News Briefs – Page 27 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

23 May

$220 Million in Federal Funds Available for Passenger Ferry Projects

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, fta, grants

About $220 million in grant funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is now available for projects that seek to help or upgrade passenger ferry service throughout the nation, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced May 18. About $50.1 million is available in FY 2023 through the Passenger Ferry Program, which funds projects to purchase, replace, or update passenger ferries, terminals and equipment. About $5 million is dedicated to low- or zero-emission ferries and related facilities/equipment, according to the FTA. "Passenger ferries provide critical and cost-effective travel for people throughout the United States, but they currently…

23 May

Port of Vancouver USA Receives Funding to Remove Old Dock

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsdockreplacement, terminal1, vancouverusa

The Washington State Legislature is giving the Port of Vancouver USA $3.5 million toward the removal of its century-old Terminal 1 dock, it was announced May 18. The legislature included in its final 2023 capital budget funding the port’s project to demolish and reconstruct the dock. When it’s replaced, the Terminal 1 dock will support a public market. Removal of the dock, which is expected to begin in this fall, involves removing 880 old wood pilings and creosote-treated pilings, then installing about 160 new steel and concrete pilings. Deck completion is set for early 2024. “Our state legislators have…

23 May

April Cargo Volumes Down at LA, Long Beach Ports

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscargovolumes, pola, polb

The Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports saw cargo volumes drop by double-digits last month, according to newly released data. Los Angeles saw overall cargo numbers fall 22% last month compared to April 2021, the second busiest April in port history, the port announced May 18. Los Angeles moved 688,110 TEUs last month, with imports down 25% to 343,689 TEUs and loaded exports down 12% to 88,202 TEUs. Empty containers also dropped 23% to 256,220 TEUs year over year, according to the port. “A cooling global economy, warehouses laden with aging inventory and prolonged West Coast labor negotiations have all…

23 May

WSF Vessel Conversion Contract Bidding Closes Soon

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsconversion, ferries, wsf

Prospective shipbuilders interested in converting Washington State Ferries’ three Jumbo Mark II vessels into hybrid electric vessels in the coming years have until June 1 to submit bids. The contract represents a significant step in lowering the agency’s reliance on diesel fuel and greenhouse gas emissions for fleet operations. “Converting the three largest vessels in the WSF fleet means that we are tackling the biggest emissions culprits, with 26% of greenhouse gases coming from these three vessels alone,” according to WSF. This move, according to the agency, is expected to decrease emissions by more than 20% from these three vessels…

23 May

Port of Oakland Amends TraPac Lease to Include Green Cargo Handling Equipment

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsportofoakland, TraPac

The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners has altered terminal operator TraPac’s lease to include sustainable improvements to cargo handling equipment at its facilities, a major step in greening operations, the port announced May 18. The amendment marks the first time the port is adding language to a terminal operator’s lease that cargo handling equipment be updated to lower pollution. “This landmark lease agreement will bring the port closer to its goal of achieving zero emissions operations,” port Executive Director Danny Wan said in a statement. The port is incentivizing TraPac’s efforts, offering to reimburse the terminal up to 35% (or…

16 May

Seattle Maritime Jobs Campaign Kicks Off

Mark Edward NeroNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsmaritimejobs, portofseattle

On May 11, Seattle-based maritime organizations, including the Port of Seattle, kicked off a local “Maritime Works” campaign drawing awareness to local opportunities for young adults looking for a high-wage career based in Puget Sound. For the first time, essential maritime career information is consolidated on one website, washingtonmaritimecareers.org, where multiple career paths are presented including contacts, wage scales, education requirements and necessary tools to get started. Campaign partners, including the Port of Seattle and Propeller Club, launched the campaign at the annual Seattle Maritime Breakfast. “Maritime and industrial businesses are part of Seattle’s future,” Port of Seattle Commission President…

16 May

From the Editor: Rest in Peace, Rick

Mark Edward NeroFrom the Editor, News, News Briefs, PMM Online News

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 before being promoted to managing director of the port’s environmental planning division in January 2014, a position where he oversaw the Planning and Environmental Affairs Bureau, including environmental and transportation planning. Then, in August 2018, he was named to the…

16 May

Port of Long Beach Releases Concept Plan for Offshore Wind Facility

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsosw, pierwind, polb

The Port of Long Beach on May 9 announced its concept proposal for Pier Wind, a floating offshore wind facility centered around supporting companies involved in future renewable energy efforts along the West Coast. The vision for Pier Wind includes a $4.7 billion facility featuring as many as 400 acres southwest of the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge. The port says that the project would contribute to the state’s efforts to create 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045 and help lower the national expense of offshore wind power by 70% by 2035. “Imagine fully assembled wind turbines capable…

16 May

Lowenthal Reappointed to Long Beach Harbor Commission

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsharborcommission, polb

Longtime civic leader Bonnie Lowenthal has been reappointed to the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, the commission that governs the Port of Long Beach, one of the largest seaports in the nation. The Long Beach City Council made Mayor Rex Richardson’s reappointment of Lowenthal official on May 2 when it unanimously approved it. Each term is six years, and the mayor can appoint each commissioner to up to two terms. Lowenthal is the 68th commissioner since the commission structure was established in 1925. Before being named to the commission in 2017, Lowenthal served as a Long Beach City Council…

16 May

Port of Oakland, Japanese Officials Discuss Decarbonization Efforts

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationscalsta, decarbonization, oakland

Port of Oakland leaders strengthened ties with major trading partner Japan and their joint efforts to green seaport operations during a recent meeting with officials from the Japanese Ministry and the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). The meeting, revealed by the port on May 5, builds on a March clean energy trade mission to Japan that included the Port of Oakland, which sends 16% of its exports to Japan. On that mission, officials shared ways to address climate change, bolster green energy efforts and develop new investment and trade opportunities. Japan is said to be working toward making all its…