AAPA Environmental Improvement Awards may be awarded annually to worthy projects in any of four project categories: Environmental Enhancement; mitigation; Stakeholder Education, Awareness & Involvement; and Comprehensive Environmental Management.

LEVELS OF RECOGNITION

AAPA may give an Award of Excellence, an Award of Distinction, an Award of Merit and an Honorable Mention in each of the four categories. This allows increased recognition of outstanding projects and programs within the Hemisphere's ports.

In addition, the Calvin Hurst Outstanding Achievement Award may be presented for exceptional projects and programs. Because of the exemplary nature of this award’s intended recipients, it will not necessarily be presented every year. It is named for the late environmental manager at the Port of Los Angeles, the public port industry’s first environmental professional.

AWARD CATEGORIES

There are four project award categories. A project will normally fall within one of the four, and will be judged against other projects solely within its category. Judges have the discretion to move an application from one category to another if they feel it is a better fit in another category.

1) Environmental Enhancement includes improvements to the physical or natural environment that were not required as part of any project development. Examples include debris control and cleanup programs, voluntary air quality improvement measures, port beautification projects, public access projects, or uncompelled restoration of natural resources.

2) Mitigation of impacts associated with project development. Examples include wetlands restoration or creation, habitat creation such as artificial reefs, creative solutions for handling ship-generated wastes or any other mitigation measures undertaken in the course of project development and implementation.

3) Stakeholder Awareness, Education & Involvement involves outreach to stakeholders that seeks to inform, educate or facilitate involvement. Examples include programs to educate local school children about the port community or foster public involvement in port projects.

4) Comprehensive Environmental Management involves the development and execution of a comprehensive plan that seeks to minimize the environmental impact of, and, where possible, to enhance the environment through, port operations. Plans include components such as establishment of port environmental policies, training and empowering port personnel in the use of pollution prevention practices, and working with tenants, environmental agencies, and the public in promoting the goals of the plan.

ELIGIBILITY

The eligibility for submitting an application for an AAPA Environmental Improvement Award are:

1) All AAPA Corporate members are eligible to submit an application, including members from the U.S., Canadian, Caribbean and Latin American delegations. All applications should be submitted in English. Only projects related to maritime operations  will be considered.

2) Ports may nominate governmental entities (federal, state or local agencies) as co-applicants if they wish to highlight a partnership with another public entity.

3)  Applications will be accepted only for those projects (or beneficial increments) or programs which have been designed, planned, and approved by all applicable regulatory agencies, and constructed or implemented. The application should indicate the current status of the project.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The application should be double-spaced and should not exceed 12 pages. Detailed reports, analyses, charts, and/or photographs are not required, although may be included as separate electronic files. The application should include the following elements:

1) A summary of the project or program

2) Goals and objectives

3) Discussion

• Background

• Objectives and methodology

• How the project fulfills the Award Criteria (described below)

AWARD CRITERIA  

There are six general award criteria used to evaluate the entries in the competition. The project application should attempt to address these criteria explicitly:

1. The level and nature of benefits to environmental quality, beautification or community involvement;
2. The level of independent involvement and effort by the port;
3. The creativity of the solution or programs;
4. Whether the project or program results are apparent (the project must be complete through some beneficial increment);
5. The cost effectiveness of the activity or the program; and
6. The transferability of the technology or idea to the port industry.

FEE & DEADLINES

1. The fee for each entry is $125. After submitting all entries electronically, CLICK HERE to pay via credit card online.  The submission fee must be paid before it can be considered by the judges.

2. Applications must be received by June 5, 2023. .

3. Applications may be submitted in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) or Microsoft Word (.doc)
4. All entrants MUST download the PowerPoint slide template, insert the specified entry information and graphics into the slide, including the organization’s logo (on the bottom left side of the slide), and add as an attachment to each electronic entry submission to be eligible. One PowerPoint slide per entry is required.     
5. Award winners will be highlighted at the AAPA Annual Convention.     
6. In the event that a port is submitting more than one project, a separate application should accompany each project. However, ports can process payment for all applications in a single transaction.

For any questions regarding your submission, please reach out to Ian Gansler at igansler@aapa-ports.org, or by phone at (508) 654-4264.

USE OF AWARD APPLICATIONS

AAPA may post application summaries and/or complete application submissions on our website to highlight port environmental projects.

The AAPA Facilities Engineering Awards recognize outstanding results in completed engineering projects conducted at public port authorities.

Award Criteria

The winners will be selected based on criteria such as Engineering innovation, contracting, speed of construction, budget success, new and unique solutions and exceptional measures.

Examples of projects can include, but are not limited to, different areas of facilities engineering and management (and or architecture). For example:

1. Design and/or construction of marine structures.
2. Marine waterway and landside development.
3. General economic development (warehouses, shops, yards, office parks, terminal complexes, etc).
4. Engineering planning studies or master plans.
5. Digital solutions projects such as asset management and digital twins

AWARD CATEGORIES
There are two project award categories. A project will normally fall within one of the two, and will be judged against other projects solely within its category.
1. Award of excellence for projects costing less than $1,000,000.


2. Award of excellence for projects costing more than $1,000,000.


Both of these categories will recognize outstanding results in completed engineering projects conducted at public port authorities. These projects will be evaluated on the wide range of impacts that port authority projects have not only to the immediate port community but to the constituent community served by the port.

ELIGIBILITY
The eligibility for submitting an application for an AAPA Facilities Engineering Award are:
1. All AAPA Corporate members are eligible to submit an application, including members from the U.S., Canadian, Caribbean and Latin American delegations. All applications should be submitted in English. Only projects related to maritime operations will be considered.
2. Applications will be accepted only for those projects or programs which have been designed, planned and implemented. The application should indicate the current status of the project.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES
The guidelines for submitting an application for an AAPA Facilities Engineering Award are:
1. A Cover Letter from the entrant consisting of a summary of the project.

2. The Application should be double-spaced and should not exceed 15 pages. Detailed reports, analyses, and photographs are not required, although, if available, may be included as an appendix.
These two elements must be provided in PDF electronic format.
The winning entries will be displayed at the AAPA Annual Convention. Displays should not be sent until after winners have been notified.
Additionally, any electronic media may be used for display and/or presentations, but provision of such is the sole responsibility of the winning entrant.

3.  The Application should be organized into the following sections:
   a. Cover Page:
       - Title of Project
       - Name of Applicant
       - Job Title and contact information
       - Date Submitted
       - Listing of Design Team Members with Contact Information
   b. Table of Contents
   c. Project Description
   d. Introduction – Project Highlights
   e. Goals and Objectives/Business Problem
   f. Discussion:
       - Background
       - Objectives and Methodology
       - Hardware/software used
       - Project Cost
       - Performance Measures
       - How the project fulfills the Award Criteria
  g. Conclusion

4. Applications will be accepted only for those projects (or beneficial increments) or programs, which have been designed, planned, and approved by all applicable regulatory agencies, and constructed or implemented. The application should indicate the current status of the project.
AWARD CRITERIA
There are five general award criteria used to evaluate the entries in the competition. The project application should attempt to address these criteria explicitly:
   - The level and nature of benefits;
   - The creativity of the solutions or programs;
   - Whether the project or program results are apparent;
   - The cost effectiveness of the activity or the program; and,
   - The transferability of the technology or idea to the port industry.

Engineering innovation, means of contracting, speed of construction, budget success, or other measures will be the primary considerations used for judging.
Criteria can include, but are not limited to, different areas of engineering (and /or architecture).  For example:
   1. Design and/or construction of marine structures.
   2. Marine waterway and landside development.
   3. General economic development (warehouses, shops, yards, office parks, terminal complexes, etc.)
   4. Engineering planning studies or master plans.
   5. Maintenance, reuse and/or redevelopment of existing structures.
All Corporate members are eligible for recognition, including members from the U.S., Canada, Caribbean and Latin America.
In order to facilitate judging, all applications need to be submitted in English.

FEE & DEADLINES
   1. The fee for each entry is $125. After submitting all entries electronically, CLICK HERE to pay via credit card online. The submission fee must be paid before it can be considered by the judges.
   2. Applications must be received by June 5, 2023.
   3. Applications may be submitted in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) or Microsoft Word (.doc)
   4. All entrants MUST download the PowerPoint slide template, insert the specified entry information and graphics into the slide, including the organization’s logo (on the bottom left side of the slide), and add as an attachment to each electronic entry submission to be eligible. One PowerPoint slide per entry is required.
   5. Award winners will be highlighted at the AAPA Annual Convention.
   6. In the event that a port is submitting more than one project, a separate application should accompany each project. However, ports can process payment for all applications in a single transaction.
For any questions regarding your submission, please reach out to Paula Gonzalez at pgonzalez@aapa-ports.org, or by phone at (703) 517-6129.

USE OF AWARD APPLICATIONS
AAPA will post application summaries and/or complete application submissions on our website to highlight port facilities engineering projects. If you do not wish for AAPA to share your complete submission, please indicate so in your application and please indicate if the summary alone may be shared.

AAPA Information Technology Awards may be awarded annually to worthy projects in either of two project categories: Port Operations and Management Systems and Improvements in Intermodal Freight Transportation.


AWARD CATEGORIES

There are two project award categories. A project will normally fall within one of the two, and will be judged against other projects solely within its category.

1) Port Operations and Management Systems

Including, but not limited to: new innovations in technology to enhance data flow for port operations; technologies to improve the safety and productivity of cargo and container handling; technological innovations for the tracking and maintenance of chassis, containers, cranes, and other yard handling equipment; methods to improve traffic flow and improve truck turnaround time entering and leaving a terminal.

2) Improvements in Intermodal Freight Transportation

Including, but not limited to: technologies to improve vessel transportation safety within a harbor or port, including approaches to the port; the application of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies to enhance intermodal freight movement; technologies to enable the effective tracking and tracing of cargo from the port to the consignee.


ELIGIBILITY

The eligibility for submitting an application for an AAPA Information Technology Award are:

1) All AAPA Corporate members are eligible to submit an application, including members from the U.S., Canadian, Caribbean and Latin American delegations. All applications should be submitted in English. Only projects related to maritime operations  will be considered.

2)  Applications will be accepted only for those projects or programs which have been designed, planned and implemented. The application should indicate the current status of the project.


APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The application should be double-spaced and should not exceed 12 pages. Detailed reports, analyses, charts, and/or photographs are not required, although may be included as separate electronic files. The application should include the following elements:

1) A summary of the project or program

2) A description of the port

3) Goals and objectives/Business problem

4) Discussion  

• Background

• Objectives and methodology

• Hardware/software used

• Project cost

• Performance measures

• How the project fulfills the Award Criteria (described below)

AWARD CRITERIA  

There are five general award criteria used to evaluate the entries in the competition. The project application should attempt to address these criteria explicitly:  

1. The level and nature of benefits;
2. The creativity of the solutions or programs;
3. Whether the project or program results are apparent;
4. The cost effectiveness of the activity or the program; and,
5. The transferability of the technology or idea to the port industry.

FEE & DEADLINES

1. The fee for each entry is $125. After submitting all entries electronically, CLICK HERE to  pay via credit card online. The submission fee must be paid before it can be considered by the judges.

2. Applications must be received by June 5, 2023. For applications submitted by the application deadline, check payments will be accepted after June 5, 2023 in a timely manner.

3. Applications may be submitted in in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) or Microsoft Word (.doc)

4. All entrants MUST download the PowerPoint slide template, insert the specified entry information and graphics into the slide, including the organization’s logo (on the bottom left side of the slide), and add as an attachment to each electronic entry submission to be eligible. One PowerPoint slide per entry is required.
5. Award winners will be highlighted at the AAPA Annual Convention.
6. In the event that a port is submitting more than one project, a separate application should accompany each project. However, ports can process payment for all applications in a single transaction.
For any questions regarding your submission, please reach out to Liz Mancini at Lmancini@aapa-ports.org.

USE OF AWARD APPLICATIONS

AAPA may post application summaries and/or complete application submissions on our website to highlight port technology projects. If you do not wish for AAPA to share your complete submission, please indicate so in your application and please indicate if the summary alone may be shared. 

The American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) 2022 Communications Awards Program offers the opportunity to showcase your port’s skills and talents in the areas of public/community relations, public affairs and marketing communications. Winning entries will be announced at AAPA's Annual Convention and Exhibition. The highest scoring entry in each of the competition's three port resources categories will receive an Award of Overall Communications Excellence trophy.


PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

 Sponsored by AAPA’s Public Relations Committee, the annual Communications Awards Program has recog­nized excellence in port communications since 1966. The purpose of the competition is to showcase the most effective products, programs and services that public port authorities design and produce to meet their shared mission and their public relations, advocacy, advertising, branding and marketing goals.


Eligibility

 AAPA’s 56th annual Communications Awards Program is open to all AAPA Corporate (i.e., port authority) members, as well as governmental and nonprofit Sustaining members representing seaports (such as inland port authorities, port associations and maritime exchanges).


PowerPoint Slide Requirement

All entrants MUST download the PowerPoint slide template, insert the specified entry information and graphics into the slide, including the organization’s logo (on the bottom left side of the slide), and add as an attachment to each electronic entry submission to be eligible. One PowerPoint slide per entry is required.


Entry Timeframe

 The AAPA Communications Awards Program will allow submissions that were produced, implemented and evaluated up to 24 months prior to the entry deadline. Previously entered submissions and any communica­tions older than 24 months are not eligible for judging in the 2022 competition.


Language Requirements

 Supporting materials, such as advertisements, videos, websites and periodicals, may be submitted in any language, but your electronic entry submission and answers to the required entry questions must be submitted in English only for the judges to read. The purpose of allowing supporting materials in languages other than English is to encourage submissions from all AAPA-member ports in the Western Hemisphere.


Returns

 Entries and (optional) supplemental materials that may accompany entries will not be returned. Please do not mail originals or the only copy of any print submission materials to AAPA.


Eligibility

 AAPA member ports and other eligible organizations may submit entries in one of three resource categories: Category 1 ports have a total annual marketing/PR/advertising budget less than US$300,000 (including related salaries); Category 2 ports have a total annual marketing/PR/advertising budget between US$300,000 and US$800,000 (including related salaries); and Category 3 ports have a total annual marketing/PR/advertising budget greater than US$800,000 (including related salaries).


Entry Classification Descriptions and Rules

 Resource categories should not be confused with entry classifications. There are 14 different entry classifi­cations, ranging from advertisements and periodicals, to videos, social media programs and websites. Click here to view the descriptions of, and rules for, each of the 14 entry classifications.  These are the same as last year.


Supplementary Materials

Please do not send in supplementary materials, like books, calendars, magazines, hats  and t-shirts, to complement your online entry. Thank you.


The deadline for electronic entries and entry fees or invoice requests to reach AAPA headquarters is 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time), June 5, 2023.

Judging Criteria

 Entries are judged by an independent panel of senior communications professionals on the basis of:
(1) how well the entry correlates to a defined communications challenge or opportunity (10%);
(2) the extent to which the entry complements the port’s mission and overall communications program objectives (10%);
(3) how well the entry summarizes the planning and programming components (10%);
(4) how well the entry explains the communications actions and outputs that were undertaken (10%);
(5) how well the entry defines the methods used to evaluate outcomes (10%); and
(6) the overall quality and appeal of the entry (50%).


Entry Scoring and Awards

 Each entry will be judged on a 100-point scale. Awards of Excellence will go to entries with scores above 90. Awards of Distinction will be given to entries scoring between 80 and 90, while Awards of Merit will go to entries scoring between 70 and 80.  In addition, the highest scoring entry in each of the three resource categories (Categories 1, 2 and 3) will receive an Award of Overall Communications Excellence trophy for that category.  


 Online Entry Fee and Payment

 The fee for each entry is US $125. After uploading all entries electronically, CLICK HERE to pay via credit card online. The submission fee must be paid before it can be considered by the judges. Please contact AAPA's Jen Wilk at (703) 254-7098 or jwilk@aapa-ports.org if you have questions.