News – Page 165 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

17 Mar

Port of Seattle Cancels April 1 and April 5 Cruise Sailings

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks Caution over COVID-19 has prompted the Port of Seattle to cancel cruise sailings planned for April 1 and April 5. The canceled sailings were "port of call” sailings in which ships do one-day stop in Seattle before heading to a different destination, while the majority of sailings are homeport. The port announced that it will coordinate with “first responders, cruise lines, and local leaders, and consider current public health guidance, as well as enhanced actions that the cruise lines are undertaking, to determine future sailings.” “This region is in a public health emergency and we will…

17 Mar

Cook Inlet Tug and Barge Adds to Fleet

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks In mid-April, Cook Inlet Tug & Barge will add a shallow draft tugboat, the Bristol Wind, to its fleet. She will join sister vessel, the Capt. Frank Moody, in helping to transport cargo along the Arctic for the construction and oil and gas industries. "Drawing just 3.2 feet, the Bristol Wind is uniquely designed to operate efficiently as a coastal tug,” said Michael O'Shea, senior director of Business Development and Planning at Cook Inlet Tug & Barge. “She has the unique ability to lighten the draft when water depths are extremely shallow – allowing her to safely service river and…

17 Mar

Port of Stockton Welcomes Two New Commissioners

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks The Stockton Port District Commission has two new members. Earlier this month, William R. Trezza was appointed to his first four-year term and Dr. Elizabeth Blanchard to another two-year term by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. Trezza was CEO of BAC Community Bank from 1984 to Jan. 1, 2019, when he retired. He still serves as Director of the Bank. A commissioner since 2008, Blanchard was on the Stockton City Planning Commission for eight years and on the San Joaquin County Planning Commission for two years. She also served as past president of the…

17 Mar

US Coast Guard Cutter Munro Returns Home

Sarah SpanglerNews, Vessel Profiles

By Karen Robes Meeks After being deployed for 78 days in drug-transit areas in the Eastern Pacific, the 418-feet long US Coast Guard Cutter Munro recently came home to Alameda, California, the agency said. From late December to mid January, crew members interdicted three suspected drug-smuggling ships with 6,680 pounds of pure cocaine. “I truly could not have asked for a better crew with whom to share these memories, but we didn't do this alone,” said Capt. Jim Estramonte, Munro’s commanding officer. “Through all our adventures, the friends and family members of Munro’s crew have supported us. It is their hard work at home that allows…

13 Mar

Port of Los Angeles, Port Authority of Nagoya Ink MOU

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of Los Angeles and Port Authority of Nagoya, Japan recently inked a memorandum of understanding, further cementing the two port’s relationship with a promise to cooperate and share information on projects aimed at operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. “International cooperation among ports is essential to assuring that our global supply chain and ports of entry are the most efficient and environmentally sustainable as possible,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Furthering our collaboration on these priorities with the Port of Nagoya is a natural next step, given our long-term sister port…

13 Mar

Coronavirus Causes Cargo Drops at LA, Long Beach Ports

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks San Pedro Bay ports saw cargo volumes fall last month from February 2019 as coronavirus concerns have prompted canceled sailings and supply chain disruptions, according to new numbers released Tuesday. The Port of Los Angeles moved 22.9 percent fewer containers with 544,037 TEUs, while the Port of Long Beach handled 538,428 TEUs, down 9.8 percent from February 2019. In Los Angeles, imports tumbled 22.5 percent to 270,025 TEUs and exports dipped 5.7 percent to 134,468 TEUs last month. Empty containers also fell 35 percent to 139,544 TEUs. “While cargo volumes are important, the coronavirus is first…

13 Mar

Port of Vancouver USA Postpones Two Events

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of Vancouver USA is suspending a pair of public events this month in an effort to limit potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The two postponed public gathering were the lecture set for March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Warehouse ‘23, and the tour scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on March 19. “It goes without saying that the safety of our staff and those we come in contact with are of utmost importance to us,” said port CEO Julianna Marler. “Following the advice of health care professionals, we must take steps to minimize exposure to…

13 Mar

Port of Vancouver USA Announces First Community Fund Recipients

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks Three recipients will be part of the Port of Vancouver USA first round of Community Fund, which this year totaled $5,000. Partners in Careers will receive $1,000 to pay for transportation for high school students taking part in worksite tours. Clark College Foundation will also receive $1,000 for its International Day event. Lastly, Vancouver Public Schools, Career and Technical Education will get $3,000 to nurture its Apartment and Maintenance Technicians training program, allowing the program to buy tools, uniforms and gas cards for high school students. “We are very pleased with all the applications we received…

13 Mar

Feasibility Study on Bay Area Ferry System May Move Forward

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks A study to explore the feasibility of expanding the San Francisco Bay ferry system into the South Bay is one step closer to happening, thanks to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Redwood City City Council and Port of Redwood City Board of Port Commissioners and the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA). If the project moves forward as envisioned, the port would be the first stop south of the City of South San Francisco to be included into the WETA ferry system, with possible connections to San Francisco and Oakland. The WETA Board of Trustees…

10 Mar

Cleanup to Start on Old Everett Mill Site

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks The first phase of cleaning up the former Kimberly-Clark mill site is expected to take place this month, according to the Port of Everett. The cleanup work at 2600 Federal Ave. in Everett – now owned by the port after it purchased the property for $33 million last October – will be done in two phases by Interwest Construction Inc, who was hired last month by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. The first phase involves removing contaminated soil and the second taking out crushed material. When the work is completed, the port plans to develop the area for…