The AAPA Lighthouse Awards recognize programs and projects that illuminate excellence in the port industry. 

The Port Awards feature award specialty areas and categories that align with the goals of AAPA’s Technical Committees, recognizing various facets of port and maritime activities. The dedication of each committee to support these awards highlights AAPA's collective goal: to honor and inspire excellence in the port industry.  

The NEW Beacon of Excellence Award honors the single most impactful port submission across all categories, recognizing outstanding innovation, problem-solving, and measurable results. The top two scoring entries from each Port Awards category are eligible for consideration. The Maritime Innovator of the Year Award spotlights a program or project that features a standout product, technology, or service that enhances port operations, safety, sustainability, and/or efficiency. This prestigious award is exclusively for AAPA Industry Solution Provider (ISP) members.

 ELIGIBILITY

• Only AAPA Port members are eligible to apply for the Port Awards, including members from the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Latin American delegations.  
• Only AAPA ISP members (suppliers, vendors, and technology providers) are eligible to apply for the Maritime Innovator of the Year Award.  
• For their award, ports/ISPs may include supporting applicant(s) as part of their application if they wish to highlight a partnership with another public or private entity. 
• Applications will be accepted only for maritime-related programs/projects that have been completed within the past 12 months. For construction projects, the completed elements should be functional and operational, serving their intended purpose effectively. 
• Entries will not be eligible for submission if they have been previously entered in prior years. However, if significant modifications have been made to a project, those entries will be considered. In such cases, it is imperative to clearly state and detail the changes made to the project since its last submission.  
• A completed program/project must have tangible results or outcomes that can be evaluated and measured against the stated objectives.

 All entries must be submitted through Submittable no later than June 12, 2026. Finalists will be notified by email in early August.  

PORT AWARDS

Ports will have the opportunity to apply for Awards of Excellence in 9 specialty areas: Administration, Cruise, Economic Development, Environment, Facilities and Infrastructure Development, Finance, Public Relations/Communications, Security, and Technology. Within each specialty, there are two award categories, except the Public Relations/Communications Awards which include 6 award categories. Most specialties have separate award categories for large and small ports to ensure ports are recognized for their achievements relative to their size and resources. A port's size is distinguished based on the following criterion:

• Small port has fewer than 55 full-time employees (FTEs) and less than $25 million in annual revenues.
• Large port has 55 or more FTEs and annual revenues that equal or exceed $25 million.

The highest scoring entry in each of the competition's 22 categories will receive an Award of Excellence trophy. The second highest scoring entry in each category will receive a Certificate of Achievement, if it receives the minimum required score. This allows increased recognition of outstanding projects and programs within the Hemisphere's ports.

Each entry can be submitted for up to 2 award categories, and there is no limit to the number of entries a port can submit. For example, a port could submit an entry for a project that involves the development of a new cruise terminal with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. This project could be submitted for the Cruise Practices Award and the Facility and Infrastructure Development Award. An award submission may include components from other specialty areas, but each entry will be judged against other projects solely within that award category.

Beacon of Excellence Award The Beacon of Excellence Award honors the single most impactful port submission across all categories, recognizing outstanding innovation, problem-solving, and measurable results. The top two scoring entries from each Port Awards category are eligible for consideration. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Applications must be submitted electronically in Submittable and attachments should be in PDF format by the specified deadline, adhering to the prescribed format and submission requirements. All application should be submitted in English.

Each application entry should include the following elements:

1. An Application Form in Submittable that includes fields for the submittal title (100-character limit); port/ISP name; applicant point of contact, title, and contact information; supporting applicant(s) and contact information; entry award categories (up to two in Port Awards); status of the program/project; and a program/project summary (150-word limit). 
2. A Cover Page that includes the submittal title and photo/graphic, port or company name and logo, supporting applicant(s) names and logos (if applicable), award categories (up to two in Port Awards), and entry submittal date.
3. An Application that is single-spaced, using a standard 12-point font, 1-inch margins, and does not exceed 15 pages. Detailed reports, analyses, and photographs are not required, although, if available, may be included as an appendix that will not count toward the 15-page limit. Judges will not be required to review any appendices. Application requirements and award criteria are provided here.

AWARD FINALISTS AND WINNERS

Finalists will be announced in August. Winners will be announced at the AAPA Annual Convention in New Orleans. Finalists MUST complete a PowerPoint slide that includes specific entry information and graphics. A template will be provided by AAPA in your notification email. Any electronic media may be used for display and/or presentations, but the provision of such is the sole responsibility of the finalist.

CONSENT FOR USE OF APPLICATIONS

By submitting your application, you grant AAPA the right to share information about your project across AAPA communication channels. This includes, but is not limited to, AAPA social media platforms, websites, email newsletters, and magazine. Your participation helps us highlight and promote outstanding contributions to our industry.

For any questions regarding the AAPA Lighthouse Awards or your submission, please reach out to Lmancini@aapa-ports.org.