AAPA 2026 Convention Spotlights AI, Cybersecurity for Ports

A Dedicated Track for Digital Port Transformation

According to a report published by The Maritime Executive on behalf of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the organization’s upcoming Annual Convention & Expo will feature a track titled “The Digital Arrival: AI Efficiencies & Mission-Critical Cyber Defense.” Scheduled to run alongside the broader event under the banner “Ports Built to Lead,” the sessions are designed to help port authorities modernize data systems, strengthen cyber resilience, and connect fragmented operations into a coherent decision-making structure.

What’s on the Agenda

The source outlines three sessions planned for Convention Day 2 on Wednesday, September 30:

• Steering Through Data: A Framework for Unified Port Decisions — presented by Jonathan Benezry of Schneider Electric, this session proposes a “system-of-systems” method for merging operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) data streams — covering terminal systems, energy platforms, maintenance tools, and logistics applications — into a single contextualized view without replacing existing infrastructure.

• Connecting Teams, Improving Visibility & Modernizing Port Operations through Digital Transformation — a case study from the Port of Corpus Christi, presented with Tectonic executives Tom Groom and Brian McAllister alongside PCC’s Yudi Takizawa. The port reportedly struggled with information scattered across spreadsheets, emails, and paper records, and worked with Tectonic to expand its Salesforce platform to better track stakeholder engagement and business opportunities, resulting in improved cross-department communication and more consistent processes.

• From Strategy to Systems: Modernizing Ports with Edge AI and Cybersecurity by Design — led by Intel’s Megha Sarang, this session examines how Vision AI, edge computing platforms, and cybersecurity-by-design principles can be combined to support operational efficiency, safety, and reliability at ports undergoing infrastructure upgrades.

The source notes that dates, speakers, and content remain subject to change at AAPA’s discretion, and registration fees are non-refundable.

Why This Matters for Port-Facing Operators

While the convention track is aimed primarily at port authority staff and technology vendors, the themes it raises are directly relevant to ship owners, managers, and charterers who depend on ports for berthing, cargo handling, and bunkering. A port’s ability to unify OT and IT data — connecting terminal operations, energy management, and maintenance records into one operational picture — has a knock-on effect on vessel turnaround times, scheduling reliability, and the accuracy of information shared with visiting ships. Ports still relying on siloed spreadsheets and manual processes, as described in the Port of Corpus Christi case, are more prone to communication gaps that can delay surveys, inspections, and cargo operations conducted by third-party providers.

Cybersecurity-by-design is arguably the more consequential thread for the wider industry. As ports adopt edge AI and networked infrastructure to improve efficiency, they also expand the attack surface for cyber incidents that can ripple outward to shipping schedules, terminal access systems, and even documentation exchanged during vessel inspections. For technical superintendents coordinating condition surveys, bunker surveys, or cargo hold inspections at increasingly digitized terminals, this raises a practical question: how resilient are a port’s systems if a cyber incident disrupts data exchange during an inspection window? Owners and managers scheduling surveys at ports undergoing this kind of digital transition should factor in contingency planning for potential IT/OT outages, just as they would for weather or berth congestion delays.

Looking Ahead

The AAPA convention track reflects a broader industry pattern: port authorities are treating data unification and cybersecurity not as back-office IT concerns but as core operational priorities tied directly to safety and reliability. As more ports pursue these upgrades, the vessels calling on them — and the surveyors and inspectors working within port boundaries — will increasingly need to understand how digital resilience at the terminal level affects the reliability of physical operations ashore.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.