The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced the availability of $100 million this year (and every year for five years) via its Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grants program. The FY2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) indicates port authorities are eligible to apply for projects using technology or sensors to improve energy efficiency or reduce pollution. The deadline to submit applications is 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT on November 18, 2022. Instructions for applying are available on USDOT’s SMART Grants webpage.

Industry Solution Provider (ISP) members, such as SailPlan, use emissions monitoring and measuring technology to reduce emissions at ports, and are seeking partnerships with AAPA members in applying for SMART grants. They have provided a useful summary on the SMART NOFO. USDOT is also hosting a webinar on Thursday, September 29, 2022, from 2:30–4:00 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. PT on How to Apply for a SMART Grant. Register here to attend the webinar.

In late August, AAPA filed a "Buy America" waiver request for port equipment with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The proposed waiver period is for the whole of Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 (FY2023 and FY2024) and would cover grants made under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), America’s Marine Highways, Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA), and Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE). AAPA has also asked that the waiver apply to the predecessors of these programs. In a similar vein, AAPA is working with policymakers and industry leaders to incentivize the manufacture and purchase of American-made cranes for U.S. ports. Check out AAPA's proprietary graphic "Build America," as well as the August Advocacy Update detailing the above request program.

A free webinar hosted by new AAPA member SPECTrade will explore how environmental commodities provide support for deploying zero-emission equipment and fuels. Join SPECTrade on October 5 at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT to hear from experts at the center of the global market for environmental commodities, such as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), clean fuel credits, verified carbon reductions, and digital fuels. This session will introduce environmental commodities as a mechanism to:

Register here to attend the webinar.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg made yet another port visit to Ohio's Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, where he and port officials discussed how clean manufacturing can bolster business, help abate climate change, and strengthen the U.S. and global economies. Critical federal agencies are making a point to visit ports frequently. Let AAPA know if your port is next!

The Port of Harlingen Authority is hosting a community ribbon cutting to celebrate 70 years in operation and completion of a new administration building. The 70th Anniversary Celebration will be held at the port’s administration office building in Harlingen, Texas, on September 22 at 6:00 p.m. CT. 

Cargo volume in August at the Port of Long Beach fell just short of another record month as a slowdown in consumer spending continued. Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 806,940 TEUs of container cargo last month, down just 764 TEUs – 0.1% – from August 2021, which was the busiest August ever. After record-breaking cargo volume in 2021 and the first half of 2022, the import surge at the Port of Los Angeles slowed in August. The port handled an estimated 806,000 TEUs in August, approximately 15% less than the same period a year ago. The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) TEU volumes in August showed improvement versus July with laden imports up 15% and laden exports up 19% compared to July. YTD volumes remain down compared to the same period of 2022. In its busiest month ever, the Georgia Ports Authority handled 575,513 TEUs in August, an increase of 18.5% or 89,918 TEUs over the same month last year. Counting the July volume of 530,800 TEUs, the Port of Savannah’s August performance made for the fastest period in which the port has cleared the 1 million-TEU mark in a fiscal year.

The Port of Palm Beach, along with its consultants Moffatt & Nichol, have developed the Draft Strategic Master Plan that will pave the way for the future of the port. Following the open comment period and two public meeting sessions, the Final Strategic Master Plan will be submitted by December 2022.

The U.S. Navy and the Port of San Diego have formed a first-of-its-kind agreement to provide millions of dollars for electrification projects around San Diego Bay. Navy and port officials were joined by state and local partners to formalize the collaboration by signing an Intergovernmental Support Agreement. 

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that the Biden Administration has awarded The Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) $20.3 million to construct a new 100,000 square-foot warehouse at the Tioga Marine Terminal, as well as safety and efficiency upgrades with the modernization of the terminal’s main gate. The funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2022 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced the launch of an updated supply chain dashboard that includes new port-wide performance metrics. Since February, the port has been meeting weekly with the terminal operators under the auspices of a Federal Maritime Commission Discussion Agreement. This group is focused on identifying and implementing improvements to capacity and fluidity along with increasing data sharing and transparency for the port’s customers.

The Port of Los Angeles announced the release of $5 million in voucher incentives for zero-emission trucks to operate at the port. This marks the first in a series of incentive programs that will be funded by the port’s recently enacted Clean Truck Fund (CTF).

U.S. shipping and logistics company Crowley has awarded Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) a contract for the charter of four new-build containerships powered by liquified natural gas (LNG) for Crowley’s U.S.-Central America trade. “These four ships will play a significant part in driving Crowley’s strategic growth in our supply chain services for the U.S., Central America and Caribbean. In addition, the vessels use of LNG and emissions technology will advance the company’s commitment to innovation and decarbonization in the shipping industry as part of our sustainability strategy,” said Tom Crowley, company chairman and CEO.

Amazon has signed an agreement with renewable fuels technology company Infinium to begin powering Amazon’s transportation fleet with ultra-low carbon electrofuels beginning in 2023. Infinium is expected to initially supply enough electrofuels, which are a fossil-based fuel alternative created with carbon waste and renewable power, to begin powering Amazon trucks in lieu of diesel fuel for approximately 5 million miles of travel per year.

Assistant Professor in Supply Chain and Operations Management – Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Polytechnic University