AAPA’s 2025 Lighthouse Awards celebrated programs and projects that stand out as a beacon of excellence across the port industry. The Lighthouse Awards featured 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.
New for 2025, the Maritime Innovator of the Year Award spotlit a program or project that featured a standout product, technology, or service that enhances port operations, safety, sustainability, and/or efficiency. This prestigious award was exclusively for AAPA Industry Solution Provider (ISP) members.
Administrative Practices - Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Stockton "Tenants Job Board"
Achievement – Portos do Paraná "Integrated data for smart decisions Ports of Paraná"
Cruise Practices – Small Port Category
Excellence – Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority "Cruise the Great Lakes: Elevating a Region through Strategic Cruise Public Relations"
Economic Development Practices – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Stockton "Tenants Job Board"
Achievement – The Port of Hueneme "From Catch to Commerce: Squid Relocation Connecting Ports & People for Prosperity"
Environmental Practices – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Everett "Decarbonization Analytics for Port Equipment (DAPE) pilot project for port efficiencies"
Achievement – Portos do Paraná "Sustainable Communities Project - Eufrasina Island"
Environmental Practices – Small Port Category
Excellence – Port Pascagoula "Advancing Environmental Excellence through Green Marine Certification"
Facility and Infrastructure Development - Studies, Plans and/or Designs
Excellence – PortMiami "PortMiami Shore Power Program"
Achievement – The Port of Hueneme "From Catch to Commerce: Squid Relocation Connecting Ports & People for Prosperity"
Financial Practices – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Everett "Millwright Loop Roads Project Financing Partnership"
Public Relations - Community/Educational Outreach – Large Port Category
Excellence – Maryland Port Administration "MPA TERP Program"
Achievement – Port of Vancouver USA "Port of Vancouver USA’s 2025 Lecture Series"
Achievement - Port of Grays Harbor "Try-A-Trade"
Public Relations - Community/Educational Outreach – Small Port Category
Excellence – Port Pascagoula “From Dock to Classroom: Building Port Pascagoula’s Maritime Awareness Program from the Ground Up”
Achievement – Port of Redwood City "Port of Redwood City Annual Drone Show Event"
Public Relations - Public Relations Campaign – Large Port Category
Excellence – Portos do Paraná "Between the port and the city - Strategic communication and port-city relations"
Achievement – Maryland Port Administration "Port of Baltimore Key Bridge Recovery Campaign"
Achievement – Port of Everett "PORTS Public Relations & Branding Campaign"
Public Relations - Public Relations Campaign – Small Port Category
Excellence – Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority "Cruise the Great Lakes: Elevating a Region through Strategic Cruise Public Relations"
Public Relations - Print or Digital Media Communications – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Corpus Christi "PORTraits"
Achievement – Port of Vancouver "USA Port of Vancouver USA’s 2025 State of the “Port Report”"
Public Relations - Print or Digital Media Communications – Small Port Category
Excellence – The Port of Cleveland "Made in America: How the Port of Cleveland Supports the Region’s Economy"
Achievement – Port of Albany, NY "Port of Albany, NY Expansion Videos"
Security Practices – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Corpus Christi "Optics 3D Active Digital Twin"
Achievement – Port Tampa Bay "Port Tampa Bay Storm Hardened Heavy Weather Building Project"
Technology Solutions – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Corpus Christi "Optics 3D Active Digital Twin"
Achievement – Port of Everett "Decarbonization Analytics for Port Equipment (DAPE) pilot project for port efficiencies"
Maritime Innovation
Excellence – igus, Inc. "iMSPO – igus Mobile Shore Power Outlet: Leveraging New Technologies and Lessons Learned for Future-Proof Investment"
Achievement – Jacobs Engineering "Digital Analysis of Port Equipment (DAPE)"
