Port of San Diego Celebrates Public Works Re-Accreditation and Project Awards

The Port of San Diego has been awarded National Accreditation through the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the third time in eight years.

The Port first received National Accreditation through APWA in July 2017 and again in July 2021. The Port of San Diego is the first port in the United States to be recognized with this distinction and is one of only two accredited public agencies in San Diego County. Agencies must apply for re-accreditation every four years to ensure manage­ment practices are updated to reflect the current industry.

"We like to say we are a Port of firsts, and this re-accreditation exemplifies just that," said Chair Danielle Moore, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. "This recognition helps illustrate how our team is leading the way as a public agency, consistently delivering excellence in management and execution of public works projects so we can best serve the community and fulfill our mission."

To earn re-accreditation, the Port's Engineering-Construction team completed a five-phase process that includes completing a self-assessment, identifying and implementing improve­ments, and a thorough audit and evaluation by APWA's Accreditation Council.

Project Awards

In addition to achieving re-accreditation, the Port's Engineering-Construction department was re­cently awarded two Project of the Year awards from the APWA San Diego & Imperial Counties Chapter, and an Outstanding Airports and Ports Award from the San Diego Section of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

• Project of the Year - Parks: This award recognizes the team's work on building Sweetwater Park. Sweetwater Park is part of the Chula Vista Bayfront redevelopment, and it is the Port's newest and largest park. This project involved multi-agency coordination, climate resiliency, and thoughtful community engagement, which helps set the standard for future parks and public access along San Diego Bay.

• Project of the Year - Utilities: This award recognizes the team's successful implementation of electrical improvements at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT). This includes the effort to up­grade the terminal's electrical infrastructure to support new all-electric cargo handling equipment. Despite the challenges of working within an active terminal, the project was de­livered on time, under budget and with no operational disruptions.

• Outstanding Airports and Ports Award: Electrical improvements at TAMT were also recently recognized by ASCE. The project supports the Port's transition to a zero-emissions future, and its success reflects the team's outstanding construction management, environmental stewardship, and strategic coordination.