‘Modernizing Ports for the Future’

The Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Paul Zukunft, Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby, and Federal Maritime Commissioner William Doyle were keynote speakers at the 91st Annual International Propeller Convention in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Oct. 18-20. The convention’s theme was "Modernizing Ports for the Future". Industry panel discussion topics included cyber security, Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) as ship fuel, navigation channel deepening and widening projects, landside port infrastructure, and port security. Florida Gov. Rick Scott opened the convention highlighting the state’s investments in its ports to the tune of $1.2B since 2011. Much of that spending was related to port expansions and waterways to handle larger ships serving world trade. A panel discussion on LNG was led by Doyle and consisted of industry leaders in operating ships with LNG for fuel, including Peter Keller, executive VP of Tote Inc., Chad Verret, executive VP of Harvey (La.) Gulf International, and Matt Jackson, VP of Crowley LNG. Tote operates the world's first LNG-powered containerships between Jacksonville, Fla., and Puerto Rico. (Source: Marine Log 10/27/17)