Features

Overall 10 maritime industry conferences and training events slated In addition to its 2020 Annual Convention and Expo and its 2020 Latin American Congress of Ports events, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)— the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas—has slated eight maritime industry training seminars and conferences for 2020. These include the popular Shifting Trade workshop in Tampa, FL (Jan. ...

“Business Development”…it’s a big name for something that, in its purest form, is really quite simple. Whether in the maritime sector or any other, business development is really just sales and marketing with a strategic vision and focus. It’s the allocation and use of personnel and resources to galvanize your port’s long-term vision and viability while maximizing its current and ...

Taking the time to invest in career growth might seem to fall at the end of a very long to-do list. The payoff, however, can be deep and extend well beyond that next career move. Follow these up-and-coming leaders sharing these personal and insightful stories. * By Sandy Smith * Port leaders – whether departmental leaders or at the top ...

Apprenticeship Programs: Tried, True and Effective A centuries-old method of training skilled workers could help supply ports and their maritime partners with the modern workforce they need. * By Mary Lou Jay * Apprenticeships have long been a well-established and well-respected route to good jobs, but for a time they fell out of favor because of the perception that college ...

Defining where worker training and development should start and where it should end may be the answer. * By Lori Musser * Ports generate plenty of jobs. In the United States, alone, there were 31 million at last count – 2.3 million within the port sector and the remainder in related industries. Filling all these positions with top-notch talent and ...

Ports seek skilled, experienced workers to tackle security needs, including rising demands on the cybersecurity front. * By Tom Gresham * The growing economy and corresponding increase in activity at the nation’s ports have put pressure on the security side of port operations, officials say. More traffic means more to protect – and to protect against. However, the strength of ...

There are a bevy of products and services provided by your federal partners that often go unrecognized, but could enhance your market and operational observations. * By Helen Brohl, Executive Director, U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System * After almost 13 years as the executive director of the U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS), I’ve observed there ...

Capital investment in port infrastructure is essential, but to ensure long-term financial sustainability it is also important to consider cost-effective financing of strategic infrastructure, resiliency planning and revenue enhancing projects. * By Christine Choi, Director, PFM Financial Advisors LLC * Capital investment in port infrastructure is essential to improve efficiency, remain competitive, and attract business. Container shipping industry consolidation has ...

Each digital issue of Seaports features two articles that have been translated into Spanish. They are also archived at www.aapaseaports.com under “Archivo en español.”