portofseattle – Page 2 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

17 Jan

Port of Seattle Board Gets New Commission President, 1st of Color

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsportcommission, portofseattle, samcho

For the first time in its 111-year history, the Port of Seattle’s Commission will be led by a person of color with the selection of Sam Cho as president of the port commission on Jan 10. “I am honored and humbled to begin my term as Port of Seattle Commission president,” said Cho, who is also the commission’s youngest-ever president. “Thanks to the work of this commission, the port staff, major stakeholders and everyday community members, we are making real progress on making your port more efficient, sustainable, and a greater source of economic opportunity,” he continued. “I look forward…

10 Jan

WPPA Hires Port of Seattle’s ffitch as New Executive Director

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsffitch, portofseattle, wppa

The Washington Public Ports Association has hired Port of Seattle Government Relations Manager Eric ffitch as its new executive director, the WPPA announced in December. Currently, ffitch oversees the port’s Washington state government advocacy efforts in Olympia, among other responsibilities. He has more than 13 years of experience in federal and state government relations, according to the WPPA, and has worked in the other Washington as Congressional staff for former-Rep. Jay Inslee, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Sen. Maria Cantwell. While in Sen. Cantwell’s office, he served as a lead staff member on the passage of a freight transportation package in…

13 Dec

Port of Seattle, Small Business Administration Team on Business Development

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsportofseattle, smallbusiness

The Port of Seattle and the U.S. Small Business Administration Pacific Northwest Region are teaming up to develop and nurture small businesses in the region via a Strategic Alliance Memorandum between the two agencies, the port announced Dec. 2. SBA Regional Administrator Michael Fong, District Director Kerrie Hurd, Port Commissioner Sam Cho and Port Executive Director Steve Metruck were present for the ceremonial signing of the agreement. Fong said that the SBA is excited to partner with the port to leverage their resources to reach more small business owners and entrepreneurs and create opportunities for them. “The Port of Seattle’s…

06 Dec

Port of Seattle Hires New Labor Relations Director

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationslaborrelations, portofseattle

The Port of Seattle has hired longtime labor veteran Mikel O’Brien as its new senior director of labor relations, the port announced Dec. 1. O’Brien, who had been the port’s senior manager for labor relations since 2015, brings more than 25 years of human resource and labor relations expertise to the new role, 22 of which were with the port. She also worked in HR and labor relations in Utah and Washington state. As senior manager, she oversaw a team responsible for “negotiating and administering 24 collective bargaining agreements covering over 1,000 employees,” as well as managing compensation studies, serving…

22 Nov

Port of Seattle to Provide $4 Million for Maritime Training

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, Terminal Operations, Vessel Profilesmaritimetraining, portofseattle

To help nurture the next generation of maritime industry workforce, Port of Seattle commissioners agreed to invest $4.1 million over three years toward that effort, the port announced Nov. 18. The money is expected to be used to collaborate with employers and offer training and help to youths ages 16-24 and internship opportunities that could lead to entry-level full-time work, according to the port. Social services organization Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, sustainable development organization Washington Maritime Blue and private school The Polytech are expected to partner with the port on this pilot program, which seeks to aim resources at…

11 Nov

Port of Seattle Releases 2023 Budget, Five-Year Spending Plan

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsbudget, portofseattle

The proposed 2023 budget and five-year spending plan for the Port of Seattle includes significant investments in seaport infrastructure and workforce development. Expected to be adopted by port commissioners on Nov. 29, the budget proposal introduced by Port Executive Director Steve Metruck includes a record $5.3 billion investment in capital projects over five years (with $725.8 million being proposed for 2023), as well as more funding for environmental and workforce development initiatives, according to the port. The 2023-2027 plan includes $522.3 million in maritime and economic development-related projects such as berth-replacing at Terminal 91, electrification work at Pier 66, and…

28 Oct

Port of Seattle Deems 2022 Cruise Season a Success

Pacific MaritimeNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationscruises, portofseattle

The Port of Seattle has declared its 2022 cruise season a success that shattered new records and achieved new milestones in economic impact, environmental initiatives and community investment efforts. The port said Oct. 24 that the cruise season brought 1.28 million revenue passengers, or 640,000 individual travelers, to the port on an Alaskan cruise, a new passenger volume record that netted a 6% uptick over the 2019 volumes. “In 2020, when the port and region lost the expected revenue of an entire cruise season, we outlined a recovery strategy to bring the industry back healthier and stronger than ever,” Port…

20 Oct

Seattle Port Participates in Pilot Business Program

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

Seven community groups will help area small businesses through the Community Business Connector program, a pilot effort funded in part by the Port of Seattle and other cities and led by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and King County, it was announced Oct. 10. As “Connectors,” these groups will receive a one-time award ranging from $30,000 to $40,000 over a 12-month period to help local small businesses recover from the pandemic and nurture their growth. “The pandemic highlighted ongoing challenges faced by small business owners and operators, especially those in our BIPOC communities,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said.…

07 Oct

Seattle International Propeller Club Chapter Named Port of the Year

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsportofseattle, propellerclub

The International Propeller Club’s Port of Seattle chapter has been selected as the 2022 Port of the Year by the International Propeller Club, the chapter announced Oct. 4. Seattle Propeller Club Vice President Heather Haugland accepted the during the 96th Annual International Propeller Club Convention, held Sept. 20-22 in Athens, Greece. “The Seattle Propeller Club was recognized for a variety of accomplishments, but particularly our resiliency and creativity throughout the pandemic to remain active, as well as our recent, strong growth in membership,” said Club President Tosca Pinder, who credited the club’s board members who volunteer their time to make…

04 Oct

Port of Seattle Launches Hiring Effort

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationscareers, portofseattle

The Port of Seattle said in late September that it has kicked off an effort to hire for various positions throughout the seaport and airport, particularly police officers, bus drivers, skilled trades and capital projects positions. The hiring effort comes as the port anticipates a heightened demand in the future trade and travel, with plans for $4 billion of infrastructure construction at the seaport and airport in the next five years, the port said. Roles in skilled trades range from capital project managers and leaders to engineers, and construction roles, the port said. “As the port serves the region now…