The American Association of Port Authorities on Wednesday lauded the billions of dollars in port investment included in the proposed American Jobs Plan recently announced by President Joe Biden.
The plan calls for $17 billion to be allocated for U.S. ports, waterways, and gateways, “a substantial down payment on the $29 billion in federal investments necessary to modernizing our ports and ensuring that our trade infrastructure remains strong,” according to the AAPA.
“America’s ports connect the nation’s small businesses, farmers, and manufacturers to the global marketplace,” the organization said in a statement, adding that seaports bring $5.4 trillion in economic value and 31 million jobs.
“Investment in port infrastructure supports the growth of opportunity throughout the national economy and ensures continued global competitiveness,” the AAPA stated. “America’s ports look forward to working with President Biden and bipartisan leaders in Congress to advance significant investments in our nation’s infrastructure.”
Friday, April 2, 2021
NOAA Launches New Forecast Models
to Help Mariners
Mariners and emergency responders travelling along the West Coast and Northern Gulf of Mexico will soon be able to receive more navigational insight on the areas’ coastal conditions, thanks to a pair of new models announced Wednesday by NOAA.
The new coastal condition forecast models, which will offer “continuous quality-controlled data on water levels, currents, water temperature and salinity out to 72 hours,” will be part of a group of 13 other models located throughout U.S. waters.
The Northern Gulf of Mexico model, in particular, unifies three other models and expands the coverage from the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge, Lake Pontchartrain and Bartaria Bay in Louisiana, and along the Corpus Christi waterways and to the Mexico border. The seaports covered by this model are some of the busiest in the nation in terms of tonnage, energy, value and other measures.
“The West Coast model will help the Coast Guard with search and rescue and has implications for other stakeholder groups, such as navigation, shipping, and fisheries,” Nicole LeBoeuf, acting director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, explained. “The Gulf model improves the safety of marine navigation in an area vital to the safe movement of energy resources and other shipping.”
The new coastal condition forecast models, which will offer “continuous quality-controlled data on water levels, currents, water temperature and salinity out to 72 hours,” will be part of a group of 13 other models located throughout U.S. waters.
The Northern Gulf of Mexico model, in particular, unifies three other models and expands the coverage from the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge, Lake Pontchartrain and Bartaria Bay in Louisiana, and along the Corpus Christi waterways and to the Mexico border. The seaports covered by this model are some of the busiest in the nation in terms of tonnage, energy, value and other measures.
“The West Coast model will help the Coast Guard with search and rescue and has implications for other stakeholder groups, such as navigation, shipping, and fisheries,” Nicole LeBoeuf, acting director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, explained. “The Gulf model improves the safety of marine navigation in an area vital to the safe movement of energy resources and other shipping.”
2 New Appointees Join Port of Portland Commission
Two new appointees of Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, Ketan Sampat and Stuart Strader, are now sitting members of the Port of Portland Commission.
The Senate-approved commissioners’ terms began March 15.
Sampat, co-founder and chief technology & product officer at The Provenance Chain Network and executive partner at Elevate Capital, takes over for Commissioner Tom Tsuruta, and represents Washington County. Strader, a longshore worker and union leader, replaces Linda Pearce as the port’s Clackamas County representative.
“I want to thank Tom Tsuruta and Linda Pearce for their years of service, and welcome Ketan Sampat and Stuart Strader to the Port of Portland Commission,” Brown said in a statement. “The Port Commission plays a key role in creating new statewide economic opportunities, and Ketan and Stuart’s combined years of experience and leadership will help ensure our marine ports and air terminals continue to keep Oregonians connected to the competitive, global economy.”
The Senate-approved commissioners’ terms began March 15.
Sampat, co-founder and chief technology & product officer at The Provenance Chain Network and executive partner at Elevate Capital, takes over for Commissioner Tom Tsuruta, and represents Washington County. Strader, a longshore worker and union leader, replaces Linda Pearce as the port’s Clackamas County representative.
“I want to thank Tom Tsuruta and Linda Pearce for their years of service, and welcome Ketan Sampat and Stuart Strader to the Port of Portland Commission,” Brown said in a statement. “The Port Commission plays a key role in creating new statewide economic opportunities, and Ketan and Stuart’s combined years of experience and leadership will help ensure our marine ports and air terminals continue to keep Oregonians connected to the competitive, global economy.”
Port of San Diego Women Honored by Business Journal
Port of San Diego Engineering & Construction Department employees Perla Goco and Ani Mehra have been chosen as Women of Influence in Engineering by the San Diego Business Journal.
The honor spotlights forward-thinking females who push forward their organization’s goals and bring major projects to the finish line.
Goco, who has been with the port for 21 years, has designed over 50 capital and major maintenance projects in San Diego, including street and park LED retrofitting projects in the port district, resulting in 280,000 kw of electricity and $60,000 in utility cost savings annually to the port.
Mehra, who came to the port in 2019, is a project manager for the port’s major maintenance projects, and leads the port’s Reintegration and Reopening Committee to plan and enact safety procedures to return staffers to port facilities.
“We are fortunate to have women like Perla Goco and Ani Mehra on the Port’s Engineering & Construction team,” Port President and CEO Joe Stuyvesant said. “Both of them have worked on major cost-saving infrastructure projects around San Diego Bay that have improved the quality of life for our visitors and residents.”
The honor spotlights forward-thinking females who push forward their organization’s goals and bring major projects to the finish line.
Goco, who has been with the port for 21 years, has designed over 50 capital and major maintenance projects in San Diego, including street and park LED retrofitting projects in the port district, resulting in 280,000 kw of electricity and $60,000 in utility cost savings annually to the port.
Mehra, who came to the port in 2019, is a project manager for the port’s major maintenance projects, and leads the port’s Reintegration and Reopening Committee to plan and enact safety procedures to return staffers to port facilities.
“We are fortunate to have women like Perla Goco and Ani Mehra on the Port’s Engineering & Construction team,” Port President and CEO Joe Stuyvesant said. “Both of them have worked on major cost-saving infrastructure projects around San Diego Bay that have improved the quality of life for our visitors and residents.”
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Port of Vancouver USA Welcomes New Tenant
The Port of Vancouver USA has welcomed its newest tenant, Rocket Delivery Inc., to its complex, the port announced March 25.
The company, which has been in the Vancouver community since 2006, offers short-haul logistics services to businesses and residents in the Oregon and Washington state area. Rocket Delivery has worked with national and global companies such as Home Depot, Office Depot and Estes Express Lines.
The firm moved into the more than 10,200-square-foot warehouse space after port commissioners approved its three-year lease in August, the port said, adding that facility improvements such as energy efficient lighting were completed in the space prior to the company moving in.
“The port is thrilled to welcome another local company to our family of tenants,” said port director of business development Mike Schiller. “We’re excited to be a part of Rocket Delivery’s next steps in expanding their business.”
The company, which has been in the Vancouver community since 2006, offers short-haul logistics services to businesses and residents in the Oregon and Washington state area. Rocket Delivery has worked with national and global companies such as Home Depot, Office Depot and Estes Express Lines.
The firm moved into the more than 10,200-square-foot warehouse space after port commissioners approved its three-year lease in August, the port said, adding that facility improvements such as energy efficient lighting were completed in the space prior to the company moving in.
“The port is thrilled to welcome another local company to our family of tenants,” said port director of business development Mike Schiller. “We’re excited to be a part of Rocket Delivery’s next steps in expanding their business.”
Port of San Diego to Update Clean Air Plan
The public can weigh in on the discussion draft of the Port of San Diego’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS), which the port is developing in an effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality while it grows business efficiently and sustainably.
The strategy updates the port’s 2007 Clean Air Program, and will outline emission-curbing efforts in seven areas: cargo handling equipment, commercial harbor craft, trucks, the port fleet, shipyards, ocean vessels and freight rail.
“The MCAS will help the port determine which efforts are feasible and how they should be prioritized and/or phased in over time,” according to the port. “The MCAS is also intended to help clarify the role the port may play in supporting our tenants and terminal operators with transitioning to zero and near-zero emission technologies.”
Once feedback on the draft is received, port staff is expected to come before the board in May for direction.
The port will host a virtual community conversation on the draft at 5 p.m. on April 7. To sign up, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KcQj39R4Raiq6cB4v33I6w. The port is accepting input until April 20 via email at MCAS@portofsandiego.org.
More information is available at portofsandiego.org/MCAS.
The strategy updates the port’s 2007 Clean Air Program, and will outline emission-curbing efforts in seven areas: cargo handling equipment, commercial harbor craft, trucks, the port fleet, shipyards, ocean vessels and freight rail.
“The MCAS will help the port determine which efforts are feasible and how they should be prioritized and/or phased in over time,” according to the port. “The MCAS is also intended to help clarify the role the port may play in supporting our tenants and terminal operators with transitioning to zero and near-zero emission technologies.”
Once feedback on the draft is received, port staff is expected to come before the board in May for direction.
The port will host a virtual community conversation on the draft at 5 p.m. on April 7. To sign up, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KcQj39R4Raiq6cB4v33I6w. The port is accepting input until April 20 via email at MCAS@portofsandiego.org.
More information is available at portofsandiego.org/MCAS.
Aloha Marine Lines Carries Heaviest Load
to Hawaii
Aloha Marine Lines Voyage H0497W recently reached a major milestone when it moved its heaviest-ever load of cargo from Seattle to Hawaii.
The Namakani barge, which left in December was close to capacity with 691 picks and 1,032 TEUs, according to Aloha Marine Lines Seattle Service Center Manager Tom Crescenzi.
"We still have a little more tonnage we could get on board, but not much,” he revealed. “The barge capacity is 16,850 tons and the sailing carried 13,158 tons of cargo plus the weight of the containers, dunnage, etc."v Hawaii-based Aloha Marine Lines, which is part of the Lynden family of companies, acquired two large barges from Sause Brothers in 2020, allowing for the capacity expansion, Lynden said.
The Namakani barge, which left in December was close to capacity with 691 picks and 1,032 TEUs, according to Aloha Marine Lines Seattle Service Center Manager Tom Crescenzi.
"We still have a little more tonnage we could get on board, but not much,” he revealed. “The barge capacity is 16,850 tons and the sailing carried 13,158 tons of cargo plus the weight of the containers, dunnage, etc."v Hawaii-based Aloha Marine Lines, which is part of the Lynden family of companies, acquired two large barges from Sause Brothers in 2020, allowing for the capacity expansion, Lynden said.
POLB Harbor Board Names New Executive Officer
Longtime Long Beach city and harbor employee Shana Espinoza has been promoted to Executive Officer to the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, the group that governs the Port of Long Beach, the port announced March 23.
In her new role, Espinoza will help the commissioners on policy matters, develop the board’s agenda, set up trade missions and conferences, organize the board’s administrative and communications activities.
Espinoza started at the city of Long Beach 22 years ago as a special projects assistant for the Department of Economic Development, in June 1998. She then served as the director of scheduling for Mayor Beverly O’Neill from 2000 to 2006, then as an agenda coordinator for the City Manager’s Office from 2006 to 2007.
She joined the Harbor Department in November 2007 as an executive assistant to the board, rising to become a Commission Administrative Officer in June 2013 and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Board in June 2018. Since September, Espinoza has been serving as Acting Chief of Staff to the Board.
“We selected Shana because she has proven herself to be a trusted adviser we’ve come to rely on,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “Her leadership skills and unique experience in working with this Commission will help strengthen our ties with the Harbor Department’s executive team, industry leaders and the community.”
In her new role, Espinoza will help the commissioners on policy matters, develop the board’s agenda, set up trade missions and conferences, organize the board’s administrative and communications activities.
Espinoza started at the city of Long Beach 22 years ago as a special projects assistant for the Department of Economic Development, in June 1998. She then served as the director of scheduling for Mayor Beverly O’Neill from 2000 to 2006, then as an agenda coordinator for the City Manager’s Office from 2006 to 2007.
She joined the Harbor Department in November 2007 as an executive assistant to the board, rising to become a Commission Administrative Officer in June 2013 and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Board in June 2018. Since September, Espinoza has been serving as Acting Chief of Staff to the Board.
“We selected Shana because she has proven herself to be a trusted adviser we’ve come to rely on,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “Her leadership skills and unique experience in working with this Commission will help strengthen our ties with the Harbor Department’s executive team, industry leaders and the community.”
