By Karen Robes Meeks
Allan Erickson is the newest member of the Port of Longview Board of Commissioners.
Erickson, who represents the Commission’s 3rd District, was chosen to fill the seat left vacant by former Commissioner Bob Bagaason, who resigned in September after serving since 2007.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to welcome Mr. Erickson to our team,” said Commission President Jeff Wilson. “We look forward to Allan’s participation in continuing the Port’s success.”
A University of Washington graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Erickson worked in the printing industry for more than four decades before retiring and becoming involved in community organizations.
“I am honored to help guide port leadership as we build on the momentum of recent successes,” said Erickson. “One of my goals as commissioner is to work toward building more family-wage jobs for the citizens of the port district.”
Friday, January 11, 2019
Bellingham Native to Lead Port Commission
By Karen Robes Meeks
Bobby Briscoe will serve as president of the Port of Bellingham Board of Commissioners.
The Bellingham native was selected by his colleagues to lead the board in 2019, while Commissioner Ken Bell was chosen to be the Vice President and Michael Shepard the new Secretary.
A fourth-generation fisherman and longtime business owner, Briscoe operates commercial fishing vessels out of Squalicum Harbor and has worked in ports along the West Coast. He was previously the president of the Puget Sound Crab Fisherman Association. Briscoe represents District 3, which encompasses Northwest Whatcom County. His four-year term on the commission ends Dec. 31, 2019.
Bobby Briscoe will serve as president of the Port of Bellingham Board of Commissioners.
The Bellingham native was selected by his colleagues to lead the board in 2019, while Commissioner Ken Bell was chosen to be the Vice President and Michael Shepard the new Secretary.
A fourth-generation fisherman and longtime business owner, Briscoe operates commercial fishing vessels out of Squalicum Harbor and has worked in ports along the West Coast. He was previously the president of the Puget Sound Crab Fisherman Association. Briscoe represents District 3, which encompasses Northwest Whatcom County. His four-year term on the commission ends Dec. 31, 2019.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
New Ops Manager for Cook Inlet Tug & Barge
By Karen Robes Meeks
Foss Project Manager Amber Thomas has been tapped by Foss Maritime Co. independent subsidiary Cook Inlet Tug & Barge as interim Business Operations Manager for Anchorage, Alaska starting Jan. 2, the company announced Friday.
Thomas will oversee administrative and commercial operations, taking the reins on all shoreside matters in Anchorage and Seward.
The Alaskan native will serve in the temporary post while the company conducts its search for a new president. Former CITB president Ben Steven resigned from the top spot in December to work for the Alaska governor’s office.
Thomas brings a lot of relevant experience to the interim position. Before joining Foss in 2015, she was Operations Coordinator for ASRC Energy Services, where she worked with subsidiary US companies such as Petrochem and AES Continental, to troubleshoot and streamline operations. At Foss, she assisted in the Shell offshore drilling venture in the Chukchi Sea and helped manage the Puerto Rico Utility Equipment Projects and the Puerto Rico FEMA accommodations project.
Foss Project Manager Amber Thomas has been tapped by Foss Maritime Co. independent subsidiary Cook Inlet Tug & Barge as interim Business Operations Manager for Anchorage, Alaska starting Jan. 2, the company announced Friday.
Thomas will oversee administrative and commercial operations, taking the reins on all shoreside matters in Anchorage and Seward.
The Alaskan native will serve in the temporary post while the company conducts its search for a new president. Former CITB president Ben Steven resigned from the top spot in December to work for the Alaska governor’s office.
Thomas brings a lot of relevant experience to the interim position. Before joining Foss in 2015, she was Operations Coordinator for ASRC Energy Services, where she worked with subsidiary US companies such as Petrochem and AES Continental, to troubleshoot and streamline operations. At Foss, she assisted in the Shell offshore drilling venture in the Chukchi Sea and helped manage the Puerto Rico Utility Equipment Projects and the Puerto Rico FEMA accommodations project.
Swantown Marina Recertifies as Clean Marina
By Karen Robes Meeks
Port of Olympia’s Swantown Marina and Boatyard was recently recertified as a Clean Marina and a Leadership Clean Boatyard by the Clean Marina Washington program.
Established in 2005, the program reviews a marina’s operations and set environmental qualification standards to earn the certification.
Swantown Marina, which first received the Clean Marina certification in 2007 and Leadership Clean Boatyard in 2012, earned a five-star Leadership Clean marina designation this year, the highest rating available.
Clean Boating Foundation Program Manager Adria Lau was “particularly impressed by the high level of environmental safety training that was occurring at Swantown,” which includes an annual half-day oil response drill alongside the Department of Ecology that takes place at the marina.
“I am proud of all the hard work the staff at the marina and boatyard performs on a daily basis to ensure our facilities and operations operate at the highest level of efficiency while also remaining environmentally sustainable,” said Port Harbor Director Bruce Marshall.
This certification comes as the port’s marine terminal became part of the Green Marine environmental certification program, which asks participating terminals to show annual improvement in greening operations.
Port of Olympia’s Swantown Marina and Boatyard was recently recertified as a Clean Marina and a Leadership Clean Boatyard by the Clean Marina Washington program.
Established in 2005, the program reviews a marina’s operations and set environmental qualification standards to earn the certification.
Swantown Marina, which first received the Clean Marina certification in 2007 and Leadership Clean Boatyard in 2012, earned a five-star Leadership Clean marina designation this year, the highest rating available.
Clean Boating Foundation Program Manager Adria Lau was “particularly impressed by the high level of environmental safety training that was occurring at Swantown,” which includes an annual half-day oil response drill alongside the Department of Ecology that takes place at the marina.
“I am proud of all the hard work the staff at the marina and boatyard performs on a daily basis to ensure our facilities and operations operate at the highest level of efficiency while also remaining environmentally sustainable,” said Port Harbor Director Bruce Marshall.
This certification comes as the port’s marine terminal became part of the Green Marine environmental certification program, which asks participating terminals to show annual improvement in greening operations.
Chula Vista Port Begins Bike Path Construction
By Karen Robes Meeks
Construction on the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Promenade project (Sweetwater Pathway), a new multi-use bicycle and pedestrian path for the Chula Vista Bayfront, is expected to break ground this summer, thanks to the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners and the City of Chula Vista, who recently agreed to issue Coastal Development Permits for the project.
“This pathway is a key component of the future Sweetwater and Harbor Parks and is just one of the many public recreational amenities planned for the Chula Vista Bayfront, supporting the Port’s goals of creating a vibrant waterfront destination and a safe and healthy place for all to visit, work and play,” said Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.
About $4.8 million of the $5.63 million project will be paid for with an Urban Greening Grant awarded to the Port by the California Natural Resources Agency. The Port also added $794,000 through its Capital Improvement Program and the city of Chula Vista chipped in $33,000.
“We appreciate the $4.8 million grant from the California Natural Resources Agency to create this new pathway for bicyclists and pedestrians,” said Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas. “With additional funding provided from the Port and the City, the Chula Vista Bayfront will have another amazing amenity for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
“The Sweetwater Pathway will bring the public to areas of the Chula Vista Bayfront that have never before been accessible while also protecting the bayfront’s natural resources and environment,” said Commissioner Ann Moore, Chula Vista’s representative on the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.
“I look forward to taking a casual stroll and observing the wildlife that visit or call the area home,” she added.
Construction on the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Promenade project (Sweetwater Pathway), a new multi-use bicycle and pedestrian path for the Chula Vista Bayfront, is expected to break ground this summer, thanks to the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners and the City of Chula Vista, who recently agreed to issue Coastal Development Permits for the project.
“This pathway is a key component of the future Sweetwater and Harbor Parks and is just one of the many public recreational amenities planned for the Chula Vista Bayfront, supporting the Port’s goals of creating a vibrant waterfront destination and a safe and healthy place for all to visit, work and play,” said Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.
About $4.8 million of the $5.63 million project will be paid for with an Urban Greening Grant awarded to the Port by the California Natural Resources Agency. The Port also added $794,000 through its Capital Improvement Program and the city of Chula Vista chipped in $33,000.
“We appreciate the $4.8 million grant from the California Natural Resources Agency to create this new pathway for bicyclists and pedestrians,” said Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas. “With additional funding provided from the Port and the City, the Chula Vista Bayfront will have another amazing amenity for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
“The Sweetwater Pathway will bring the public to areas of the Chula Vista Bayfront that have never before been accessible while also protecting the bayfront’s natural resources and environment,” said Commissioner Ann Moore, Chula Vista’s representative on the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.
“I look forward to taking a casual stroll and observing the wildlife that visit or call the area home,” she added.
State of the Port of Los Angeles
By Karen Robes Meeks
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka will deliver the 2019 “State of the Port of Los Angeles” address on Jan. 24 at the World Cruise Center in San Pedro.
The event co-hosted by the port and the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association highlight the port’s successes, with Seroka discussing the seaport’s seven lines of business, environmental progress and community development initiatives.
“We are very excited to move into a larger venue for this end-to-end overview of the nation’s number one gateway of containerized trade,” said PMSA Executive Director John McLaurin. “Mr. Seroka is an exceptional leader and always eloquently reviews the breadth and depth of the Port of Los Angeles portfolio and business ecosystem inside a trade gateway that touches 1 in 9 jobs in the five-county region.”
The event will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Port’s World Cruise Center, located at 100 Swinford Street, Berth 93, San Pedro, CA 90731.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka will deliver the 2019 “State of the Port of Los Angeles” address on Jan. 24 at the World Cruise Center in San Pedro.
The event co-hosted by the port and the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association highlight the port’s successes, with Seroka discussing the seaport’s seven lines of business, environmental progress and community development initiatives.
“We are very excited to move into a larger venue for this end-to-end overview of the nation’s number one gateway of containerized trade,” said PMSA Executive Director John McLaurin. “Mr. Seroka is an exceptional leader and always eloquently reviews the breadth and depth of the Port of Los Angeles portfolio and business ecosystem inside a trade gateway that touches 1 in 9 jobs in the five-county region.”
The event will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Port’s World Cruise Center, located at 100 Swinford Street, Berth 93, San Pedro, CA 90731.
Friday, January 4, 2019
New Olympia Commissioner
By Karen Robes Meeks
Former Port of Port Townsend Executive Director Sam Gibboney will lead the Port of Olympia Commission as its new Executive Director.
Gibboney outshone two other finalists for the top job formerly held by Ed Galligan, who served 12 years before resigning.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to lead an organization with such significant economic impact,” said Gibboney. “I look forward to joining the Port of Olympia team and getting to know the Thurston County community.”
At the Port of Port Townsend, Gibboney managed the operations of an 18-acre shipyard, three marinas, an international general aviation airport and a campus of historical buildings.
She joins the port as it implements the Strategic Plan adopted in 2017, which seeks to develop economic opportunities in the region, be an environmental steward, and create and maintain community assets.
“Gibboney will be expected to move the Port toward the ultimate goal: A More Resilient Thurston County,” the port said.
“The Commission strived for a great public servant to lead our organization with transparency and strong values,” said Commission President E.J. Zita. “We are thrilled to have Sam’s experience and leadership as we progress and change.” Gibboney, 57, is expected to start in Olympia on Jan. 22. Her compensation is set at $175,000 a year.
Former Port of Port Townsend Executive Director Sam Gibboney will lead the Port of Olympia Commission as its new Executive Director.
Gibboney outshone two other finalists for the top job formerly held by Ed Galligan, who served 12 years before resigning.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to lead an organization with such significant economic impact,” said Gibboney. “I look forward to joining the Port of Olympia team and getting to know the Thurston County community.”
At the Port of Port Townsend, Gibboney managed the operations of an 18-acre shipyard, three marinas, an international general aviation airport and a campus of historical buildings.
She joins the port as it implements the Strategic Plan adopted in 2017, which seeks to develop economic opportunities in the region, be an environmental steward, and create and maintain community assets.
“Gibboney will be expected to move the Port toward the ultimate goal: A More Resilient Thurston County,” the port said.
“The Commission strived for a great public servant to lead our organization with transparency and strong values,” said Commission President E.J. Zita. “We are thrilled to have Sam’s experience and leadership as we progress and change.” Gibboney, 57, is expected to start in Olympia on Jan. 22. Her compensation is set at $175,000 a year.
