January-February 2023 – Page 4 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

New U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Superintendent Named

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration on Nov. 12 announced the appointment of Rear Admiral Joanna M. Nunan (U.S. Coast Guard, Ret.) as the next superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Nunan, who spent more than three decades in the U.S. Coast Guard, has commanded units at every level both afloat and ashore. She was expected to begin work at the academy by the end of the year. Nunan retired earlier this year as the Coast Guard’s deputy for personnel readiness. In that role, she oversaw the Coast Guard’s personnel enterprise, including the recruitment, training, support…

West Coast Ports Participate in Conference on Sea Level Rise

Port officials from around the U.S. and overseas gathered virtually in November to discuss the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise. Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan delivered the welcoming remarks at the Storms, Flooding and Sea Level Defense Conference, which was hosted by the Propeller Club of Northern California in collaboration with the Society of American Military Engineers. The conference, now in its fifth year, is the product of collaboration between California ports, including those in Oakland, San Francisco, Long Beach and Los Angeles. “The Port of Oakland as well as all California ports are literally on…

All American Marine Wins Calif. Fish and Wildlife Patrol Vessel Contract

Bellingham, Wash.-based All American Marine, Inc. has been awarded a contract for a 74-foot catamaran patrol vessel that is to operate in California, the company announced Nov. 17. “This aluminum catamaran will serve an integral role patrolling California state waters and international waters along the California coast, for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife,” AAM said in a statement. The 74-foot by 27.5-foot (OAL) twin engine, fixed-propeller patrol vessel will be built to U.S. Coast Guard standards, All American said. The firm added that the hydrofoil assisted vessel from Teknicraft Design in New Zealand would combine “innovative design features…

PWS Advisory Council Takes Position Against Oil Spill Dispersants

A citizens’ advisory group established in the wake of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska’s Prince William Sound has taken a stance against use of dispersants in cleanup operations, saying prevention and mechanical recovery are the preferred alternatives. The updated position of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council says that chemical dispersants applied to floating oil slicks should not be used on Alaska North Slope crude oil spills in the region. Such dispersants are substances used on floating oil slicks to break the oil into smaller droplets that disperse into the water column. The council has…

Port of Everett Completes New 40-Acre Terminal

On Thursday, Dec. 1, federal, Washington state and local officials participated in a ribbon-cutting event at the Port of Everett to celebrate the completion of the new 40-acre Norton Terminal. The $40 million terminal is the centerpiece of the port’s more than $100 million “Mills to Maritime” initiative aimed at bolstering cargo flow and jobs in the region. The event also celebrated the completion of the MTCA (Model Toxics Control Act) Third Interim Action Cleanup Project. “This work transformed the former Kimberly-Clark mill site into a new 40-acre maritime hub to enhance the movement of commerce, restore jobs and keep…

Maritime Security Challenges Discussed During Conference in Victoria, BC

The biennial Maritime Security Challenges conference (MSC22) was held in Victoria, BC Canada from Nov. 14-16 under the theme of “Pacific Seapower: Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific.” This year’s conference, which covered the subject of maritime security through a blend of academic theory and real-world current events, was hosted by The Navy League of Canada and The Royal Canadian Navy, with the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies as a partner. The Honolulu-based Center for Security Studies is a U.S. Department of Defense institute that was launched in 1995. It addresses both regional and global issues with a…

Westwood Shipping Lines Begins Participation in Green Marine Program

Puyallup, Washington-based Westwood Shipping Lines is the latest company to take part in Green Marine’s environmental certification program geared toward the maritime sector in North America, it was announced Nov. 7. Green Marine President David Bolduc lauded Westwood Shipping Lines’ participation. “Having Westwood Shipping Lines on board further boosts Green Marine’s presence among the ship owners with operations on the Pacific Northwest Coast and bodes well for this region’s sustainable future,” Bolduc said. “By joining this voluntary initiative, Westwood Shipping Lines is further strengthening its commitment to sustainability by choosing to benchmark its efforts, as well as take part in…

Maersk Line, Claimant Settle Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Maersk Line Ltd. and Hope Hicks, a former midshipman on the Maersk ship Alliance Fairfax, have resolved Hicks’ litigation against the company filed in June for sexual assault and harassment during her cadet Sea Year in 2019. Sea Year is the federal service academy’s mandatory training program. Attorneys for Hicks and MLL have mutually agreed that neither side will disclose details of their agreement, all parties said in a Nov. 18 announcement. Maersk Line is a U.S.-based subsidiary of A.P. Moller - Maersk, the global integrated logistics company. “It is important to me that my case has brought greater awareness…

TSA Lowers Online Renewal Enrollment Fee for TWIC, HME Applicants

The Transportation Security Administration is lowering the online renewal enrollment fee for those who have a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), the agency announced Nov. 4. The enrollment fees for Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) and TWIC applicants who keep a current Security Threat Assessment (STA) for the comparable program are being reduced, the TSA said. Those renewing for the TWIC online now pay $117.25 instead of the in-person fee of $125.25. TWIC applicants who have a current HME or Free and Secure Trade (FAST) STA now have a lowered enrollment fee of $93 instead of $105.25. Commercial drivers with a…

BC Ferries Sees Quarterly Ridership, Revenue Increases

Vehicle and passenger traffic, revenue and net earnings were all higher for BC Ferries in its most recent quarter compared to the same periods in the prior year, according to data released in late November. For the six months ending Sept. 30, 2022, 5.4 million vehicles were carried, up 4% over the 5.2 million vehicles in the same period in fiscal 2020, pre-COVID. “As a result of our employees’ commitment to our customers and communities, we hit a new record for vehicle traffic levels and delivered 1,700 more round trips during the first half of the fiscal year,” Jill Sharland,…