07/26/2012
REPORT FROM 99th ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF
ASSOCIATION OF PACIFIC PORTS
JULY 18-21, 2012
I recently represented the Port of Umatilla at the 99th Annual Conference of the Association of Pacific Ports (APP) on July 18-21, 2012. Delegates from ports and port-related businesses throughout the Pacific joined together to learn about timely maritime industry issues, tour commercial and recreational harbors, discuss recent successes and challenges at ports, and build stronger partnerships with port leaders across the Pacific.
Under the Conference theme "Pacific Blue Continent Connections" we heard informative and useful presentations from a diverse group of expert speakers, including:
Government of Guam: Governor Eddie Baza Calvo and Senator Thomas Ada, Chair of the Utilities, Transportation & Public Works Committee, addressed Guam’s work to modernize port facilities and other public infrastructure to serve the import-dependent needs of residents.
Executive Port Leadership in 21st Century: Ken O'Hollaren, Executive Director, Port of Longview, Washington USA outlined commonly-sought skills from recent port executive search processes, prioritized qualities that matter most to port CEOs, and key ingredients to successful board/CEO relations.
Integrating Four International Ports: Ming-Chang "Vincent" Liou, Chief Secretary, Port of Taichung, Taiwan ROC discussed the restructuring of Taiwan’s four ports to better integrate their administrative operations (in one Bureau) and business planning (in one Corporation). The TIPC will enable them to better serve customers and cargoes from China and beyond.
Where is Our Economy Heading? Joseph Bradley, Senior Vice President & Chief Economist, Bank of Guam described regional and global economic projections and predicted that the return to prosperity will likely begin in the Pacific. The Pacific Rim has the necessary resources, industry, technology, research, development, innovation, population, government stability, leading currencies, and ports. Activity will increase and revenues will rise, but ports need to be prepared. Now is the time to supplement port infrastructure and be prepared with upgraded port-side services.
Cruise Ship Development Opportunities: Monte Mesa, Board Chairman, Guam Visitors Bureau & Ernie Galito, Secretariat, Micronesian Cruise Association discussed cruise industry trends, source markets, ship deployments, required port pier infrastructure, and destination business attractiveness. They suggested that increasing capacity allows cruise lines to expand beyond their traditional markets, especially into Pacific ports.
Port Modernization Program; Keeping it Real: Jeff Peck, Senior Project Manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff described the changing plans for upgrading Guam’s port facilities to accommodate the projected increase in military operations and increased cargo volumes. He outlined the uncertainty of funding, the unique federal/territory partnership, the involvement of many stakeholders, the balance between improvements and sustainability, and the ever-shifting landscape.
Enhancing Maritime Security in the Pacific: Admiral Charles Ray, 14th District Commander & Captain Casey White, Guam Sector Commander, U.S. Coast Guard discussed ways that the Coast Guard is partnering with ports and shippers to strengthen cargo and passenger security. They outlined the importance of layered security and supply chain resiliency. They noted that ship boardings by the Coast Guard and compliance by ships have both increased. The cruise industry continues to grow, especially in the Pacific, and larger vessels carrying more passengers will increase the risks of casualties and the probability of a mass rescue operation.
Building/Growing a Container Terminal: Chien-Hung Lin, Manager, Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan described the container shipping companies who are leasing greater container dock space at Kaohsiung. The goals of their new Container Terminal are to establish a stronger transportation network providing worldwide shipping services, better utilize the current shoreline and land, and make Kaohsiung into a chemical/oil distribution center, global logistical center, and a hub-port.
Putting Bigger Equipment on Existing Wharves: Dan Allen, Vice President of Port Engineering, Moffatt & Nichol discussed specific ways to place larger equipment with greater capacity on existing wharves rather than pay for expensive wharf upgrades. He showcased a specific Port of Hueneme project that met these objectives.
Improving Wharf & Terminal Operations: Jordi Floreta, Vice President & Managing Director, TEAM Ports & Maritime noted that terminal and berth designs must consider the interaction of passenger access, crew access, port staff access, goods access, luggage storage, immigration services, parking spaces, and a taxi cab pick-up area. He explained that ship passenger and crew capacity are both increasing and, therefore, passenger boarding bridges are being designed to fulfill different port configurations, tidal ranges, vessels, berth load capacities, and environmental conditions.
Changing Energy Production in a Changing World: John Cruz, Jr., Strategic Planning & Operations Research Manager, Guam Power Authority discussed smart grid infrastructure. He described recent developments with wind, LNG, nuclear, and solar energy. He noted that energy choices factors include economics, environmental compliance, fuel diversity, aggressive energy efficiency, and conservation goals.
Ethics in Today’s World: Dr. Billy Morehead, Professor, Mississippi College School of Business & former National President, Association of Government Accountants discussed moving beyond just legal ethics and striving for a higher standard. Rules can’t always be relied upon to supply the answer, since new ethical issues emerge every day in the information age. Public trust depends on keeping high standards of conduct. He also outlined a series of criteria for evaluating ethical dilemmas.
In addition to port industry issue-specific presentations, we also heard from three leaders of Micronesian ports who provided in-depth presentations about the projects & priorities currently facing their seaport-dependent islands:
Republic of the Marshall Islands Ports Authority Executive Director Jack Chong-Gum discussed their aging port facilities, the continued vibrancy of their fishing industry, newly-installed surveillance cameras, and the challenges of running a transshipment hub. Issues on the horizon include a new port master plan, regulation of shipping agents, pilotage program, ferry services, channel markers, dock re**er plugs, and a larger water storage tank.
Port Authority of Guam General Manager Mary C. Torres discussed their multi-year Port Modernization Plan (see Jeff Peck’s presentation above) as well as other current and upcoming PAG projects such as container yard lighting, marina upgrades, security upgrades, fuel pier catwalk replacement, wharf maintenance and repairs, and the purchase of four cranes.
Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Edward Deleon Guerrero and Harbor Master MaryAnn Lizama described the Northern Mariana Islands’ (CNMI’s) three ports: Saipan recently upgraded its Interoperable Communications System and Surveillance System and is working to maintain commodity flow and activities to meet bond payments. Tinian anticipates commercial cargo increase, may begin ship recycling, and needs repairs to enable military training. Rota’s channel needs to be dredged.
I also had the opportunity to tour the Port Authority of Guam’s two recreational harbors and one commercial harbor (which is adjacent to the military base and harbor) and learn more about their operations, ships, cargoes, and projects.
Several new members have joined APP during the past year and we had the opportunity to meet a few of them.
During our Board meeting, we passed the 2012-13 APP budget, elected new regional representatives to the Executive Committee, and elected APP officers for 2012-13:
President: Dick Dodge, Port of Redwood City, California USA
1st Vice President: Bob Bagaason, Port of Longview, Washington USA
2nd Vice President, Tai-Hsin Lee, Taiwan International Ports Corp., Taiwan ROC
3rd Vice President: Mary Anne Rooney, Port of Hueneme, California USA
Past President: James Matayoshi, Republic of Marshall Islands Ports Authority, RMI
FYI, here are the dates and locations for upcoming APP conferences and issue seminars:
Fall Fly-in Fly-out Seminar on Friday, November 16, 2012 regarding “Rail Planning for Ports” hosted by Port of Portland at Portland International Airport in OREGON USA
Winter Conference on January 17-18, 2013 hosted by Hawaii Harbors Division at the Marriott Ihilani Resort in Oahu, Hawaii
Spring Fly-in Fly-out Seminar in April/May 2013 regarding “Building Sustainable Ports” at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington
100th Annual Conference on August 4-7, 2013 hosted by Port of Redwood City at the Hotel Sofitel San Francisco Bay in California
101st Annual Conference in July 2014 hosted by Port of Longview in Washington
102nd Annual Conference in July 2015 hosted by Port of Kaohsiung, TIPC in Taiwan ROC
103rd Annual Conference in July 2016 hosted by Port of Hueneme in California
Kim B. Puzey
General Manager
Port of Umatilla
