News Briefs – Page 58 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

01 Jul

New BC Ferries Board Chair Appointed

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, boardofdirectors

Joy MacPhail is the new chair of the Board of Directors for British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., or BC Ferries, it was announced Thursday, June 30. MacPhail takes the reins from outgoing Board Chair Brenda Eaton, whose term ended June 23. “The BC Ferries Board thanks Ms. Eaton for her commitment and valuable service as chair and board member,” the ferry services company said in a statement. “Her leadership and strategic direction, particularly during the global pandemic, has helped the company emerge from the challenge well positioned to serve the public interest.” MacPhail previously served as chair of the Insurance…

28 Jun

Imports from Asia Down at Major U.S. West Coast Ports: PMSA Report

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationscontainervolumes, imports, pmsa

The five busiest seaports on the West Coast saw their imports from Asia decrease in April, according to latest West Coast Trade Report from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. “On the import side, USWC shares dipped across the board,” the PMSA explained in a statement. At the adjoining Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports, imports fell a combined 2% from April 2021 to April 2022 according to PMSA data. Meanwhile at the Port of Oakland, imports from Asia fell 1.5% from April 2021 to April 2022. Also, the Northwest Seaport Alliance (the combined shipping operations of the Seattle and Tacoma…

28 Jun

COVID-19 Impacted BC Ferries, Year-End Results Show

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, covid

Traffic and revenue were up from the previous fiscal year for BC Ferries, but down from pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, according to the British Columbia transportation agency, which released its year-end FY results Friday, June 24. For the 2022 fiscal year ending March 31, 37% more passengers (17.9 million) and 26% more vehicles (8.5 million) rode BC Ferries than the year before. However, passenger traffic was down 20% and vehicle traffic down 5% compared to the pre-pandemic 2019 fiscal year. Revenue was up 12% to $965.4 million, a $100.1 million increase, from the previous year due to higher traffic and net…

28 Jun

L.A., Long Beach Ports’ Container Dwell Fee Start Date Delayed to July 1

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscontainerdwellfee, pola, polb

Leaders at the Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports have again decided to move the start date of the Container Dwell Fee an additional week, to July 1, it was announced June 24. Officials decided not to implement the fee, which charges ocean carriers for every import that stays at terminals for nine or more days, after seeing that the amount of older cargo has fallen by 31% at both ports since announcing the fee Oct. 25. The fee calls for ocean carriers to be billed $100 for every import that stays past its allotted time, rising in $100 increments…

28 Jun

USCG Cutter Steadfast Returns to Oregon from Narcotics Patrol

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Vessel Profilescoastaguardcutter, steadfast, uscg

After 55 days patrolling the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Steadfast returned to its Astoria, Oregon, homeport on June 18. The crew of the 210-foot, 54-year-old Reliance Class cutter patrolled over 11,000 miles providing law enforcement and search-and-rescue operations off Central America coastal waters from Mexico to Costa Rica, according to the USCG. During its counter drug patrol, crew members partnered with Mexican law enforcement to “locate, track, and interdict fast-moving drug smuggling vessels,” work that resulted in 2,747 kilograms of cocaine seized by Mexican authorities. The estimated value of that haul is $109…

24 Jun

POLB to Begin Demolition of Gerald Desmond Bridge in July

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online NewsGeraldDesmondBridge, polb

The Port of Long Beach is expected to begin demolishing the old Gerald Desmond Bridge next month to make room for bigger cargo ships entering the port’s Inner Harbor. The port plans to close the Back Channel to vessel traffic from 6 a.m. on July 9 to 6 a.m. on July 11 to allow crews to remove a part of the bridge that is suspended over the channel and lower it onto a barge. Vehicle traffic shouldn’t be affected since motorists have been using the new cable-stayed Long Beach International Gateway Bridge since October 2020. The Gerald Desmond Bridge, which…

24 Jun

Two New Port of Portland Commissioners Appointed

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsportcommission, portofportland

The Port of Portland Board of Commissioners has two new members. They are: Katy Coba, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services Chief Operating Officer and Director; and Richelle Luther, Columbia Sportswear Co.’s Senior Vice President of Chief Human Resources and Corporate Affairs. The Oregon Senate approved the two as Gov. Kate Brown’s appointees to the commission on June 3. Coba replaces Bob Levy on the nine-member commission, while Luther replaces Pat McDonald. As COO, Coba works with Brown, state agencies and legislators to manage state government enterprise. She previously served as director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture for more…

24 Jun

Port of Seattle Police Chief Job Finalists to Participate in Forum

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsportofseattle, portpolice

The two finalists for the chief of police position at the Port of Seattle are expected to field questions from the public during a virtual community forum scheduled for June 27. Eric Sano, a captain with the Seattle Police Department, and Michael Villa, deputy chief and acting chief with the Port of Seattle Police, are vying for the opportunity to lead a department of more than 115 commissioned police officers and 40 non-commissioned personnel responsible for providing law enforcement activities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and seaport properties. The port is gathering questions from the public to present to the finalists…

24 Jun

New Commander to Lead U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newschangeofcommand, uscg

Capt. Aja Kirksey has assumed command from Capt. Arex Avanni as commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. The change was made official at a June 21 change of command ceremony presided over by Rear Adm. Michael Day, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Fourteenth District. Kirksey previously served as chief of the agency’s Enlisted Advancement, Panels, and Separations Branch of the Personnel Service Center. Her assignments included work as the enforcement division chief for Sector San Diego overseeing all Coast Guard law enforcement operations for the region. She was also on the Contingency Planning staff and was assistant chief…

21 Jun

POLB Exec Director Appointed To National Advisory Committee

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsmaritime, polb, transportation

Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero has been appointed to the Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, the port announced June 14. Cordero joins a committee that includes members of labor, the private sector, trade associations, public agencies and education and environmental organizations who will advise Buttigieg on how to improve the national supply chain’s readiness and resiliency. “I thank Secretary Pete Buttigieg for this honor at such a pivotal time for international trade, and as we make significant investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Cordero, who will continue leading…