News Briefs – Page 53 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

12 Aug

USCG Halts Illegal Charter in Southern California

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsillegalcharter, uscg

Members of U.S. Coast Guard Station Los Angeles-Long Beach recently stopped an illegal charter vessel operating in the Newport Beach area of Orange County, California. A 50-foot pleasure craft, Yachtley Crue, was carrying 12 passengers on Aug. 6 when Coast Guard members found the vessel in violation of 46 C.F.R. 176.100 (a) for not possessing a valid Certificate of Inspection, 46 C.F.R. 67.323 for operating in coastwise trade without the appropriate Certificate of Documentation endorsement and 46 C.F.R. 16.201 for failure to have a random drug testing program, according to the USCG. “The Coast Guard will aggressively pursue any operator…

12 Aug

Port of Long Beach Records Busiest-Ever July

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationscargo, polb, TEUs

The Port of Long Beach said that it saw its best July ever last month when it processed 785,843 TEUs, according to new data released by the seaport Aug 11. Last month’s overall volumes narrowly topped the previous record month, July 2021, by 0.13%. The port netted its busiest July even though imports last month dipped 1.8% to 376,175 TEUs and exports dropped slightly by 0.5% to 109,411 TEUs year over year. Meanwhile, the amount of empties rose 2.8% to 300,257 TEUs. July’s numbers mark the sixth month the port has shattered monthly records in the last seven months. So…

09 Aug

BNSF to Operate New Tacoma Harbor Facility

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbnsf, NWSA, portoftacoma

BNSF Railway Co. and managing members of the Northwest Seaport Alliance in July agreed to a 16-acre lease that would allow the rail company to create and run a domestic intermodal facility at Lot M in the Tacoma Harbor. The new facility is expected to bolster cargo movement between the NWSA and inland U.S. markets, giving NWSA the business advantage of being served by two mainline railroads for domestic container movement. “Growing the NWSA’s domestic intermodal volumes has long been a goal for the Seattle and Tacoma gateway,” NWSA Co-Chair and Port of Tacoma Commissioner President Don Meyer stated. “The…

09 Aug

Prince Rupert Port Authority Hires New Finance VP

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsprincerupertport, prpa

Agnes Piotrowsk, the former executive director of financial operations and reporting with Island Health, has been announced as Prince Rupert Port Authority’s new vice president of finance. She will succeed longtime executive Joe Rektor, who’s retiring after 30 years of service. PRPA CEO and President Shaun Stevenson thanked Rektor for years of “dedicated contribution to our organization, the Port of Prince Rupert’s growth and development, and the community of Prince Rupert throughout his tenure.” Stevenson also lauded Piotrowsk’s arrival at the port. “Agnes joins PRPA at an exciting time in the growth of our organization and in the development of…

09 Aug

Port of LA Seeks Feedback on Berth Improvement Project

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsberthimprovement, pola, vopak

The Port of Los Angeles is asking the public to weigh in on a wharf improvement project at the Vopak-operated liquid bulk terminal located at berths 187-191 in Wilmington, California. The port recently released a Notice of Preparation/Initial Study of the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the project, which calls for improving liquid bulk terminal wharves at Berths 187-190 to be in compliance with Marine Oil Terminal Engineering and Maintenance Standards, as well as repairing and making structural upgrades to the Berth 191 wharf to resume maritime cement operations, according to the port. The project also involves possibly issuing a…

09 Aug

USCG Cutter Munro Crew Return to Alameda

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Vessel Profilescutter, munro, uscg

After 128 days at sea, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro returned to its Alameda homeport in mid-July. The crew traveled 20,000 nautical miles for a series of missions in the Pacific Ocean, emphasizing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing enforcement and bolstering partnerships that fortify maritime sovereignty and security in the region with its support of Operation Blue Pacific and North Pacific Guard, the Coast Guard said. “Munro’s deployment demonstrated the Coast Guard’s unique authorities in the support of (combating) IUU fishing,” said Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson, commander of the USCG’s Pacific Area. “Through Operation Blue Pacific,…

05 Aug

Long Beach Harbor Commission Chooses New Board President

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

Long Beach Harbor Commission member Sharon L. Weissman has been chosen by her fellow members for a one-year stint as board president. Weissman, who was first appointed to the commission in 2020, was elected for a one-year term as president on July 25, succeeding Steven Neal. Additionally, Bobby Olvera Jr. has been elected the board’s vice president and Bonnie Lowenthal as board secretary, also for one-year terms. The new officers’ terms begin Aug. 8. “I am honored by the trust my colleagues on the board have placed in me,” Weissman said. “In collaboration with my fellow commissioners, Executive Director Mario…

05 Aug

USCG Task Force Returns to Anchorage After Facility Checks

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsepa, marinesafety, uscg

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage’s Marine Safety Task Force returned to Anchorage in July after spending nine days inspecting facilities in the Northwest Arctic Borough. They teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency to check two dozen bulk fuel storage facilities in 11 Alaskan communities, including Kotzebue, Kivalina, Noorvik, Selawik and Utqiagvik. “Fuel facilities are critical to the survival of these remote communities,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Houvener, a marine science technician and team lead. “They rely on fuel to heat their homes and schools during sub-freezing winter months,” he continued. “Many of these facilities…

05 Aug

Longtime Redwood City Port Commissioner Dick Dodge Retires

Karen Robes MeeksFeatures, News, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsdickdodge, portofredwoodcity

After 42 years of service, longtime Port of Redwood City Port Commissioner Richard “Dick” Dodge retired at the end of July. First appointed to the Board of Port Commissioners in 1980, Dodge held one of the longest tenures as a port commissioner in the nation, according to the port. Deeply involved in the maritime community, Dodge is a well-known leader in the maritime industry, having served multiple terms as past president and currently serving as a regional coordinator for the Association of Pacific Ports. “Commissioner Dodge played a vital part in shaping the port’s 2020 Strategic Vision and values,” port…

05 Aug

Matson Releases Sustainability Report

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsmatson, sustainability

In its new 2021 Sustainability Report, Honolulu-based marine cargo carrier Matson, Inc. detailed its strides to invest and practice in a more environmentally mindful way while serving its communities, customers and employees. The July 25 report also includes Matson’s “strategic approach and how it measures progress and celebrates key achievements,” according to the company. The report also highlights its $4.2 million investment in community support, a 19% uptick over 2020. Over 560 community groups benefited from company funding and services, directing it towards environmental conservation, food banks and social equity programs. The report includes Matson’s goal to reach net zero…