NEW ORLEANS—July 8, 2019—The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas, acknowledged the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) with 10 communications awards as part of the trade association’s 53nd annual Communications Awards Program which honors member seaports for exemplary communications projects and programs.

In addition to receiving five Awards of Excellence and three Awards of Distinction this year, Port NOLA claimed one of the AAPA’s top communications prizes for its first annual Shippers Summit event: The 2019 Overall Award of Communications Excellence trophies went to Port Milwaukee (Category 1), Port of New Orleans (Category 2), and Port of San Diego (Category 3).

"The Port of New Orleans is proud to be honored by our peers for our strategic communications within our local community and throughout the maritime industry,” said Brandy D. Christian, Port of New Orleans President and CEO. “Our communications efforts play an important role in conveying the importance of Port NOLA as an economic engine and as a modern global gateway."

Port NOLA’s winning entries include:

• Overall Award of Communications Excellence – Special Events: Shippers Summit
• Award of Excellence – Overall Campaign:2018 Maritime Month Campaign
• Award of Excellence – Promotional/ Advocacy: Economic Impact Brochure
• Award of Excellence – Promotional/ Advocacy: Coloring and Activity Book
• Award of Excellence – Videos: Generations Working for You
• Award of Excellence – Videos: Galvanizing the Gateway
• Award of Excellence – Website: portnola.com
• Award of Distinction – Directories/Handbooks:Gateway Review
• Award of Distinction – Miscellaneous: Cruise Exhibition Booth
• Award of Distinction – Periodicals: Port Record

“The Communications Awards Program judges told us that this year’s entries set a new, higher standard of excellence than ever before,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s President and CEO. “This competition helps our member ports by rewarding strategic communications through peer-reviewed analyses of their programs and projects, and by showcasing best practices and lessons learned.”

“When port authorities communicate strategically with their many audiences, including their communities, business leaders and policymakers, they’re better able to show their tremendous value as drivers of economic development, environmental enhancement and job creation,” said Nagle.

The 2019 AAPA Communications Awards Program utilized 32 professional public relations practitioners from the Washington, D.C.-area who cumulatively spent 128 hours over two weeks judging the 15 classifications of entries, ranging from advertisements, periodicals, videos and websites, to social media and overall campaigns.

About AAPA

Founded in 1912 and recognized as the unified voice of seaports in the Americas, AAPA today represents 130 of the leading seaport authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 200 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in seaports. According to IHS Markit’s World Trade Service, combined international sea trade moving through Western Hemisphere ports in 2017 totaled 4.303 billion metric tons in volume and US$2.675 trillion in value. Of that total, ports in Central and South America handled 1.741 billion metric tons of cargo valued at US$1.024 trillion, while North American ports handled 1.90 billion metric tons of goods, valued at US$2.305 trillion. To meet the growing demand for trade, AAPA and its members are committed to keeping seaports navigable, secure and sustainable. For more information, visit www.aapa-ports.org. On Twitter: http://twitter.com/AAPA_Seaports.