By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Kalama has secured its first tenant for its new 110,000-square-foot industrial facility.
The port has inked a lease with Bridger Steel to occupy 30,000-square feet of space for office and warehouse use, as well as 10,000-square feet of sheltered area for truck loading at Kalama River Industrial Park. Officials plan to break ground in December.
Bridger Steel, whose Kalama facility is expected to open summer 2018, is a manufacturer of panel systems that is used for roofing, siding and interior applications.
“The Port of Kalama is the ideal location for us to expand our business facilities and better serve our customers in the Pacific Northwest,” said Bridger Steel Inc. National Sales and Marketing Director Steve Collins. “Kalama’s location and proximity to I-5 will enable us to serve a very large area of the Pacific Northwest very quickly.”
Friday, December 1, 2017
Hawaii Search and Rescue Exercise
By Karen Robes Meeks
This week, representatives with the U.S. Coast Guard, Kauai Fire Department, Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services, and Kauai Police Department partnered for a search and rescue exercise near Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii.
The point of the exercise, which took place Thursday morning, was to allow the agencies to deploy their emergency land, sea and air craft to test and review communications among themselves, as well as their response plans and actions, and to look for any shortfalls in the process.
The exercise involved multiple first responders seeking a weighted Oscar dummy in the water to simulate a missing mariner, according to the Coast Guard.
This week, representatives with the U.S. Coast Guard, Kauai Fire Department, Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services, and Kauai Police Department partnered for a search and rescue exercise near Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii.
The point of the exercise, which took place Thursday morning, was to allow the agencies to deploy their emergency land, sea and air craft to test and review communications among themselves, as well as their response plans and actions, and to look for any shortfalls in the process.
The exercise involved multiple first responders seeking a weighted Oscar dummy in the water to simulate a missing mariner, according to the Coast Guard.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Long Beach Awards Sponsorships
By Karen Robes Meeks
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, the body that governs the port, awarded more than $440,000 in sponsorships to 100 local groups.
The funds come from the port’s community sponsorship program, designed to bring public awareness to the role it plays on international trade and highlight its effort in helping communities.
Events funded by the port include the Cambodia Town Culture Festival, the American Cancer Society’s Long Beach Cancer League Gala, Fourth Fridays on Fourth Street and the International City Theatre’s Free Saturday Family Theatre Series.
“Programs like this show our commitment to serving the public and promoting groups and events that make Long Beach a better place to live and work,” said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum. “Our community sponsorships provide our staff with opportunities to interact with residents who may not know their port brings them many of the goods they use every day and the port supports more than a million jobs around the country.”
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, the body that governs the port, awarded more than $440,000 in sponsorships to 100 local groups.
The funds come from the port’s community sponsorship program, designed to bring public awareness to the role it plays on international trade and highlight its effort in helping communities.
Events funded by the port include the Cambodia Town Culture Festival, the American Cancer Society’s Long Beach Cancer League Gala, Fourth Fridays on Fourth Street and the International City Theatre’s Free Saturday Family Theatre Series.
“Programs like this show our commitment to serving the public and promoting groups and events that make Long Beach a better place to live and work,” said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum. “Our community sponsorships provide our staff with opportunities to interact with residents who may not know their port brings them many of the goods they use every day and the port supports more than a million jobs around the country.”
Bellingham Development Hearing
By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Bellingham Commission is expected to hear from the public on the port’s latest draft of its Recreation, Conservation and Public Access Plan, a six-year blueprint that will help the port decide where to construct new recreation facilities, improve existing facilities and which capital improvements need to be made.
The port commission will host a hearing on the matter at 4 p.m. on December 5 in the Harbor Center Conference Room. The public can also submit written comments by sending them to Greg McHenry, 1801 Roeder Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 or via email at GregM@portofbellingham.com. Submission deadline is December 5.
The Port of Bellingham Commission is expected to hear from the public on the port’s latest draft of its Recreation, Conservation and Public Access Plan, a six-year blueprint that will help the port decide where to construct new recreation facilities, improve existing facilities and which capital improvements need to be made.
The port commission will host a hearing on the matter at 4 p.m. on December 5 in the Harbor Center Conference Room. The public can also submit written comments by sending them to Greg McHenry, 1801 Roeder Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 or via email at GregM@portofbellingham.com. Submission deadline is December 5.
Everett Budget Approved
By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Everett Commission recently approved a $85.7 million fiscal. The 2018 budget covered more than 100 employees and includes $25.8 million in operating/non-operating expenses, $43.7 million in new capital investment and an additional $10 million in capital investment carry over from 2017, as well as a $6.2 million debt payment. The budget also includes funding for 56 capital projects, including work on the South Terminal Wharf and Electrical Upgrade, and Fisherman’s Harbor as the two main undertakings.
The port’s latest budget reflects its vision to modernize its facilities and nurture the Waterfront Place Central Development community.
Visit http://www.portofeverett.com/your-port/financial-information for more.
The Port of Everett Commission recently approved a $85.7 million fiscal. The 2018 budget covered more than 100 employees and includes $25.8 million in operating/non-operating expenses, $43.7 million in new capital investment and an additional $10 million in capital investment carry over from 2017, as well as a $6.2 million debt payment. The budget also includes funding for 56 capital projects, including work on the South Terminal Wharf and Electrical Upgrade, and Fisherman’s Harbor as the two main undertakings.
The port’s latest budget reflects its vision to modernize its facilities and nurture the Waterfront Place Central Development community.
Visit http://www.portofeverett.com/your-port/financial-information for more.
San Diego Port Honored
By Karen Robes Meeks
SANDAG has honored the Port of San Diego as a Gold Tier recipient of an iCommute Diamond Award for Excellence in Commute Programs for Fiscal Year 2017.
The iCommute Diamond Awards are bestowed annually on San Diego Regional employers to recognize their efforts in creating innovative programs that encourage employees to use alternative ways to commute.
The port has organized events and initiatives toward that efforts, such as hosting a Bike to Work Day, taking part in the iCommute Rideshare Corporate Challenge 2016, hosting a Health and Sustainability Fair, developing a reimbursement program for employees who use alternative transportation and offering an alternative workweek schedule.
“In accordance with the port’s Climate Action Plan, we work hard to develop programs that encourage the safekeeping of the environment,” said port chairman Robert “Dukie” Valderrama. “This award recognizes our efforts and highlights the many effective initiatives and events our Green Team launched to encourage port employees to opt for eco-friendly methods of transportation.”
SANDAG has honored the Port of San Diego as a Gold Tier recipient of an iCommute Diamond Award for Excellence in Commute Programs for Fiscal Year 2017.
The iCommute Diamond Awards are bestowed annually on San Diego Regional employers to recognize their efforts in creating innovative programs that encourage employees to use alternative ways to commute.
The port has organized events and initiatives toward that efforts, such as hosting a Bike to Work Day, taking part in the iCommute Rideshare Corporate Challenge 2016, hosting a Health and Sustainability Fair, developing a reimbursement program for employees who use alternative transportation and offering an alternative workweek schedule.
“In accordance with the port’s Climate Action Plan, we work hard to develop programs that encourage the safekeeping of the environment,” said port chairman Robert “Dukie” Valderrama. “This award recognizes our efforts and highlights the many effective initiatives and events our Green Team launched to encourage port employees to opt for eco-friendly methods of transportation.”
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Long Beach Historically Busy
By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Long Beach recently posted its busiest October in history moving 669,218 TEUs, up 15 percent from the same period last year, according to the latest numbers.
The port handled 339,013 imported TEUs, a 14.3 percent spike from October 2016. Meanwhile, it moved slightly fewer exports year over year, about 0.5 percent, to 126,150 containers. Empty containers, which are sent overseas to be replenished with products, rose 28.9 percent, to 204,055 TEUs.
This latest statistic reflects what continues to be a record-setting trend at the nation’s second busiest seaport. Last month was the port’s fourth-busiest of 2017 after July, September and August.
“October used to be the industry’s busiest month of the year, with retailers preparing for Christmas,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “Now, with other popular shopping seasons like back-to-school, Halloween and Black Friday, ocean carriers are spreading shipments across more months to maximize the services we have developed to serve them.”
Through the first 10 months of the year, Long Beach handled 6,234,930 TEUs, a 9.5 percent increase over the same period in 2016.
“With two months left in 2017, we’re on track to have our best year ever,” said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum.
The Port of Long Beach recently posted its busiest October in history moving 669,218 TEUs, up 15 percent from the same period last year, according to the latest numbers.
The port handled 339,013 imported TEUs, a 14.3 percent spike from October 2016. Meanwhile, it moved slightly fewer exports year over year, about 0.5 percent, to 126,150 containers. Empty containers, which are sent overseas to be replenished with products, rose 28.9 percent, to 204,055 TEUs.
This latest statistic reflects what continues to be a record-setting trend at the nation’s second busiest seaport. Last month was the port’s fourth-busiest of 2017 after July, September and August.
“October used to be the industry’s busiest month of the year, with retailers preparing for Christmas,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “Now, with other popular shopping seasons like back-to-school, Halloween and Black Friday, ocean carriers are spreading shipments across more months to maximize the services we have developed to serve them.”
Through the first 10 months of the year, Long Beach handled 6,234,930 TEUs, a 9.5 percent increase over the same period in 2016.
“With two months left in 2017, we’re on track to have our best year ever,” said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum.
