Board Of Port Commissioners News

Crowley Maritime Corporation has owned and operated a lot of vessels since its founding in 1892. But the latest vessel to join its fleet is unlike any other that has come before it.Crowley’s new harbor tug, eWolf, is unique in that it runs 100% powered by batteries, not diesel engines, meaning it produces zero emissions and nearly no noise. Not only is the vessel the first fully electric tug in the Crowley fleet, but it is also the first of its kind in the United States.Faced with stricter regulations and commercial pressure to prioritize environmental…

Crowley and the Port of San Diego broke ground for the shoreside charging station designed to provide clean energy for the company’s forth-coming zero-emissions tugboat, eWolf.The charging station is a microgrid charging facility that will allow vessels to recharge quickly while reducing peak loads on the community energy grid. It is equipped with two containerized energy storage systems provided by Corvus Energy. The station is designed to operate on off-peak hours from the community’s energy grid, and it includes a solar power array to support renewable energy use.

Richard Dodge, Commissioner of California's Port of Redwood City, announced he will be retiring at the end of July, after 42 years of port service. Dodge was originally appointed to the Board of Port Commissioners in 1980. His service is one of the longest port commissioner tenures in the United States.“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Port of Redwood City over the past 42 years in various Port Commissioner roles,” Dodge said. “It has been incredible to watch the Port evolve and position itself as a leader serving the Silicon Valley and beyond.

Crowley Maritime Corporation on Monday announced plans to build and operate an all-electric powered harbor tugboat capable of completing a job without expending a drop of fuel—a first in the U.S.The 82-foot-long vessel, dubbed eWolf, will be operational at the Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal by mid-2023 and comes as Crowley and the maritime industry continue to make strides toward sustainability and decarbonization. Over the first 10 years of its use, the operation of the new e-tug will reduce 178 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx)…

The Port of San Diego is doubling shore power capability at its B Street and Broadway Pier cruise ship terminals to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on and around San Diego Bay.The Board of Port Commissioners approved $4.6 million in funding for the project as well as various agreements related to equipment purchasing, construction and installment of additional shore power equipment that will allow two cruise vessels calling on San Diego to connect to shore power outlets at the same time.

The Port of Oakland, a major container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay, said that its Commissioners have approved an air quality plan intended to drastically cut diesel and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the Port’s maritime operations.Christened as "Seaport Air Quality 2020 and Beyond Plan", it envisions a zero-emissions operation in the future. The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners voted last week to approve the 259-page plan.The Port said that the plan would provide a framework for maritime development for the next 30 years. The plan calls for changes in equipment, operations, fuels…

Longtime business and civic leader Yui Hay Lee has joined the Port of Oakland’s Board of Port Commissioners. Lee was sworn in yesterday to a seat on the seven-member Board.Lee, President and CEO of Oakland-based YHLA Architects, was nominated by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and appointed by the City Council. He replaces eight-year Board veteran Alan Yee, whose latest term expired.“We’re delighted to welcome Yui Hay Lee to our Board,” said President Ces Butner. “He brings a strong business background, exceptional planning and development experience and a commitment to the community.”Lee founded his architectural firm in 1980. He served as a Commissioner on the Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum Authority from 2007-2018. Mr.

A major global marine terminal operator has OKd a new Port of Oakland lease that runs through 2027. The agreement includes options that could keep SSA Terminals (Oakland) here to 2042. The Port today characterized the deal as validation for the city’s maritime future. “SSA is an influential player on the waterfront worldwide, and a significant presence in Oakland,” said Port Maritime Director John Driscoll. Oakland’s Board of Port Commissioners approved the new lease last night. Key elements of the deal include: a 19-acre expansion at SSA’s Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT); purchase of three new ship-to-shore cranes by the terminal operator for cargo handling; and options that would extend the new lease an additional 15 years if certain conditions were met.

A long-held vision to revitalize this city’s decommissioned Army base is nearer reality at the Port of Oakland. Port Commissioners have given initial approval to a landmark deal with CenterPoint Properties for a logistics center at the former base. The tentative agreement caps nearly 15 years of planning for the most-anticipated Port growth project ever. Port officials said today that the agreement includes unprecedented commitments to hire local workers. “The future is at hand,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Chris Lytle. The Board of Port Commissioners voted initial approval of the agreement last night. It comes up for final vote Nov. 30. If Commissioners say yes a second time, the deal becomes official in January.

The Port of San Diego is preparing to welcome 83 cruise calls during the 2017-2018 cruise season, with a wide variety of itineraries visiting this inspiring destination. This season Holland America Line remains a strong presence on San Diego Bay along with continued growth from Disney Cruise Line. On Thursday, October 5, the Disney Wonder will be in port, along with Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam. Approximately 242,000 passengers are expected this year, up from last year’s 224,000. The number of cruise calls remains about the same. Passengers this season will be able to experience a relaxing California Coast cruise, an adventurous voyage around the globe, South Pacific cruises and much more.

Up to six 366-foot-tall cranes will soon be raised 27-feet higher at the Port of Oakland. The port said the $14 million-to-$21 million project will begin this spring at its largest marine terminal. The objective: make it easier to load and unload megaships with containers stacked high above deck. “We’re already working the largest ships to call in North America,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. The governing Board of Port Commissioners approved the crane plan at a meeting last night. It calls for installing longer legs on four-to-six cranes at Oakland International Container Terminal. The terminal handles 70 percent of Oakland’s cargo. Last winter it received the 1,300-foot long Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship ever to visit the U.S.

The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans has announced that, effective Jan. 1, 2017, Brandy D. Christian has begun service as the Port’s president and chief executive officer following her two-year tenure as its chief operating officer. “Brandy is an experienced maritime professional with a strategic mindset and clear focus on actionable goals,” said Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners Michael Kearney. “The Board’s competitive national search for a COO was part of an executive succession plan. We had hoped the successful candidate would eventually be able to lead the Port. Brandy exceeded our expectations by quickly understanding our challenges, identifying opportunities to improve efficiencies, and developing a plan for future growth.

Work could begin next month to nearly double the size of the Port of Oakland’s second-largest marine terminal. TraPac LLC said today it’s ready to begin construction on a 57-acre expansion at the Port’s Outer Harbor. The Board of Port Commissioners approved the project at a meeting Oct. 27. TraPac has signed a new 14-year lease with the Port to grow from 66 to 123 acres. It will add two vessel berths to the two it already operates. The terminal operator said a larger footprint will help it absorb additional cargo volume. “With this expansion, we’re making a long-term commitment to our customers and to the Port of Oakland,” said TraPac Oakland General Manager Mike Porte. TraPac is growing into property adjacent to its existing terminal.

TraPac, LLC has reached agreement to nearly double its marine terminal size at the Port of Oakland. Wilmington, CA-based TraPac said today it plans to lease an additional 57 acres and two vessel berths on the Port’s Outer Harbor. If the deal is approved, it would greatly strengthen TraPac’s position as the second-largest terminal operator in Oakland. TraPac disclosed its plans at a meeting of Oakland’s Board of Port Commissioners last night. The proposed 14-year lease agreement with the Port becomes final if the Board approves it at a meeting Oct. 27. “This is a significant step forward for TraPac and the Port,” said Port Maritime Director John Driscoll. Marine terminals load and unload containerships in Oakland. They release containerized imports to cargo owners.

As part of strategic efforts to increase cargo business at the Port of San Diego, the port has entered into a conditional agreement with Mitsubishi Cement Corporation (MCC), one of the largest cement companies in California, for potential future operations at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. The conditional agreement, which was approved by the Board of Port Commissioners on June 11, 2015, will allow the port to conduct a project review under the California Environmental Quality Act in anticipation of MCC's potential operations at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal on San Diego Bay.

The Port of San Diego plays a critical role in San Diego County's economic rebound by pumping more than $7.6 billion a year into the region from employment, sales and purchases of goods and services, according to a recent report. "The data confirms the Port of San Diego is a powerful regional economic engine with substantial benefits reaching far and wide," said Board of Port Commissioners Chairman Dan Malcolm. The report is based on 2013 data, the most recent year for which data is available.

Admiral Paul Zukunft, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, visited the Port of San Diego’s administrative offices on February 12. The Commandant was in town to participate in the 2015 Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association /U.S. Naval Institute Conference held at the San Diego Convention Center. During his visit to the port, the Commandant participated in a briefing that included Dan Malcolm, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners; Acting President and CEO John Bolduc; Acting Chief of Harbor Police Mark Stainbrook and other senior Port staff members.

Current COO Patrick J. Gallwey to Retire in March After 34 Years. Brandy D. Christian has been named the new Chief Operating Officer of the Port of New Orleans by President and CEO Gary LaGrange, succeeding Patrick J. Gallwey, who will retire March 1 after 34 years with the Port. Christian comes to the Port after 14 years with the Port of San Diego serving for the past five years as vice president, strategy and business development. During her tenure with California’s fourth largest cargo port, Christian was the driving force behind securing major accounts for the cruise and cargo business lines at the Port. She was also instrumental in significantly improving operational processes and reducing costs for the public agency.

Sponsored by the American Association of Port Authorities and hosted by the Unified Port of San Diego, a workshop examining port-related economic development programs, analyzing solutions to development/funding challenges and quantifying results will be held Feb. 20-21, 2014 (Day 1, 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.; Day 2, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 noon) at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Boulevard, San Diego, Calif. Among the key topics on the minds of Western Hemisphere port development…

The Department of Homeland Security released its final allocations for the FY 2013 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) awarding $904,035 to the Port of Hueneme and its Port Security Stakeholders. Project stakeholders include our customers, City of Oxnard Police Department, Oxnard Firefighters, City of Port Hueneme Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Ventura County Fire Department. “This funding is a product of hard work and leveraging partnerships with government and industry leaders.

California Central Coast Chapter Board Member Mary Anne Rooney has been invited to join a Leadership Mission to Taipei from September 7-14, 2013. Ms. Rooney also serves as vice President of the Board of Port Commissioners for the Port of Hueneme. Leadership Missions give participants the opportunity to meet with senior government officials as well as discuss global political and economic issues. The invitation was extended by Dr. Lori Murray, President and CEO of the World Affairs Councils of America in Washington, D.C. and The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office. “These leadership missions provide access to senior officials and allow a two way dialog into a depth untouched by most mediums,” said Ms. Rooney.

The Port of San Diego celebrated the inaugural visit of Grieg Star's 'Star Laguna' with a plaque exchange ceremony. The Star Laguna, one of the newest cargo ships visiting San Diego, called at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, where it offloaded 10,000 tons of fertilizer and four yachts. Owned by the Grieg Star shipping company based in Bergen, Norway, the Star Laguna will make regular visits to San Diego. "The Port's cargo business makes an important contribution to our region's economic prosperity as part of the worldwide system of goods movement…

The Port of San Diego to improve the air quality around its Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal by providing Alternative Maritime Power (AMP). The Board of Port Commissioners approved a non-appealable coastal development permit to bring shore power to the marine terminal, located on San Diego's waterfront. Reducing emissions using shore power benefits local air quality, with the community of Barrio Logan being the closest impacted neighborhood. The project is a part of the Port's Capital Improvement Program (CIP).