Guest Viewpoint

After more than 34 years of service to the port industry, long-time president and CEO of AAPA, Kurt J. Nagle, is retiring. * By Shani Calvo * After more than 34 years of service to the port industry, long-time president and CEO of AAPA, Kurt Nagle, is retiring. Kurt began his work at AAPA in 1985 as the membership services ...

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 ...

Jean Godwin, AAPA’s executive vice president for almost 30 years, is stepping down from this role in April – while staying on as AAPA’s general counsel. She shares some beautifully refreshing and insightful perspectives in this candid interview.

Deterioration and corrosion can have a massive effect on a port’s safety, in addition to being debilitating to the bottom line and operations. * By Buddy Reams, NACE International * Port facilities are a critical component of the global maritime transportation system. Most already recognize its importance, having probably felt the impact of unavailable or closed port facilities when gas ...

Find out about your local seafarers’ welfare organization and see what you might be able to bring to the table. By Jason Zuidema, North American Maritime Ministry Association— In ports around North America, more than 70,000 Christmas gifts were given this past Christmas. A warm hat and gloves, some toiletries, perhaps a bit of chocolate – a small gift to ...

Operating ports in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) in Queensland, Australia, allows NQBP to showcase leadership and innovation in environmental management. By Simona Duke, North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation  Seaports by their nature are situated at the sensitive interface between the terrestrial and marine environments. North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) also has the added responsibility, and ...

As much as individual ports may differ, major changes in the world shipping market have required changes in how all ports view themselves and their competitive positions.  By Richard Steinke, Moffatt & Nichol For many of us in the maritime industry, the old adage, “When you’ve seen one port, you’ve seen one port!” is certainly true. As delegates come to ...

Effective cyber-risk governance does not require a degree in computer science. However, an understanding of the dynamics of cyber-vulnerability can assist directors in setting protection priorities and overseeing contingency and remediation plans. By Art Linton The frequency and severity of maritime cyber-attacks increases every year. Often, damage is ongoing and not discovered for years. A cyber-attack on the port of ...

The port industry understands it can’t continue to depend on on-the-job training alone to prepare the next generation of leaders for the significant responsibilities they will assume. By Erik Stromberg, Lamar University Generations of port industry leaders have bemoaned the fact that the only way to learn how to manage a port was to manage a port. However, on-the-job training ...

In the beginning of 2016, Michael Skaggs, NAMMA’s Director of Programs, began exploring port levies and voluntary contributions for seafarers’ welfare. The research results point to a stark financial future for seafarers’ welfare providers without the active support of port authorities. Read more… Dr. Jason Zuidema, Executive Director, NAMMA