Karen Robes Meeks – Pacific Maritime Magazine

14 Jan

San Francisco Bay Ferry Touts Heightened Passenger Numbers

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, sfbayferry

About 2.6 million passengers rode the San Francisco Bay Ferry in 2024, 16% more than in the previous year, according to data released by the transit agency Jan 6. An average of 7,148 passengers used SF Bay Ferry daily last year, reflecting a 90% recovery of daily ridership numbers before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the agency. During the second half of 2024, ridership rose to 97% of pre-pandemic levels, data show. Gains in ridership were experienced in several areas, including a 14% growth during the peak morning commute from 2023 to 2024, a 12% increase in weekend ridership and…

14 Jan

Vigor Names New VP of Marine Fabrication

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsnewsmakers, shipbuilding, titan, vigor

Mark Norris has been named vice president of marine fabrication for Portland-based Vigor Industrial, leading the shipbuilding and repair company’s most cutting-edge marine fabrication projects, the company announced Jan. 6. Norris, who’s expected to be based at Vigor’s Vancouver, Wash. facility, brings with him almost 40 years of experience overseeing major defense programs, including 25 years at Lockheed Martin, where he served as vice president of joint programs for the U.S. Army and Navy. He also worked with Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri, where he oversaw strategy and business development for BAE Systems Inc.’s F-35 Lightening II program. “We are fortunate…

14 Jan

Port of Woodland Seals New Contracts, is Now 100% Leased

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscontracts, portofwoodland

Officials at the Port of Woodland in southern Washington state are celebrating the recent growth of industrial business coming to the region in 2025, lauding the approval of four leases. They welcomed Woodland’s fifth fishing rod manufacturer with the October signing of Rajeff Sports, LLC, the Echo fly fishing rods manufacturer relocating its growing operations from Vancouver into the newly built Rose Way Industrial Park. Also coming to Woodland is Van Raden Industries, which is known for handling heavy haul equipment. The company is expected to move from its Vancouver location to Schurman Way Industrial Park in early 2025. Van…

14 Jan

Tacoma Port, School District Break Ground on Port Maritime Center

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsmaritimecenter, portoftacoma, training

The Port of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Schools on Jan. 8 held a groundbreaking ceremony for the future Port Maritime Center, a 20-acre project that includes a new business office for the port and the Maritime|253 skills center. “The Port Maritime Center will be the new front door to the Port of Tacoma, allowing us to better connect with the community and bringing new life to the east side of the Foss Waterway,” Port Commission President John McCarthy said. “Our unique partnership with Tacoma Public Schools makes this a transformational project that will help inspire and grow the future of the maritime…

07 Jan

Truck and Chassis Parking Lot Project Planned Near San Pedro Bay Port Complex

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newschassis, parkinglot, pola, polb

A short-term drayage truck and chassis parking lot is being proposed on an 18.63‑acre site near the Los Angeles-Long Beach seaport complex. The proposed John S. Gibson Truck and Chassis Parking Lot project, to be developed at 1599 John S. Gibson Blvd. in San Pedro, would include paving part of the site and striping about 393 stalls for trucks and chassis, as well as the addition of a new signal and median changes at the intersection of John S. Gibson Boulevard and the driveway of the proposed project, according to the Port of Los Angeles. The site would be used…

07 Jan

Port of Seattle Hires New Economic Development Director

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsnewsmakers, portofseattle

Veteran executive Neepaporn Boungjaktha (pronounced Nee-Pa-Pawn Boing-Juk-Tah) is the new managing director of the Port of Seattle’s Economic Development Division, the port announced Dec. 4. Boungjaktha, who was chosen through a nationwide search conducted by executive search firm Jorgenson Pace, joined the port after serving as an executive director for the Snohomish County (Wash.) Executive Office. She also was previously the managing director of global trade and investment at Greater Seattle Partners, and served as vice president of global engagement and other roles at the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce. Boungjaktha attended the University of Washington, where she earned a…

07 Jan

Crowley Acquires Seattle-Based Harbor Services Company Main Line Inc.

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscrowley, harborservices, mainline, transactions

Crowley Maritime said Jan. 2 that it has expanded its harbor services capabilities via the acquisition of Main Line Inc., a vessel mooring company based in Seattle, effective Jan. 1. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The addition of Main Line is expected to provide Crowley’s customers calling on the ports of Seattle and Tacoma with a comprehensive solution for their vessel mooring and ship assist needs, the company said in a statement. Main Line is a longtime provider of vessel mooring services in the Pacific Northwest for ship operators who value safe and dependable mooring service. Main Line…

07 Jan

BC Ferries Submits Major Vessel Build Plan to BC Ferries Commissioner

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, newbuilds, nmv

British Columbia ferry service provider BC Ferries said in mid-December that it has submitted a plan to build five New Major Vessels, or NMVs, which, if approved by BC Ferries’ commissioner, would be the biggest capital investment in the organization’s history. The newbuilds would bolster the region’s ferry capacity and reliability, according to BC Ferries. The vessels would replace four older ferries and add one new ferry, allowing the company to add capacity on its highest-demand routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, according to the organization. The new vessels would lower wait times and increase capacity overall by as…

07 Jan

2 Alaska Companies Join TOTE Group’s New Logistics Endeavor

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News3pl, logistics, tote

Effective Jan. 1, Alaska trucking and logistics company Carlile and Alaska-based third-party logistics provider Naniq Global Logistics have joined TOTE Logistics, the TOTE Group’s new area of focus. Carlile specializes in shipping trucking and logistics services throughout Alaska, Canada and the U.S., while Naniq Global is a 3PL with more than 300 employees throughout North America, including Alaska, Canada, Hawaii and Washington state. They join TOTE Logistics along with Florida-based Shoreside Logistics and the newly acquired Florida-based Aqua Gulf, a 3PL that specializes in cargo delivery between Puerto Rico and the U.S. The news was announced Dec. 10. “Together, these…

31 Dec

Long Beach, Humboldt Ports Seal Floating Offshore Wind Development Agreement

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newshumboldt, offshorewind #osw, pierwind, polb

The Port of Long Beach and Humboldt Bay Harbor District have signed an agreement with the California State Lands Commission to advance efforts to build the needed port infrastructure to facilitate offshore wind development, the Port of Long Beach announced Dec. 18. The agreement solidifies the two ports’ position as sites for such development, and that all parties intend to move forward in a sustainable way that’s sensitive to affected communities. The memorandum of understanding lists 11 areas that the state commission and ports intend to “confer, cooperate and exchange information consistent with the AB 525 Strategic Plan,” including staging…