John Porcari, recently named U.S. Port Envoy to the Biden Administration, will kick off the AAPA Shifting Trade Seminar on January 26, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. His keynote address Seaports Are in the Room Where It Happens will provide attendees with exclusive insights into how President Biden and his top advisors understand the congestion crisis and what ports are doing about it.

Envoy Porcari advises the Biden Administration through this role on the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force and works closely with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, as well as the National Economic Council to address congestion at U.S. ports. Previously, Porcari served as the deputy secretary and chief operating officer of the U.S. Department of Transportation during the Obama-Biden Administration, secretary of Transportation for the State of Maryland and chairman of the Maryland Port Commission. Register now to attend the AAPA Shifting Trade Seminar in Tampa, Fla., January 25-27.

Susan Shey Dvonch, managing partner of Shey-Harding Executive Search, will deliver the lunch keynote address on November 16, day two of AAPA’s Executive Management Conference, in Phoenix, Ariz. Dvonch will share firsthand knowledge on professional development and personal growth essential to staying motivated and making yourself marketable. Shey-Harding is a maritime industry recruitment firm established in 1990. Since joining the firm in 2003, Dvonch has executed numerous searches at the executive level for companies that include port authorities, ocean shipping companies, equipment providers and marine terminal operators. Reserve your spot now for the four-day Executive Management Conference, November 15-18, 2021.

AAPA and the Secretariat of Inter-American Committee on Ports (S/CIP) of the Organization of American States (OAS) have announced the inaugural AAPA-CIP Port Industry Award of Excellence recipients for 2021. The joint award recognizes ports in the Americas that demonstrate excellence in their operations and contribute to the economic and social prosperity of their communities. Recipients and their respective categories are: Kingston Wharves Limited, Jamaica – Technology and Innovation; COMPAS, Colombia – Port Infrastructure Development; Terminal Internacional del Sur S.A,. Peru – Public-Private Partnerships and Santos Port Authority, Brazil – COVID-19 Pandemic Response. The AAPA-CIP Award winners will be honored during the 29th Latin American Congress of Ports, in Cartagena, Colombia, November 29 to December 1, 2021. AAPA and the CIP Secretariat congratulate the winners for their outstanding accomplishments.

Cargo volume at the Port of New York and New Jersey rose at a slower pace in September for the first time in more than 13 months. Total volume for September accounted for 724,418 TEUs (400,179 lifts), a 0.5% increase from the previous September’s 720,969 TEUs (399,803 lifts), bringing the 2021 total through September to 6,659,082 TEUs (3,694,087 lifts). The port had been experiencing more than a year of unprecedented double-digit monthly growth in cargo activity.

The Grand Princess cruise ship departed at the Port of Los Angeles recently signaling the start of a big comeback for cruise ship operations at the World Cruise Center on the LA Waterfront. The port is expecting more than 200 sailings during the 2022 calendar year – the most since 2008.

The Port of Palm Beach announced Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line invites all essential workers to sail free on a much-deserved two-night Bahamas getaway to Grand Bahama Island. Essential workers can book a free cruise to Grand Bahama Island and their guest in the same stateroom pays $129. All terms and conditions can be found at www.bahamasparadisecruise.com. 

U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh joined Governor Tom Wolf and Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) leaders to highlight the Wolf Administration’s significant investments and job creation opportunities. Since implementing the infrastructure improvement plan, PhilaPort has realized record-breaking cargo volumes, nearly 60% container growth, and created thousands of new jobs.

Last week, the Port of Galveston celebrated the port’s 196th anniversary with a look back at the colorful history and major milestones for the oldest U.S. port west of the Mississippi River. Spanning almost two centuries, the Port of Galveston’s fascinating history could fill a book with tales of pirates, naval battles, riches and resilience.

Port of Benton Commissioner Robert Larson announced he will retire from his elected post, where he holds the position of vice president of the three-member board. Larson has served as a Port of Benton commissioner since 1994 and has championed numerous significant projects in his 27 years in service to the community.

The Montreal Port Authority is the recipient of an Oracle Project of the Year award in the Opportunity/Equity category for its Contrecœur expansion project. This category recognizes the project that generates the most long-term benefits in terms of the well-being of the communities it serves and the creation of direct and indirect jobs.

The Ports of Indiana (POI) issued a public request for qualifications (RFQ) for professional engineering and consulting services for planning, study and concept development of a pilot renewable energy project at the Ports of Indiana – Burns Harbor. The project is funded under an Indiana Office of Energy Development Grant and has a strict completion deadline for funding. Additional details can be found on POIs website.

Director of Trade Development, Corpus Christi, TX; Port of Corpus Christi

Staff Accountant, Washington, DC; American Association of Port Authorities

Director of Governmental Affairs, Philadelphia, PA; PhilaPort

Director of Program Management, Long Beach, CA; Port of Long Beach

Construction Project Manager Supervisor, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Port Everglades

Marine Terminal Manager, Aberdeen, WA; Port of Grays Harbor

Director of Policy & External Affairs, New Bedford, MA; New Bedford Port Authority

Human Resources Manager, Stockton, CA; Port of Stockton