Former U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, labor advocate Michael Muñoz and real estate businessman Lee Williams are the newest members of the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners. The Los Angeles City Council on May 2 approved Mayor Karen Bass’ nominations to the commission, the governing board that oversees the Port of Los Angeles. The trio, which are replacing Harbor Commission President Jaime Lee and Commissioners Lucia Moreno-Linares and Anthony Pirozzi, Jr., are expected to participate in their inaugural commission meeting on May 11. Roybal-Allard was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years and was the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress. Before that, she served in the California State Assembly. Muñoz is the research director for the nonprofit Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy. Before…
The Port of Grays Harbor plans to begin the first phase of its Westport Marina Modernization Project this year, an effort made possible by Rep. Derek Kilmer, who secured Community Project Funding in the federal 2023 fiscal year budget, the port announced Dec. 30. The $750,000 is expected to pay for designing the project’s float modernization and reconfiguration, with a focus toward replacing floats 11, 15, 17 and 21. Port Commission President Tom Quigg said the port is grateful for Kilmer’s work in securing funding for the project. “Community Project Funding at this critical early stage supports the important work of designing a facility to serve our commercial and recreational users for generations,” Quigg said. “As one of the top seafood landing ports in the United States, the port is…
The Port of Grays Harbor on Dec. 14 announced that its commissioners have agreed to an Option to Lease contract with private sustainable energy solutions firm Invenergy for acreage and a warehouse in Satsop West Park. The option allows Invenergy to evaluate the area as a possible site for a new facility that could generate as much as 45 tons a day of carbon-free green hydrogen using electrolysis. If the project advances, the facility could be in service as early as 2026, according to the port. “We are extremely excited that Satsop’s infrastructure could play a role in Grays Harbor’s first green hydrogen facility,” Port Commissioner Phil Papac said. “We look forward to working with Invenergy in this important process as they assess the possibility of a new clean energy…
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has reappointed Port of Grays Harbor Deputy Executive Director Leonard Barnes as a port district representative to the Washington State Freight Mobility Investment Board, the port announced Nov. 23. First appointed in April 2017, Barnes is part of the 12-member board responsible for “creating a comprehensive and coordinated state program to facilitate freight movement between and among local, national and international markets which enhances trade opportunities,” according to the port. The board also works to find ways to reduce the effects of freight movement on communities. “With more than three decades of experience in freight, transportation and the port industry, Leonard is well-suited to represent ports on this important board,” Port Harbor Executive Director Gary Nelson said in a statement. “We are proud and confident…
Port of Grays Harbor Executive Director Gary Nelson has been given a Distinguished Service Award by the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, the port announced Nov. 25. The honor, which was awarded to Nelson during PNWA’s annual convention on Oct. 12, spotlights those who made tremendous contributions to the region’s navigation, energy, irrigation and recreation communities, according to the port. Nelson has been with the port since 2000, overseeing the “historic growth and diversification of the marine terminals, the completion of Deeper Draft, and the addition and expansion of the port’s business portfolio to include the Satsop Business Park and Friends Landing,” the port said in a statement. “Gary is truly deserving of this award, both for his contributions to the Port of Grays Harbor, but also to the port and…
The public may now view a draft plan to modernize Westport Marina at the Port of Grays Harbor in Washington state. The plan, which is expected to be considered by the port commission in December, was developed in the last nine months with consultant Moffatt & Nichol as a blueprint for the strategy and phased upgrades to the marina, considered “the hub of tribal, commercial, charter and recreational fishing on Washington’s Coast,” according to the port. “The Draft Marina Modernization Plan is a critical planning document for the future of the Westport Marina,” Port Commissioner Tom Quigg said. “We have a clear path forward to rebuild and rehabilitate the Westport Marina. We look forward to working with our stakeholders and local, state and federal partners to make this concept a…
The Port of Brookings Harbor is seeking qualified candidates for the role of port manager at the Southern Oregon seaport. Applicants must have at least five years of management experience and knowledge and experience in public port operations or similar, preparing and managing a public budget, successful demonstration of leadership in “a complex public-facing operation,” marinas, boatyards and RV parks, property and facility management, among other related matters. The candidate should have at least four years of college emphasizing management and finance, experience with state and federal laws related to port operations and how they impact the district, as well as experience with marina operations and management (such as an assistant port director in a larger or similar-sized seaport, or a manager of an airport, public utilities, cruise ship or…
Inspectors from the U.S. Coast Guard teamed up with federal and state agency partners on a recent Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO) that bolstered port security at the Port of Honolulu, the agency revealed this week. About 75 inspectors from the Coast Guard, Department of Agriculture, Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Safety Administration, Honolulu Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hawaii Department of Transportation, participated in the operation, which took place in August. The operation targeted containers moving through the port, with an emphasis on “hazardous materials, shipping requirements and shipping container material condition safety standards,” according to USCG. “The Coast Guard regularly examines containers as they enter port to ensure the cargoes are shipped safely and legally, but a MASFO takes things to another level,” said Coast Guard Petty…
One of North America’s first all-electric cranes may begin operating at the Port of San Diego next year, thanks to a $2.7 million grant from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District. The port plans to use the grant to pay for electrical upgrades that will run a pair of new all-electric mobile harbor cranes at the port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal in Summer 2023. The new equipment is expected to lower air pollution and raise public health in port-adjacent communities. “Our new electric cranes will be a game changer for our communities as well as the environment and our regional economy,” port Board Chairman Dan Malcolm said. “We are happy to have this critical funding from San Diego County APCD to ensure we have clean and reliable power…
Sharon L. Weissman, the new president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, on Aug. 11 announced her priorities for the coming year at the Port of Long Beach, including focusing on various environmental, community and workforce matters. Weissman, who succeeded Commissioner Steven Neal with a one-year term as president, said priorities include leaning into the port’s mission to have all zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment by 2030 and zero-emissions drayage trucks by 2035, improving working conditions for truckers who work in San Pedro Bay and bolstering the commission’s support for the port’s community grants and sponsorship programs, including education outreach programs. “I know we can make real progress on the goals I have outlined because we have an exceptional staff who have been working on many of these issues and…
