News Release
FOR RELEASE - September 29, 2005
Contact: Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org
703-684-5700

American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org

22 Seaports Selected for Honors in AAPA's Annual Awards Program

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Sept. 29, 2005) – The American Association of Port Authorities, the organization representing public ports throughout the Western Hemisphere, has selected 22 seaports to be recognized for exemplary projects and initiatives at its annual awards program next month. The awards, for achievements in communications, information technology, environmental improvement and facilities engineering, will be presented to winning ports at an Oct. 26 luncheon in conjunction with AAPA’s 2005 annual convention in Tampa, Fla., which runs Oct. 23-27.

AAPA Chairman Gary LaGrange (who is also president/CEO of the Port of New Orleans) and AAPA President Kurt Nagle will present engraved plaques to representatives of:

• the Port of Houston Authority, winner of this year’s Information Technology Awards competition;

• the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Port of Portland, the Port of Seattle and the Port of Bellingham, winners in the four categories of AAPA’s Environmental Improvement Awards program;

• the Virginia Port Authority, winner of the third annual Facilities Engineering Awards contest;

• and the Port of Los Angeles, winner of the 2005 Dan Maynard Communications Award for Overall Program Excellence;

In addition, 21 ports will receive recognition for their winning entries to AAPA’s 39th annual Communications Awards program.  Plaques will be presented to representatives of eight ports that won Awards of Excellence, while 15 will receive Certificates of Merit for their winning communications program submissions.  The six ports selected for Honorary Mention in AAPA’s Communications Awards program will receive their certificates prior to the awards luncheon.

A complete list of all winners and their entries follows.

Information Technology Awards

The Port of Houston Authority is the winner of the fourth annual AAPA Information Technology Awards competition, organized by the association’s Information Technology Committee.  These awards were developed to recognize and highlight industry “best practices” in the area of technology within the administration and operations of port authorities.  Four judges selected one winner in the Port Operations & Management Systems category. 

Port Operations & Management Systems
Port of Houston Authority
OFAC Reporting:  “The Check’s NOT in the Mail”

Facility Engineering Awards

There are two winners in the third annual AAPA Facilities Engineering Awards Competition, developed by AAPA's Facilities Engineering Committee.  The goal of the program is to recognize excellence, innovation and performance by port engineering professionals. 

Award of Excellence
Virginia Port Authority
NIT South Wharf Renovation Project

Honorable Mention
Port of Longview
Industrial Rail Corridor

Environmental Improvement Awards

Since 1963, AAPA’s Harbors, Navigation and Environment Committee has administered the Environmental Improvement Awards to highlight activities at ports which benefit the environment. The Committee considers four project award categories: Environmental Enhancement, Mitigation, Community/Public Involvement and Comprehensive Environmental Management. This year’s winners are:

Comprehensive Environmental Management
Port of Portland (Ore.)
Checking and Corrective Action Program

Community/Public Involvement
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Cargo Handling Equipment Inventory Update

Environmental Enhancement
Port of Seattle
Shilsole Bay Marina Clean and ‘Green’ Best Management Practices

Mitigation Award
Port of Bellingham
Weldcraft Boatyard Cleanup and Redevelopment

Communications Awards

AAPA’s annual Communications Awards program has for 39 years recognized excellence in the products and services which ports produce to meet their public relations and marketing goals.  Entries are divided into Categories 1 and 2, based on each port's financial and personnel resources. 

The winner of the 2005 Dan Maynard Communications Award for Overall Program Excellence is the Port of Los Angeles, which received Awards of Excellence in two categories – Websites and Miscellaneous – and Awards of Merit in two categories – Special Events and Miscellaneous.  In addition to the Overall Program Excellence award, AAPA annually recognizes the communications programs of participating member ports with Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit and Honorable Mentions.  This year, participating ports won the following AAPA communications awards in the categories indicated:

Advertising – Series Award of Excellence: Port of Long Beach – “Porthole” Community Ad Series – Category 1 Alabama State Port Authority – “Congestion” Community Ad Series – Category 1 Advertising – Individual Award of Merit: Virginia Port Authority – “Capacity to Grow” Ad – Category 1 Honorable Mention: Virginia Port Authority – “World’s largest shipping lines” Ad – Category 1 Electronic Advertising Honorable Mention: Port of Houston Authority – “The Port of Houston Delivers” Broadcast Video – Category 1 Promotional Literature Award of Merit: Maryland Port Administration – “The Port of Baltimore: America’s Front Door for 300 years” – Category 1 Honorable Mention: Port of Houston Authority – “Chronicle in Education” – Category 1 Special Events Award of Merit: Port of Los Angeles – Vincent Thomas Bridge Lighting Ceremony – Category 1 Honorable Mention: Port Manatee – “Pier into the Future” Berth 5 Dedication and Tenant Appreciation Party – Category 2 Overall Campaign Honorable Mention: Port of Portland (Ore.) – Port of Portland Import Program – Category 1 Annual Reports Award of Excellence: Port of Seattle – “2004 Report to the Community” – Category 1 Award of Merit: Port of Tacoma – “Strategies for Success” –Category 1 Honorable Mention: Georgia Ports Authority – “Georgia’s Ports for Georgia’s People” – Category 1 Directory/Handbook Award of Excellence: Port Manatee – 2005 Port Manatee Official Directory – Category 2 Award of Merit: Canaveral Port Authority – 2005 Port Canaveral Directory – Category 1 Ports of Indiana – Indiana Logistics Directory – Category 2

Videos Award of Excellence: Administración Portuaria Integral de Veracruz S.A. de C.V. – “Video API for Children” – Category 1 Award of Merit: Port of Tacoma – “Port Shorts” – Category 1 Port of Greater Baton Rouge – “Your Port. Your Partner.” – Category 2 Newsletter Award of Excellence: Port of Portland (Ore.) – Portside – Category 1 Port Manatee – Deepwater – Category 2 Award of Merit: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey – Port Views – Category 1 Port of Long Beach - Re:Port - Category 1 Duluth Seaway Port Authority – North Star Point – Category 2 Honorable Mention: Philadelphia Regional Port Authority – Port Watch – Category 1 Periodicals Award of Excellence: Port of Tacoma – Pacific Gateway – Category 1 Award of Merit: Port of Houston Authority – The Port of Houston – Category 1 Honorable Mention: Georgia Ports Authority – Georgia Anchorage – Category 1 Miscellaneous Award of Excellence: Port of Los Angeles – Travel Press Kit – Category 1 Award of Merit: Port of Tacoma – Port of Tacoma: 2 Sided Poster – Category 1 Port of Los Angeles – 2005 Mariners Guide – Category 1 Port of Portland (Ore.) and Port of Vancouver, USA – Joint Marketing Effort: “North America’s Auto Gateway” – Category 1 Port Manatee – Logo Standards & Usage Manual – Category 2 Websites Award of Excellence: Port of Los Angeles – Category 1 Award of Merit: Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority – Category 1 Saint John Port Authority – Category 2 Honorable Mention: Port of Portland (Ore.) – Category 1