Jason Hodge News

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.

The Port of Hueneme informs that it has performed a load bank test of its recently installed substation making the Port ready to provide a reliable, steady source of shore-side power for ships at berth. With the passage of AB 32 by the California state assembly, programs were put in place to allow ships at berth in California ports to turn off their more polluting marine engines [cold ironing] dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Port’s just completed project “represents a giant leap forward for us and the community” said Port CEO and Director Kristin Decas.

Port Officials and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), on the eve of WWL’s 26th anniversary at the Port, executed a fifth modification of its 1991 contract extending its agreement for an additional five years through December 31, 2018. Wallenius Wilhelmsen ships first began calling at the Port of Hueneme in1987. In 1991, WWL established Pacific Ro-Ro Stevedoring (Pac-Ro) to handle autos arriving at the Port and Pacific Vehicle Processors (PVP) as part of a further expansion of the company’s logistics capabilities. WWL has been instrumental in driving the Port’s economic recovery and growth. Harbor Board President Jason Hodge said, “Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics is a vital long term community partner and a significant economic engine.

Port Officials and BMW of North America, on the eve of BMW’s 26th anniversary at the Port, executed a fifth modification of its 1987 contract extending  their agreement for an additional five years through December 31, 2018. Said Harbor Board President Jason Hodge, “BMW’s Vehicle Distribution Center is a vital community partner and a significant economic engine. BMW’s Port manager Mark T. Port CEO and Executive Director Kristin Decas noted at the announcement, “26 years represents a lifetime in the maritime community.

The Port of Hueneme, on the US West Coast, says it realizes another strong year in FY2013 achieving a record revenue total of approximately $13.4 million in Gross Operating Revenue for a 10.4% increase over FY 2012. The Port’s CEO, Kristin Decas and CFO, Andrew Palomares submitted the auditor’s report to the Port’s Board of Harbor Commissioners at its recent Commission Meeting. Commissioner President, Jason Hodge, noted "The numbers tell a very positive story about the Port’s financial performance and show our commitment to fiscal responsibility.

Port Officials and Del Monte Fresh produce have celebrated their 34-year partnership by executing a third modification of their 1995 contract. “34 years represents a lifetime in the maritime community. Del Monte arrived at the port in 1979, encouraged by a motivated and sustainable labor force. Having no refrigerated facilities in those days, bananas had to be unloaded box- by-box utilizing an elevated conveyor system connecting directly into the side of the ship. At each end of the conveyor, longshoremen handled 40- pound banana boxes from the ship onto a staged pallet alongside the wharf. Full pallets, consisting of 48 boxes would in turn be loaded by teamsters onto waiting trucks.

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.

Port and Community officials join rail partners Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) and Union Pacific (UP) to celebrate two milestones. The Port of Hueneme was honored recently by the Railway Industrial Clearance Association (RICA) as 2012’s Most Improved Port. Founded in 1969, the Railway Industrial Clearance Association is dedicated to serving the heavy and dimensional transportation industry, cargos with large dimensions, excess weight or center of gravity or other unusual issues. With over 400 members the association seeks opportunities to solve transportation challenges that lead to improved cooperation between shippers, receivers and railroads to implement common solutions to intermodal problems.

The Port of Hueneme has adopted a new brand identity, making a bold statement to stimulate broader awareness of The Port’s competitive strength and commitment to smart growth. The brand re-development will support the new strategic plan that will shape the future direction of The Port. The new look was inspired by the community’s agricultural heritage and The Port’s original designation as Point Hueneme, with global navigation points that merge at the center to form the needle of a compass.

The Port of Hueneme reached a milestone in its Shoreside Power Project when the Board of Harbor Commissioners approved a key funding agreement to help vessels plug into electrical power at berth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “This is a model of strong public policy working for the betterment of our community and region. The execution of the contract ensures the success of the project and will keep commerce moving while improving our air and quality of life,” said Port Commissioner President, Jason Hodge.

The Port of Hueneme, California, realized the best cargo year it its 76 year history announcing all-time increases in import/export trade. The total tonnage for FY 2012-2013 jumped to 1,438,596 metric tons representing a 9.2% increase over FY 2011-2012, and a 2.8% increase over the Port’s previous record of 1,399,670 metric tons set in FY 2005-2006. This represents a continuing path to economic recovery bringing the Port beyond trade levels realized prior to the economic downturn. Port Commission President Jason Hodge comments on the rising figures, “The success of the Port ties directly to our community and strategic partners. The growth in freight activity was seen in the Port of Hueneme’s niche markets of automobiles…

The Port of Hueneme held a Maritime Career Exploration Day at the Port on Wednesday. Attendees came to meet and talk with representatives of a half dozen companies doing business at the Port, groups that represented everything from a major shipping line to GAPS, an automobile processors. The event was held at the Port’s newly renovated Joint Operations and Security Center just outside the Port’s main entrance. In addition to the table displays, presentations were made by representatives of Del Monte, which imports fresh fruit through the Port, the Port administration and a recruiter for the National Maritime Academy at Kingspoint New York. The Career Exploration Day was the brainchild of Commissioner Jason Hodge.

Port leadership joined with Ports America to formally christen the stevedoring company’s newest heavy-lift addition to the Port of Hueneme, a Liebherr LHM 420 Litronic Mobile Harbor Crane. The new crane is the second Ports America crane to be put into action at the port. “This 376 ton mobile harbor crane greatly increases shore side productivity in tandem with our existing crane and increases our flexibility to work more than one ship at a time,” said Ports America’s site manager Kevin Beirne.

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.