AAPA is pleased to announce the promotion of Derek Miller to Government Relations Director. Derek joined the team in 2020 as government relations manager. In his expanded role, he will be responsible for developing policy in safety, security, and procurement, while taking a larger role in managing AAPA’s advocacy and tracking for federal funding and grants. Derek will continue to report to John Bressler, who was recently installed as Vice President of Government Relations.

AAPA has expanded its scope of engagement with the Maritime Policy Team at K&L Gates (KLG) as an additional measure to fill vacancies in the Government Relations department. KLG was signed in the third quarter of 2023 to handle AAPA’s navigation policy portfolio, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) matters, supply chain regulations, as well as special appropriations projects. The KLG team consists of Elle Stewart, Jim Sartucci, Darrell Conner, and Brian Hopkins.

A robust Law Clerk and Intern Program continues to be a priority for AAPA. The pro bono program draws on the strong supply in the Washington, D.C., university community, while also leveraging industry leaders to grow an in-house cohort of younger lobbyists. It is inspiring to see more than half of the alumni have been women of color. AAPA often pairs these talented young professionals with maritime policy and legal positions in the federal government.

AAPA member Basic Power will host a webinar, Optimizing Port Electrification Through Power Quality Improvements, on the latest digital solutions tailored for seaports. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 6, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET (10:00-11:00 a.m. PT).

 

Basic Power provides comprehensive Power Quality (PQ) analysis to identify current capacity improvement potential in the existing electrical infrastructure of U.S. ports. The presentation will discuss how surveys are conducted and the potential savings achievable by optimizing the PQ of inductive electrical loads. Learn how improving the PQ of the electrical load, removing harmonics, improving power factor, and eliminating transients, can help diesel generators reduce fuel consumption, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce genset maintenance. Register now.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is hosting the Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan Workshop on December 11 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. ET as an opportunity to discuss the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization (Blueprint) and gather feedback from key stakeholders on approaches to decarbonize the maritime sector and challenges that must be addressed to accomplish its goals.

The U.S. Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency are developing a Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan as a supplement to the Blueprint. The Action Plan will set a course to decarbonize the U.S. maritime sector between now and 2030 to reach the goal of net-zero U.S. emissions by 2050.

The workshop will engage participants in conversation to better understand the opportunities, challenges, and barriers to fully decarbonizing the maritime sector. Each workshop participant will join one of the breakout sessions associated with a specific vessel type that they feel is relevant to their contributions. Each breakout session will be led by an NREL facilitator and a federal subject matter expert. Register to participate via Zoom.

The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) announces the appointment of Julie Gascon to the position of President and CEO. With her proven track record in the marine industry, Gascon will bring in-depth knowledge of operations in the transportation sector to the entire Port of Montreal ecosystem and put her entrepreneurial know-how to work in implementing the 2023–2027 strategic plan. Gascon is a passionate advocate of marine transportation and has held a number of strategic positions with Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard. She is currently President and CEO of the Pacific Pilotage Authority. She will take up her new position on February 12, 2024.

The Galveston Wharves 2024 budget forecasts record operating revenues, cruise sailings and cruise passenger counts. Adopted by the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees on November 21, the budget includes projected operating revenues of $72.5 million, $35.5 million in operating expenses and a net income of $37 million.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved 167 sponsorships totaling $632,150, funding a diverse variety of community events and projects. The sponsorship program helps the Port of Long Beach engage with and inform local community members about Port operations and initiatives.

The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners has approved a two-year, $250,000 pilot project agreement with HyperKelp Inc. through its Blue Economy Incubator (BEI). As a catalyst for the region’s Blue Economy, the Port of San Diego established its Blue Economy Incubator in 2016 as a launching pad for sustainable aquaculture and Port-related blue technology ventures.

During its November 16 meeting, the Port Freeport Commission and staff presented an all-time record of $84,000 in proceeds from the 12th Annual Port Freeport Golf Tournament to Chris Moore, Director of Texas Port Ministry (TPM). Over 78 sponsors from the Freeport and Houston maritime transportation industry and local businesses made the October 16 golf tournament a huge success. Proceeds will benefit TPM, and the important services provided to seafarers, truckers, and others.

Ports of Indiana has filled two key executive finance roles with the hiring of Chief Financial Officer Brian Burgess and Vice President of Finance Erica Jackson. Burgess brings 35 years of strategic planning, financial analysis and budgeting leadership to Ports of Indiana, having most recently served as CFO of Fiserv Education. Jackson played key financial leadership roles at Ports of Indiana from 2019 to 2021, first as controller and then CFO before joining the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.

For the third consecutive month, Port of Los Angeles cargo volume increased compared to the previous year. The Port processed 725,775 TEUs in October, a 7% improvement compared to last year.

The Port of Oakland October export container volume rose to the highest volume in any single month seen in 2023. Full export TEUs rose 4% during October 2023 compared to October 2022, with a volume of 68,974 TEUs. The fading of supply chain congestion caused by pandemic-related disruptions continues to bring exporters back.

The Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal handled 129 container ship calls last month, an increase of 26% compared to October 2022. The Port of Savannah handled 449,000 TEUs in October, for its fourth-busiest October ever and a 5% increase over the same month in 2019, the most recent year not affected by the pandemic.

The 2023 cruise season came to a close at Port Saint John. Spanning six months, the season saw 172,193 passengers and 71,824 crew members sail into the Port city through 74 ship visits. Representing a 16.4% increase over 2022, these statistics signal stability and recovery for Atlantic Canadian cruise tourism.

The month of October saw the largest number of Subaru vehicles pass through the Port of Vancouver USA in the automaker’s three-decade history of doing business here. Crosstreks, Foresters, all-electric Solterras and other models added up to 13,529 total vehicles – surpassing the previous high-mark of 12,900 vehicles in July 2022.

Port of Palm Beach Executive Director Michael Meekins received the Government Institution of the Year Award at the Shining Star Awards. The Florida Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce recognized Port of Palm Beach's impactful community outreach initiatives and its vital role in trade and economic growth.

Port of Seattle Commission President Sam Cho and Busan Port Authority President and CEO Joon-suk Kang marked 42 years of trade and cooperation by reaffirming their sister port agreement at the 11th Annual Busan International Port Conference on November 28. The Port of Seattle and Port of Busan entered into the original sister port agreement in June 1981.

SSA Terminals, LLC, a joint venture between SSA Marine, Matson, Inc. and Terminal Investment Ltd., and The Northwest Seaport Alliance welcomed two ZPMC Super Post-Panamax cranes to the North Harbor marking a significant milestone in Phase Two of the Terminal 5 Modernization Project. After several weeks traveling from Shanghai to Seattle, the new cranes are joining four existing Super Post-Panamax cranes that arrived at Terminal 5 in 2021.

The City and Port of Oakland announced a major trade agreement with Haiphong, Vietnam, holding a formal signing ceremony on November 16. Oakland is the third-largest import market and fifth-largest export market for Vietnam. The commercial trade value between the Ports of Oakland and Haiphong amounted to $401 million from November 2022 through October 2023.

AAPA Backed Legislation Seeks Funding for Inspections Facilities at Ports
Heather Ervin, Marine Log

Greek Shipping Giant Warns Panama Canal Chaos May Hit Suez

Port Engineer, Riviera Beach, Florida; Port of Palm Beach

National Park Service Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship, American Conservation Experience (ACE), United States; Nationwide

Electronics Officer, U.S. Merchant Marine, United States, Nationwide; American Radio Association