Maritime 2025 Annual Review & Outlook
Executive Commentary
with terminal operators , shipping lines , cargo owners , international organizations and government agencies . We are proceeding under a framework for demonstrating the safety and feasibility of deploying the world ’ s first zero-carbon lifecycle container ship by 2030 . Our partners include C40 Cities , a global network of nearly 100 of the world ’ s largest cities working together to confront the climate crisis .
Rules-based trade fosters collaboration , and ports and the maritime industry have a proud track record of partnering for the greater good on which to build . In a rapidly changing world , our industry is uniquely positioned to lead the way for a more prosperous , secure and healthy future .
Prince Rupert Port Authority
Shaun Stevenson
President and CEO www . rupertport . com
The ability to accommodate increasing volumes while ensuring the efficient flow of containers is an enormous challenge for ports worldwide . At the Port of Prince Rupert , we recognize that our unique advantages as a largely greenfield port outside a large urban area could be leveraged to build a unique intermodal ecosystem integrating terminal operations , road and rail infrastructure , and large-scale import and export logistics capacity . Combined with a digital twin that establishes greater operational visibility and helps improve supply chain performance , the Port of Prince Rupert ’ s vision for a self-contained intermodal ecosystem maximizing efficiency , reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact is well underway .
Significant advancement is being made on the construction of CANX- PORT , a transformative , new largescale export logistics development providing expanded off-dock capacity for rail-to-container transloading . Ray-Mont Logistics will build and operate facilities on the 108-acre greenfield site , offering transloading
“ Because tariffs can negatively impact port throughput , port communities must be vocal about the benefits of trade , the dependence of exports on imports and the need for thoughtful policies around the emotional issue of trade .”
Jeff Theobald
“ Investing in supply chain efficiency and sustainability helps ports meet the challenges of increasing volumes and decarbonization targets .”
Shaun Stevenson
“ Strengthening shore leave provisions will advance seafarer recruitment and retention and assist shipowners in having the workforce needed to crew their vessels for the benefit of global trade and well-being .”
Rev . Mark S . Nestlehutt
Port of Philadelphia ( PhilaPort )
Jeff Theobald
Executive Director & CEO www . philaport . com
In 2025 , three of the most important challenges that ports will face are tariffs , capacity and the unknown .
Regardless of who wins the US elections , tariffs will be a big part of the global political landscape . Because tariffs can negatively impact port throughput , port communities must be vocal about the benefits of trade , the dependence of exports on imports and the need for thoughtful policies around the emotional issue of trade . The only way to grow ports is through growing trade , and low tariffs is the best way to accomplish this .
The second key issue is capacity . Ports always need more land , especially ports located in major urban areas . They need better road and rail capacity , and so they must work with state and local governments to build better inland infrastructure . And they must have deeper water . The ships keep getting bigger , so ports must dig deeper and have the ability to handle the biggest ships that come to their port range . This is another issue that will be determined by upcoming elections , and ports must be ready to effectively communicate with elected leaders .
Finally , ports must be ready for the unknown . While no planning can be perfect , the strategic planning process can help get the port community on the same page , and it provides a road map across the decades . Another way to be ready for the unknown is to have a diverse base of terminals . Volumes may change among cargo modes , so it is better to have a variety of facilities : container , breakbulk , auto , liquid bulk and cruise . This diversity gives a port the flexibility to face the future with confidence .
capacity for 400,000 TEUs of agricultural , forestry and plastic resin products , with room to expand to other cargoes in the future .
CANXPORT directly links to the 1.6 million TEUs of capacity at Fairview Container Terminal via a 3 mile private-haul road and rail expansion , fully contained within the intermodal ecosystem . This reroutes transloading traffic away from public roadways , reducing the distance and emissions for each truck trip by approximately 75 %. The electrification of transload facilities , optimization of rail and minimal truck drayage represent significant progress in decarbonizing Canada ’ s export supply chains .
Evolving to meet customer demands includes the introduction of import logistics via the South Kaien Import Logistics Park , supporting the growth of Fairview Container Terminal . Shippers want to supplement inland point intermodal volumes with
import transloading and warehousing at scale , enabling the Port of Prince Rupert to be a full-service gateway . Investing in supply chain efficiency and sustainability helps ports meet the challenges of increasing volumes and decarbonization targets .
Seamen ’ s Church Institute ( USA )
Rev . Mark S . Nestlehutt
President and Executive Director www . seamenschurch . org
One key challenge both liners and terminal operators face in 2025 is whether the tentative International Longshoremen ’ s Association settlement will hold . If it does , the major labor challenge will
50 Journal of Commerce | January 6 , 2025 www . joc . com