As you know if you’ve been reading this magazine for at least a couple of years, each issue of Pacific Maritime contains an international news section in its back half, usually around pages 44-45.
But since the number of issues of the magazine that come out each year has changed, it has me wondering if we should also make another change, and I’d like your input.
Although the International Report is chock full of useful, interesting information, I’ve begun to wonder if that space might be better filled by a National Report that focuses on important U.S. maritime news and issues, rather than what’s happening on the other side of the Pacific.
Although many of the companies in Asia and elsewhere that we report on—particularly the international shippers—are directly connected to maritime commence here, so are several companies based in the Gulf and East coasts, such as Florida-based Crowley.
The topic is a particularly important one since the Port of New York and New Jersey has managed over the past couple of years to go from spending decades as the third-busiest seaport in the U.S. to challenging the Port of Los Angeles for the number one spot on a month-to-month basis.
So, if you have an opinion on whether we should ditch international news in favor of national news—or if we should combine the two topics into one column—please let me know by sending an email to mark@maritimepublishing.com with the word International in the subject line. A decision on the international news section’s future will be made by the end of July. Thanks.
RIP Rick Cameron
On May 10, the Port of Long Beach announced that its former deputy executive director, Richard D. Cameron, had passed away. Rick, as most people knew him, worked at the POLB for more than 24 years before resigning in March.
He first joined the port in 1996 as an environmental specialist and steadily worked his way up the career ladder. He was promoted in January 2014 to managing director of the port’s environmental planning division, a position in which he oversaw the Planning and Environmental Affairs Bureau, including transportation planning.
Then, in August 2018, he was named to the position of Deputy Executive Director of Planning and Development, the title he held until his departure.
I first met Rick back in 2002 when I was starting out as a local newspaper reporter in Long Beach. Once when I was working on a story, I had the opportunity to interview him one-on-one in his office for over an hour, and it was both an informative and entertaining conversation. Ever since then, I’ve always had a lot of respect for Rick and would make sure to say hello to him whenever I’d see him at port-related events, because he was always so down-to-earth, jovial, gracious and pleasant to be around.
His death came as a shock, as I’m sure it did to many of his friends and former colleagues.
In a message posted on the port’s website, POLB Executive Director Mario Cordero said that he and port staffers were saddened by Rick’s death.
“Along with Rick’s many friends, contacts and colleagues throughout the logistics industry and environmental community, we here at the port will miss Rick’s warmth, intellect and sense of dedication,” Cordero said. “He was a leader and respected for his expertise in environmentally sustainable development.”
“His legacy carries on in the port’s achievements … and also in the many port teammates and leaders whom he trained and mentored over his … years at the port,” the statement continued. “Our thoughts are with Rick’s family at this difficult time.”
Although I didn’t know Rick nearly as well as his port colleagues, friends and family, I too, will miss his wit, humor, knowledge and conversational skills. For me personally, he was always a pleasure to be around. I’ll miss seeing his warm smile.
Rest in peace, Rick.
Managing Editor Mark Nero can be reached at mark@maritimepublishing.com