Friday, October 6, 2017

Bellingham Open for Shipping

By Karen Robes Meeks

For the first time in more than 17 years, Bellingham Shipping Terminal welcomed its first regular cargo shipment this week.

On October 3, the terminal welcomed the 590-foot cargo vessel M/V Diana Bolten, which spent the week in Bellingham before its departure.

“The Bellingham Shipping Terminal is open for business,” said Port Commission President Dan Robbins. “The Port has made significant investments to modernize this job-creating facility and bring back working waterfront jobs, which were lost when Georgia-Pacific shut down its pulp and paper mill. We are excited to welcome the M/V Diana Bolten to our port and look forward to regular shipping activity in the years to come.”

More Retail, Housing for Port of San Francisco

By Karen Robes Meeks

The San Francisco Port Commission recently approved the Pier 70 Mixed-Use Development Project, a 70-acre site near the city’s Dogpatch neighborhood.

The project, which still require final approval from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, has been more than 10 years in the making and includes the port’s ship repair facility and the Union Iron Works Historic District.

Developing the area known as the Pier 70 Special Use District will “reintegrate and restore 35 acres of Pier 70, rehabilitate three significant historic buildings, and create new connections to the Dogpatch neighborhood,” according to the port.

The project will also generate more than 500 affordable housing units and 28,000 new construction, office and retail jobs.

“This exciting new waterfront neighborhood will join community and industry, engaging residents, workers, artists and manufacturers in a lively mix of uses and activities throughout the site,” said Port Executive Director Elaine Forbes. “Once complete, Pier 70 will reflect the city’s diversity and creativity, inviting the public to new parks, restaurants, arts uses, event spaces and public access to the San Francisco Bay, in an area that has been closed to public access for more than a century.”

Port of San Diego Development Events

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of San Diego will be hosting two public events related to the development of the Port Master Plan Update as part of the Integrated Planning initiative.

On October 10, the Board of Port Commissioners will host a workshop to talk about Coastal Access and Recreation Element Policy Concepts and Land and Water Use Element Policy Concepts. The workshop will take place at 1 p.m. in the On October 12, the port will host an open house, using informal breakout-type sessions, to allow the public to ask questions, weigh in on the plan and chat with project team members.

The event will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Both meetings will be conducted at the Port of San Diego Administration Building, 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego 92101.

USCG Saves Alaska Fishermen

By Karen Robes Meeks

The US Coast Guard (USCG) recently saved the crew of the fishing vessel Tsimshain Lady after it began taking on water near Tamgas Harbor, Alaska.

Members of Coast Guard Cutter Anthony Petit offered a dewatering pump and secured the fishing vessel to the cutter until it could be handed off to a Station Ketchikan Response Boat - Medium crew, which towed it to Tamgas Harbor.

“We greatly appreciate the relay of the distress call from the crew of the fishing vessel Huntress,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Breanna Teffier, a Sector Juneau watchstander. “The information they provided to the crew of the Anthony Petit and our watchstanders allowed us to respond quickly and get the crew of the Tsimshain Lady to safety.”

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

San Francisco Waterfront Land

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of San Francisco is in the midst of updating its Waterfront Land Use Plan. The document outlines land use and urban design policies for the 7.5 miles of piers, shoreline and adjacent land from Fisherman’s Wharf to India Basin. The Waterfront Plan Working Group will be hosting meetings to shape recommendations for the update. Three subcommittees have been established to specifically address land use, resilience, and transportation issues.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Pier 1, Bayside Conference Rooms at the Embarcadero and Washington Street.

Visit http://sfport.com/waterfront-plan-update for more.

New Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner

By Karen Robes Meeks

Community advocate Lucia Moreno-Linares is the newest member of the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners.

Moreno-Linares, who was confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council, will take part in her first commission meeting on October 6, replacing Patricia Castellanos, who resigned to focus on a new career opportunity.

“The interests of surrounding neighborhoods should be at the center of every discussion about the operations and future of our Port – that’s why we need people like Lucia Moreno-Linares at the decision-making table,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti, who nominated Moreno-Linares. “Lucia has spent her life fighting for the residents and businesses of Wilmington, and she will be an excellent addition to the Harbor Commission.”

Moreno-Linares founded Wilmington Business Watch and Vecinos Unidos Neighborhood Watch and served on the Harbor Watts Economic Development Corporation, the Wilmington Senior Citizen Center Task Force, the LA County Small Business Commission and the LA Harbor Area Planning Commission.

“Lucia Moreno-Linares and her family have been model citizens of Wilmington, the Harbor Area and Los Angeles for an entire generation,” said Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino. “She is a woman of service, respected by her peers and I am proud to support Mayor Garcetti’s nomination of Lucia for the Harbor Board of Commissioners. Today we ensure that all Harbor Area residents have a voice in the decision-making process.”

Long Beach to hold FTZ Workshop

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Long Beach and the Foreign Trade Association on October 18 will host a “Maximizing Your Business Through Foreign Trade Zones” workshop.

The event will include industry and regulatory experts who will talk about how businesses may benefit from using foreign trade zones, which could help qualifying companies lower, defer or even eliminate the cost of customs duties.

The Long Beach port is part of Foreign Trade Zone 50 (FTZ-50), which encompasses Orange County, western San Bernardino County and most of Los Angeles County.

Admission is $60 until October 5; then it jumps to $75 for pre-registration and $80 if businesses register for the workshop on site. Lunch will be included.

The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Port of Long Beach Interim Administrative Offices, 4801 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach 90815.

Visit https://www.foreigntradeassociation.com/events for more.

Port of Coos Bay Honored

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay will be honored on October 4 by the American Association of Port of Authorities (AAPA) for its outstanding communication programs.

The port will accept its award at the AAPA’s 51st annual Communications Awards Program luncheon in Long Beach, California, where AAPA is also hosting its annual convention.

The port, which submitted the Coos Bay rail line Railroad Centennial project in the Special Events category, earned an Award of Excellence in AAPA’s Communications Competition. Coos Bay was among 18 recipients who received an Award of Excellence.

“Ports play an integral role in the economic development of their region and part of that role is to tell the story of the Port to our community, business leaders and policy makers,” said Coos Bay CEO John Burns. “The Coos Bay rail line Railroad Centennial was a platform for us to celebrate this region’s history with our community as well as look towards further economic development in the future. We want to thank the AAPA for recognizing these efforts, the stakeholders who made this event possible, and to all the attendees who came and celebrated with us.”