By Karen Robes Meeks The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will host the first stakeholder advisory group meeting of the year on Jan. 15. The meeting will address the latest information on the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan 2017 Update and focus on gathering input on the recently released Draft Economic Rate Study and the potential Clean Truck Rate. The public meeting will take place 10 a.m. to noon at the Harbor Administration Building located at 425 Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, Calif., 90731. It will also be webcast live. For more details, visit cleanairactionplan.org.

By Karen Robes Meeks Timothy J. (TJ) Quandt is the Port of Olympia’s new senior harbor manager. Quandt comes to the port with strong maritime, business operations, and customer service experience. In his previous role at the Port of Port Townsend business manager, Quandt oversaw three marinas, a boatyard, a recreational vehicle park, and a fuel dock. He previously worked as an assistant harbormaster, hoist operator and commercial fisherman. "The port received many excellent applications for this position, and while the competition was close, we found TJ to be the best fit for the Port of Olympia,” said Executive Director…

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of Hueneme recently acknowledged the arrival of Brusco Tug & Barge, Inc.’s new environmentally friendly tug, the Teresa Brusco. The new vessel – which has a Tier 3 engine and 61-ton bollard pull capability – replaces the Lulapin. It represents a nearly $10 million capital investment by the company. The cleaner tug will mean lower vessel emissions, including an 80 percent decrease in NOx. “This significant upgrade to Brusco’s fleet keeps with the Port’s commitment to environment – as the Greenest US Port and Green Marine-certified (a third party environmental verification program), we take the health…

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of Camas-Washougal recently welcomed its newest port commissioner. According to the port, Cassi Marshall is a Clark County native who graduated from Prairie High School in Vancouver, Wash., and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in aero/astro-engineering from M.I.T. in Cambridge, Mass. Marshall worked as a structural dynamics engineer for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California before relocating to Camas. She spent the next 17 years, working as a student coordinator and executive assistant for the Washougal School District. She currently operates a business with her husband that uses her planning and resource management…

By Karen Robes Meeks Jack Burkman is the newest Port of Vancouver USA commissioner. He represents District 3. He was sworn in Dec. 30 at the port’s Administrative Office, as he began a five-year term. Over the last 30 years, Burkman has served the Clark County community as a three-term Vancouver City Councilmember and a 10-year Clark College Trustee. He is also involved in several boards, including the Regional Transportation Council, C-Tran, Portland Metro’s Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, League of United Latin American Citizens, and the YWCA Clark County. According to the port, Burkman…

By Karen Robes Meeks Port of Bellingham Commissioner Michael Shepard will lead the commission for the coming year. Shepard was chosen by his peers to become president, while Commissioner Bobby Briscoe will take on the role of Vice President and Ken Bell that of Secretary. This year, commissioners will represent the port on the following local boards: • Whatcom Council of Governments: Bobby Briscoe • Washington Public Ports Association: Michael Shepard • Whatcom County Economic Development Investment Program Committee: Ken Bell • Western Crossing (Shared Port and Western Washington University Development Entity): Ken Bell Regular Port Commission meetings will now…

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of San Diego’s Blue Economy effort has acquired a significant partner in the US Navy. The port and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport have signed a Partnership Intermediary Agreement to help push the innovation of a Blue Economy, which seeks to balance economic growth and coastal preservation in the San Diego area. “Our role in the arrangement with the Port of San Diego is to provide expertise, and collaborate, where possible, in developing ocean technologies that may benefit the US Navy,” said NUWC Division, Keyport Deputy Customer Advocate Jay Cavalieri. “This arrangement…

By Karen Robes Meeks Shipments of scrap paper rose three percent in the first 10 months of 2018 at the Port of Oakland, bucking a trend for US exports. The port, which considers waste paper its biggest export by container volume, moved 110,400 TEUs of it between January and October 2018, close to 18 percent of Oakland’s total export volume. Most of it went to Asia to use for packaging material. The statistic is impressive, considering the tariff standoff between the US and China and China’s more stringent standards on foreign scrap. While scrap paper shipments to China, the port’s…

By Karen Robes Meeks Starting March 9, commuters should anticipate an operational closure at 9th Street near Pico Avenue in Long Beach’s west side. The Port of Long Beach says the closure will allow for longer trains and the movement of cargo using on-dock rail rather than by trucks, a move that will mean less pollution. The closure will also mean better traffic flow and safety, especially at Pico Avenue, Pier B Street and the on- and off-ramps to and from the 710 Freeway. Oversized trucks will be able to access the crossing with special permits and at appointed times,…

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of Seattle has tapped Pete Ramels, a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the Civil Division of the King County Prosecutor’s Office, to be its General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. “I am honored to join the Port of Seattle as General Counsel and look forward to using my years of legal experience in government, real estate and land use to help our region prosper during this time of economic growth and opportunity,” said Ramels. In his new role, Ramels will advise port leaders on legal matters and oversee the port’s legal team and public…