American Association of Port Authorities

08/04/2026

Ports Built America: The Port of Duluth-Superior

The Port of Duluth-Superior is America's top mover of iron ore, having shipped 3.4 billion tons and counting since the first ore departed in 1892.

The port was founded in 1871, but these waters carried generations of history before that. Indigenous people navigated them, calling the great lake Gichigami. French-Canadian voyageurs and American fur traders followed, then United States Army surveyors. After Wisconsin and Minnesota gained statehood in the mid-1800s, townsites emerged on Lake Superior's rugged western shores. In 1855, the first lock opened at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, opening Lake Superior to larger vessels from the lower Great Lakes.

No individual shaped that emergence more than Jay Cooke. The Philadelphia financier sold hundreds of millions of dollars in war bonds to help fund the Union Army during the Civil War, then turned that capital toward Duluth, financing the railroad and grain elevators that made the port viable.

Today, the same waters that once carried voyageurs and fur traders move billions of tons of iron ore through one of the nation's most vital industrial shipping routes.

08/03/2026

Keynote speaker announcement! ⚓🎤

Maritime historian and shipping expert Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano is joining us in New Orleans for the 2026 AAPA Annual Convention & Expo!

An Associate Professor of History at Campbell University and host of the popular YouTube channel What’s Going on With Shipping?, Dr. Mercogliano brings a unique combination of firsthand maritime experience and historical expertise. Before earning advanced degrees in maritime, military, and naval history, he received his merchant marine deck officer license and sailed with the Military Sealift Command. His channel has since grown to more than 135,000 subscribers and 20 million views.

During the kickoff session, “Charting a Course Through the New Maritime Order,” Dr. Mercogliano will break down what “Restoring American Maritime Dominance” means for the nation’s ports and gateway infrastructure, connecting today’s geopolitical shifts, supply chain pressures, and maritime policy priorities to the broader history of global shipping.

📅 September 28–30, 2026
📍 New Orleans, Louisiana

Register today and join us as we chart the future of the maritime industry: bit.ly/AAPA-AC-2026.

07/31/2026

"To restore America’s maritime dominance, our ports must be equipped with the financial resources needed to not just survive but thrive. That starts with funding at $538 million in FY27."

Read more about AAPA's federal advocacy on beahlf of the port industry in this recent interview with Sang Yi in the American Journal of Transportation, AJOT:

In this exclusive AJOT interview, Sang Yi, President and CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), discusses why the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) requires significantly more federal funding and how infrastructure investments are essential to strengthening U.S. ports, supply chains, and national security.

Yi shares his perspective on the future of port infrastructure, including ship-to-shore crane manufacturing, channel dredging, Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) funding, environmental dredging windows, drone security threats at ports, and the role of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in powering the next generation of maritime operations. He also previews the 2026 AAPA Convention and discusses the challenges facing U.S. ports as they compete globally, particularly against China's substantial investments in maritime infrastructure.

Watch the full interview for Sang Yi's insights on the future of America's ports, maritime policy, infrastructure funding, and supply chain resilience.

View video here: https://www.ajot.com/insights/full/ai-aapas-sang-yi-urges-greater-us-port-infrastructure-investments

07/30/2026

: From harbors to the Hill, AAPA made its mark in Washington! ⚓🏛️

Port leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. this past March for the 2026 AAPA Legislative Summit, bringing the priorities of America's ports directly to policymakers and strengthening the industry's voice on Capitol Hill.

Over three days, attendees discussed key issues shaping the future of the port and maritime industry, including WRDA 2026, surface transportation reauthorization, American shipbuilding, maritime security, port governance, and federal infrastructure investment, while congressional meetings and networking with fellow port professionals created opportunities to build relationships and advocate for the critical role ports play in our nation's economy and communities.

📸 Swipe through for a look back at this year's Legislative Summit.

07/30/2026

After over two decades of work and sustained federal funding from the , Port Freeport completed its .
It expands , improves navigation safety, strengthens , and prepares Southeast Texas for the next generation of maritime commerce.
AAPA was honored to help mark the occasion alongside seaport champions such as Co-Chair of the Congressional PORTS Caucus Congressman Randy Weber (R-TX), the Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other key stakeholders.

Officials celebrates Port Freeport’s becoming the deepest container port on the U.S. Gulf Coast during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday at Port Freeport.

07/29/2026

𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮: 🍌 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗲 🍌

In a single year, the Port of Hueneme moves over 5 billion bananas - enough to circle the globe 13 times. Today, it stands as the West Coast’s #1 banana port and one of America’s most important gateways for fresh produce.

The Port’s story begins in 1872, when Senator Thomas Bard envisioned a commercial harbor to move local goods more efficiently. By the 1930s, the State of California authorized the creation of the Oxnard Harbor District, and in 1937 the Port made history when a $1.75 million bond was fully subscribed in just 15 minutes—making it the first port built without a single cent of government funding. During World War II, the Port became an important support hub for the war effort under U.S. Navy control, marking a key chapter in its service to the nation.

Today, the Port ranks among the top 10 U.S. ports for automobiles and fresh produce, supports over 25,000 trade-related jobs, and leads in sustainability initiatives as the first Green Marine certified port in California, with a goal of reaching zero emissions by 2030.

07/28/2026

Congratulations to AAPA member Port Everglades on receiving three Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo)! 🏆

Among the honors: recognition for the port's West Lake Park project, where Port Everglades partnered with local, state, and federal agencies plus environmental businesses to create, restore, protect, and enhance more than 81.5 acres, including 22 acres of new habitat such as seagrass, mangroves, mudflats, tidal pools, and upland hammock.

Well done, Port Everglades! 👏

07/27/2026

The Seaport Security Act of 2026 (H.R.9229), led by Rep. Jimmy Patronis (FL-1), would enhance nationwide by restricting unmanned aircraft from flying over U.S. seaports and empowering port authorities to detect and disable them.

AAPA thanks Rep. Jack Bergman (MI-1), Chair of the House Armed Services Committee Republicans Subcommittee on Readiness, for co-sponsoring this important legislation!

07/27/2026

𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮: 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲

The Port of Baltimore was the second-largest U.S. immigration port during the early 20th century, welcoming more than one million people arriving in America.

Founded in 1706, the Port of Baltimore began as a key trading hub, exporting to***co and grain from Maryland to markets around the world. As the nation grew, the port expanded its role, becoming known for shipbuilding that supported U.S. war efforts and handling a wide range of cargo. During the 20th century, Baltimore’s waterfront continued to transform, including the conversion of Dundalk Terminal from a municipal airport into a marine facility in 1958.

Today, the Port of Baltimore continues its centuries-old role as a gateway for global trade, connecting American businesses and communities to markets around the world. It’s six public terminals and 33 private marine terminals move a diverse range of goods, from containers and automobiles to coal, metals, forest products, and agricultural commodities.

07/24/2026

: AAPA was honored to join the Maritime Administration - MARAD and Port of Long Beach for a Memorandum of Cooperation signing ceremony at U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters.
The future of for and likely lies in the deployment of Small Modular Reactor technology at America's ports.
Our Annual Convention in New Orleans will highlight this visionary work in more detail during a keynote panel on September 29.

Read the full agenda and register here:
https://aapa.getregistered.net/2026-annual-convention/agenda-speakers