By Mark Edward Nero
The Port of Tacoma on March 25 recognized its relationships with customers and stakeholders by honoring three of them for their contributions to port business and the Pierce County community.
Recipients of the fourth annual Summit Awards were named during the port’s annual breakfast. They are: Harley Marine Services, which received the Environmental Stewardship award; the Tacoma Seafarers’ Center, which received the Livable Community award; and Regal Logistics, which earned the Business Magnet award.
Seattle-based tug and barge company Harley Marine was honored for focusing on using the newest and best engines, installing shore power when possible and instituting company-wide recycling initiatives.
Thus far, the company has replaced 12 vessel engines, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 47 percent and particulate matter by 57 percent. Harley Marine also recycles its waste oil and bilge water, as well as plastic, aluminum, glass, paper and composting. Its 2011 “Go Paperless!” initiative reduced paper use by 37 percent.
Award honoree Tacoma Seafarers’ Center has been a Port of Tacoma tenant since 1978. The non-profit organization’s roster of 25 volunteers serves more than 10,000 seafarers on more than 700 ships each year. The center offers Internet connections, phones, refreshments, television, reading material, a chapel, a sundry store and local transportation to seafarers who arrive on cargo ships.
Last Christmas, the center distributed 1,700 gift boxes to 86 ships.
Regal Logistics has provided warehousing, distribution and logistics services to port customers since 1984. The company tracks goods in real time from when they land at the Port of Tacoma until they reach store shelves. Regal employed more than 125 full-time local workers in 2014, as well as another 100 to 300 seasonal staff.
The three award recipients were selected by a panel of community and business leaders led by port Commissioner Connie Bacon.
