Friday, April 30, 2021

SpaceX Comes to Port of Long Beach

Space Explorations Technologies Corp. – the company commonly known as SpaceX - is coming to the Port of Long Beach.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved a new sublease contract that allows SpaceX to take over a 6.5-acre site on Pier T, which was previously used by longtime port tenant and commercial satellite launching firm Sea Launch. SpaceX will use the facility to dock vessels and unload equipment, the port said.

“We’re extremely pleased to reach an agreement that will bring Space Exploration Technologies Corp. to the Port of Long Beach,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “We welcome SpaceX to the Port family.”

SpaceX officially moves in on May 1.

“This is a good fit for the port, as we offer the industry-leading facilities and services that are perfectly suited to SpaceX’s mission,” said Port Executive Director Mario Cordero. “I would like to commend our port team, especially our real estate division, for developing this agreement with SpaceX.”

NWSA Welcomes New Service

The Northwest Seaport Alliance will soon welcome a new service to its Tacoma Harbor.

Starting in May, Tacoma’s Husky Terminal will be part of the MSC's Santana service, which also features stops in Yantian and Shanghai in China.

"The Tacoma Harbor has welcomed many extra-loader MSC vessels over the past few months, providing relief from congestion at other ports and further showing that our gateway has the capacity to meet growing demand now and in the future." NWSA's co-chair and Port of Tacoma Commission President Dick Marzano said. "We are thankful to our labor partners and the BNSF who have helped keep our gateway's operations smooth, productive and efficient. We look forward to moving more MSC cargo through this new service calling our gateway.”

The MSC Santana service is the latest in a series of five new services coming to the Seattle and Tacoma seaports since the start of 2021. In March, NWSA welcomed Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.’s new Southeast Asia E-commerce Express, which stops at Husky Terminal.

Also, Wan Hai Lines made Seattle Harbor its first port of call for the company’s new AA5 service that kicked off in mid-March and offers direct links between Asia and the Pacific Northwest.

The Port of Everett, Yacht Club Sign Lease

Earlier this week, the Port of Everett announced that it has signed a new ground lease and building transfer with Everett Yacht Club, allowing the long-time tenant to relocate the clubhouse and reciprocal moorage dock to the South Marina.

Established in 1907, the Everett Yacht Club recently departed its long-time space at the west end of Waterfront Place Central at 404 14th St. The club wants to fix up a port building in the South Marina and make the space its new clubhouse.

The deal includes 30-year ground lease with a pair of 10-year extensions, as well as transfer and reuse of the port’s Marina Office building and 150 lineal feet of moorage near the building at market rate.

The club will invest close to $1 million to turn the old port building into a multi-purpose indoor and outdoor space. The project is expected to be complete by 2022.

“This is an exciting time for our club and also for the community during our second century as a continuously operating Yacht Club in Everett,” said John Seger, Commodore of the Everett Yacht Club. “We are proud to have made the commitment to our members as well as to the Port of Everett who has been a strong supporter of our organization and its continued success.”

The club plans to celebrate with a groundbreaking at 1 p.m. on May 8 at 1720 West Marine View Dr.

“The Everett Yacht Club is a valued partner and provides great benefit to our boating community here in Everett and to boaters around the Puget Sound,” Port Commission President Tom Stiger said. “The Port Commission is so pleased to be able to support the Club’s development plans as they continue their work to support safe recreational boating for more than a century. Their move to the South Marina marks a new era for the club and will create vibrant activity in between Port Gardner Landing and Marina Village.”

Port of Vancouver USA Nets Clean Audit

For the 12th straight year, the Port of Vancouver USA has garnered a clean audit from the Washington State Auditor’s Office.

No deficiencies were discovered in the port’s audit, which examined the period between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020.

The audit follows the port’s record-breaking 2020 with $50 million in total revenue, the port’s highest ever returns and a 15% jump from 2019.

“The results of this audit highlight the commitment the entire Port of Vancouver staff has to robust policies,” said Port CEO Julianna Marler. “Our dedication to the responsible use of public resources coupled with strategic investments, long term customer partnerships and a diverse cargo mix propelled the port to a record year.”

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

West Coast Shipyards Awarded MARAD Grants

Shipyards in Alaska, California and Washington will receive grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, the agency announced Monday.

They are among a total of 31 U.S. shipyards to score a sum of $19.6 million in grants to be used to upgrade facilities, raise productivity and expand local jobs.

The recipients include:
  • JAG Alaska Inc. Seward Shipyard, which netted $639,712 for a 100-ton grove hydraulic crane;
  • Bay City Marine of National City, California, which received $738,990 toward a new mobile crane;
  • Alameda, California-based Bay Ship & Yacht, Co., which garnered $759,419 to buy a mobile crane, welding equipment, and electric boom lifts;
  • Seattle-based Lake Union Drydock Co., which garnered $684,127 to help build a new drydock basin passageway and the acquisition of an additional air compressor, air dryer and large capacity forklift;
  • Seattle-based Pacific Fishermen Shipyard and Electric, LLC, which received $556,308 for rail enhancement, lift dock conversions, and paint area upgrades, and;
  • Chula Vista, California-based Marine Group Boat Works LLC, which netted $524,058 for air compressors and to start an in-house welder training program;
  • BRIX Marine of Port Angeles, Washington, which received $342,318 for a CNC router table and support equipment;
  • Everett Ship Repair LLC, which was awarded $731,385 to use toward a new drydocks containment system, water blasting equipment and air compressors;
  • Seattle-based Stabbert Marine & Industrial, LLC, which netted $228,745 to buy an eight-ton heavy-duty forklift, articulated boom lift, welding equipment and other equipment.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and small shipyards play a critical role in America’s maritime industry,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “These grants go directly to small shipyards across the country and will help protect and create local jobs, strengthen America’s maritime industry, and bolster our economic security.”

Since 2008, almost 300 shipyards across the U.S. have been given $262.5 million thanks to MARAD’s Small Shipyard Grant Program.

NMC to Merchant Mariners: Keep Using Expired Credentialing Forms

The National Maritime Center is asking that mariners continue for now to use the expired version of the CG-719 series of forms for merchant mariner credentialing on the website, it was announced Thursday.

The forms, which show a March 31, 2021 expiration date, as well as supporting documentation are in the process of being renewed. While NMC awaits final approval, mariners should use the current forms on the website.

For more, email IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or use the NMC online chat system, or call 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

Port of Everett’s Community Sponsorships Program Applications Due May 14

May 14 is the deadline this year for organizations that are interested in community sponsorships to apply for funds from the Port of Everett.

Every year, the port gives to local programs and activities that bolster economic development and tourism in the port district. This year, the commission has set aside $20,000 toward the effort.

Organizations must apply by 5 p.m. on May 14 electronically to catherines@portofeverett.com.

Awardees are expected to be announced in early June, but are conditional approvals in light of COVID-19 restrictions. If an event is cancelled, the port is allowed to take back the funding and give it to another eligible event or program, officials say.

Port of Long Beach Launches Green Port Interactive

To commemorate Earth Month, the Port of Long Beach on Monday released an interactive timeline that showcases major moments in its 2005 Green Port Policy.

The timeline shows milestones such as decreases in air emissions such as diesel particulates, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and greenhouse gas emissions.

“We’ve shown that good jobs and economic development can thrive along with environmental sustainability,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “In the 15 years since the Green Port Policy was adopted, we’ve created pioneering voluntary programs, business agreements with our customers and partnerships with local, state and federal regulators that have cut air pollution from port-related sources dramatically.”

The Green Port Policy began in 2005 around the time Port Executive Director Mario Cordero was a Harbor Commissioner.

“The success we’ve had exceeds what anyone was talking about then, and we’re not going to stop now,” he said. “Our big goals now are to have zero emissions cargo handling by 2030 and converting the entire fleet of drayage trucks that work at our Port to zero emissions by 2035.”

The interactive can been seen on the port’s website at https://polb.com/port-info/mission-vision/#the-green-port-through-the-years.