Friday, January 29, 2021

Mariners Sought for Mental Health Survey

The U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System COVID-19 Working Group is seeking mariners to anonymously weigh in on a 10-minute survey called “Mariner Mental Health Needs during Covid-19.”

The survey – which can be found at https://redcap.link/mariners and is available until May 31 – asks U.S. mariners about COVID-19, mental health and how they feel being on a vessel amid the pandemic. No identifying information will be collected. Results will be used to create solutions that will improve the mental well-being of mariners.

“Survey participation from a significant portion of the mariners in each industry segment is critical to understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their mental health,” the organization said.

Dr. Marissa Baker, Assistant Professor & Industrial Hygiene Program Director, University of Washington School of Public Health, is conducting the independent survey.

For questions about the survey, reach out to Baker at bakermg@uw.edu, and Nuns Jain, Staff Lead, C-19 WG, at C19WG@cmts.gov.

USCG Cutter Polar Star Patrolled
Bering Sea Border

Crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star recently joined a Russian Border Guard AN-26 aircraft crew in patrolling the 1,700-mile area along the Bering Sea that borders the U.S. and Russia.

The Russian Border Guard Directorate for the Eastern Arctic District and the Coast Guard Seventeenth District in Juneau, Alaska, were in communications before the crews headed out in support of agreements that allow them to work together on various operations such as search and rescue and illegal fishing enforcement.

"The United States Coast Guard works diligently to maintain a unique cooperative relationship with the Russian Border Guard in an effort to enhance the protection of shared interests in and around the Arctic region,” Capt. Jason Brennell, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District said in a statement. “The coordinated communications exercises on the high seas these past weeks with Polar Star demonstrate a recognition of the importance of that relationship.”

Port of Grays Harbor Partners on COVID-19 Vaccination Site

The Port of Grays Harbor has teamed up with county health, hospital and community members to establish a site for administering COVID-19 vaccinations to residents beginning this week.

The port collaborated for weeks with the Grays Harbor County Public Health COVID-19 Incident Management Team, Grays Harbor Community Hospital and the U.S. Coast Guard to secure a site within the seaport complex.

Vaccinations are being offered only by appointment only and prioritizes county residents who fall under Phase 1A and Phase 1B Tier 1 of the Washington State Department of Health’s Vaccination Distribution Plan such as high risk health care workers, first responders, those ages 65 and older and residents 50 years and older who are part of multigenerational households, the port said.

“The port is honored to partner with our local emergency management and health officials to provide a site for mass vaccinations for our community,” Port Commission President Stan Pinnick said. “We applaud and thank all our staff and the many partners that have helped make this possible for the community.”

Visit http://www.healthygh.org/directory/covid19/or call the COVID-19 Call Center at 360-964-1850 for more. The Call Center is open Mon -Fri from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Washington Maritime Innovation Accelerator Program Launches

Eleven start-up companies are expected to participate in the State of Washington’s Maritime Innovation Accelerator program.

The program launched by Maritime Blue, a statewide group of those in the maritime industry, the state Department of Commerce, and the Port of Seattle, is designed to nurture the firms developing new technology and advancements in the maritime industry, which generates an annual economic impact of more than $37 billion and approximately 69,500 jobs.

“Now is a crucial moment to support and invest in the innovation clusters and clean technologies that will strengthen Washington’s economy and create good jobs for the future in communities all over the state,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “The Washington Maritime Blue Innovation Accelerator is a prime example of our state’s commitment to resilience, innovation, and equity in our key industry sectors.”

Participating companies include Allosense, Inc., Canscan Tech, Future Sight AR, Lockstep AI, Marine Construction Technologies, Mariner Credential Service, OpenTug, Pacific Mobility, Puget Buoy, Silverback Marine, and Virgil Software.

“Washington state’s innovative spirit is part of the DNA that has made our maritime, aviation, and technology sectors globally competitive. Drawing from our region’s wealth of talent, mentors will help winners of the second Maritime Blue Accelerator to develop their products and create jobs of the future,” said Port Commission President Fred Felleman. “As a public agency, the port is committed to fostering an economy that floats all boats that can sail on healthy seas. Projects like these that spur sustainable maritime businesses are key to our ability to build back better.”

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Port of Long Beach Nets AAPA Honors

American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) recently honored the Port of Long Beach for its “outstanding information management and engineering projects” at its annual conference.

The port was recognized for “Pilot Slips Application,” an online system that shows ship moves at the port, as well as those at the Port of Los Angeles. It netted an Information Technology Distinction award in the Port Operations and Management Systems category.

“Temporary Berth Assignments,” designed to track temporary berthing data, also garnered an award in the same category, the port said.

The port – in collaboration with Cavotec and International Transportation Service – also received a Facilities Engineering Award for the “Port of Long Beach Smart eTruck Charging,” offering a “hands-free charging solution for electric yard tractors, as part of a zero-emissions vehicle demonstration at the port.”

“Being recognized in this way by our peers is gratifying,” said Executive Director Mario Cordero. “I’m much appreciative of our team, which works hard each day to build a port that looks to the future, delivering the efficient services our customers expect while being socially responsible to our community.”

U.S. Coast Guard Responds to Anacortes
Storm Damage

A storm that battered the Pacific Northwest recently resulted in a submerged pier and some vessels, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard responded to a call about a 300-foot by 50-foot concrete floating pier that sank around Lovric's Sea-Craft in Anacortes with three vessels attached to it. The Hellen S tugboat and the decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter Acushnet had to be untangled from its mooring. A decommissioned 100-foot vessel, the Chilkat, broke free and sank near the Guemes Island ferry terminal in Anacortes.

No one was on any of the affected vessels and no pollution had been detected, the USCG said.

“This was an unfortunate incident," said Chief Petty Officer Kevin Ouyoumjian, Federal On Scene Coordinator’s Representative, Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound’s Incident Management Division. “However, the immediate actions of the Lovric Sea-Craft marina prevented it from becoming a catastrophe. Also, the power of these winter storms should remind all mariners of the importance of securely mooring vessels at all docks and marinas.”

Coos Bay North Jetty Repairs Part of U.S. Army Corps 2021 Plan

An additional $34.65 million toward repairing the North Jetty will be part of the United States Army Corps of Engineers 2021 work plan under the Major Maintenance and Repair program, the Port of Coos Bay announced Jan. 21.

The port was told through Representative Peter DeFazio’s office that the work would be included.

The jetty has been annually eroding by 20 feet, causing a total of 900 feet lost since being built in 1929. The Army Corps’ project involves adding about 120’-150’ to the length of the jetty, stabilizing the jetty’s head and appending rock to the trunk and root to further shore up the jetty.

“This work will be critical in ensuring the safety of mariners transiting in and out of the Coos Bay harbor,” the port said, adding that DaFazio advocated for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to be used for this work.

SEA LINC Project Nets Official U.S. DOT Designation

The U.S. Department of Transportation has given an official designation to the Port of Hueneme’s Spurring Economic Advantages with Logistical Investments for New Connectivity (SEA LINC) project.

It is the first time a project has received the designation on the West Coast since the American Marine Highways Program started in 2007, the port announced earlier this month.

The project looks to curb cargo traffic from highways by instead moving that cargo to barge along Marine Highway 5, which will help lower traffic and pollution and create less impact on road infrastructure.

“The successful designation of this project is another example of how we are thinking outside of the box to grow our services at the Port, while reducing the impacts on our environment,” said Oxnard Harbor District Board President Jess J. Ramirez. “I would like to thank our federal partners at the Maritime Administration (MARAD), Congresswoman Brownley, Congressman Carbajal, and Senator Feinstein for their support on this project and continued work to improve our nation’s goods movement supply chains.”