The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), a trade group representing leading port authorities throughout the Western Hemisphere, has selected 20 seaports to be recognized for exemplary communication projects at its annual awards event later this summer. The Port of Grays Harbor, on Washington State’s Pacific Coast, received an Award of Merit for the website PortofGraysHarbor.com.

Websites were judged based on the information provided by the site, organization, and overall quality of the site.

“PortofGraysHarbor.com is our 24/7 communication tool,” noted Gary Nelson, Executive Director. “We designed the website to provide relevant information about our services and facilities to a variety of audiences -- from our trading partners around the world, to our citizens here in Grays Harbor. Our first priority was communicating the diverse activities and opportunities of our port in a visually pleasing and easy to use manner. This award reinforces what we have heard from our users, that the site is not only attractive, but effective.”

Using input from port staff, customers and the community, PortofGraysHarbor.com was created by a team comprised of Marc Sterling of Sterling Digital and Shelli Hopsecger of Coast Controls & Automation, Inc. The site features easy to navigate pull down menus highlighting the diverse facilities of the Port of Grays Harbor. Updated regularly, highlights of the site include a running slideshow on the home page, a newsroom with the latest news and photos of port activities, a vessel schedule and minutes of the latest Commission meeting.