Olympia CEO Finalists

Olympia CEO Finalists

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of Olympia Commission is expected to choose an executive director on Dec. 21. The commission will interview the finalists in executive session before announcing its decision in public session later that afternoon. From a pool of 37 candidates, the port whittled it down to three finalists: Sam Gibboney, who served as the Executive Director of the Port of Port Townsend; Geir-Eilif Kalhagen, who was Director of Northern California and Pacific Northwest for Metro Ports in Long Beach, California; and Dan Stahl, COO of the Port of Longview. The chosen candidate will replace Ed Galligan,…
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San Pedro Bay Ports Consider Emissions Plans

San Pedro Bay Ports Consider Emissions Plans

By Karen Robes Meeks The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are asking the public to weigh in on a draft assessment that looks at the feasibility of clean truck technology – a document that will help the nation’s two busiest seaports reach a key goal within their Clean Air Action Plan. The new version of the plan, which the ports updated in 2017, calls for zero-emissions trucks by 2035 and zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment by 2030. According to the port, the draft released Tuesday lays out the current landscape in this market, including available technology and infrastructure, economic factors…
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San Diego Boat Launch to Reopen

San Diego Boat Launch to Reopen

By Karen Robes Meeks The boat launch at Shelter Island is expected to reopen on Dec. 21, the Port of San Diego announced this week. The boat launch has been closed to the public since construction began to make the facility safer and easier to navigate. The contractor will remain on site through January 2019 to complete other tasks, including beach grading and site cleanup. Improvements made include widening the basin area where boats maneuver by 80 percent, adding length to boarding floats and installing a newer launch ramp. The project also included making improvements to the public docks and…
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Vancouver, USA Approves Hotel Lease

Vancouver, USA Approves Hotel Lease

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners recently agreed to a new lease with T1 Hotel LLC, allowing for a 160-room AC by Marriott Hotel to be built at Terminal 1. This replaces the original lease inked in August 2017 between the port and Vancouver, Washington-based owner of T1 Hotel Vesta Hospitality. According to the port, it incorporates subsequent amendments and includes language on green building standards and ground stabilization necessary to construct at the waterfront.” Work on stabilizing the ground that will support the hotel and future Renaissance Trail connection through Terminal 1 is…
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Million-TEU Mark for SSA Seattle

Million-TEU Mark for SSA Seattle

By Karen Robes Meeks Washington State saw its first marine terminal surpass one million TEUs in a year when SSA Marine’s Terminal 18 reached the milestone earlier this month. “To reach 1 million TEUs at a Puget Sound terminal for the first time is an enormous achievement and a testament to the value of working together under the banner of The Northwest Seaport Alliance,” said Don Meyer, Port of Tacoma commission president and co-chair of the NWSA. The North Harbor terminal, which is on its way to 1.1 million TEUs by year’s end, credits the success to an agreement with…
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Bellingham Receives Broadband Grant

Bellingham Receives Broadband Grant

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of Bellingham recently received a $50,000 grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board for a Rural Broadband Feasibility Study. The research will identify which areas in the county are underserved by broadband, explore how to bring that infrastructure to those communities and what is needed to enact a broadband system countywide. “In Whatcom County we have many rural communities who either do not have broadband access or have it but the speed is inadequate,” said Port Director of Economic Development Don Goldberg. Like water, roads, and electricity, broadband is of fundamental importance to social…
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Long Beach Chairs Mayors’ Task Force

Long Beach Chairs Mayors’ Task Force

By Karen Robes Meeks Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is the new chair of the US Conference of Mayors’ Ports and Exports Task Force. The mayor, who announced his appointment to his constituents earlier this month, said “As Chair I will bring the Port of Long Beach experience and expertise and highlight our Clean Air Action Plan, key infrastructure projects affirming our commitment to operational excellence and other initiatives that make our port one of the best ports in the world.” “Strengthening trade and commerce at our ports is critical to the success of our national and regional economies throughout…
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Coos Bay Dredging to Begin

Coos Bay Dredging to Begin

By Karen Robes Meeks Maintenance dredging of the Charleston Marina channel and Inner Basin in the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay is expected to begin this week, according to a port announcement made earlier this month. Dredging, which was expected to start Dec. 17 and take four to six weeks to complete, will take place mainly during day time hours and during ebb tides. The maintenance work at the marina, which is home to more than 400 slips, will temporarily limit vessel traffic and accessibility. For more information on accessing the Charleston Marina during that period, call 541-888-2548, or…
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Los Angles May See 9 Million TEU for 2018

Los Angles May See 9 Million TEU for 2018

By Karen Robes Meeks For the fifth straight month, the Port of Los Angeles handled more than 800,000 TEUs, keeping the nation’s largest seaport on pace to reach 9 million for the year. The port moved 832,331 TEUs in November, making it the port’s sixth busiest month ever. This despite last month’s numbers reflecting a 9.9 percent decrease from the same period last year when the port moved 924,256 TEUs. Los Angeles also saw an 8.8 percent decrease in imports down to 422,793 TEUs and a 14.3 percent slowdown in exports to 152,527 TEUs compared to the November 2017 figures.…
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Long Beach Approaching Second Record Year

Long Beach Approaching Second Record Year

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of Long Beach is on the way to a record year for the second consecutive year. Long Beach moved 621,835 TEUs last month, 1.5 percent higher than November 2017, adding to the port’s 2018 tally of 7,349,377 TEUs. With volumes up 7.3 percent for the year, officials predict that the numbers will surpass last year’s record of 7,544,507 TEUs. “American retailers are stocking up on goods made in China to avoid anticipated higher tariffs,” said Port Executive Director Mario Cordero. “You’re seeing the opposite effect on the other side of the ocean. Chinese businesses…
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