Ports of Indiana will join the American Association of Port Authorities to celebrate the fifth annual “Western Hemisphere Ports Day” on April 5.
The day commemorates the maritime industry’s role in the nation’s economy, but this year will focus on the role of ports during the COVID-19 global pandemic response and recovery.
The 2020 Ports Day theme, On The Front Lines, recognizes the dedication, sacrifice and professionalism of the port industry workforce in their collective efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus while ensuring a steady flow of vital goods and services.
“We are pleased to observe Ports Day for the fifth consecutive year as part of our ongoing commitment to remind our communities and its leaders about the important role we play to Indiana’s economy and the connections across the U.S. and international markets to provide goods that impact our everyday lives,” said Vanta Coda, CEO of the Ports of Indiana. “Especially during the global pandemic, we are incredibly grateful to our staff and companies, including supply chain managers who are working tirelessly to keep cargo moving to ensure that the goods we need are available when and where we need them.”
In the U.S., more than 652,000 maritime-industry professionals work daily to ensure cargo and cruise and ferry travelers move efficiently through the nation’s ports. Through passenger and crew screenings, vessel quarantines and other measures, seaports are committed to flattening the curve, both domestically and among our critical trading partners around the world, port officials said.
From 2017 to 2019, Indiana’s three ports handled 39 million tons of cargo—the highest three-year total since the state’s first port opened in 1970, port officials said. Maritime operations at the state’s three ports contribute more than $7.8 billion in total economic activity annually to regional economies and support nearly 60,000 jobs.
