AAPA's 2026 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.
This year's honorees include Lighthouse Award of Excellence winners and Lighthouse Award of Distinction recipients, listed under each category as Excellence and Achievement.
New for 2026, the Beacon of Excellence Award recognized the single most impactful port submission as AAPA's highest port honor.
Beacon of Excellence Award
Port of Vancouver USA "Maritime Partnership with Cascadia Tech"
Port Awards
Administrative Practices – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Vancouver USA "Maritime Partnership with Cascadia Tech"
Achievement – Ports of Indiana "Students Name Port Locomotives"
Cruise Practices – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port Everglades "Find-a-Cruise: Helping Cruise Guests Navigate Their Options from Port Everglades"
Achievement – Port of Quebec "Multisensory Tourism Showcase"
Economic Development Practices – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Vancouver USA "Maritime Partnership with Cascadia Tech"
Achievement – Ports of Indiana "Indiana River & Rail Terminals: New Venture Creates Largest Ohio River General Cargo Terminal"
Economic Development Practices – Small Port Category
Excellence – Port of Albany, NY "Sponsorship of the Hudson River Trading Game Program in the Albany City Schools"
Achievement – Port of Albany, NY "High-Tech Machinery Exports in Albany, NY Reach Six-Year High"
Environmental Practices – Large Port Category
Excellence – Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority "83 Acres, 200+ Voices: Realizing the Largest Habitat Restoration Project in Maumee River History"
Achievement – The Northwest Seaport Alliance "Port of Tacoma/Northwest Seaport Alliance Aerial Monitoring Program"
Facility and Infrastructure Development - Studies, Plans and/or Designs
Excellence – Georgia Ports Authority "Gainesville Inland Port"
Achievement – Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District "Berths 4, 5, and 6 Wharf and Shed Reconstruction Project"
Facility and Infrastructure Development - Construction Practices
Excellence – Georgia Ports Authority "Gainesville Inland Port"
Achievement – Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District "Berths 4, 5, and 6 Wharf and Shed Reconstruction Project"
Financial Practices – Large Port Category
Excellence – Ports of Indiana "Hyper-Growth Financial Initiative"
Public Relations - Community/Educational Outreach – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port Houston "Anchored in Action: A Community Investment Plan"
Achievement – Ports of Indiana "Students Name Port Locomotives"
Public Relations - Community/Educational Outreach – Small Port Category
Excellence – Port of Albany, NY "Sponsorship of the Hudson River Trading Game Program in the Albany City Schools"
Achievement – Port Pascagoula "Digital Tides: Enhancing Maritime Awareness Through Strategic Social Media"
Public Relations - Public Relations Campaign – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Everett "Maritime Workforce Development Pipeline"
Achievement – Port of Long Beach "20 Years Leading Green Campaign"
Public Relations - Public Relations Campaign – Small Port Category
Excellence – PhilaPort "Making Your Day. Better."
Achievement – Port of Kalama "TradeWinds: Four Years of Strategic Evolution in Port Communications"
Public Relations - Print or Digital Media Communications – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Vancouver USA "2026 Community Awareness Digital Campaign"
Achievement – Port of Long Beach "Port of Long Beach Community Brochure"
Public Relations - Print or Digital Media Communications – Small Port Category
Excellence – PhilaPort "Making Your Day. Better."
Achievement – Port of Kalama "TradeWinds: Four Years of Strategic Evolution in Port Communications"
Security Practices – Large Port Category
Excellence – Port of Stockton "Integration of Random Anti-Terrorism Measures into Daily Port Police Operations"
Achievement – SeaPort Manatee "Integrated TWIC-Based Access Control & Operational Intelligence System"
Security Practices – Small Port Category
Excellence – Port Pascagoula "Eyes in the Sky: Advancing Port Security Through Real-Time Drone Detection"
Achievement – Port Pascagoula "Closing the Gap: Transforming Port-Wide Emergency Communication with ALERTUS"
Technology Solutions – Large Port Category
Excellence – SeaPort Manatee "Integrated TWIC-Based Access Control & Operational Intelligence System"
Achievement – The Northwest Seaport Alliance "Port of Tacoma/Northwest Seaport Alliance Aerial Monitoring Program"
Technology Solutions – Small Port Category
Excellence – Port Pascagoula "Eyes in the Sky: Advancing Port Security Through Real-Time Drone Detection"
Achievement – Port Pascagoula "Closing the Gap: Transforming Port-Wide Emergency Communication with ALERTUS"
