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Correction: The original article was written in advance of the hearing and has been updated to accurately reflect the full panel of witnesses and further clarify testimonies.
AAPA's president and CEO Chris Connor and a diverse panel of port leaders testified before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations in a virtual hearing titled Assessing the State of America’s Seaports on January 19. Connor appeared alongside AAPA members Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles; Cathie Vick, Chief Development and Government Affairs Officer for the Port of Virginia; and Richert Self, Executive Director of the Port of Lake Charles. Tony Reardon, National President of the National Treasury Employees Union – representing CBP officers – also testified. The port leaders used the opportunity to tell Congress about the challenges faced at their ports, including supply chain backups, cargo processing speed, disaster relief and recovery, and inspection issues. Connor discussed the unprecedented efforts made by seaports throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic, as well as the importance of the continuing role of ports as gateways to commerce and a first line of defense against potential threats. Other covered topic areas included screening staff shortages at CBP, screening facility upgrades and maritime cybersecurity. Read Connor's full testimony here and watch a recording of the hearing here. On Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issued its funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) – formerly called, and sometimes still called, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – which will go to coastal navigation and construction projects. The list of construction projects can be viewed here. About 127 coastal navigation projects will receive over $712 million of the $2 billion Congress provided for operations and maintenance (O&M) work in FY 2022. The O&M project details can be viewed here. AAPA thanks Congressional leaders for passing this infrastructure investment legislation and congratulates the Corps for its quick action in both distributing these funds and implementing this crucial work.
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Chow Management Group provides consulting services on harbors and navigation, project development as well as legislative affairs and coordination. Splunk provides market leading purpose-built solutions that deliver full-fidelity observability and unified security. Technology teams can effectively meet their objectives with Splunk’s specialized applications, and collaborate across teams as needed using shared data and common worksurfaces. The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) is a state corporation directed to maximize the long-term economic and other benefits of a robust logistics system while still maintaining a high quality of life. It is a forward-thinking agency aiming to channel logistics in a way that benefits all of Utah by ensuring a safe, smart and sustainable system statewide.
As ports and their partners make plans for 2022, here is some insight into what the $1.2 trillion infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act means for ports and how they can best take advantage of this new funding – and other funding in the pipeline.
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The Port of Montreal is a proud participant of PIONEERS (PORTable Innovation Open Network for Efficiency and Emissions Reduction Solutions), an ambitious green innovation project led by the Port of Antwerp that channels the efforts of 46 partners. PIONEERS empowers its range of participants to work on projects aimed at reducing GHG in ports.
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The Port of Hueneme and FedEx Logistics secured a new charter vessel from Asia in a collaborative effort to alleviate supply chain congestion and get essential goods to store shelves. The vessel, the first of three, departed Port Humen, China, and is set to arrive by the end of January.
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Conley Container Terminal welcomes Evergreen’s Ever Fortune, the biggest container ship ever to call on the Port of Boston. The ship’s arrival marks a new chapter for Boston’s rich maritime history, the result of an $850M investment to modernize and expand Conley Terminal and dredge Boston Harbor.
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The Alabama Port Authority unveiled its new website and a harmonious family of new brandmarks aimed at highlighting the capabilities and connectivity at one of the nation’s largest deep-water seaports. The new website – www.ALPorts.com – utilizes imagery reflective of the port’s infrastructure investment and provides in a streamlined format information important to the port’s customers, service providers, stakeholders and the public at large.
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The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) is an innovative marine cargo partnership of the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma. Since our inception, we’ve learned that working together creates greater opportunity and outcomes for our ports and the communities we serve. Our maritime industry works together to keep global trade and our economies moving, and now more than ever, we’re being called to take action to reduce our industry’s environmental impact. Individually, the challenge is too great – by partnering together we can support the health and future of our global economy and environment.
By John Wolfe, The Northwest Seaport Alliance
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The Port of San Diego is another step closer to doubling shore power capability at its B Street and Broadway Pier cruise ship terminals to improve air quality and reduce GHG emissions on and around San Diego Bay. Baker Electric Inc. was awarded a $268,000 contract to install port provided electrical equipment, and remove, replace and terminate medium voltage cables.
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