Leone named AAPA chairman

Leone named AAPA chairman    Mike Leone, director of the Port of Boston, has been named chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities.
   The top priorities facing ports, Leone said, are increasing capacity and securing trade routes, and finding funding for those priorities.
   “Seaports have not yet received nearly the amount of government funding that other facilities have,” Leone said. “There have been some grants, but they have been quite small compared to what is needed to further secure our maritime border.”
   In the next year, Leone said AAPA would focus its efforts on increasing government funding for port security. He is also concerned about overburdening ports with security costs that could stifle trade.
   “Since all U.S. ports will be seeking financial assistance from the federal government, we must work together with our industry partners to find solutions,” he said.