August 2022 – Page 4 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

Two New Port of Portland Commissioners Appointed

On June 3, the Oregon Senate approved Gov. Kate Brown’s appointments of Katy Coba and Richelle Luther to the Port of Portland Commission. Coba is chief operating officer and director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS). As COO, she works with Gov. Brown, state agencies, the Oregon State Legislature and stakeholders to manage state government enterprise. Previously, Coba served as director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture for more than 13 years, where she represented Oregon’s agricultural industry locally, domestically and internationally. Luther is a senior vice president who oversees human resources and corporate affairs for Columbia Sportswear Company.…

Oakland Seaport Board Elects New Pres., VPs

The president of Oakland, California’s Chamber of Commerce president is taking on an added role leading the Port of Oakland’s governing board. At their mid-July Board meeting, Port Commissioners unanimously selected Barbara Leslie as their new president. Leslie will lead the seven-member board that sets policy for Oakland’s 93-year-old port authority. She succeeds Commissioner Andreas Cluver who steps down after two years as Board President. The Board elected architect Yui Hay Lee as First Vice President. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf nominated Commissioner Yee to serve another term. The Oakland City Council ratified Commissioner Yee’s second term to serve on the…

Port of Long Beach Joins Green Shipping Corridor

The Port of Long Beach revealed June 9 that is has signed on to the Shanghai-Los Angeles Green Shipping Corridor, a partnership of cities, ports, shipping companies and cargo owners convened to create a zero-emissions trans-Pacific trade route. First announced in January by the ports of Shanghai and Los Angeles, C40 Cities and key maritime stakeholders, this Green Shipping Corridor is expected to be a big step toward decarbonizing shipping between the busiest ports in China and the U.S. C40 Cities is a network of cities around the world that are working to confront climate change. The partnership said that…

New Executive Vice President for GEODIS

Laurent Melaine has been appointed to the position of Executive Vice President, Commercial and Marketing with European transport and logistics company GEODIS, the company announced in early July. He is a member of the company’s executive committee and reports to Marie-Christine Lombard, the company’s Chief Executive Officer. Melaine, 56, began his career at Transports Graveleau and then Dachser, holding various business development and site management positions. He joined GEODIS in 2011 as Key Account Sales Director for the Distribution & Express business, and joined its executive committee in 2013. In 2018, he was appointed International Sales Director, managing, among other…

Shipping Reform Legislation to Ease Bottlenecks Signed into Law

On June 16, President Biden signed into law the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, legislation that officials hope can help alleviate challenges along the supply chain. The measure was passed by a vote of 369-42 in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 13, which followed a 364-60 vote by the Senate in December 2021. The new law broadens the Federal Maritime Commission’s authority to promote U.S. exports and allow it to create a shipping exchange registry. It also could help to make the detention and demurrage complaint process more efficient and clarify ocean-carrier practices related to detention and…

Shoebox Be Gone! Truckable Towboats Incoming

A new truckable tugboat collaboration between Tacoma-based aluminum commercial boatbuilder Silverback Marine and Seattle-based naval design firm Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) appears poised to disrupt the small tugboat niche. The 25' 10-7/8" overall length, trailer-able design has standard 500 horsepower, 12,500 pounds of bollard pull and a still water range of 60 nautical miles pushing about 10,000 pounds at 4.1 knots. The truckable tug is also compatible with electric, hybrid and outboard propulsion systems. “It’s been an exciting journey and we’re happy to have connected with Elliott Bay Design,” Silverback Marine founder and owner Ian Gracey said. Silverback’s shipyard…