The Association of Pacific Ports (APP), established in 1913, was founded with the goal of bringing together port administrators along the Pacific Rim to collaboratively explore maritime development trends and enhance the quality and efficiency of port management in the region. APP regularly conducts annual winter and summer conferences, providing a platform for the exchange of professional knowledge and practical experience among ports in the Pacific region. Its primary members include port authorities, port management committees, cargo handling equipment suppliers, consulting firms, and other related entities and personnel. The ports of Keelung, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hualien joined the APP as individual port members. This membership structure has been maintained after the organizational restructuring.
In 2015, TIPC hosted APP’s 102nd Annual Conference, which was attended by 18 international guests representing 8 ports from 6 countries. 9 years later, TIPC once again hosted the 110th Annual Conference from August 11 to August 14, 2024, with 72 distinguished delegates representing 30 ports from 9 countries, marking a notable rise in the number of member ports attending the meeting in Taiwan.
The 2024 APP Annual Conference was conducted on August 11 at the Port of Kaohsiung Cruise Terminal, with subsequent events held at the InterContinental Hotel Kaohsiung. The agenda included Pacific Policy Forum chaired by the US Maritime Administration, a keynote speech on creating a sustainable future for ports given by Deputy Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach, Dr. Noel Hacegaba, updates on recent developments of member ports, and networking opportunities with port-related industry stakeholders. During the meeting, TIPC also shared highlights of Taiwan ports’ achievements in smart ports, sustainable ports, and alternative energy. Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan) Ltd. was invited to share its green smart port operations and delegates were taken on a guided tour of the smart yard operations at Container Terminals 6 and 7 of Intercontinental Container Terminal, which was a fulfilling experience for all the guests.
On this occasion, Kaohsiung Port also established sister port agreements with the Port of Long Beach in the United States and the Port of Majuro in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, both of which are members of the association. As both Kaohsiung and Long Beach are key ports along trans-Pacific trade routes, the sister port partnership signifies a mutual commitment to future collaboration in green port and sustainable development initiatives, while fulfilling President Lai’s vision after his meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Republic of the Marshall Islands (Nitijela) in July. Sister port partnership between Kaohsiung and Majuro ports aims to leverage Taiwan ports’ extensive operation experiences to foster ongoing exchanges and collaboration with Majuro Port.
The four-day annual conference saw enthusiastic discussions among domestic and international professionals in maritime and port operations, fully demonstrating Taiwan’s soft power in promoting port diplomacy. It also deepened the connection between Taiwan’s port ecosystem and the Pacific port regional network. The event concluded successfully with the handover to next year’s host port, the Port of Nanaimo in Canada.
