Magazine Archive

Beginning with this summer 2011 issue, each edition of AAPA Seaports Magazine will be available not only in print form but, in addition, in digital format at www.aapaseaports.com, where you'll also find a wealth of information about the American Association of Port Authorities publication series.

As you read this issue of AAPA Seaports Magazine, the world economy should be continuing on its road to recovery, and, while we may not yet have reached our ideal destination of prosperity, we are seeing signs of encouragement at many a turn.

For the seaports of the Americas, this economic rebound is coming none too soon, as we gear up for additional trade volumes anticipated in conjunction with completion of Panama Canal expansion, which is slated for 2014.

Going green has, quite fittingly, become a way of life for 21st century commerce. Nowhere is this better reflected than at our hemisphere's seaports, with a broad spectrum of programs being implemented, not only demonstrating environmental consciousness but also showing good business sense.

In this edition of AAPA Seaports Magazine, you will read about some of these initiatives and the role the American Association of Port Authorities is playing in promoting sustainable practices. We commend AAPA and all ports for their dedication to doing what's right for today and for future generations.

We are gratified to find that you, the readers of AAPA Seaports Magazine, continue to be pleased with this publication, and, based upon your input, we intend to further our efforts to provide content of significant interest.

Our recently completed readership survey shows that 88 percent of respondents rate their overall impression of the magazine at 6 or higher on a 1-to-10 scale. Moreover, a similar number, 87 percent, report passing along AAPA Seaports Magazine articles to colleagues and/or the media.

As we look with optimism toward better days for our industry and the overall global economy in 2010, it's not too soon to start thinking about the American Association of Port Authorities' 2010 schedule of seminars and workshops, as well as the issues of AAPA Seaports Magazine that will focus on reflecting the subject matter of three of those programs.

In putting together the 2010 editorial calendar, the esteemed AAPA Seaports Magazine Editorial Advisory Panel has chosen to continue the linking of magazine issue themes with key AAPA programming, just as this issue, themed "Bolstering supply chain security," draws heavily from the AAPA Port Security Seminar and Exhibition, held July 22-24, 2009, in Houston.

For those of us old enough to remember the days when communications meant picking up a telephone and spinning its rotary dial or writing a letter on a Royal manual typewriter and sending it off in an envelope with a well-licked 13-cent stamp, today's technology can sometimes seem a bit intimidating.

But, more so, innovations are inspiring and they are leading the way for those of us in publishing, port management and virtually every other discipline to levels of achievement we never would have thought possible a few short decades ago.

With the evolution of business climates, including the 2008-09 global financial downturn, it is interesting to see the many different perspectives, rationales and, indeed, action plans posed by industry experts and analysts.

As witnessed throughout this summer issue of AAPA Seaports Magazine, the input we are receiving is encouraging in that, although this crisis has international and local impact, as we slowly come out of it and cargo starts flowing once again, the ways of doing business will become more structured, targeted, strategic, tactical and at the end of the day (hopefully) result in a better-oiled machine.

Throughout this issue, esteemed industry professionals give their insights into public perceptions of seaports and take a look at what some AAPA member ports are doing in their awareness initiatives.

From the feature story to its case studies and awards reports, this winter issue is sure to give our entire global readership of 4,500 copies in print, as well as historical 4,000 online downloads, a clear understanding of the true impact of seaports throughout the hemisphere.