Mary Anne Rooney News

It was an unusually slow day on the docks back on April 21, 2021 when crewmembers onboard a Brusco tugboat sprang into action from the Port of Hueneme to assist a vessel in distress. A 17-year-old containership named the President Eisenhower was headed from Los Angeles to San Francisco when it suffered an engine room fire that disabled command of the vessel.A vessel named Teresa Brusco and her crew pushed the Eisenhower vessel away from shore while other tugboats and salvage companies came to assist. The vessel was disabled in the shipping lane while fully loaded and drifting to shore.

Mary Anne Rooney, Harbor Commissioner at California’s Port of Hueneme, has been named President of the Association of Pacific Ports (APP), a trade and information association promoting increased efficiency and effectiveness of Pacific ports. Rooney, who previously served as APP’s Second Vice President, was selected at the group’s 102nd Annual Conference held in August in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. As a result, the Port of Hueneme will host APP’s Annual Conference in 2016. “I am very honored to be selected by my peers and have the opportunity to leverage the port and industry needs of our region…

Today, Governor Brown signed AB 2395 Legislation. The bill was co-authored by Bonnie Lowenthal chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee and the Select Committee on Ports (D-Long Beach); Jeff Gorell, a member of the Select Committee on Ports (R-Camarillo); and Hannah Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara). By increasing the Oxnard Harbor District's borrowing authority from its current $1 million to $10 million, the legislation will help The District upgrade and modernize its facilities.

The Port of Hueneme announced that it will receive more than $400,000 in funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Fiscal Year 2014 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The funds will help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide maritime security risk management, and maintain or reestablish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities. "The Port of Hueneme is a connection to world markets, serving as a priority gateway for the Western United States, and it is critical to the economic health of Ventura County and Southern California," said Congresswoman Brownley.

The Port of Hueneme says that over 40 Port, industry and community partners welcomed Brusco Tug & Barge's newest 78-foot by 31-foot ship assist tug, the 'Simone Brusco' at the ceremony. The Simone Brusco is the third Robert Allan-designed ship assist tug built exclusively for The Port. The new vessel is a continuation of a line of ship assist tugs for the Longview, Washington-based Brusco Tug & Barge, named in honor of the late daughter of Bo and Teri Brusco, Simone. The Port explains that like her sister tugs, the Simone is outfitted with a forward electric Markey Render/Recover hawser winch as well as a 1,500 gpm fire pump and monitor. The Simone can not only pour water on a shipboard fire, but act as an auxiliary water source for shore-based emergencies as well.

The Port commissioned the Hamburg Sud’s M/V Cap Palmerston, carrying fresh fruit for Chiquita Brands of Charlotte, North Carolina during a ribbon cutting ceremony to introduce the Port of Hueneme’s recently installed Grid-Based Shore Power system. Community leaders were on hand to view this first vessel ‘plug in’. The initial test of ‘plugging in’ a vessel is critical to assessing the performance of this new and very high voltage shore power system. It is also vital to ensuring all trained units including ILWU and ship operators become comfortable with operating the gear.

Port staff received news that the Port of Hueneme was among the awardees to receive funds through the EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). The funds will be used to complete an enhanced phase II to the Port’s existing Shore Power Project that will allow additional vessels to simultaneously connect to the Port’s Shore Power system. Following passage of AB 32 by the state assembly, programs were put in place to allow ships at berth in California ports to turn off their more polluting marine engines dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Port of Hueneme conducted its first operational and safety vessel test of its recently installed Grid-Based Shore Power system. Port crews were on hand to view this first vessel ‘plug in’ by Hamburg Sud’s M/V Cap Pasley, carrying fresh fruit for Chiquita Brands of Charlotte, North Carolina. The initial test of ‘plugging in’ a vessel is critical to the assessing performance of this new and very high voltage shore power system. It is also vital to ensuring all trained units including ILWU and ship operators become comfortable with operating the gear. The process tests the vessel’s ability to synchronize with and connect to the Port’s grid-based system.

The Port’s most historic cargo year (fiscal 2013) yielded a significant economic stimulus, reporting 778 new trade related jobs, $5 million in additional taxes and an additional $90 million in Maritime related economic activity as the Port of Hueneme continues to grow as an economic engine for Ventura County and the region. This announcement comes from a just released 'Economic Impact report for fiscal year 2013' performed by Martin Associates Economic Consulting firm. With over 20 years…

The Port of Hueneme’s most historic cargo year, 2013, yielded a significant economic stimulus, reporting 778 new trade related jobs, $5 million in additional taxes and an additional $90 million in Maritime related economic activity as the Port of Hueneme continues to grow as an economic engine for Ventura County and the region. Highlights of the study show that more than 315 of these newly created jobs remain local. This announcement comes from a just released Economic Impact report for fiscal year 2013 performed by Martin Associates Economic Consulting firm.

Port Officials and Global Auto Processing Services (GAPS) executed a fifth modification of its 2007 contract extending their agreement for an additional five years through January 31, 2019. The Port welcomed GAPS for the first time in March 2007. Port CEO and Executive Director Kristin Decas noted at the announcement, “In addition to GM and U.S. manufactured Honda exports, GAPS partners with logistics provider Glovis USA, (the logistical arm of Hyundai/Kia), to handle the Hyundai and Kia family of Korean manufactured automobiles. We greatly value this partnership and look forward to many more years as partners”.

Port of Hueneme Board President Mary Anne Rooney reported to the World Affairs Council (WAC) of the Central Coast on the national leadership mission to Taiwan ROC she attended with 9 other WAC representatives representing New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Washington, DC. “It was an honor and privilege to represent the United States on this leadership mission and I developed valuable insights about Taiwan,” Rooney said. The…

The Port of Hueneme Board of Commissioners voted in officers for 2014 at their first meeting of the year held January 13, 2014. Senior Commission member and former five-time President Jess Herrera nominated Commissioner Mary Anne Rooney to take the helm as president. Rooney’s nomination received unanimous Board support and for the first time in the Port’s 77 year history a woman takes the office of Board President. Commissioner Herrera was named Vice President and Commissioner Manuel Lopez was voted Secretary.

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.

Trade partners in Ventura County joined forces at the Port of Hueneme to kick off a program celebrating World Trade Month. The Port timely hosted this event on National Maritime Day. Participating were representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service, the District Export Council of Southern California, the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County and the Small Business Development Center the announce a robust partnership under the World Trade Center of Oxnard. The launch of this partnership promises to build strategic networks with the business community and economic development teams to create new avenues for businesses to tap international markets.