New Infrastructure Director at Coos Bay

By Karen Robes Meeks

Jake Jacobs is the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay’s Director of Infrastructure Support Services. In this newly created role, Jacobs will be overseeing procurement processes, contract management, grant management and the Project Management Department.

“I am excited for this new opportunity at the Port of Coos Bay and looking forward to making a positive impact by supporting economic development in southwestern Oregon,” Jackobs said.

Before joining the port, Jacobs worked as the Supervisory Contracting Specialist at the United States Army Mission Installation Contracting Command in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Prior to that, he was the Branch Chief of Supplies and Services, Procuring Contracting Officer with the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

USCGC Oliver Berry Change of Command

By Karen Robes Meeks

Lt. Eric Johnson is taking over as commanding officer of the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry, replacing Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth Franklin, who is heading to Boise, Idaho to pursue graduate studies in human performance technology. The command change took place last week at Coast Guard Base Honolulu.

Johnson previously served as the commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Wrangell at Patrol Force Southwest Asia in Bahrain.

The New Jersey native graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in naval architecture and marine engineering. His tours include Coast Guard Cutter Resolute and Coast Guard Cutter Edisto. He was also a nautical science instructor and deputy branch chief at the US Coast Guard Academy. Johnson earned his master’s degree in defense and strategic studies from the Naval War College.

The Oliver Berry is the first Fast Response Cutter based in the Coast Guard 14th Coast Guard District, which includes Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa.

Long Beach Port Moving to New Administration Building

By Karen Robes Meeks

Earlier this month, the Long Beach Harbor Department began the three-week process of moving into its new Port Administration Building at the new Long Beach Civic Center.

This department, which manages the Port of Long Beach, left its longtime headquarters in 2014 after it was determined that the building would not be safe in the event of an earthquake. They moved into an interim building while the center was being built.

“We’re all excited to return to the waterfront, where we belong,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “Being near the harbor will allow us to work more efficiently with our tenants and fulfill our mission to facilitate trade and be a key engine of the city’s economy.”

Starting Aug. 1, the port’s new address will be 415 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. Phone numbers and email addresses will stay the same.

Shipping Lines Voluntarily Reduce Speed

By Karen Robes Meeks

Twenty-eight shipping lines have been recognized by the Port of Los Angeles for taking part in the Vessel Speed Reduction Program, which incentivizes operators to curb vessel speeds as they approach the port.

There were 174 companies that took part in the program in 2018, including Chevron, CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen Marine, Grieg Star Shipping A/S, Gulf Energy Maritime Gem, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Maersk, Mitsui O.S.K., MSC, Navig8, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Nissan Motor Car Carrier, Ocean Network Express, Orient Overseas Container Line, OSG Ship Management, Pacific Basin Shipping, Pacific International, Panamax International, Saga Welco, Tokyo Marine Asia, TORM, Valero, Wan Hai, World Logistics Service, and Yang Ming.

More than 3,000 combined vessel calls contributed to the efforts to lower emissions, with 589 ships achieving 100 percent compliance of the program within 20 and 40 nautical miles of the port.

“Vessel Speed Reduction has cut harmful emissions in San Pedro Bay for nearly two decades,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “We’re grateful to our partners – many who have been doing this for years – who have committed to this and other sustainability efforts in our Clean Air Action Plan.”

Oakland Exports Up, Imports Down

By Karen Robes Meeks

Exports at the Port of Oakland were up 4.2 percent last month compared to June 2018, while imports fell 7.2 percent after four straight months of year-over-year increases, according to new numbers released by the port last week.

The port, which moved 74,901 TEUs in exports last month, has seen export numbers trending upward for the last four months.

“We remain cautious about our trade outlook as we head towards peak shipping season,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “But we’re pleased to see the uptick in exports.” Meanwhile, Oakland’s overall cargo numbers are 3.6 percent higher in the first half of this year than during the first six months of 2018.

Cutter Elm Arrives in Astoria

By Karen Robes Meeks

The US Coast Guard Cutter Elm arrived Monday at its new homeport in Astoria, Oregon.

Commissioned in 1998, the Juniper Class 225-foot seagoing buoy tender is run by the same crew that operated the Coast Guard Cutter Fir, which left Astoria in June 2018.

The Elm, which recently received a major overhaul at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, had been part of Sector Field Office Macon, North Carolina, where it spent the last two decades maintaining more than 250 floating aids to navigation from central New Jersey to the North and South Carolina border.

The Elm will service the 114 navigational aids floating along the Oregon and Washington coasts and the Columbia River, These aids are critical to commercial vessel traffic in ports such as Coos Bay, Newport, Astoria, Portland, Longview, and Seattle. The Elm’s heavy lift capabilities allow the cutter to reach buoys out to 60 feet and lift close to 40,000 pounds, according to the Coast Guard.

Cook Inlet Tug & Barge Ramps Up North Slope Ops

By Karen Robes Meeks

Cook Inlet Tug & Barge will expand operations on Alaska’s North Slope for the 2019 ice-free season, the independently managed Foss Maritime Company subsidiary announced Tuesday.

For the next three months, three tugs acquisitions, as well as barges and shore equipment will run out of Prudhoe Bay, further expanding the companies’ Arctic operations and bolstering harbor towage, oil and gas support services, mining and construction support, and offshore marine transportation services, according to CITB and Foss.

“It is great to see these vessels on the water and ready to work,” said CITB President Jeff Johnson. “These shallow-draft tugs and barges are ideally suited for work on the North Slope waterways and the Western Alaska markets.”

The 64-foot long and 27-foot wide tugs – Sag Wind, Kuparuk Wind, and Kavik Wind – run on three 1095 HP CAT 343D engines. “The ice-free season in Prudhoe Bay is short, so we’re glad to have such capable vessels available there to support the oil and gas industry as well as construction activities on the North Slope,” said Johnson. “These versatile workhorses help round out Cook Inlet and Foss operations in Alaska.”