Have you recently applied or are you enrolled in the Professional Port Manager Program (PPM®)? Then don't miss the AAPA Anywhere: Communications, Administration & Legal Issues Seminar. This is a REQUIRED course for the PPM and will be held virtually February 22-26, 2021. Continue on with your course progress and reserve your spot today at http://bit.ly/3qyFmb9. #PortsUnited #SeaportsDeliver

This week, Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach and AAPA chairman of the board, testified before a House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee urging federal relief for U.S. ports in a final COVID relief package. Cordero acknowledged the importance of these relief funds for the safety of workers, minimizing supply chain disruptions and economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis. Watch a recording of the live testimony here.

The Port of Redwood City announced a proposed ferry service has met all feasibility tests and the next step to develop a business plan will move forward in an agreement between the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), the port and Redwood City Council. The Port of South Louisiana donated $18,000 to the Nicholls Farm for the fifth year in a row to advance research in coastal restoration. The funds will be used to produce native coastal plant materials for restoration projects, support student coastal research projects and help with the maintenance and upkeep of the farm.

Sediment dredged from shipping channels leading to the Port of Baltimore is helping to restore the Ridgley’s Cove parkland in Baltimore City into a multi-use recreation area with walking trails. Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration’s Executive Director William P. Doyle said, “Continuous dredging is critical to accommodate the ships that enter the Port of Baltimore to deliver high volumes of cargo and support tens of thousands of jobs. We can use this dredged material to restore, reclaim and rebuild property in surrounding communities.”

The Port of Galveston ended 2020 with a positive cash flow despite the pandemic and the related suspension of its cruise business. In planning for 2021, Galveston Wharves board of directors adopted a conservative 2021 budget based on past performance and realistic forecasts for the year ahead.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance is revising earlier estimates for completion of its Terminal 5 Modernization Project due to the complexities of this large infrastructure project. NWSA now expects Phase 1 to be completed by the end of Q4, instead of Q2, 2021. NWSA will provide a full project update during the March 2 managing members meeting.

A container repair depot operated by Ports America Chesapeake at the Port of Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal has been relocated to an off-dock location to accommodate the port’s surging growth in container volume and improve overall operational efficiencies for truckers.

The Port of Long Beach had its busiest January on record with dockworkers and terminal operators having moved 764,006 TEUs, a 21.9% jump from the same month last year, and surpassing the previous record set in January 2018 by 106,176 TEUs. The Port of New York and New Jersey finished 2020 strong with double-digit cargo volume percentage growth in December with 709,075 TEUs (394,889 lifts) versus 584,743 TEUs (330,856 lifts) in December 2019, a 21.3% increase. PhilaPort achieved a 7% increase in container volumes in 2020, placing the Port of Philadelphia as the fastest growing container port on the U.S. East Coast. Overall cargo tonnage at Port Saint John for the year 2020 was 25,984,654 metric tons (MT), a 2% increase over 2019. The container sector experienced year-over-year increases in 2020, with TEUs increasing to 79,179 TEUs (15% over 2019) and tonnage increasing to 580,279 MT (19% over 2019).

The Victoria County Navigation District, owner and operator of the Port of Victoria, has secured a $6

million CARES Act Grant from the U.S Economic Development Administration (EDA) for railway infrastructure improvements needed to spur business and job growth at the port. The grant requires a 50% ($3 million) match from the port.

The Port of Virginia has earned its 19th consecutive River Star Business Award, Sustained Distinguished Performance, from the Elizabeth River Project in recognition of its ongoing environmental stewardship efforts to help protect the health of the Elizabeth River and Norfolk Harbor. “We take seriously the effort to be a good neighbor and steward of this vital waterway,” said Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is seeking proposals for services that support funding considerations for regional Latin America and the Caribbean transportation sector. Proposal packages must be emailed to contractproposals@ustda.gov no later than 1:00 p.m. EST on Friday, February 19. Additional information can be found in the federal contract notice.

The Port of Vancouver USA is seeking Statements of Interest (SOI) from parties interested in operating a high-volume marine export bulk facility at the port’s Terminal 2, Berth 7 location. SOI submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. PST on Monday, March 12. Questions regarding the SOI should be emailed to port sales director Brent Berg at bberg@portvanusa.com by 5:00 p.m. PST on Monday, February 15. Answers will be prepared and distributed to all firms at the same time no later than 5:00 p.m. PST on Monday, March 1.

DART – CEO, Dallas, TX; Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

Manager, Talent Relations and Engagement (Human Resources), Long Beach, CA; Port of Long Beach

Port Director, Portage, IN; Ports of Indiana

Police Officer, Corpus Christi, TX; Port Corpus Christi Authority

Project Manager/Engineer, Vancouver, WA; Port of Vancouver USA

Chief Operations Officer, Tacoma, WA; The Northwest Seaport Alliance

SVP, Deputy General Counsel and Group General Counsel, Reston, VA; Major, Lindsey & Africa

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