Associations

Founded in 1912, AAPA today represents 140 of the leading seaport authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 300 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in seaports. The volume of cargo shipped by water is expected to dramatically increase by 2020 and the number of passengers traveling through seaports will continue to grow. To meet these demands, the AAPA and its members are committed to keeping seaports navigable, secure and sustainable.

The American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) is an organization representing the interests of the public port authorities on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes. The organization works to inform and influence public policies, primarily at the federal level, that foster maritime commerce and related employment in the Great Lakes region.

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP) is the broadest coalition ever assembled to represent the U.S. maritime industry. AMP’s membership includes vessel owners and operators, shipboard and shoreside workers, shipbuilders and repair yards, equipment manufacturers and vendors, dredging and marine construction contractors, maritime trade associations and national security organizations. All recognize that a strong domestic maritime industry is critical for America’s economic, national, and homeland security, and is best supported by maintaining the Jones Act as the foundation of American maritime policy.

The American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) is the leading professional engineering society for engineers, scientists and allied professionals who conceive, design, develop, test, construct, outfit, operate and maintain complex naval and maritime ships, submarines and aircraft and their associated systems and subsystems.  ASNE also serves the educators who train the professionals, researchers who develop related technology, and students who are preparing for the profession.  Society activities provide support for the U.S. Navy; U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Marine Corps; U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. Army. ASNE is the seventh oldest technical society in the United States.  It was founded in 1888 by a group of naval engineering pioneers, most of them officers of the U.S. Navy’s Engineering Corps, who sought a unified approach to their profession in order to make the most of new advances in technology.

The Association of Canadian Port Authorities was founded in 1958 and groups together ports and related marine interests into one national association. ACPA represents all Canadian Port Authorities, various government entities and companies doing business in the marine sector, and is the leading Association for the advocacy and advancement of the Canadian Port Industry. ACPA members contribute significantly to the local, regional and national economy of Canada, responsible for over 213,000 direct and indirect jobs and handling over $200 billion worth of goods annually.

The BC Marine Terminal Operators Association is the voice of marine terminals in British Columbia. It is dedicated to safe, high quality and reliable movement of goods through B.C.’s ports. Established in November 1963, the BC Marine Terminal Operators Association has been actively engaged with all stakeholders to ensure that Canada’s Pacific Gateway delivers sustainable, competitive terminal capacity to meet Canada’s growing international trade in exports and imports.

Blue Sky Maritime Coalition is a not-for-profit strategic alliance committed to accelerate the transition of waterborne transportation in the United States and Canada towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions. As a partnership among industry, government, education, research, end users and other organizations representing all aspects of the maritime value chain in North America, Blue Sky Maritime Coalition is developing and executing a roadmap to achieve a commercially viable net zero emissions waterborne logistics sector. Membership in the coalition is open to all stakeholders participating towards achieving the coalition’s stated objectives.

The Canadian Marine Industries and Shipbuilding Association (CMISA) is the national body giving a strong voice to these suppliers, service providers and builders since its creation in 2018. CMISA’s wide-ranging support includes a forum that facilitates the successful collaboration by members across the country. The association is also working to make a broad range of information resources available to its members and the public.

The Canadian Marine Pilots’ Association was founded in 1966 to foster public awareness of the role of marine pilots in protecting public safety and the environment, and to work with other marine stakeholders to ensure a vibrant and healthy marine sector. The CMPA represents virtually all of Canada’s 400 pilots. As a national body, the CMPA is concerned with all marine issues as they affect pilots – whether expressed through legislation, regulation, policy reviews or industry consultations.

The Chamber of Marine Commerce is a bi-national association that represents more than 130 marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as domestic and international ship owners. The Chamber has merged with the Canadian Shipowners Association, combining resources to advocate for an efficient regulatory climate that promotes a strong and competitive marine industry for the benefit of all industry stakeholders throughout the bi-national Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region and along the eastern seaboard and northern coasts.  Based in Ottawa, Canada, the merged entity will continue to be called the Chamber of Marine Commerce.

Based in Washington DC, the Chamber of Shipping of America is a nonprofit US national ship owners’ trade association with 34 member companies. It focuses on compliance programs for large oceangoing ships for both existing and future regulatory initiatives. The issues are worked at the international level (International Maritime Organization) as well as US federal and state levels, including the coast guard (USCG), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Chamber of Shipping of British Columbia represents vessel owners, operators and shipping agencies engaged in international trade through Canada’s Pacific gateway.  The association fosters the development of collaborative solutions and promotes the development of effective and responsive legislation that continues to support a robust and sound shipping industry.

The mandate of the Council of Marine Carrier is to further the interests and to conserve the rights of members of the Council and to promote their general welfare. The Council’s role is to formulate and advocate policies, legislation and regulations that are beneficial to the tug and barge industry. The Council of Marine Carriers represents the membership in all matters before the appropriate governmental and industrial agencies.

COMPASS is a national non-profit association based in Newfoundland and Labrador with a mission to promote the development of the marine sector through awareness, advocacy and education through its shipping, oil and gas, and fisheries membership.

Founded in 2000, Cruise the Saint Lawrence brings together as an association nine ports of call along the Saint Lawrence River: Montreal, Trois-Rivières, Quebec City, Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Sept-Îles, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands. The association has as its mission is to further the growth of the cruise market within Quebec in sustainable ways by offering development and marketing services to its members. Cruise the Saint Lawrence is supported by Tourisme Québec, l’Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec, and Canada Economic Development as its partners.

The International Ship-Owners Alliance of Canada mission is to promote the interests of shipowners/operators with a presence in Canada. ISAC’s role is to monitor relevant marine policy and legislative developments and represent its members’ interests before the federal and provincial governments of Canada as well as other national and international organizations and regulatory authorities.

Since 1880, the Lake Carriers Association (LCA) has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry, infrastructure, and energy: iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand. LCA’s mission is to promote the common interests of U.S.-flag vessel operators on the Great Lakes by creating change and recognition through legislative and regulatory matters. The association aims to educate legislators, regulators and the general public on the role of Great Lakes shipping in the American economy and maximize the efficiencies of waterborne commerce in a manner that respects our environment.

The Michigan Aggregates Association promotes best practices for safe and efficient aggregate production, responsible environmental stewardship and reasonable material specifications for our members. Through community involvement, the association educates the public and creates a sustainable industry for future generations by providing materials used by Michigan citizens in their daily lives.

NAMEPA is an independent, marine industry-led association that engages maritime businesses, government and the public to “Save our Seas” by promoting sound environmental practices. NAMEPA operates as a non-governmental organization committed to preserving the marine environment by educating seafarers, port communities and students about the need and strategies for protecting this important global resource

The North Atlantic Ports Association Inc. was founded in New York City by a group of port and terminal operators meeting at the Biltmore Hotel on March 4, 1949. The association was created to discuss common issues among seaports and that continues to be its role. One of the oldest and most active of associations of this kind, it has approximately 100 members. They are all connected to seaports and ocean commerce in some way and include: terminal operators, stevedores, port authorities, governmental agencies, non-profits, consultants, academics, maritime lawyers, ships’ agents – all located between Virginia and the Canadian Maritimes. Our member ports are in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, Norfolk and many other points between. The members are interested in expanding trade among nations and in helping their local communities to prosper through increased ocean commerce. By joining forces under the umbrella of the North Atlantic Ports Association, the members are better able to fulfil their responsibilities of efficiency, fairness, safety, stewardship, regulatory compliance, ethics and preparedness for the future.

The Shipping Federation of Canada, incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1903, is the association that represents and promotes the interests of the owners, operators and agents of ships involved in Canada’s world trade. The Federation’s member companies are involved in all sectors of the shipping industry, including dry bulk, liquid bulk, container and cruise. The Federation’s key activities are to provide advocacy for the ocean shipping industry; offer operational support to its membership; disseminate information to members, governments and the general public; and provide training to members and other industry stakeholders.

SNAME is an internationally recognized non-profit, professional society of individual members serving the maritime and offshore industries and their suppliers. For many, SNAME has been essential to career development and success in the industry. With more than 6,000 members around the world in 85 countries, SNAME is THE International Community for Maritime and Ocean Professionals!

Since 1985, SODES has been a key player in promoting the St. Lawrence region’s economic activity and growth. It advocates on behalf of the marine community by representing its interests and projects in all forums and before all bodies concerned with the St. Lawrence region’s economic future. By working with its numerous members from various backgrounds, SODES strives to further the sustainable development of the St. Lawrence.

St. Lawrence Shipoperators’ mission is to represent and promote the interests of Canadian shipoperators in order to support their growth and develop shipping on the St. Lawrence River.

The American Waterways Operators (AWO) is the national advocate for the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry, which provides the United States with safe, environmentally friendly, and economical freight transportation. More than 300 AWO members operate within U.S. waters. Their 40,000-vessel domestic maritime fleet moves 760 million tons of vital commodities safely, which provides family-wage jobs for tens of thousands of Americans while reducing highway congestion, air emissions and water pollution. AWO promotes the industry’s long-term economic soundness as it also works to enhance its ability to provide safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible transportation.

The USGLSA was established in 1956 to support the work of U.S. vessel agents. Originally based in Chicago, the Association now handles vessel agent issues throughout the entire U.S. Great Lakes – from Duluth, MN to the U.S. Seaway locks in Massena, NY. The Association stays current on regulatory, legislative, and operations policy changes as they may impact commercial vessel operations in the Great Lakes. The Association is active in monitoring programs, regulations and issues.

The Vancouver Maritime Centre for Climate (VMCC) is a grassroots industry-led initiative dedicated to accelerating the transition of shipping in British Columbia to a zero-emissions industry. VMCC recognizes that maritime operators face huge current and approaching regulatory hurdles in terms of emissions reduction and ultimately elimination with no clear path to meet such targets. The organization is working to bring together key players to share information and experience to facilitate the quicker mobilization and implementation of green technologies. The goal is to help ship owners and supporting land-based infrastructure to achieve zero-emission operations faster. VMCC’s practical, results-driven approach includes helping to commercialize products offered by local technology and service providers by giving them access to a large member platform and discussion forums.

Washington Maritime Blue is a not-for-profit strategic alliance formed to accelerate innovation and sustainability in support of an inclusive blue economy. With a mission to implement Washington State’s Strategy for the Blue Economy delivered by Governor Jay Inslee’s Maritime Innovation Advisory Council, the alliance is a partnership among industry, the public sector, research and training institutions, as well as community organizations. Washington Maritime Blue works to create a thriving world-class equitable and sustainable maritime and ocean industry through knowledge sharing, joint innovation, entrepreneurship, commercialization, business and workforce development.

The Washington Maritime Federation is comprised of maritime, economic development and business organizations that have come together to support the maritime industry. By bringing together these representatives and supporters of the many diverse segments of the maritime industry, and the greater business community at large, the Washington Maritime Federation will build consensus, provide a unified voice for the industry and join together to drive change in matters of common interest.

The Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) promotes the interests of the port community through effective government relations, ongoing education, and strong advocacy programs.

Wisconsin Ports serves as the public voice, organizational advocate and go-to resource for the importance of Wisconsin’s port industry. Surrounded by Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and the Mississippi River, the State of Wisconsin is essential to maritime transportation in the United States. Wisconsin’s ports contribute to the state’s economy and the wellbeing of its waterfront communities. Wisconsin Ports’ mission is to promote and sustainably enhance waterborne transportation within the state’s 14 port cities as well as Wisconsin’s overall maritime economy.