Pierce County News

Pacific Northwest seaports Seattle and Tacoma have signed design agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for a pair of waterway navigation improvement projects.The Seattle Navigation Improvement Project, authorized by Congress in 2018, and the Tacoma Harbor Navigation Improvement Project, authorized in 2022, are part of a comprehensive modernization initiative for The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) gateway that began nearly a decade ago.Containerships navigating in the trans-Pacific trade are increasing in size…

A gravel barge allided with private docks and homes near Gig Harbor, Wash., after the master of the towing vessel fell asleep at the helm.The U.S. Coast Guard said Monday that its watchstanders at Sector Puget Sound received notification from Pierce County dispatch that an unmanned gravel barge, under tow by the towing vessel Island Chief, had smashed into several privately-owned docks and residences. No injuries or pollution have been reported. Initial findings indicate that the master of the towing vessel fell asleep while navigating the vessel…

U.S. shipbuilder SAFE Boats International will reopen its Tacoma, Wash. facility following the award of a $20 million lead contract for the U.S. Navy to start construction of the Mark VI patrol boats headed for the government of Ukraine.The U.S. Navy announced in January it had awarded SAFE Boats a portion of the contract to purchase long-lead material and associated pre-production and planning support with the remaining $80 million award anticipated in June.SAFE Boats’ Tacoma…

At the end of December, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) announced its selection of ten dredging projects that will form the core of a pilot program to advance the beneficial use of dredged material.The recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ announcement culminated a program required by Congress, established within the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, specifically Section 1122. Congress directed that the ten pilot projects selected were required to present environmental…

Is it Right for Your Operation? That Depends, says EBDG’s John Waterhouse. Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) serves many ferry customers in North America. These clients read the trade publications and see various articles on new technologies such as hybrid propulsion, battery powered vessels or zero emission vessels. After finishing such an article they ask themselves: “What advantages would that technology bring to my operation and what will it cost?” To that end, EBDG developed some tools to help answer those questions.

Foss Maritime announced that John Parrott will join the Foss executive team as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Parrott comes to Foss from sister company, TOTE Maritime Alaska, where he has served as President for sixteen years. In his new role as Foss' COO, Parrott will be responsible for overseeing key operating divisions, developing and delivering on strategic plans, and optimizing day-to-day operations through implementation of best practices throughout the organization. After 10 years sailing aboard a wide range of vessels in trade routes around the world…

Washington State Legislature’s passed a $16.2 billion transportation investment package that ports of Tacoma and Seattle say will benefit the state’s economy by speeding the movement of cargo through the ports and freight corridors. The ports, business and community leaders have been advocating for funding to complete the key freight routes of State Route 509 in King County and State Route 167 in Pierce County, which are supported in the package. “The transportation system outside our terminal gates is critical to maintaining our competitive edge…

Legendary maritime and Pierce County community leader, Robert P. Magee, was honored September 21, 2011 with the naming of Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc’s Tacoma terminal in his memory. The Robert P. Magee Terminal dedication ceremony at Port of Tacoma was attended by about 150 industry and community leaders, extended family members, TOTE customers and employees who gathered to pay tribute to a man many described as visionary. After Bob’s death in November 2009, TOTE employees rallied around the idea of honoring Bob’s memory with a tribute.

According to a Jan. 14 report from the Pierce County Herald a Milwaukee firm will get over $200m to provide material handling systems for the new U.S. Navy ships to be built in Marinette and Alabama. The Oldenburg Group said it would build cranes, launching systems, lift-platforms, and hatch covers for the 55 littoral combat ships recently approved by Congress. (Source: Pierce County Herald)

On Dec. 31, Timothy J. Five years ago, I promised that the Port of Tacoma would take care of our customers, build a foundation for future growth, and be a good neighbor. Since then, I have had the privilege of working alongside an extraordinarily talented team, including Port employees, the Tacoma labor force, and our customers, business partners, vendors, and community members. The last five years have been intensely challenging, with record growth and record contraction of international trade. Through it all, I'm proud of the achievements that we have made on that initial promise. Take Care of Our Customers. Over the last five years, we have expanded all of our container terminals, intermodal rail system, automobile facilities and our real estate portfolio.

Pacific Fishermen Shipyard and Electric, LLC (PFI Marine Electric) announced that it will now be providing year round marine electrical services in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, as well as the Puget Sound area, maintaining marine electricians on site 24/7. Seattle’s PFI Marine Electric shares facilities with Dutch Harbor’s Lunde Marine Electronics to provide marine electrical services in Alaska along with Lunde Marine’s electronic services. The PFI Marine Electrical service will now be expanded to year-round, 24/7 coverage of not only season openers, but now for off season repair periods as well. Operations will expand at the store and shop facilities shared by the two independent companies at 1558 East Point Road in Dutch Harbor.

Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA), a leading US Naval Architecture and Marine, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Firm, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Seattle, WA, was again selected by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle and approved by Washington State Ferries (WSF) to deliver the final design and production engineering for a 64-car ferry after completing the final design for the WSF 144-car ferry in November of 2008. The 64-car ferry, intended to carry 750 passengers and 64 standard autos, will incorporate all of the latest USCG requirements for Safety and Security. Washington State Ferries is the largest ferry system in the United States and the third largest in the world, transporting over 24 million passengers annually.

The Port of Tacoma Commission named Clare Petrich Commission President and elected officers for 2009 on Jan. 22. Positions among Commissioners rotate yearly, based on procedures approved by the Port Commission in 1999. Petrich replaces Port Commissioner Dick Marzano as Commission President. Marzano will serve as Assistant Secretary in 2009. Port of Tacoma Commissioners serve four-year terms. The five-member Commission is the governing body of the Port, setting policy and authorizing major expenditures. Port Commission meetings and study sessions are open to the public and are held at The Fabulich Center (formerly Port Business Center), 3600 Port of Tacoma Road. Pierce County voters first elected Petrich to the Port Commission in 1995. She was re-elected in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division announced on Dec. 1 that it is awarding a contract to Todd Pacific Shipyards to build one 64-auto ferry. Todd Shipyards submitted a $65.5m bid last month to build one 64-auto ferry. With the contract award, the new ferry is on an 18-month construction timeline. "Our economy and the people who depend upon this ferry route will greatly benefit from this contract. This award is expected to generate nearly 200 jobs," said Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The Ferries Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation announced today that it is rejecting a $26 million bid from Todd Pacific Shipyards to build a 50-car ferry. At the March 27 bid opening Todd was the sole project bidder. Its bid was higher than the WSDOT engineer’s estimate of $16.8 million. After reviewing the bid to understand discrepancies between the two amounts, WSDOT determined that it was too high and decided not to award a contract. One source of a portion of higher costs is state specifications for the vessels have been strengthened since Nichols Brothers constructed the Pierce County-style vessel three years ago. The changes to the specifications include improved safety, security, and quality. “The tab to taxpayers is too high.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has placed the final piece in the funding puzzle for Tacoma's D Street Overpass, announcing it will provide a $4 million grant for the $28 million project. The economic impact the overpass – including increased rail and truck freight capacity through the Port of Tacoma – served as the key reasons the EDA selected the FAST Corridor (Freight Action Strategy for the Seattle-Tacoma Corridor) project for federal funding. East D Street is a major corridor for rail and truck freight and for people wanting to access the revitalized Thea Foss Waterway. Once completed, the D Street overpass will separate train and motor vehicle traffic by raising the roadway over the railroad tracks.

Twenty seven ports were recognized today for exemplary projects and initiatives at the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) annual Awards Luncheon, held in conjunction with AAPA’s 2003 annual convention in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Winners were announced in the association’s national Communications, Information Technology, Environmental Improvement and Facilities Engineering Competitions. Engraved plaques were bestowed at the ceremony upon the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Portland, winners in of this year’s Information Technology Awards; The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Port of Portland, the Virginia Port Authority and the Port of Tacoma, winners of the Environmental Improvement Awards; the Port of Vancouver, U.S.A.

The Port of Tacoma has been awarded the largest single capital improvement contract in its history. ICON Materials of Kent, Wash., the low bidder, will manage construction of a new container terminal for Evergreen America Inc. The contract awards ICON $46.2 million to build the terminal and a dedicated intermodal yard. "This is the biggest project in Port history," said Port Commissioner Jack Fabulich. "While this new container terminal will be a foundation for the Port's future, it also provides a much-needed stimulus to the Tacoma-Pierce County economy.

Closing 2003, a year in which the Port of Tacoma projects a record 1.73 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent 'containers') and projects a record $83.8 million in total revenue, the Port Commission has authorized a 2004 budget designed to continue the Port's focus on long-term investments in facilities, regional economic development and the environment. The $194.7 million budgeted for 2004 capital improvements represents the first year of the Port's five-year, $321.3 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP). According to Andrea Riniker, Executive Director, these new capital projects and investments are not only supporting the Port of Tacoma's expansion plans…

focus on long-term investments in facilities, regional economic development and the environment. Program (CIP). Tacoma-Pierce County economy. environmental cleanup and wildlife habitat restoration. debt. market, this is the ideal time for the Port to make these investments. the long-term nature of Port investments. projecting steady growth, but not the dramatic growth of 2002 and 2003. levy. valuation; this amounts to $37.18 on a $200,000 home. allowed to levy a tax of 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. remaining fiscally responsible," he said. tax levy is projected to generate $9.2 million in 2003.

Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group announces the addition of John Garfitt to its marine engineering team. John has over 10 years of marine engineering experience and has worked on projects all over the world. As a senior marine engineer, John is involved in the Repower Study for the M/V COLUMBIA and will be lending his expertise to the Pierce County Waterborne Transportation Study. John is a licensed professional engineer in Canada and is currently working toward his U.S. license. Prior to joining EBDG, John served as vice president for Queenship Yachts and worked with BC Ferries.

The commander of Maritime Defense Zone Pacific will conduct a multi-agency, multi-national port security exercise titled Seahawk 02 in the Pacific Northwest beginning Monday. Participants in the exercise will include more than 1,000 active and reserve U.S. military personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard Personnel from the Canadian Defense Forces and Republic of Korea Navy, as well as representatives from numerous federal, state and local emergency response and law enforcement agencies, will also participate. Designed to test operational and command and control doctrine, as well as to provide a training opportunity for participants, Seahawk 02 will take place in two phases.

Dick Dorsett recently joined the Port of Tacoma as Governmental Affairs Manager. In this position, he manages the Port’s State Legislative agenda and works with local and regional communities on a number of key issues, including transportation and the environment. "Dick brings the Port a wealth of experience in state and local government," said Julie Collins, the Port's Director of Economic Development and Governmental Affairs. An attorney at law, Dorsett was Executive Director of the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging before joining the Port. From 1988 to 1999, he was Deputy Director for Pierce County Government Relations, responsible for comprehensive issues management and policy development.