GHD maritime leaders discuss port industry trends on ACEC podcast

Two of our maritime and coastal leaders recently joined the American Council of Engineering Companies' (ACEC) Market Edge podcast to discuss the evolving dynamics shaping port development across North America.

Victor Tirado, Maritime and Coastal Market Sector Lead, and Michael Vanderbeek, North American Maritime and Coastal Planning Lead, explored how ports are adapting to rapid change across energy, funding and technology.

The conversation covered several critical shifts in the industry, including how ports are becoming energy hubs while managing traditional cargo operations. From electrification and microgrids to alternative fuels like methanol, LNG and hydrogen, the infrastructure demands are creating new planning challenges within limited space.

"Ports are not only international gateways for cargo, but now increasingly they're actually energy hubs as well," Michael explained during the episode.

The discussion also addressed evolving funding models as public port authorities reach debt capacity limits and increasingly rely on federal and state grants combined with private sector investment to deliver billion-dollar infrastructure projects.

Victor and Michael shared perspectives on market uncertainty from tariffs and trade diversification, the current pause in offshore wind development and how artificial intelligence and automation may impact port operations in the years ahead.

"It's definitely an all-inclusive shift," Victor noted, discussing how the industry is adapting across energy, funding and market dynamics.

About GHD

GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 12,000+ professionals is connected across 165 offices located on five continents.