and Dual-Transaction Incentive programs offer terminal operators two ways to earn financial rewards: one for shortening the time it takes to process trucks dropping off and/or picking up cargo, and the other for trucks handling both transactions in the same trip.

The Port of Lake Charles issued a request for proposals (RFP) for crane manufacturers to provide one (1) 45‐foot gauge bulk material  handling ship loader and related parts at its Bulk Terminal in Sulphur, LA. The RFP and additional details are available to download through www.bidexpress.com. Proposals are due no later than 10:00 a.m. (CDT) on Friday, February 26 to be considered. The Port of Redwood City is seeking written proposals from professional engineering consulting firms to perform sediment testing and analyses, obtain regulatory approvals, prepare the public works contract documents and provide construction management oversight services for the Wharves 1-4 Maintenance Dredging 2021 Project located in Redwood City, CA. Proposals are due by 3:00 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday, January 27.

Chair, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI; University of Michigan

Research Assistant Professor – Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Polytechnic University