Friday, May 28, 2021

Offshore Wind Projects Coming to Coastal California

Offshore wind projects will be developed along California’s northern and central coasts, a move that could create another source of clean energy in the U.S. and generate thousands of new jobs, the Biden Administration announced this week.

In the announcement, the White House specifically pointed to two areas as sites for offshore wind development: the Morro Bay 399 Area, where the creation of three gigawatts of offshore wind could be supported, and the Humboldt Call Area.

This follows Biden’s larger plan to generate jobs through the creation of 30 gigawatts of domestic offshore wind by 2030.

Creating renewable energy through offshore wind “could be a game changer” for reaching California’s own goals and addressing climate change while bolstering the economy, said California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“This historic announcement, which could provide clean power for up to 1.6 million homes over the next decade, represents the innovative approach we need for a clean energy economy that protects the coasts, fisheries, marine life and cultural resources we value so much as Californians,” he said.

Policy Letter on Tankerman PIC Endorsement Cancelled

As of May 27, the Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing will cancel Policy Letter 01-17, Guidelines for Issuing Endorsements for Tankerman PIC Restricted to Fuel Transfers on Towing Vessels.

The policy letter, published in March 2017, was a temporary measure that allowed those on newly inspected towing vessels to use a company-issued Letter of Designation to qualify serving as a PIC of a fuel transfer. This alternative satisfied the full requirements for an MMC endorsement as Tankerman PIC and offered flexibility while a rule was being crafted to include an LOD option on inspected vessels.

The final rule published this month (USCG-2018-0493) now gives mariners two ways to be a qualified PIC of Fuel Transfers for the transfer of fuel oil on both inspected and uninspected vessels.

Now mariners can either have an eligible MMC with either an officer or Tankerman-PIC endorsement (not solely to fuel transfers) or designate a PIC with an LOD as described in 33 CFR 155.715 for inspected vessels, according to a letter from Mayte Medina, chief of Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing.

“Mariners with existing endorsements as Tankerman PIC Restricted to Fuel Transfers on Towing Vessels will be notified at renewal that the endorsement is no longer an option for serving as PIC of fuel transfers,” Medina wrote, “and that the endorsement Tankerman PIC Restricted to Fuel Transfers on Towing Vessels will no longer be issued or renewed by the Coast Guard.”

For more on the final rule, visit https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/5ps/MMC/CG-MMC-2%20Policies/PIC-Final-RULE-5-27-2020.pdf For more information, email MMCPolicy@uscg.mil.

Name for New Long Beach Bridge Announced

Long Beach International Gateway will likely be the name of the newly built bridge that connects the Port of Long Beach to the surrounding area.

The moniker was announced Monday by Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell and Senator Lena A. Gonzalez, two Long Beach Democrats who organized a community survey earlier this month and used the results to jointly introduce Assembly Concurrent Resolution 88 designating the state highway route 710 where the bridge is located with the new name.

A sign will be made if adopted by the State Legislature.

“The community has spoken and they made a great choice,” O’Donnell said. “The name ‘Long Beach International Gateway Bridge’ appropriately signifies Long Beach as the gateway to the American economy.”

Gonzalez said she is thankful for the community’s input.

“This iconic state landmark will connect us to the rest of the world for decades to come, and it is now time to formalize its name,” she said. “Both Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell and I are very excited to announce the name that received the most votes, Long Beach International Gateway!”

The new bridge, which replaced the aging former Gerald Desmond Bridge, opened in October as the second-tallest cable-stayed span in the nation with two towers standing 515 feet tall. The bridge is a major part of the nation’s trade system moving nearly 15% of the nation’s waterborne cargo.

Port of Bellingham to Launch Free Passenger Ferry Service

Starting June 3, the Port of Bellingham will offer passenger-only ferry service between Point Roberts Marina and the Bellingham Cruise Terminal for free on Mondays and Thursdays. Passengers are encouraged to make reservations at www.portofbellingham.com/pointrobertsferry, as space will be limited. The ferry will accept guests without reservations if there are no-show passengers.

Point Roberts Ferry is allowing up to six bikes each ferry trip, and they should be included in the reservation. Transit links in Bellingham are near the cruise terminal at Fairhaven Station.

For more information, visit http://www.ridewta.com/.

Ferry and WTA connections require passengers to wear face masks, and will limit the number of boarding passengers.

Since August 2020, the port has been providing emergency ferry service from Point Roberts to mainland Whatcom County to help ease challenges brought on the closure of the US/Canada border to non-essential travel due to COVID-19 restrictions.

While not physically connected to the continental U.S., Point Roberts is part of Whatcom County through Canada.

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Princess Cruises Crew Members Get Vaccinated

More than 200 COVID-19 vaccines were administered at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday to Majestic Princess crew members.

The 221 vaccines were given by Ambulnz in partnership with The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Ports America and Metro Cruise Services.

“We’re glad to be providing the World Cruise Center as a location where our partners can vaccinate staff in preparation for the return of cruising to Southern California,” said port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “This is important to the hundreds of thousands of people who enjoy cruises embarking from Los Angeles annually as well as to our local economy and job market. Each time a cruise ship calls in Los Angeles, it generates more than $1 million to local restaurants, hotels and shops.”

Port of Woodland Sells 24 Acres at Industrial Park for $4.3 Million

The Port of Woodland, Wash. and structural steel provider company Brown Strauss have closed the sale of nearly 24 acres of land at the port’s Schurman Way Industrial Park, the port revealed May 24.

The property deal brings about $4.3 million in revenue to the port and is expected to allow the port to pay off $1.8 million of debts from prior land acquisitions and construction. In addition, the port has said that it plans to use the remaining balance toward construction at nearby Rose Way Industrial Park. The additional construction of buildings is expected to provide future revenue to Woodland via leasable buildings, according to the port, which is located on the Columbia River near the I-5 corridor between Seattle and Portland.

“The property will go back onto the tax roll, bring jobs and industry to the site. The proceeds from this property sale allows the Port to pay significant debt off and construct additional buildings at Rose Way Industrial Park. This is a huge win for everyone,” Commission President Bob Wile explained.

The Schurman Way Industrial Park is a 50-acre site with current leases with Peri Formworks, Tribeca Transport, AmeriGas and Hamilton Drywall. The location has access to a dual service rail spur owned by the Port of Woodland and within half a mile of Interstate 5.

“The port has worked diligently to bring a company here to Woodland, bringing jobs and business that would benefit from the rail infrastructure funded by the Cowlitz County Commissioners in the late 1990s. With Brown Strauss’s purchase, we will see that happen on that property,” port Executive Director Jennifer Wray-Keene said in a statement.

USCG Promotes Safe Boating in Alaska

This week, U.S. Coast Guard officials are reminding Alaska boaters to practice water safety as part of National Safe Boating Week, a public awareness effort in advance of Memorial Day weekend.

“National Safe Boating Week is an important time to focus on safe boating practices," said Michael Folkerts, the recreational boating safety specialist for the 17th Coast Guard District. "As boaters, we often don’t recognize the dangers of sudden cold-water immersion, or know how best to survive a fall overboard or capsizing."

There were 14 boating accidents with seven injuries and 11 deaths in Alaska in 2019, according to the agency.

USCG encourages boaters to wear a life jacket (a requirement for Alaska boaters), be proactive with skills-based training and knowledge, check safety equipment and weather forecast, bring various forms of communication devices and wear an engine cut-off switch link.

For more information, visit www.uscgboating.org.

Feedback Sought for Coos County Mitigation Plan

Coos County residents are invited to weigh in on the Coos County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, which is in the midst of an update.

The update involves a partnership with the county, seven cities, the Department of Land Conservation and Development, two port districts, two hospitals and a drainage district.

The Steering Committee wants residents to talk about how natural hazards such as coastal erosion, drought, earthquake, flood, landslide, tsunami, wildfire, windstorm, and winter storms could potentially impact their homes and livelihoods. The feedback is expected to help shape the plan’s update and could lead to infrastructure improvement projects such as bridges and other facilities.

An updated plan is expected to be complete by March 2022.

Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZMDD7NP to fill out the survey by June 1.

Port of Long Beach Awards Sponsorships

About 141 sponsorships totaling $409,430 were have been awarded by the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners for the promotion of arts, environment, social justice and historic preservation, the port has announced.

Among the events being funded include the Puente Latino Association’s Dia De Los Muertos Cultural Event, Southern California Brass Consortium’s Front Lawn Concerts and Orange County Coastkeeper’s Native Oyster Restoration in Alamitos Bay.

“It’s rewarding to see nonprofit organizations find creative ways to serve the community, especially during this historic health crisis,” said port Executive Director Mario Cordero. “We are proud to be able to support them during this time as we continue to work towards a year of recovery.”

For 14 years, the port has given out over $10 million through the sponsorship program, which was created to support local groups that promote Long Beach and help the port promote its programs to the community.

“These nonprofit organizations, despite the pandemic, are carrying out important work to help our city flourish,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “We are pleased that the port is able to support their missions, while also sharing information that allows the public to better understand the Port of Long Beach and its operations.”