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2016 Information Technology Award Winners

Improvements in Intermodal Freight Transportation

Halifax Port Authority – “The Big Lift – Air Gap Monitoring During Bridge Reconstruction” (Click here for full report)

To address challenges associated with replacing the suspended structure of the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, the Halifax Port Authority developed several innovative systems to help ensure the safe and unencumbered transit of vessels under the bridge. With dozens of vessel movements each week, including several post-Panamax vessels destined for the Port’s Fairview Cove container terminal, maintaining unencumbered access to the inner harbor was a necessity.  The challenge was in coordinating vessel traffic with bridge construction activities and managing bridge air gap in an environment where the geometry of the bridge was changing every week. To address these challenges, the Halifax Port Authority developed several innovative systems to help insure the safe and unencumbered transit of vessels under the bridge. With the help of these systems, all bridge deck segments within the navigational channel have been replaced with minimal impact on vessel traffic.  

Port Operations and Management Systems 

Port of Los Angeles – “Achieving an ISO 27001 Information Security Management System” (Click here for project summary) 

To reduce risks associated with cybersecurity, the Port of Los Angeles (Port of LA) implemented a Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC) in 2014.  Realizing that a cyber security program is not only about the technology, the Port of LA built upon the CSOC with improvements to its Information Security Management System (ISMS).  The Port of LA’s ISMS improvements included significant staff development, formalized policies and procedures, and new hardware and software.  In June 2015, the ISMS was certified to the ISO 27001:2013 international information security standard.  In June 2016, it passed the Annual Surveillance Audit to maintain the certification.  The Port of LA is believed to be the only port authority, and one from a small group of organizations from any industry, to have this certification.