Friday, August 16, 2019

Everett Names Lefeber as CEO

By Karen Robes Meeks

Deputy Executive Director Lisa Lefeber will become the Port of Everett’s new CEO, making her the first woman to lead the port in its 100-year history.

The commission this week approved her contract, which will take effect Oct. 16.

“It’s an honor to welcome Lisa into this historic role,” Port Commissioner Glen Bachman said. “She is a strong leader dedicated to this Port District and our greater community. We are lucky to have her and the creative foresight she brings to this organization that helps grow our economy, create and protect jobs and enhance livability in our county.”

She takes over for outgoing Port CEO Les Reardanz, who will move back to Bellingham to care for his aging parents and focus on his expanded military responsibilities.

Lefeber has been with the port since 2005, serving as Chief of Policy and Communications, then Deputy Executive Director.

She was chosen in 2016 to oversee the port’s seaport modernization efforts, which includes more than $100 million in infrastructure spending. In 2018, she was acting CEO when Reardanz was deployed to Afghanistan “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead an organization in a community that has become home to me,” Lefeber said. “I have a strong passion for the Port of Everett and the surrounding community, and I look forward to continuing on in my predecessors’ footsteps of building a balanced waterfront that supports commerce, Navy operations, jobs, recreation and creates a destination on the beautiful Everett waterfront. I am also excited to grow and diversify the Port to help our surrounding communities with job growth.”

Lefeber, who is in the American Association of Port Authorities Professional Port Management Program, earned her master’s degree in public administration from Seattle University and an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Western Washington University.

Long Beach Funds Environmental Projects

By Karen Robes Meeks

This week the Port of Long Beach will fund 16 area projects that improve air quality and energy use. More than $1.3 million was given by the port through its Community Grants Program, which was created in 2016 to help curb environmental impact to port operations.

Those that received funding include YMCA of Greater Long Beach ($16,538); Pacific Baptist School in Long Beach ($26,288); Gaines Elementary School in Paramount ($22,431); The Salvation Army Long Beach Corps and Community Center for two projects ($333,068) and Camp Fire Angeles for two projects at DeForest Park ($111,137).

“We facilitate the nation’s trade at the Port of Long Beach, but it’s important for us to share the economic benefits more directly with our surrounding communities,” said Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “These projects will help people using these facilities breathe cleaner air and result in less electricity being used.”

Lynden Transport Wins 7th Logistics Award

By Karen Robes Meeks

For the seventh straight year, Lynden Transport secured its No. 1 ranking and 23rd overall award in the 36th annual Logistics Management Quest for Quality Awards, considered “the highest measure of customer satisfaction and performance excellence in the transportation and logistics industry.”

Lynden earned the highest scores among “Less-than-Truckload (LTL) western regional carriers in the on-time performance and information technology categories” and garnered the highest overall weighted score.

“Although this is our seventh award in seven years, it is still exciting and gratifying to be recognized by our customers for the work we do each day,” said Lynden Transport President Paul Grimaldi. “Our industry is rapidly changing with the demands of e-commerce and the pressure of quicker delivery expectations. This award lets us know that we are not only keeping pace with industry changes, we are doing it while providing exceptional customer service. As always, credit goes to our hard-working drivers, customer service representatives, support staff and the entire Lynden Transport team.”

Oakland's Busiest Month

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Oakland handles 90,598 TEUs in imports last month, the busiest month in the port’s 92-year history and the first time it surpassed the 90,000 TEU mark in a single month.

It broke the previous record of 87,207 containers set in June 2018, according to recent statistics released by the port. Imports in July were also up 7.5 percent from July 2018.

“This is the fourth-time import volume has increased in the past five months,” pointed out Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “This demonstrates the continued strength of the US economy and consumer purchasing power.”

Exports in July were also up 10.2 percent from July 2018, making it five months in a row of year-over-year growth in exports. How the new tariffs on Chinese imports, with some expected to take effect on Sept. 1, will affect Oakland’s numbers remains uncertain.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

New Cargo Record for Port of LA

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Los Angeles set a new single-month record for cargo volumes for the fourth consecutive month, according to the numbers released Monday. The nation’s busiest seaport handled 912,154 TEUs, making it the busiest July in the port’s 112-year history.

Imports jumped 8.7 percent to 476,438 TEUs, while exports dipped 4 percent to 161,340 TEUs. Empty containers, which are sent overseas to be refilled with goods, soared 20.7 percent to 274,376 TEUs year over year.

July 2019 was the port’s third busiest month and the fourth time it moved more than 900,000 TEUs.

“Container exchange per vessel reached 9,915 TEUs, the highest and most efficient level we’ve ever experienced,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Despite the continued decline in exports and high level of uncertainty driven by trade tensions, we continue to optimize our facilities and are grateful for the support and confidence of our supply chain partners.”

Cargo volumes are 6 percent higher in the first seven months of 2019 when compared to the same period in 2018, which was a record year for Los Angeles.

Long Beach Cargo Slumps

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Long Beach saw its monthly cargo volumes fall when compared to last July.

According to port statistics released Monday, Long Beach moved 621,780 TEUs, which is 9.7 percent less than July 2018. Meanwhile, imports were down 9.9 percent to 313,350 TEUs, and exports fell 6.8 percent to 111,654 TEUs. Empty saw an 11 percent decline to 196,777 TEUs.

“The trade war is hitting the West Coast hard,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “For more than a year, the supply chain has bent under the weight, and there’s very little give left. If the tariffs continue and escalate as planned next month, American consumers could see higher prices during the holiday season as businesses pass along their costs.”

The port has handled more than 4.3 million TEUs so far this year, down 7.2 percent from the same period last year.

Fairbanks Center Trains Kodiak Firemen

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Kodiak Fire Department recently hosted a six-day training course presented by the Fairbanks-based Lynden Training Center.

For the last six months, the Training Center has worked with the Alaska Fire Marshal's office to become accredited to teach the General Technical Rescuer class, the first of its kind to be taught in Alaska for State of Alaska certification, according to Tyler Bones, director of HSSE.

"It's rare that new courses are added to the state's accreditation list, so our training center being the first shows what a great working relationship we have with the state," Bones said.

Lynden has been providing training to the Kodiak Fire Department for the last two years. In 2018, firefighters used what they learned from the Confined Space Rescue course to respond to a fishing vessel rescue.

"Tyler and Don have provided incredibly technical and thorough training for our department in both Confined Space Rescue and most recently, the first-ever State of Alaska General Technical Rescuer," said Kodiak Fire Chief Jim Mullican. "Their expertise and professionalism allowed my staff to practice in real-world situations, honing their skills in a positive learning environment. It is a pleasure to work with two top-notch instructors."

Port of Longview Honored by AAPA

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Longview recently earned two Awards of Excellence from the American Association of Port Authorities’ 53rd annual Communications Awards Program.

The program, which recognizes seaports in the Western Hemisphere for outstanding communications projects, gave Longview the highest score in the Audio Only Presentations category for its Port Talk Radio series, a one-minute radio version of the port’s monthly newsletter.

Longview was also honor in the Visual Only Presentations category for its 64-foot, outdoor educational display at the 2018 Cowlitz County fair.

Longview has garnered such recognition in the last four editions of the national contest. This time around, the port competed against the Port of New Orleans, Port of New York/New Jersey, as well as ports in the Gulf Coast.

“Year after year I continue to be impressed with our communications staff,” said Port Commission President Doug Averett. “I am exceedingly proud of their creativity and commitment to teaching the community about the complexities of the port, as are my fellow commissioners.”