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Association of Pacific Ports News
November 21, 2025
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IN THIS ISSUE:
- APP's 2026 WINTER CONFERENCE!
- New speakers!
- New sponsors!
- Register Now!
- SAVE THE DATE!
- Dates announced for APP's 112th Annual Conference in Guam
- MEMBER NEWS:
- Ports Authority Tonga Commissions the Queen Salote International Wharf — Strengthening Tonga’s role in Pacific maritime trade
- Liebherr celebrates 50 years of BOS cranes
- Strengthening trade: Port of Hueneme welcomes delegation from the State of Chiapas, Mexico
- Port of Stockton Awarded the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
- Hualien Port welcomes Seabourn Quest on her maiden voyage
- Port of Grays Harbor promotes Nolan Wyatt to Marine Terminal Manager
- ASIPONA Puerto Chiapas welcomes the Emerald Princess cruise ship
- SEEN Safety – Protecting people around the world
- Port of Long Beach approves agreement for cleaner air
- Port of San Diego and The Pasha Group achieve major clean air milestone
- Port of Everett earns international recognition with two industry awards for environmental stewardship, financial practices
- Port of Nanaimo welcomes first Isuzu vehicles direct shipped to Canada
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APP'S 2026 WINTER CONFERENCE
JANUARY 28 TO 30, 2026 -- KAHALA RESORT, HONOLULU
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Confirmed Speakers
Not only are agenda topics relevant, but they are delivered by some of the most notable experts in the maritime industry. With our strongest roster to date, representatives from ports and port-related businesses will hear engaging, educational and entertaining presentations. Here's just a sample of speakers confirmed to date:
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Walter Anderson -- Founder and CEO, PortSecure Cybersecurity
Walter Anderson is the Founder of PortSecure Cybersecurity and serves as CISO for the Nanaimo Port Authority. With more than 20 years in the field, he helps maritime and logistics organizations strengthen defences, align security with business strategy, and meet regulatory requirements. Walter recently led a national cyber-physical exercise involving 150 organizations to advance Canada’s critical infrastructure resilience.
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Joe Carrillo -- Regional Vice President, Northern California, SSA Marine
Joe Carrillo serves as Northern California’s regional vice president for SSA Pacific Inc. SSA Pacific Inc. is a subsidiary of global terminal operator SSA Marine based in Seattle, Washington. SSA Marine is the world’s largest privately held stevedore company and operates in over 250 strategic locations. Joe is in his 17th year with SSA Marine and has gained a wealth of knowledge regarding global supply chain processes.
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Derek Chow -- Business Development Manager, Burns & McDonnell
Derek Chow currently serves as the Pacific Rim Business Development Manager for Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company. Previously, he served as the director of Hawaii’s commercial ports and oversaw the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resources development throughout the Pacific. He was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom to assist with infrastructure reconstruction in these war-torn countries.
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Anita Gill -- Port Security Officer and Director of Security, Compliance & Authorizations, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Ms. Gill is the Port Security Officer and Director of Security, Compliance & Authorizations at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, leading permitting, security, and enforcement strategies that support Canada’s trade while protecting the environment. With over 20 years in legislative enforcement, Ms. Gill has served as Director of Health, Safety & Security, Manager of Security, and Security Specialist at VFPA. In her current role, Ms. Gill oversees port-wide safety, marine and landside security, compliance, and permitting.
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Eric Gilmore -- Director of Business Development, International Association of Maritime and Port Executives
Eric Gilmore has served as the Director of Business Development for the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives since December 2020. He has over 25 years of professional experience in the maritime and higher education fields and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Northwestern State University.
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Annfinn Hjelm -- Ambassador, Environmental Port Index
Annfinn Hjelm serves as an Ambassador for the Environmental Port Index (EPI), an organization owned by Norwegian ports, dedicated to providing reliable emissions data to the global port & harbor industry primarily within the cruise industry. With more than 15 years of experience in senior leadership roles primarily within the maritime industry, Annfinn has held C-level positions spanning business development, finance, as well as commercial strategy & execution both in the public and private sector.
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More speakers!
The above is just half of our roster to date -- additional speakers include:
Stacey Kilarski -- Resource Management Specialist, Lynker
Anya Kwan -- Associate, Best Best & Krieger LLP
Miguel Rodriguez -- Community Outreach Manager, Port of Hueneme
Blair Tassone -- Director of Business Development, GRT
Jeff Wingfield -- Deputy Port Director of Regulatory and Public Affairs, Port of Stockton
Deanna Woods -- Director of People & Product Development, GRT
Visit our Speaker Profiles page for more updates.
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New Sponsors Announced!
We're especially grateful to our sponsors, whose support makes this conference possible. Their commitment and partnership not only enable us to bring together leaders, innovators, and learners from across the port community, but also help foster the meaningful conversations and collaborations that drive our industry forward. We appreciate their investment in our shared vision and are honored to recognize their invaluable contributions.
Announcing our first sponsors! A big shout out to:
Port of Long Beach | Matson | Liebherr | Port of Hueneme | Port of Redwood City | Port of Stockton | Port of Umatilla | Port of Skagit | Port of San Diego | Lynker | Burns & McDonnell
We encourage you to visit their websites to learn more.
It's not too late! Sign up now to take advantage of premium opportunities for exposure.
Click here for Sponsorship Opportunities...
Contact: Jane McIvor to discuss (+1 604-893-8800 / jane@pacificports.org) or Philippe Critot (+1 323-660-5459 / philippe@pacificports.org) to discuss opportunities.
A big thanks to all our sponsors!
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Attendees are in for a treat as they board the Star of Honolulu for a waterfront tour of Honolulu Harbor. The tour will pass by terminals operated by Pasha Group (including the almost-complete Kapalama Container Terminal) and Matson as well as Hawaii’s Pier 2 Cruise Terminal, the Honolulu Vehicle Processing Center and much more.
We're especially pleased to note DreanaLee Kalili, Deputy Director, State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation will provide commentary and moderate as representatives from Matson, The Pasha Group, and Young Bros point out specific highlights.
Our agenda is 90% complete! Click here to view the full list of presentations and networking events.
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SAVE THE DATE!!
Association of Pacific Ports 112th Annual Conference!
August 4 to 7, 2026
Hosted by the Port Authority of Guam
We can't wait to visit the incredible Island of Guam! Initial plans are underway -- in the meantime, be sure to mark your calendar
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Ports Authority Tonga Commissions the Queen Salote International Wharf — Strengthening Tonga’s role in Pacific maritime trade
October 31, 2025 — The Ports Authority Tonga (PAT) has officially commissioned the Queen Salote International Wharf (QSIW), a landmark development in Tonga’s maritime infrastructure and a cornerstone project in the modernization of Tonga’s port infrastructure. The historic milestone is a key step in enhancing the nation’s maritime connectivity and trade capacity across the Pacific..
Click here to continue reading...
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Liebherr celebrates 50 years of BOS cranes
November 19, 2025 — Liebherr marks half a century of BOS (Board offshore cranes) excellence, driving forward offshore innovation. Since 1975, BOS cranes have been trusted by operators worldwide, known for their robust design and marine adaptability. The latest generation continues this legacy, now featuring an electric variant to meet evolving offshore demands.
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Strengthening trade: Port of Hueneme welcomes delegation from the State of Chiapas, Mexico
November 18, 2025 — The Port of Hueneme, California, welcomed foreign dignitaries from the State of Chiapas, Mexico, on Thursday for discussions aimed at expanding commercial opportunities and strengthening trade connectivity between California and southern Mexico. Mexico remains one of the Port’s highest-ranking trade partners, standing at #8 by value and #5 by volume, with more than $483.95 million in cargo and 10,083 TEUs moving through the Port annually, underscoring the significance of binational collaboration.
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Port of Stockton Awarded the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
November 14, 2025 — The Stockton Port District (Port) is proud to announce it has received the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. The Port first received this award in 1979 and in subsequent years, although not consecutively until 1999. The Port has earned this recognition for 25 consecutive years.
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Hualien Port welcomes Seabourn Quest on her maiden voyage
November 14, 2025 — Hualien Port welcomed the Seabourn Quest from the ultra-luxury cruise brand, becoming the fourth international cruise ship to visit for the first time this year. In order to welcome the visit of Xibao explorers, Hualien Port not only arranged a tugboat water spray ceremony, but also presented a commemorative plaque for the first voyage, and also invited a well-known Hualien dance troupe to perform an aboriginal welcome dance at the cruise terminal, creating a lively atmosphere.
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Port of Grays Harbor promotes Nolan Wyatt to Marine Terminal Manager
November 14, 2025 — Amidst the largest expansion in Port history that will result in record amounts of cargo being handled at the Port’s four deep-water terminals, The Port of Grays Harbor is proud to announce Nolan Wyatt has been promoted to Marine Terminal Manager. Mr. Wyatt joined the Port in 2022 as the Marine Terminal Superintendent and Facility Security Officer. Prior to 2022, he served as a Third and then Second Mate aboard tankers on the Gulf Coast.
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ASIPONA Puerto Chiapas welcomes the Emerald Princess cruise ship
November 12, 2025 — The Administration of the National Port System of Puerto Chiapas is pleased to receive for the first time the majestic cruise ship Emerald Princess, of the renowned shipping company Princess Cruises, thus marking its inaugural arrival at this port terminal. Coming from Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and bound for Bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca, the Emerald Princess cruise ship arrived with 2,904 passengers and 1,130 crew members, who enjoyed the hospitality and warmth that distinguish the Soconusco region.
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SEEN Safety – Protecting people around the world
November 11, 2025 — SEEN Safety continues to strengthen its global impact on workplace safety, with sensor shipments in just the last two weeks heading to customers in New Zealand, the United States, Australia, Brazil and the United Kingdom. This activity reflects the growing international adoption of SEEN’s advanced detection technology – a proven solution designed to reduce forklift and vehicle-related incidents in busy industrial environments. “Every shipment represents another step toward our mission: helping more companies send their people home safely every day,” says David Knight, CEO of SEEN Safety. “Seeing orders from four very different regions last week demonstrates both the scalability of our technology and the trust our customers place in SEEN to improve safety in their operations.”
Click here to continue reading...
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Port of Long Beach approves agreement for cleaner air
November 11, 2025 — The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to approve a cooperative agreement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the Port of Los Angeles containing time-bound and enforceable commitments to develop zero-emissions infrastructure at the nation’s largest ports complex. The agreement, which the SCAQMD Board approved Nov. 7, commits the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to developing and implementing plans for zero-emissions infrastructure for equipment types in three phases, starting with a draft plan in May 2027, followed by approved plans in place for all categories by the end of 2029.
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Port of San Diego and The Pasha Group achieve major clean air milestone
November 10, 2025 — The Port of San Diego and Pasha Automotive Services, an independent subsidiary of The Pasha Group, have successfully commissioned a roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel for shore power, marking a first-of-its kind achievement in the United States. This milestone also marks the first-ever shore power connection for a domestic pure car/truck carrier – a ship designed exclusively for transporting vehicles.
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Port of Everett earns international recognition with two industry awards for environmental stewardship, financial practices
November 7, 2025 — The Port of Everett was honored with two annual Lighthouse Awards from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the unified and collective voice of the seaport industry across North and South America, for its innovative work in both environmental stewardship and financial practices. AAPA is a member organization representing more than 130 public port districts in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America. Its annual Lighthouse Awards recognize innovation and excellence in a variety of categories, with emphasis given to submissions that have the potential to impact the entire port industry.
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Port of Nanaimo welcomes first Isuzu vehicles direct shipped to Canada
November 6, 2025 — The Port of Nanaimo is proud to announce the arrival of the first shipment of Isuzu Commercial Truck of Canada (ICTC) vehicles to the BC Vehicle Processing Centre (BCVPC), marking another milestone in the Port’s growing role as a key gateway for Canadian automotive imports. The shipment arrived this week at the Nanaimo Assembly Wharf, where vehicles will undergo processing and preparation for distribution to dealerships across Western Canada. The BC Vehicle Processing Centre, an SSA Marine Enterprise, provides full-service inspection, modification, and distribution capabilities, supporting a more efficient and sustainable supply chain for automakers and dealers globally.
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