American Association of Port Authorities
Encyclopedia
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) is a trade association
, founded in 1912, that represents over 150 port authority
organizations throughout the Western Hemisphere
.
Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia
, AAPA protects and advances the common interests of its diverse members as they connect their communities with the global transportation system. Member port
s vary in size, cargo
and vessel types handled, operating structure and geographic service area.
According to AAPA, America's ports are gateways to the world and a critical component in economic health and national defense. On average, each of the 50 states
relies on 13 to 15 ports to handle its imports
and export
s, which add up to over $5.5 billion worth of goods moving in and out of U.S. ports every day.
The association has four main goals:
has been used by the government to fund projects unrelated to port development. AAPA believes that the funding should go directly to ports in order to complete maintenance dredging. Regular maintenance dredging is crucial to most navigable waterways, harbors and ports. Each year, several hundred feet of sand, gravel and silt must be removed from waterways and harbors to maintain navigability—enough for a four-lane highway four feet deep stretching between New York City
and Los Angeles, California
, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
AAPA also supports the implementation of the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Freight Policy framework. The policy focuses on increasing public and private investment in freight infrastructure through tax incentives. It also seeks to improve public and private collaboration on freight-related issues by increasing public sector awareness about trends in private sector freight operations and investment.
Industry trade group
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
, founded in 1912, that represents over 150 port authority
Port authority
In Canada and the United States a port authority is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body to operate ports and other transportation infrastructure.Port authorities are usually governed by boards or...
organizations throughout the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
.
Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, AAPA protects and advances the common interests of its diverse members as they connect their communities with the global transportation system. Member port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
s vary in size, cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
and vessel types handled, operating structure and geographic service area.
According to AAPA, America's ports are gateways to the world and a critical component in economic health and national defense. On average, each of the 50 states
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
relies on 13 to 15 ports to handle its imports
International trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
and export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
s, which add up to over $5.5 billion worth of goods moving in and out of U.S. ports every day.
The association has four main goals:
- Advocate governmental policies that strengthen and expand opportunities for member ports
- Advance professionalism in all facets of port managementPort managementPort management is the management of ports.According to a course syllabus at the United Nations University:-See also:*Port security*channel *ships*lighter *tugboat*berth*anchorage*cargo*containers*warehouse*customs...
and operations - Promote information-sharing and relationship-building opportunities for all members
- Achieve greater understanding of the essential role and economic value of ports
Current issues
A key issue that AAPA is focusing on is the reorganization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). AAPA hopes that the fund can be applied in a way that fully benefits ports and their surrounding communities. Since the creation of the fund in 1986, HMTF tax revenueTax revenue
Tax revenue is the income that is gained by governments through taxation.Just as there are different types of tax, the form in which tax revenue is collected also differs; furthermore, the agency that collects the tax may not be part of central government, but may be an alternative third-party...
has been used by the government to fund projects unrelated to port development. AAPA believes that the funding should go directly to ports in order to complete maintenance dredging. Regular maintenance dredging is crucial to most navigable waterways, harbors and ports. Each year, several hundred feet of sand, gravel and silt must be removed from waterways and harbors to maintain navigability—enough for a four-lane highway four feet deep stretching between New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
AAPA also supports the implementation of the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Freight Policy framework. The policy focuses on increasing public and private investment in freight infrastructure through tax incentives. It also seeks to improve public and private collaboration on freight-related issues by increasing public sector awareness about trends in private sector freight operations and investment.