NOAA is asking the public to weigh in on the creation of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in federal waters near Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as suggestions for future AOA sites.
The public will have until Dec. 22 to submit comments.
This announcement comes after the May release of an Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Chris Oliver last month said that growing the nation’s aquaculture industry is critical to expanding and stabilizing the sustainable seafood supply during uncertain environmental and economic times. It provides quality jobs, economic opportunities and a boost in seasonal tourism and commercial fishing.
For more, visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/aquaculture-opportunity-areas.
For questions about the RFI, reach out to Diane Windham, Aquaculture Coordinator, California
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region at diane.windham@noaa.gov.
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
USCG Cutter Alert Completes Patrol
The 210-foot medium-endurance cutter, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alert, recently returned to Astoria, Oregon, from a 60-day living marine resources patrol that stretched from Humboldt County to the Southern Maritime Border with Mexico.
The crew members, who were there to support the Coast Guard’s Ocean Steward and Ocean Guardian strategic guidance, boarded 38 vessels and reported compliance that resulted in 47 violations. Cutter Alert found 30 safety violations and canceled three commercial fishing vessels that were deemed unsafe. The crew also issued 17 living marine resources violations.
“I’m extremely proud of the Alert crew for their dedication and devotion to duty during our living marine resources patrol off the coast of California,” said Cmdr. Tyson Scofield, the Alert’s commanding officer. “The fishing industry is a vital component of the West Coast economy, and the Coast Guard is ready to keep the industry safe and sustainable. Alert’s first District 11 Living Marine Resources patrol in several years was a resounding success, paving the way for future major cutter operations in the region.”
The crew members, who were there to support the Coast Guard’s Ocean Steward and Ocean Guardian strategic guidance, boarded 38 vessels and reported compliance that resulted in 47 violations. Cutter Alert found 30 safety violations and canceled three commercial fishing vessels that were deemed unsafe. The crew also issued 17 living marine resources violations.
“I’m extremely proud of the Alert crew for their dedication and devotion to duty during our living marine resources patrol off the coast of California,” said Cmdr. Tyson Scofield, the Alert’s commanding officer. “The fishing industry is a vital component of the West Coast economy, and the Coast Guard is ready to keep the industry safe and sustainable. Alert’s first District 11 Living Marine Resources patrol in several years was a resounding success, paving the way for future major cutter operations in the region.”
Area Groups Net Port of Los Angeles Grants
Four organizations were recently awarded grants totaling $209,169 from the Port of Los Angeles’ Harbor Community Benefit Foundation grants program, which funds programs serving Wilmington and San Pedro communities.
“The grants awarded this year are going to an impressive group of organizations with a strong commitment to making an immediate and real impact on the health and sustainability of our port communities,” said Harbor Commission President Jaime Lee. “We look forward to seeing the results of these programs in the months ahead.” Grants include $75,000 to Los Angeles Walks for the Safe Streets Community Promotora Education Program, which seeks to improve air quality and make neighborhoods safer for walkers and those who don’t use vehicles.
They also include $34,169 to Wilmington Community Clinic’s asthma program, $60,000 to South Bay Center for Counseling to turn a vacant lot to an urban community greenspace and $40,000 to Sharefest Community Development, Inc., according to the port.
“The grants awarded this year are going to an impressive group of organizations with a strong commitment to making an immediate and real impact on the health and sustainability of our port communities,” said Harbor Commission President Jaime Lee. “We look forward to seeing the results of these programs in the months ahead.” Grants include $75,000 to Los Angeles Walks for the Safe Streets Community Promotora Education Program, which seeks to improve air quality and make neighborhoods safer for walkers and those who don’t use vehicles.
They also include $34,169 to Wilmington Community Clinic’s asthma program, $60,000 to South Bay Center for Counseling to turn a vacant lot to an urban community greenspace and $40,000 to Sharefest Community Development, Inc., according to the port.
Port of Everett to Relocate Cranes
Later this month, the Port of Everett plans to move a pair of 100-foot gauge cargo cranes from the upland yard storage to its new home at the newly upgraded South Terminal Wharf.
Crane relocation is expected to happen between Nov. 18 and Nov. 25.
The two 214-foot-tall electric cranes - which the port purchased from Everport Terminal for $1 each and spent about nearly $6 million to transport - were in upland storage to undergo system upgrades before the move to the wharf.
After they are relocated, workers will install the cranes, as well as conduct electrical work and operational testing so the equipment will be ready for service. The cranes should be operational at the terminal by the end of the year, the port said.
“These cranes are a game changer for the Port and our region,” port Chief Operating Officer Carl Wollebek, told PMM back in May. “Putting them into use at our upgraded terminal keeps us nimble and competitive as the industry continues to send larger ships and heavier cargo to our docks.”
Crane relocation is expected to happen between Nov. 18 and Nov. 25.
The two 214-foot-tall electric cranes - which the port purchased from Everport Terminal for $1 each and spent about nearly $6 million to transport - were in upland storage to undergo system upgrades before the move to the wharf.
After they are relocated, workers will install the cranes, as well as conduct electrical work and operational testing so the equipment will be ready for service. The cranes should be operational at the terminal by the end of the year, the port said.
“These cranes are a game changer for the Port and our region,” port Chief Operating Officer Carl Wollebek, told PMM back in May. “Putting them into use at our upgraded terminal keeps us nimble and competitive as the industry continues to send larger ships and heavier cargo to our docks.”
Friday, November 6, 2020
Auction of Former Evergreen State Ferry
Set for Nov. 17
The M/V Dream, also known as the former 310-foot Evergreen State ferry, will be auctioned to the highest bidder on Nov. 17.
The U.S. Marshal arrested the vessel Sept. 15 at the behest of the Port of Olympia because of almost $67,000 in unpaid dockage and fees.
The decommissioned ferry came to the port in April 2018. The port, which had not received payment from the owner since January, placed a lien against the vessel ferry. In June, the port tried to work with the owner who was seeking potential buyers, but the owner came up short.
The port had the vessel arrested. Marine Lender Services LLC is the substitute custodian.
Bidding will begin at $50,000. Cash will not be accepted. Payment must be made by certified check to U.S. Marshals Service by 4 p.m. on the sale day.
Those attending the auction must wear masks and practice social distancing. The vessel will be auctioned “as is where is.” Marine Lenders Services, LLC can arrange live previews for potential buyers on Nov. 9-10 at the Port of Olympia by calling 206-284-9930 and buck@marinelendersservices.com. The buyer needs to move the vessel within 48 hours of purchase or up to two weeks of temporary moorage for qualified buyers.
For more, visit http://www.portolympia.com/487/Vessel-Auction---November-17-2020.
The U.S. Marshal arrested the vessel Sept. 15 at the behest of the Port of Olympia because of almost $67,000 in unpaid dockage and fees.
The decommissioned ferry came to the port in April 2018. The port, which had not received payment from the owner since January, placed a lien against the vessel ferry. In June, the port tried to work with the owner who was seeking potential buyers, but the owner came up short.
The port had the vessel arrested. Marine Lender Services LLC is the substitute custodian.
Bidding will begin at $50,000. Cash will not be accepted. Payment must be made by certified check to U.S. Marshals Service by 4 p.m. on the sale day.
Those attending the auction must wear masks and practice social distancing. The vessel will be auctioned “as is where is.” Marine Lenders Services, LLC can arrange live previews for potential buyers on Nov. 9-10 at the Port of Olympia by calling 206-284-9930 and buck@marinelendersservices.com. The buyer needs to move the vessel within 48 hours of purchase or up to two weeks of temporary moorage for qualified buyers.
For more, visit http://www.portolympia.com/487/Vessel-Auction---November-17-2020.
CMTS to Host Webinar, Publish Catalogs on Handling COVID-19 in Maritime Industry
The Committee on Marine Transportation System will host a webinar on COVID-19 Testing Strategies for U.S. Merchant Mariners from 2 to 3:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 18.
The remote event will feature speakers such as Maritime Administration Administrator RADM Mark Buzby and Marine Transportation Systems Director Mike Emerson, as well as Samantha Case, an epidemiologist from the CDC/NIOSH Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies, and Dr. Kara Tardivel, a medical officer for the CDC/Maritime Unit, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine.
The webinar will touch on various topics, such as background data on the pandemic, types of COVID-19 testing for US Merchant Mariners and how reliable and available the testing is and CDC recommendations for US Merchant Mariners.
To check out the webinar, go to https://usdot.webex.com/join/nuns.jain or call 404-443-2170; with Access Code:60061206. Make sure to log in 30 minutes before the webinar starts to download any plug-ins and ensure Webex compatibility.
The webinar comes at the heels of three reference catalogs published in late October by the CMTS to help U.S. merchant mariners and the Marine Transportation System. They include "Catalog of COVID-19 Federal Guidance and References for the U.S. Maritime Industry," "Catalog of COVID-19 Best Management Practices for the U.S. Maritime Industry," and "Catalog of Mental Health Resources for U.S. Merchant Mariners and Critical Workforce in the Marine Transportation System."
Email C19WG@cmts.gov to provide feedback on the catalogs. Visit https://www.cmts.gov/topics/working_group for more on the webinar and catalogs.
The webinar will touch on various topics, such as background data on the pandemic, types of COVID-19 testing for US Merchant Mariners and how reliable and available the testing is and CDC recommendations for US Merchant Mariners.
To check out the webinar, go to https://usdot.webex.com/join/nuns.jain or call 404-443-2170; with Access Code:60061206. Make sure to log in 30 minutes before the webinar starts to download any plug-ins and ensure Webex compatibility.
The webinar comes at the heels of three reference catalogs published in late October by the CMTS to help U.S. merchant mariners and the Marine Transportation System. They include "Catalog of COVID-19 Federal Guidance and References for the U.S. Maritime Industry," "Catalog of COVID-19 Best Management Practices for the U.S. Maritime Industry," and "Catalog of Mental Health Resources for U.S. Merchant Mariners and Critical Workforce in the Marine Transportation System."
Email C19WG@cmts.gov to provide feedback on the catalogs. Visit https://www.cmts.gov/topics/working_group for more on the webinar and catalogs.
Los Angeles Seeking Clean Tech Proposals for Port
To advance efforts to make trucks serving the San Pedro Bay seaport complex a zero-emissions fleet by 2035, Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti is putting out a new Request for Information seeking proposals to expand clean technology at the Port of Los Angeles.
“We can only turn the tide on the climate crisis if we work across every sector to reduce dangerous emissions, protect vulnerable neighborhoods from the perils of
pollution, and rev up our investments in clean energy,” said Garcetti. “Our RFI sends a strong signal: Los Angeles is a laboratory for new technology, a pioneering destination for sustainability, and a place where we deploy the power of innovation to strengthen lives, secure livelihoods, preserve public health, and lead a just transition toward a greener economy and a more equitable future.”
This effort is driven by the Clean Air Action Plan, a landmark blueprint to aggressively clean up the air pollution generated by port operations and developing clean technology for the trucks that move cargo in and out of the nation’s busiest seaport complex is a major part of those efforts.
Currently, the port is engaged in 16 different zero-emission demonstration projects designed to bring feasible technology to the marketplace, said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.
”Conversion of the Port drayage fleet to zero-emission technology involves tremendous financial investment and will take the collaboration and commitment of many stakeholders - both public and private - to create a viable market for zero-emissions drayage technology,” he said. “This RFI is designed to recruit the best ideas available to help us serve as a catalyst and make a meaningful impact on climate change."
Applicants have until 4 p.m. on Jan. 7 to submit responses to Tricia Carey at tcarey@portla.org For more, visit https://kentico.portoflosangeles.org/getmedia/9e977a0c-74e1-4afa-b99f-38da05d32955/20201030-POLA-CTP-RFI-(final)
This effort is driven by the Clean Air Action Plan, a landmark blueprint to aggressively clean up the air pollution generated by port operations and developing clean technology for the trucks that move cargo in and out of the nation’s busiest seaport complex is a major part of those efforts.
Currently, the port is engaged in 16 different zero-emission demonstration projects designed to bring feasible technology to the marketplace, said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.
”Conversion of the Port drayage fleet to zero-emission technology involves tremendous financial investment and will take the collaboration and commitment of many stakeholders - both public and private - to create a viable market for zero-emissions drayage technology,” he said. “This RFI is designed to recruit the best ideas available to help us serve as a catalyst and make a meaningful impact on climate change."
Applicants have until 4 p.m. on Jan. 7 to submit responses to Tricia Carey at tcarey@portla.org For more, visit https://kentico.portoflosangeles.org/getmedia/9e977a0c-74e1-4afa-b99f-38da05d32955/20201030-POLA-CTP-RFI-(final)
