Port communities in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Northeast are working through recovery efforts from Hurricane Ida and other extreme weather events. Assistance from AAPA's emergency relief fund is being distributed to port employees in the impacted areas. More than $43,000 has already gone out to those in need. Port employees in need of immediate financial support can apply for assistance through the Port Employees Emergency Relief Fund by contacting AAPA Accounting Manager Larrinda Shields at (703) 706-4719 ext. 719 or by email at lshields@aapa-ports.org.

Donations can be made by contacting AAPA Director of Finance and Grants Management Maranda Jones Anderson at mjones-anderson@aapa-ports.org. The foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization, so donations are tax deductible as charitable contributions, and 100% of all donations will go to assist port authority employees. Created in 2005, the Port Employees Emergency Relief Fund provides financial aid to port authority staff and their families severely impacted by extreme weather events, hurricanes, earthquakes or other natural disasters.

 

SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) is a leading Distributed Generation Storage and Energy Services provider in North America with headquarters in California's Silicon Valley. SunPower offers the only solar + storage solution designed and warranted by one company that gives customers control over electricity consumption and resiliency during power outages while providing cost savings to homeowners, businesses, governments, schools and utilities.

SunPower will hold a free webinar titled Infrastructure Funding Opportunities for Transportation on Wednesday, October 6 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific. As the bipartisan infrastructure bill moves forward, the transportation sector can prepare now to take advantage of the grants, incentives and project financing available from the federal government. Learn the three key elements to include in project financing applications to position your organization for infrastructure funding opportunities. Hear from policy experts, business developers and transportation sector colleagues on:

Register in advance to participate in this free webinar.

In August, the Port of Los Angeles processed 954,377 TEUs, just shy of last August’s record of 961,833 TEUs. Eight months into the 2021 calendar year, overall cargo volume is 7,273,053 TEUs, an increase of 30% compared to 2020. Container volume through the Port of Mobile in August increased 34% over August 2020 volume, while year-to-date volume posted 27% over the same period last year. In total, the port handled 327,003 TEUs through August, and if this pace holds, year-end volume could top 500,000 TEUs. The Port of New York and New Jersey autos posted a stunning 79% increase from July a year ago. A total of 39,690 autos moved through the port compared to 22,178 in July 2020. July’s total volume of 758,810 TEUs represents a 25.9% increase from the 607,463 TEUs recorded last July, bringing the port’s yearly total through July to 5,153,882 TEUs. The Port of Virginia in August processed more than 307,000 TEUs making it the busiest August on record and the port’s second most productive month in its history. August TEU volume was up 59,675 TEUs (+24%) vs. the same month last year and up 48,202 units (+18.6%) when compared with August 2018, the best August on record.

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka is this year’s winner of the Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII)’s Connie Award, considered one of the most coveted honors in the maritime industry. The award recognizes industry leaders who have made significant contributions to containerization, world trade and the transportation field, as well as for their innovative spirit. “Gene Seroka embodies all the leadership qualities we look for in a Connie Award recipient,” said CII President Steve Blust. “His strength of character and resilience as well as his innovative approach to solutions have been demonstrated throughout his career, but never more so than over the last year and a half as the world struggled to navigate the challenges presented by COVID-19.” 

The Port of Baltimore welcomed four new, gigantic container cranes last week following a two-month journey at sea. The cranes, delivered aboard the Zhen Hua 24 from China, are part of a significant expansion at the port to provide greater capacity and efficiency to handle anticipated increases in container volumes. Joining MPA Executive Director William P. Doyle are Governor Larry Hogan, MDOT Secretary Greg Slater, Ports America Chesapeake Vice President Bayard Hogans, USDOT Special Envoy John Porcari, ILA 333 President Scott Cowan and AAPA President and CEO Chris Connor.

Virgin Islands Port Authority welcomed two cruise ships at the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal in Crown Bay, St. Thomas, last Thursday. This was the first two-ship day at the cruise port since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020. VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe said, “This is fantastic news for our merchants, restaurants, taxi and tour operators, and other tourism-related businesses. Almost all the passengers on both ships are fully vaccinated, and VIPA continues to work closely with its private and government stakeholders to ensure that all cruise visits are safe for the community and our guests.”

Washington State University Tri-Cities is partnering with the Port of Benton to offer wine and culinary education at the newly reopened Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser, Washington. The Clore Center, named in honor of Walter Clore known as the “Father of Washington Wine,” was established in 2014 as the result of a $2 million grant from the Federal Economic Development Administration. Diahann Howard, PPM, Port of Benton executive director, said, “WSU’s alignment with regional wine and culinary education is indisputable and we’re delighted to take this next step with them in ensuring Dr. Clore’s memory is honored.”

As environmental champions of San Diego Bay, the Port of San Diego announces a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) META program to study baywide eelgrass carbon sequestration. The META program promotes the research, demonstration and development of emerging technologies, practices and processes that improve maritime industrial environmental sustainability.

The Port of Harlingen Authority continues to progress on improvement projects made possible by a $5.262 million Rider 38 Grant Program award, along with $1.75 million in matching funds. The more visible projects that will significantly improve truck traffic for tenants and port through-traffic include more truck queuing areas, with a portion that will function as a breakbulk cargo laydown yard, and road refortification and resurfacing.

The Port of Gulfport welcomed Dole’s newest container vessels, the MV DOLE MAYA and the MV DOLE AZTEC, to Gulfport. The two new state-of-the-art vessels can accommodate 900+ reefer containers (FEUs) and are equipped with machinery that is not only very economical in fuel consumption but also meets the strict present-day emission mandates that demand a substantial reduction in pollution.

The Port of Grays Harbor announced Kris Koski will join the port’s management team as the new port engineer. Koski has served as city engineer at the City of Aberdeen since 2016 where he has been involved with several important infrastructure projects, including the North Shore Levee and the Aberdeen US12 Highway-Rail Separation Project. 

Fednav Limited, a Port Milwaukee global shipping partner, is launching a new tree planting initiative in the City of Milwaukee to promote environmental stewardship and community revitalization. A dozen trees will be planted on Port Milwaukee grounds, near its wind turbine, and nearly 100 trees will also be planted at Three Bridges Park following an illegal fire earlier this year that damaged eight acres of parkland near the Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center.