Workforce Development

In the 1967 movie The Graduate, a young Dustin Hoffman is told by one of the characters that plastics are the industry of the future. Today’s graduates, faced with the prospect of competing for a dozen jobs with a hundred of their peers, should consider the maritime industry. The Pacific Northwest maritime community offers quite a few programs to entice young people into maritime fields.

Seattle’s Friends of Maritime recently held a successful 15th-annual Maritime Career Day on May 7th at Bell Harbor Pier during the Seattle Maritime Festival week. The day was dedicated to introducing students to career opportunities and offering companies with entry-level jobs the opportunity to connect with post-high school job seekers.

As many as 700 students and job seekers interacted with industry representatives from a wide spectrum of maritime fields including commercial fishing, passenger vessel operations, tug and barge services, steamship lines, diving and salvage and shipyards.

The success of the annual Seattle event has led to a similar event to be offered in Tacoma, Washington the last week of September this fall.

The Youth Maritime Training Association (YMTA), led by Gary Stauffer, has a presence at as many high school career fairs as possible, representing a wide number marine careers. The YMTA staff is on hand to answer questions and the YMTA booth offers flyers and pamphlets from many training institutions, including community colleges, 4-year colleges, private training programs and maritime academies. Stauffer has also been involved with the Seattle King County workforce development council to develop a Maritime Career Pathway website: www.mapyourcareer.org/maritime/maritime-careers.html. YMTA also sponsors ten high school programs that offer marine experiences to students.

In addition to helping maritime students chart the right course, there are financial programs to help them realize their goals. Last month six Washington State high school seniors were awarded 2013 YMTA and Pacific Maritime Magazine Scholarships in the ninth annual Norm Manly Youth Maritime Training Association (YMTA) Maritime Educational Scholarship competition.

Since 1987 Pacific Maritime Magazine has sponsored the Pacific Maritime Magazine scholarship to young men and women hoping to pursue a career in the maritime industry, and the recipient of the 2013 Pacific Maritime Magazine scholarship is Stefan Sorenson, a Lake Stevens High School student who will enter California Maritime Academy this fall. New this year, Pacific Maritime Magazine will host a summer intern, Emily Keyes, a cadet at the California Maritime Academy majoring in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs.

The future economic vitality of our industry lies with an educated and engaged workforce. Programs like the Maritime Career Day, the YMTA and the Pacific Maritime Magazine scholarship are vital to ensure that young people with the passion to enter the maritime industry have the resources to live that passion.

Other Shores

When I introduce myself to mariners on the West Coast, I invariably hear the same comment: “I love your magazine – especially the part at the back, Hugh Ware’s column. That’s the first thing I turn to.”

It is with sadness that we publish the final column from our dear friend Hugh, who died shortly after he filed his piece. His wife Joan tells me he loved writing the column, and wanted to keep it going until the very end, and so he did. We were fortunate to have known Hugh, and he will be missed by this editor and his many fans worldwide.

Interim Director Named at Port of Long Beach

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners announced on June 7 that Al Moro, the port’s Chief  Harbor Engineer would be the interim executive director, filling in for Chris Lytle, who announced on May 23 that he was leaving the Port of Long Beach to head the Port of Oakland.

“We have unanimously selected Al Moro as our interim executive director,” Board of Harbor Commissioners President Susan Anderson Wise said. “He is highly respected by all of the commissioners, very well regarded in our industry and well-liked by the port staff.”

Moro, who joined the port in 1997 as a civil engineer, currently oversees all administrative and technical activities for its engineering programs, including nearly $4 billion in capital improvement projects.

As chief harbor engineer, Moro has overseen all administrative and technical activities for the port’s four engineering divisions, including construction management. He supervised 135 engineers, surveyors, technicians, and support staff, and managed the port’s extensive capital improvement program, including the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge.

Moro’s appointment goes into effect following a formal vote on June 17, said Wise.

“I am honored to have been selected by the Board of Harbor Commissioners to serve as interim director,” Moro commented. “A major goal of mine will be to provide stability and continuity during the transition. It’s important that we continue to move forward with all of our projects.”

Moro has said he would not be a candidate for the permanent position.

Lytle is expected to remain at Long Beach until mid-July and is scheduled to begin his new job in Oakland shortly thereafter. His imminent departure means that the Port of Long Beach will have five upper management vacancies to fill. In addition to the executive director’s job, the positions of Deputy Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Managing Director of Trade Development and Port Operations, and Director of Communications, are all currently vacant. Also, Long Beach’s Managing Director of Environmental Affairs & Planning, Robert Kanter, is retiring after 23 years with the Port of Long Beach.

 

 

Foss Vessels Recognized with Safety Awards

Eighty-one Foss tugs and manned barges were recognized by the Chamber of Shipping of America for commitment to safety and granted Jones F. Devlin Awards during the CSA’s Annual Safety Awards Luncheon in New Orleans on May 23.

Altogether, the Foss vessels achieved the equivalent of 463 years without a lost-time injury.

The Jones F. Devlin Safety Awards are given to self-propelled merchant vessels that have operated for two full years or more without a crewmember losing a full turn at watch because of an occupational injury.

“We’re proud of the men and women who work hard to earn Foss this prestigious recognition,” Foss Chief Executive Officer Paul Stevens said.

Three levels of achievement are recognized by CSA: a basic two-year award; a three-year award; and a four-year award. Of Foss’ 81-awarded vessels, 47 received a special award that is given annually to ships with five or more years of accident-free operation.

The Devlin award has publicly recognized the skills and dedication of the men and women who are responsible for those safe vessel operations for 55 years.

The Washington, D.C.-based Chamber represents 37 US-based companies that own, operate or charter oceangoing tankers, container ships and other merchant vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades and other entities that maintain a commercial interest in the operation of such oceangoing vessels.

Seventy-three Crowley Maritime Corp. vessels received Devlin awards during the same luncheon.

“This year, we gave awards to 1,438 vessels that operated 8,394 years without a lost-time incident,” CSA President Joseph J. Cox said. “This extraordinary record is directly attributable to the professionalism of our seafarers and the dedication of shore-based company personnel to safe operation.”

 

LA Port Adopts Billion Dollar Budget

The Los Angeles Harbor Commission has adopted a 2013-14 fiscal year budget of about $1.1 billion for the Port of Los Angeles, including one of the largest annual capital improvement programs in port history.

About $400 million -- or 37% of the total budget – is allotted for capital improvement. Over 8,500 jobs, 6,870 of which are attributable to construction project spending in the coming fiscal year are also supported by the budget.

The Port of Los Angeles’ new fiscal year begins July 1.

“Developing and maintaining a world-class infrastructure is, and continues to be, the overarching strategic priority for the Port of Los Angeles,” Harbor Commission President Cindy Miscikowski said. “Capital improvements and improved efficiency are essential if we’re to maximize cargo flow as well as maintain our position as the nation’s number one container port.”

The capital spending budget earmarks more than $380 million for container terminal and transportation upgrades, including over $99 million at the TraPac container terminal for backland improvements to support future terminal automation as well as construction of a facility to provide on-dock rail capabilities, which will result in all Port of L.A. container terminals equipped with on-dock rail.

Also included is almost $96 million for the installation of electrical power stations at major container terminals including APMT, APL, Evergreen, Yang Ming and China Shipping. The stations reduce emissions from container vessels by using shore side power instead of running on diesel power.

The budget also calls for $41.5 million in construction at China Shipping Terminal, which includes completion of 375 linear feet of expanded wharf and backland improvements; and about $78 million related to construction at the Berth 200 rail yard, a piece of the port’s overall goods movement plan to facilitate more fuel-efficient, faster and safer rail operations throughout the complex.

The newly adopted budget also includes operating revenues of $413 million, an increase of just 3.1 % over the previous fiscal year. Also, proposed operating expenses are slightly lower by 1.9% to $209.1 million.

 

 

Oakland Port Closes Escrow on Waterfront Development

On June 10, the Port of Oakland and California State Lands Commission closed escrow on a 64-acre waterfront site the Port of Oakland intends to redevelop for non-maritime use. The port has been in contract to sell and lease the site, which is alternately known as the Brooklyn Basin and “Oak-to-Ninth” project, for over a decade.

“We are excited to close escrow on this unique waterfront property that has long been unfeasible for future maritime use for the port,” Oakland Board of Port Commissioners President Gilda Gonzales said. “This redevelopment will transform property that is no longer needed for maritime use into a wonderful new neighborhood for Oakland.”

The $1.5 billion development plan includes over 30 acres of parks and public open spaces located immediately adjacent to Oakland’s waterfront.

“We are thrilled to see the long-term vision for redevelopment coming to fruition. Oakland's Brooklyn Basin will become a beautiful new neighborhood and open space asset for the city and the region as this property is transformed into a new mixed-use residential community,” Port of Oakland Commercial Real Estate Director Pamela Kershaw said.

Oakland-based Signature Development Group and its investment partner Beijing-based Zarsion Holdings Group Co. will create the new neighborhood at the Oakland waterfront.

The area will include residential buildings that will create more than 3,000 homes and 200,000 square feet of retail space, along with two renovated recreational marinas, Signature President Mike Ghielmetti said.

The Brooklyn Basin project is expected to generate 10,000 short- and long-term jobs.

 

Long Beach Files Suit Against SCIG Project

The City of Long Beach on June 5 filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against a BNSF Railway and Port of Los Angeles plan to construct a $500 million rail yard project that Long Beach says would negatively affect its residents.

In its suit, Long Beach seeks an injunction against the 153-acre Southern California International Gateway, or SCIG, project. The proposed project would sit just outside West Long Beach, alongside the Terminal Island Freeway on land owned by the Port of LA. The project, if built, would serve on-dock rail facilities at both the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles.

The City of Long Beach, however, claims that the SCIG would adversely affect its residents, businesses and schools by bringing more noise and air pollution to an area that has already suffered plenty over the years due to nearby port-related operations.

“The negative effects of the rail yard project will be borne almost entirely by the residents of West Long Beach,” the legal complaint states in part.

The city also contends in its suit that the project doesn’t comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, a statute requiring state and local agencies to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and to avoid or mitigate those impacts.

Despite ongoing objections by the City of Long Beach, the Los Angeles City Council on May 8 gave final approval to the SCIG via an 11-2 vote; the Port of Los Angeles Harbor Commission likewise approved the project in March.

The project also has had major support from local labor unions due to the estimated 1,500 direct and indirect jobs per year that BNSF has said the project would create over three years.

The railway company also says that if built, the SCIG would reduce truck traffic, freeway congestion and air pollution by eliminating about 1.3 million truck trips annually along a 24-mile stretch of the Long Beach (710) Freeway to BNSF’s Hobart Yard near downtown LA.

Originally, construction was due to begin later this year and open in 2016, but that plan could be delayed or scrapped altogether depending on the status of Long Beach’s legal action.

Study: Port Metro Vancouver Cargo Values Up

There has been a significant increase in the total value of cargo handled annually through Port Metro Vancouver over the past four years, according to a newly released study.

The port’s 2012 Economic Impact Study, which was released May 31 by InterVISTAS Consulting, a Vancouver-based management consulting company, also show considerable growth in the average port-related wage as well as in the number of full-time positions since the last study, which was released in 2008.

Port Metro Vancouver is the busiest port in Canada and the fourth largest tonnage port in North America.

According to the report, Port Metro Vancouver handles $172 billion of cargo each year, or about $475 million daily, representing one-fifth of Canada’s total trade by value.

“The report demonstrates our substantial employment and economic impacts provincially and nationwide, with a particular focus on the communities that surround the Lower Mainland,” Port Metro Vancouver President and Chief Executive Officer Robin Silvester said.

In addition to the amount of total cargo handled, key findings from the study include that Port Metro Vancouver handles 19 percent of Canada’s total trade by value.

Also, it generates $20.3 billion in economic output; $9.7 billion in direct GDP; $6.1 billion in wages; 98,800 jobs in Canada; 38,200 direct jobs in British Columbia; and a $67,000 average wage vs. a $44,000 average wage in Canada.

The study also says Metro Vancouver generates $1.3 billion per year in tax revenues, including $756 million; federal; $403 million provincial; and $116 million municipal.

The full study can be seen at http://portmetrovancouver.com/Libraries/ABOUT_Facts_Stats/Port_Metro_Vancouver_Economic_Impact_Study_31May2013_-_FINAL_REPORT.sflb.ashx.