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AAPA US policy agenda spans speed caps, CBP staffing, fuelsAAPA US policy agenda spans speed caps, CBP staffing, fuels

This eight-point agenda will serve as an advocacy guide to inform the federal government and industry of ports' top policy priorities.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

January 15, 2025

3 Min Read
AAPA staff have already begun meeting with key members of Congress on eight priority policies for America's portsPHOTO: ANNE KALOSH

The American Association of Port Authorities' policy agenda for the 119th US Congress and the incoming Trump administration includes cruise-relevant matters.

Among these are vessel speed restrictions, funding for Customs and Border Protection staffing and support for the development of additional maritime fuels such as biofuels, LNG, hydrogen and methanol.

Input from more than 80 ports

AAPA developed its agenda with extensive input from its more than 80 member public port authorities and will serve as an advocacy guide to inform the federal government and industry of the port industry’s top policy priorities.

'There’s no such thing as a strong America without strong ports,' AAPA President and CEO Cary Davis said. 'America’s ports are key to the nation’s economic health and global competitiveness. As trade and cargo volumes continue to grow, our nation’s ports must continue working with the federal government to invest in and build the next generation of port infrastructure so we can deliver for America.'

America’s ports have eight primary policy priorities for the new Congress and Trump administration. AAPA staff have already begun meeting with key members of Congress and industry to advocate for these and will continue to do so. This includes at AAPA's 2025 Legislative Summit, March 18-20 in Washington, DC, alongside hundreds of port and maritime executives.

Related:AAPA warns on Biden administration's whale-safety speed cap

Meetings with Trump transition team

Recently Davis and John Bressler, VP government relations, met with President-elect Trump’s transition team, as well as US Department of Transportation Secretary nominee Sean Duffy’s team, to amplify the policy agenda and received 'encouraging feedback.'

The policy agenda includes reauthorizing oversubscribed mainstay infrastructure grant programs, ensuring timely passage of navigation channel funding, opposing tariffs, reforming burdensome federal permitting, pushing back against and educating stakeholders on the harmful effects of vessel speed restrictions, empowering ports to power America with an 'all of the above' energy strategy, securing ports and their assets from potential threats with the necessary resources and personnel and expediting 'Build America Buy America' waivers and incentivizing domestic manufacturing of ship-to-shore cranes.

Vessel speed restrictions

Concerning some issues that specifically touch on cruise operations, for example, vessel speed restrictions, AAPA urged more resources for ports, pilots and all maritime stakeholders to test and employ technologies to detect the presence of and avoid marine mammals.

Environment and energy

AAPA encouraged the development of additional fuels in the maritime industry, including biofuels, LNG, hydrogen, methanol and others. 'As competitors abroad develop innovative new maritime fueling infrastructure, the US should keep pace by building out new energy production and infrastructure,' the association said.

Security funding

While AAPA did not specifically single out CBP staffing for passenger vessel inspections, it said Congress does not provide sufficient funding to hire the staff CBP needs to inspect incoming and outbound cargo. With a wave of officer retirements incoming, and cargo volumes only expected to increase, 'Congress must provide funding to hire the staff necessary to inspect cargo at port terminals.'

Download the policy agenda

 AAPA’s full Policy Agenda for the 119th Congress may be downloaded at https://aapa.cms-plus.com/files/AAPA%5F119th%20Congress%20Policy%20Agenda.pdf

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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