1:00 pm

THE PORT WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE: THE ILA PERSPECTIVE
Speaker: Alan Robb, President, South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA)

2:00 pm

PANEL: THE INTERNATIONAL PROPELLER CLUB MARITIME EDUCATION INITIATIVE
Synopsis: The International Propeller Club has embarked on a program to prepare a new generation to take its place in the maritime industry, through development of high school maritime curriculums, college scholarships for maritime studies, supporting trade schools that prepare young people to work in ports and the shipping industry, and mentoring young adults regarding careers in the maritime industry.

Moderator: RADM Joel Whitehead (USCG, Ret)z, International Propeller Club
Panelist: John Hart, Adjunct Professor, Texas A&M University at Galveston

3:00 pm

Break

3:30 pm

PANEL: PORT SUCCESSION PLANNING
Synopsis: With projected retirements over the next 5-8 years, the Port industry will be subject to a significant turnover of executive talent. Succession planning is how an organization strategically develops a broad, deep talent pipeline. Succession planning requires an organization to consider how it is developing talent at every level.

Panelist: Phyllis Saathoff, Executive Director and CEO, Port of Freeport
Panelist: Roy J. Wilson, President and General Partner, Cameron Kinston Associates

4:30 pm

PANEL: HIGHER EDUCATION PORT AND MARITIME PROGRAMS
Synopsis: A panel discussion of university programs designed to prepare interested students for careers in ports, shipping, and the maritime industry.

Moderator: Keziah Hill, Texas Southern University
Panelist: Robert DeBois, Lamar University
Panelist: Michael Fossum, Texas A&M University – Galveston
Panelist: Gerald Wall, Center of Excellence Program Director, MARAD
Panelist: Margaret Kidd, Associate Professor, University of Houston

1:00 pm

LATIN AMERICAN AND THE CARIBBEAN: PORT DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES
Speaker: Jorge Duran, Chief of Section, Inter-American Committee on Ports, Organization of American States

2:00 pm

LONG SON PORT, BA RIA VUNG TAU PROVINCE, VIET NAM
Synopsis: Vietnam will invest in the creation of a port to support steel production and manufacturing at the at its Long Son complex. The total projected investment is $403 million, to be made in two stages.

Presenter: David Lewis, ECV Holdings
Presenter: TBD, Long Son Port

3:00 pm

Break

3:30 pm

ONDO PORT, NIGERIA
Synopsis: Nigeria will develop a $1.3 billion multipurpose deep seaport in its Ondo State to support a variety of transcontinental cargo, including roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessels, bulk cargoes (e.g., bitumen, silica sand, and cement), and offshore oil and gas support. 2,700 hectares is approved for a free trade zone. The site is 50 km from Lagos, West Africa’s commercial center

Presenter: Boye Oyewumi, State Coordinator for Special Projects, Ondo, Nigeria

4:15 pm

PANEL: TBD

1:00 pm

TBD

Speaker: TBD

2:00 pm

PANEL: ADVANCES IN SMART CONTAINER TECHNOLOGY
Synopsis: This is a panel discussion on the latest advances in smart container technology.

Moderator: Susan Howland, Howland Group
Panelist: Roman Sandoval, CEO/Founder, Allosense
Panelist: Niel Furkuawa, CEO AKUA

3:00 pm

Break

3:30 pm

THE TEAL PROJECT
Synopsis: T.E.A.L., or Tube Enclosed Air Levitated Transport System, is a new concept in high-speed, underground movement of full-size, oceangoing, cargo containers via subterranean pipelines. Designers tout T.E.A.L. as a compliment to existing infrastructure, is virtually pollution free, and is impervious to the effects of weather, relatively inexpensive, non-disruptive to build and maintain, and can transport cargo quickly, safely, and efficiently.

Panelist: Steve Catha, CEO, The Touchstone Group Panelist: Mohammed Najafi, Ph.D., University of Texas Panelist: Walter Ulrich, President/CEO, Houston Technology Center Panelist: Richard Huriaux, PE. USDOT, Director, Transportation Engineering (retired)

4:30 pm

PANEL: NEW BARGE TECHNOLOGIES
Synopsis: A panel discussion of recent advancements and initiatives in barge technologies

Panelist: TBD, Wartsila (autonomous zero-emission barge)

5:30 pm

Closing

8:00 am

TBD

8:30 am

CRUISE TERMINALS – BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES
Synopsis: The Port of Galveston, a focal point for cruise ships in the Caribbean, and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Biometric Identity Management discuss advances in biometric identification and the use of these technologies in cruise terminals.

Panelist: Richard Rees, CEO, Port Galveston
Panelist: TBD, DHS Office of Biometric Identify Management

9:30 am

Break

10:00 am

CARGO SCREENING: COSMIC RAY TOMOGRAPHY (CRT)
Synopsis: The Multi-Mode Passive Detection System (MMPDS) port scanner, an example of Cosmic Ray Tomography (CRT) can be used to detect both shielded nuclear material, explosives, and contraband. The scanner is large enough for a cargo container to pass through, making it a scaled-up version of the Mini Muon Tracker. It then produces a 3-D image of what is scanned. Developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory and commercialized by Decision Sciences as the DiscoveryTM scanning system, Cosmic Ray Tomography (CRT) is seen as state-of-the art scanning, providing a safe and viable alternative to x-ray and gamma ray technology.

11:00 am

PORT MONTREAL PROJECT
Synopsis: The Port of Montreal’s planned construction of the new terminal in Contrecoeur. is a flagship project for Greater Montreal and its surrounding regions. The container market at the Port of Montreal has been growing for more than 50 years. The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) is moving forward with plans to construct a new container terminal on its land in Contrecœur to support the growth of the container market in Quebec and Eastern Canada. When fully up and running, the container terminal in Contrecœur will make it possible to handle 1.15 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year.

Presenter: Daniel Dagenais, Vice President, Port Performance and Sustainable Development

12:00 pm

Lunch

8:00 am

LOGINK LOGISTICS PLATFORM – CAPABILITIES AND CAUTIONS
Synopsis: Widespread adoption of LOGINK, a Chinese platform for sharing logistics information could create economic and strategic risks for the United States and other countries. Now cooperating with over 20 global ports, the National Transportation and Logistics Public Information Platform, branded as LOGINK, provides users with a one stop shop for logistics data management, shipment tracking, and information exchange needs between enterprises as well as from business to government. State control of the LOGINK platform potentially provides the Chinese Communist Party access to data collected and stored on the platform and could enable the Chinese government to gain insights into shipping information, cargo valuations via customs clearance forms, and destination and routing information.

Gabriel Collins, Baker Botts Fellow, Baker Institute, Rice University

8:30 am

SINGLE-WINDOW MARITIME DATA EXCHANGE
Synopsis: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Facilitation Committee amended the Facilitation (FAL) Convention which will make a ‘Single Window’ system for data exchange mandatory in ports around the world, a significant step in improving digitalization in shipping. The amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2024. The amendments update the provisions of the FAL Convention on electronic data exchange in ports for ship clearance, making it mandatory for public authorities to establish, maintain and use Single Window systems for the electronic exchange of information required during the arrival, stay and departure of ships in ports. In addition, public authorities will have to combine or coordinate the electronic transmission of the data to ensure that information is submitted only once and reused to the maximum extent possible.

9:30 am

Break

10:00 am

CASE STUDY: PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK NODES (PINNs) – PORT CORPUS CHRISTI
Synopsis: The Port of Corpus Christi Authority has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Autonomy Institute Inc. to develop and deploy intelligent and autonomous projects along the port’s Joe Fulton International Trade Corridor. The agreement between the two parties provides the Joe Fulton International Trade Corridor as a natural use case and proving ground for the deployment of intelligent infrastructure, such as Public Infrastructure Network Nodes (PINN), NextG wireless, assured position navigation timing, edge computing and smart IoT devices. The new partnership is a continuation of the Port of Corpus Christi’s established Technology Advancement Program, which is designed to foster innovation to enhance safety and efficiency across multiple modes of freight mobility.

Presenter: Jeff Decoux, President, the Autonomy Institute
Panelist: Jeff Pollack, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, Port of Corpus Christi,

11:00 am

CASE STUDY: PORT TANGER MED – DIGITALIZATION PLAN
Synopsis: The Port of Tanger Med engaged PhDSoft to assist in increasing its capabilities in the areas of digitalization and information sharing, resulting in the development of digital twin for port operations.

Moderator: Rosana Ellis, Chief Operating Officer, PhDSoft
Panelist: TBD, Project Manager, PhDSoft
Panelist: TBD, Port Tanger Med

12:00 pm

Lunch

8:30 am

ADVANCED NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS FOR PORTS AND THE MARITIME SECTOR
Synopsis: Annually, the Port of the Future Conference provides focus on a selected alternative fuel. This year, we explore advances in nuclear energy applications in the ports and maritime sector. Nuclear propulsion offers vast potential in terms of emissions reduction and operational efficiency.

Juan Vitali, Ph.D., Assistant Director Nuclear Energy Innovation, Office of Science and Technology Policy, The White House

9:00 am

ABS STUDY – NUCLEAR POWER IN MARITIME OPERATIONS

Synopsis: ABS is playing a pioneering role in supporting the development of nuclear propulsion for commercial vessels. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded ABS a contract to research barriers to the adoption of advanced nuclear propulsion on commercial vessels. This study explores the potential of advanced modern reactor technology for commercial marine propulsion. The study is designed to help the industry better understand the feasibility and safety implications of nuclear propulsion and to support future developmental projects. ABS commissioned Herbert Engineering Corporation (HEC) to carry out the study.

10:00 pm

Break

10:30 am

PANEL: TECHNOLOGIES TO ENHANCE FUEL COMBUSTION EFFICIENCIES
Synopsis: Incomplete combustion of carbon fuels significantly contributes to carbon emissions. Efficiencies to increase combustion can reduce fuel consumption and resulting transportation/ shipping costs, reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 percent, increase air quality in the port environment, and ultimately increase asset integrity.

Panelist: Michael Brady, Trillion
Panelist: Earl Hersch, Founder, Total Combustion Technologies

11:15 am

PANEL: GREEN MARITIME AND PORT ALLIANCE (GMPA)
Synopsis: Denmark and the USA share a common commitment to facilitate the green transition of the global maritime sector. The GMPA seeks to open doors to US Ports, ship owners, local and national authorities, research institutions, and other maritime stakeholders for Danish maritime and energy companies with sustainable green solutions for the maritime sector

12:00 pm

Lunch Break

1:00 pm

SHORE POWER TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT AND THE SHORE POWER EMISSIONS CALCULATOR
Synopsis: The EPA’s Shore Power Technology Assessment at U.S. Ports – 2022 Update characterizes the technical and operational aspects of shore power systems in the U.S. and shows an approach for comparing shore power and vessel emissions while at berth.

2:00 pm

PANEL: ONSHORE POWER SUPPLY
Synopsis: Onshore Power Supply (OPS) can be known as Shore Power, Shoreside Electricity (SSE), Alternative Maritime Power (AMP), High-Voltage Shore Connection (HSCV), or Cold Ironing. OPS is a rapidly growing weapon in a port’s arsenal to combat emissions. In June 2021, European ports including Antwerp-Bruges, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Haropa Port and Rotterdam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to “enable maximal deployment” of OPS for its container segments by 2028. in July 2021, the European Commission published an updated FuelEU Maritime set of proposals, that require all EU ports with over 50 annual containership calls over the past three years to have OPS output to cover at least 90% of that energy demand.

3:00 pm

Break

3:30 pm

PANEL: NUCLEAR FLOATING POWER PLANTS IN PORT OPERATIONS
Synopsis: A floating nuclear power plant is a floating power station that derives its energy from a nuclear reactor. Instead of a stationary complex on land, they consist of a floating structure such as an offshore platform, barge or conventional ship. Since the reactors employed are smaller in size and power than most commercial land-based reactors, mostly derived from nuclear ship and submarine power plants, the power output is generally a fraction of a conventional nuclear power plant, usually around 100MWe, although some are planned to have as much as 800MWe.

4:15 pm

PANEL: PORT ELECTRIFICATION PLANS
Synopsis: Port electrification serves as a long-term solution for operators in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce carbon footprints through infrastructure upgrades. Technology is well-developed for implementing the infrastructure needed for port electrification, with many operators already utilizing such solutions as charger and grid upgrades in daily operations. While many port operators have hesitations over the significant lead time and capital investment it takes to implement electrification solutions, regulations at the federal, state, and municipal level may soon mandate the practice.

8:00 am

THE CYBER RISK OF CHINESE MANUFACTURED SHIP-TO-SHORE CRANES
Synopsis: The U.S. House of Representatives’ China Select Committee initiated an investigation of Chinese cybersecurity risks in U.S. ports. Committee members argued that the Chinese Communist Party could be spying on American ports through Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes purchased from ZPMC—a Chinese state-owned enterprise. These cranes load and unload cargo from container ships, making them essential for America’s trade with the rest of the world.

This reliance on Chinese cranes poses major threats to American national security. A recent study found that nearly half the STS cranes used in the average American container port come from ZPMC. Through the crane’s software, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could spy on our ports and collect critical data contained in port IT systems. Chinese law gives the CCP the power to demand data collected by any Chinese company and requires Chinese manufacturers to install software granting the CCP access to any equipment they produce. Together, these policies mean the CCP could easily use ZPMC’s cranes to collect sensitive data on our port system.

Speaker: TBD, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

8:30 am

PANEL: INTERNATIONAL PORT SECURITY PROGRAM
Synopsis: The International Port Security Program’s strategic goal is to enhance security in US ports by assessing and mitigating risk to the global maritime transportation system. It seeks to reduce risk by evaluating anti-terrorism measures in foreign ports.

Panelist: Edward Munoz, Division Chief, International Port Security, U.S. Coast Guard
Panelist: Jay Berman, Assistant Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, U.S. Government Accounting Office

9:30 am

Break

10:00 am

PANEL: SOUTH COAST REGIONAL INNOVATION ENGINE ON CYBERSECURITY
Synopsis: The South Coast Regional Innovation Engine seeks to conduct research to understand the interdependencies, vulnerabilities, and risks in the maritime transportation ecosystem in order to develop technologies to materially improve cybersecurity through partnerships with academia, industry and government. It envisions a world class Innovation Engine for maritime cybersecurity education, research, experimentation, investment, and commercialization of products with regional and national impact.

Panelist: COL Warren Parker, USMC (retired), COO, Maritime Cybersecurity Institute
Panelist: Rick Siebenaler, CEO, Maritime Cybersecurity Institute

11:00 am

PANEL: PORT SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS
Synopsis: This panel discussion focuses on port surveillance and security options in the air, surface, and subsurface domains. It provides insight to break through technologies in UAS, UAVs, robotics and autonomous technologies.

12:00 pm

Lunch