Continuing a long tradition of excellence, Ports® '28 will be the 18th in a series of international port and harbor development specialty conferences held on a triennial basis since 1977. This immensely successful series of conferences has consistently drawn an international audience of port, harbor, waterway, and marine professionals who come to share their knowledge and learn from the experiences of others. The papers and presentations promise to cover a broad spectrum of topics dealing with a multitude of issues facing the ports and harbors community.
Professionals from around the globe are expected to share their endeavors in the planning, financing, permitting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and security of port facilities. Those who attend the conference will leave with a greater understanding of the challenges faced by their peers, and gain valuable insight into how those challenges were overcome.
Due to the overwhelming response to past calls for papers and the success of the Ports conference series, Ports® '28 will maintain an expanded and diverse technical program. This expanded program provides additional opportunities to present ideas and experiences—including entire sessions devoted to panel/round-table discussions of timely topics and vendor presentations of materials, processes, and equipment relevant to the maritime development community.
The Ports® Conference series is internationally recognized as an outstanding opportunity to network with hundreds of professionals who share similar challenges and concerns. Please join us in Mobile, Alabama, on Monday, May 21 - Thursday, May 25 2028. Share your valuable experience with the global ports and harbors development community by submitting an abstract for consideration. The COPRI Ports and Harbors Committee invites you to become part of the Ports® Conference tradition of advancing the art and science of port engineering and improving our maritime world.
Ports® '28 Organizing Committee
- General Conference Chair: Bradley Syler, P.E. S.E., M.ASCE, Marine Solutions, Inc.
- Technical Chair: Brian Phan, P.E., , M.ASCE, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
- Moderator Chair: Cheryl Coviello, P.E., BC.CE, M.ASCE, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
- Gala co-Chair: Carlos Pena, P.E., M.ASCE, Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC
- Gala co-Chair: LCDR Jon Benvenuto, P.E., PMP, M.ASCE, United States Coast Guard
- Sponsorship & Exhibits Chair: Matthew Donahue, P.E., C.Eng, BC.PE, M.ASCE, Structura Management, PLLC
- Plenary Chair: Daniel O'Connor, P.E., M.ASCE, Collins Engineers, Inc.
- Technical Short Course Chair: Brian DeBaun, P.E., M.ASCE
- Technical Tours Chair: Danielle Goudreau, P.E., M.ASCE, Collins Engineers, Inc.
- Student & Younger Member Chair: Brad Koch, P.E., M.ASCE, Marine Solutions, Inc.
- Sustainability Chair: Anna Dix, P.E., M.ASCE, Liftech Consultants, Inc.
- PIANC Liaison: William Logan, Institute for Water Resources, USACE
- Local co-Advisors: Doug Otto, P.E., M.ASCE, Alabama State Port Authority
- Local co-Advisors: Marcus Coleman, P.E., M.ASCE, Alabama State Port Authority
- Student & Younger Member Poster Session Lead:
- Student Paper Competition Lead:
- "Ports 101" Lead:
Past Conference Proceedings
- Ports® 2025: Port Engineering
- Ports® 2025: Planning & Management
- Ports® 2022: Port Engineering
- Ports® 2022: Port Planning & Development
- Ports® 2019: Port Engineering
- Ports® 2019: Port Planning and Development
- Ports® 2016: Port Engineering
- Ports® 2016: Port Planning and Development
About COPRI
Created in 2000, the Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute (COPRI) is a semi-autonomous institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the country’s oldest national engineering society. COPRI’s services are designed to complement ASCE’s traditional civil engineering base, and attract non-engineering allied professionals who seek to enhance their professional and technical development.
COPRI serves its membership and society by uniting the disciplines working to sustainably develop, protect and restore coasts, oceans, ports, waterways, rivers and wetlands; integrating the key stakeholders into decision-making processes; advancing technological state of art and practice; and influencing public policy.