Author Archives: Sarah Sain

Read the Digital Edition of AAPA Seaports Magazine Now!

Each issue of AAPA Seaports Magazine is now available in an interactive digital edition. Read online, anytime! With the digital edition of AAPA Seaports Magazine, you can: • Navigate, magnify and bookmark pages with one click • View issues instantly from more smartphones • Read the issue online or download and print for later • Share articles on third-party news and social networking ...

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Big Data, Big Possibilities

Metrics and key indicators can help a port improve its performance, if used in a meaningful way By Kathy A. Smith The job of determining what data and key performance indicators ports need to track and monitor is an ever-evolving one. One size does not fit all as performance measures are assessed based on a variety of factors – operations, ...

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Greenlight on Green Metrics

Ports use environmental data as an outreach tool with community groups, stakeholders By Meredith Martino Port projects and port operations are the subject of a variety of environmental regulations – caps on air emissions from mobile sources, requirements for habitat mitigation, mandates for sediment monitoring and limits on water pollutants. To demonstrate compliance with these regulations, ports and their industry ...

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Trusting Third-Party Data

If a port could cherry pick the best metrics from its partners, would it? By Lori Musser Ports have always produced metrics related to port capacity, utilization and productivity. Tremendous competitive advantage can be derived from such data when used to polish up the marketing mix, plan for throughput and facility development, and report progress on mandates. Metrics also can ...

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Data in Latin America

Port directors throughout the region talk about how they use metrics for performance improvement and strategic planning. By Sarah Sain When it comes to data, access to real-time statistics and metrics are important – no matter where in the world a port is located. The information allows port directors to monitor performance, improve output and discover trends. However, how that ...

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Washington Zeroes in on Port Performance

Kurt Nagle talks about how AAPA is helping ports tell their stories in the media and to Congress By Meredith Martino P.T. Barnum famously said “all publicity is good publicity,” but anyone answering questions before a Congressional oversight panel might wonder if Mr. Barnum had it right. When 2015 began, port congestion and the protracted labor/management negotiations on the West ...

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A Paradigm Shift

Technology trends in automation are changing how work is done at ports and terminals By Kathy A. Smith As automation begins to play a larger role at port terminals in order for seaborne trade to move faster, the impact will undoubtedly be felt by the labor workforce as jobs become less labor-intensive and more computer-based. Yet this paradigm shift won’t ...

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U.S. Ports Benefit Economy

New survey by Martin Associates and study by AAPA look at the economic value of ports and critical need for infrastructure investment in the future By AAPA Staff This April at the AAPA 2015 Spring Conference, Martin Associates released the results of its latest economic impact study of United States seaports. Dr. John Martin, Martin Associates’ president, debuted his firm’s ...

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Port Education and Training Programs for the Next Generation

By Lori Musser Brute strength and a cast-iron stomach were prerequisites for a port or maritime job in days gone by, but today’s employees are more likely to need to speak multiple languages or hold an advanced degree in cybersecurity. Ports and port partners, such as those who operate terminals, equipment, vessels and inland transportation, focus on a broad range ...

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WRRDA One Year Later

The legislation, passed in May 2014, opened the door to new infrastructure projects and job growth By Nina Rao When the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) was signed in May 2014, members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and organizations from AAPA to the Business Roundtable to the Seafarers International Union applauded its passage and lauded ...

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