News Release
FOR RELEASE - May 2, 2008
Contact: Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org
703-706-4714
American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org
With increasing global trade comes an ever-pressing need for seaports to remain financially competitive. Among U.S. port authorities alone, an estimated $8.5 billion in large capital projects will be necessary between 2005 and 2010, according to the most recent (2005) U.S. Public Port Development Report estimates. To address these and other urgent port governance and funding issues, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) will host its biennial Port Finance seminar in Vancouver, British Columbia, June 10-12.
"The financial health of our member ports is a key priority for AAPA, as well as for the port finance, administration, port planning and senior level executives who manage them," said Kurt Nagle, AAPA's president and CEO. "This year, we chose to hold our Port Finance seminar in Vancouver, Canada, because of the city's exemplary use of public private partnerships to grow their port and help it remain competitive."
Building on the successful 2006 AAPA Port Finance seminar in Baltimore, Md., the 2½-day Vancouver event will tackle the most pressing issues with regard to public private partnerships, future economic planning, human resources and retention, port governance and procurement practices. Much like the 2006 seminar's draw from 16 countries, this year's program is expected to bring attendees from throughout the Americas who will focus on port finance challenges, implications of the current credit market crunch and regional perspectives on port governance, as well as implementation of purchasing and procurement "best practices."
The first day's activities will focus on a general overview of public private partnerships in the port industry, the viewpoints of financial administrators and potential credit implications for financing projects with outside investors. During the afternoon sessions, attendees will discuss economic perspectives facing port authorities and receive a work update from AAPA's Port Sustainability Task Force.
Session topics for the morning of second day will shift focus toward human resources and the financial underpinnings of port insurance. Discussions for that morning will include innovations in human resource efforts, including succession planning, continuous recruitment, methods in successful employee recognition and a port insurance update.
After lunch, seminar speakers will address the current status of port security funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and paying the non-federal share of port security grants through creation of security districts. The final session of the day will have participants turn their focus to port governance in a competitive global market, with viewpoints from the U.S., Canadian and Latin American markets, respectively.
The seminar's final day will offer participants a look at the convergence of international accounting standards and procurement "best practices."
This seminar is a required AAPA Professional Port Manager (PPM®) course and continuing educational credits will be available.
More information about AAPA's Port Finance seminar is available at www.aapa-ports.org (click on the "Programs & Events" tab) or by calling AAPA's Ed O'Connell at 703-706-4709.
| WHO: | American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) |
| WHAT: | Port finance and governance-focused seminar spotlighting the importance of port partnerships, sustainability, insurance and security. |
| WHEN: | Tuesday-Thursday, June 10-12, 2008 (Day 1, 8:30am-8:00pm; Day 2, 8:30am-8:30pm; Day 3, 8:30am-12:00 noon) |
| WHERE: | Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown, 1128 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada; tel: (604) 684-1128 |
| MEDIA: | Credentialed journalists interested in covering the seminar for media purposes are asked to contact Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org, to obtain a media pass. |
