portofseattle – Pacific Maritime Magazine

07 Jan

Port of Seattle Hires New Economic Development Director

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsnewsmakers, portofseattle

Veteran executive Neepaporn Boungjaktha (pronounced Nee-Pa-Pawn Boing-Juk-Tah) is the new managing director of the Port of Seattle’s Economic Development Division, the port announced Dec. 4. Boungjaktha, who was chosen through a nationwide search conducted by executive search firm Jorgenson Pace, joined the port after serving as an executive director for the Snohomish County (Wash.) Executive Office. She also was previously the managing director of global trade and investment at Greater Seattle Partners, and served as vice president of global engagement and other roles at the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce. Boungjaktha attended the University of Washington, where she earned a…

17 Dec

Port of Seattle Website Finally Back Online Following Major Cyber Attack

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscyberattack, portofseattle, ransomware

The Port of Seattle’s website is back in service three months after a ransomware-related cyberattack, the port announced Nov. 22. The port said it first encountered unauthorized activity on its systems on Aug. 24, when the port and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport began experiencing internet and web systems outages, affecting port services such as baggage, check-in kiosks, ticketing, Wi-Fi, passenger display boards, the Port of Seattle website, the airport’s mobile app and reserved parking. “Our investigation has determined that the unauthorized actor was able to gain access to certain parts of our computer systems and was able to encrypt access to…

30 Jul

Ex Seattle Port Police Chief Awarded $24M Following ‘Wrongful’ Firing

Mark Edward NeroNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsportofseattle, portpolice

After a six-week trial, the former head of the Port of Seattle’s police department has been awarded $24.2 million in damages as part of a legal case under which he sued the port for unlawful firing, according to a July 22 Seattle Times report. Ex-chief Rod Covey was removed from his post in September 2021, several months after being placed on administrative leave. An internal investigation found that he had violated the port’s code of conduct and human resources policies after a port police officer filed racial discrimination complaints against Covey and other superior officers. Covey sued the port in late 2022,…

16 Jul

Alaska Marine Lines Receives Sustainability Award

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsaml, portofseattle, sustainability

Alaska Marine Lines has been honored by the Port of Seattle with the 2024 Sustainable Century Award, given to port business partners in recognition for their clear air efforts and investment in energy efficiency and the environment, AML revealed July 11. Alaska Marine Lines, part of the Lynden family of companies, netted the Maritime Sustainable Century Award for Environmental Performance after it lowered its diesel fuel use and air emissions by 75% and raised its local clean electricity use by means of high-efficiency refrigeration units and timeshare electric panels. “The Port of Seattle is known for setting ambitious environmental goals…

25 Jun

Port of Seattle Requiring Cruise Ships to be Shore Power Capable by 2027

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscruiseships, portofseattle, shorepower

When the 2027 cruise season starts, all cruise ships homeported at the Port of Seattle are expected to be fully capable of plugging in to shore power when they are berthed at its piers, the port commission announced June 11. Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman, who sponsored the directive, said the approval turns the port’s 2030 goal of universal shore power use into a 2027 requirement, which is possible because of the port’s and cruise industry’s significant investments to ships and shoreside facilities. “Marketing such investments should also appeal to the environmental interests of travelers who have chosen to…

28 May

Port of Seattle Breaks Ground on Maritime Innovation Center

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsmaritimeinnovationcenter, millerhull, portofseattle

Work is officially underway to renovate a historic building at Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle into a new facility that nurtures the region’s blue economy. Port of Seattle officials on May 21 commemorated the groundbreaking of a project to transform the 1918 Ship Supply Building into a modern, sustainable Maritime Innovation Center. “The future of the maritime industry and the ocean economy is innovative, sustainable and equitable,” port Commissioner Ryan Calkins said. “The Maritime Innovation Center will foster an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation, which will ensure that all the sectors of the maritime industry, from commercial fishing to the growing…

16 Apr

Seattle-Alaska Cruising Season Enters 25th Year

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsblissbell, cruises, ncl, portofseattle

Twenty-five years of cruising to and from Seattle and Alaska has officially begun with the arrival of the Norwegian Bliss Bell at Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, the Port of Seattle announced April 6. This year’s cruising season, which is scheduled to run through Oct. 28, is anticipated to have 275 sailings and support 5,500 jobs. It’s also expected to create almost $900 million in economic impact and 1.7 million revenue-generating passengers (translating to roughly more than 800,000 unique passengers), according to the port. David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, said his company is proud of…

23 Jan

Port of Seattle Commission Elects 1st Black Female President

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newshamdi, newsmakers, portofseattle

Hamdi Mohamed is the Port of Seattle Commission’s president for 2024, making her the first Black woman to hold the leadership position, the port announced Jan. 9. Meanwhile, Toshiko Hasegawa is the new vice president and Ryan Calkins is now secretary. Mohamed, who serves as director of the city of Seattle’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, was the first Somali woman elected to public office in Washington state and the first Black woman chosen to be on the port commission when she was elected in November 2021. She also became the first Black woman to serve on any of…

21 Nov

Port of Seattle Creating Fund to Address Legacy Industrial Pollution

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsenvironmentallegacyfund, pollution, portofseattle

The Port of Seattle is establishing a fund dedicated to cleaning up legacy industrial pollution on its properties, the port announced Nov. 14. Port commissioners have authorized the executive director to create a new Environmental Legacy Fund with property tax revenue to pay for the cleanup of longtime industrial pollution on port property. The port’s currently involved in 18 environmental remediation projects, many of them in partnership with other government agencies and organizations. The new fund, which the port said it intends to launch with $30 million from tax levy money collected annually from King County homeowners, would help pay…

15 Aug

Port of Seattle to Build Maritime Innovation Center

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsinnovationcenter, maritime, portofseattle

The Port of Seattle plans to build a Maritime Innovation Center in the Ship Supply Building at Fishermen’s Terminal, the port announced Aug. 8. Port commissioners have agreed to invest $32.6 million toward building the center, which would house incubator and accelerator programs for businesses and nurture workforce development programs in the maritime industry. The center is expected to be built sustainably. “The transformation of the port’s oldest building into a world-class center is a reflection of the port’s commitment to investing in innovation so that the maritime industry and marine environment will thrive for generations to come,” Port Commissioner…