Two US Navy Sailors Arrested for Sharing Military Secrets with China
Two U.S. Navy sailors have been arrested on charges of handing over sensitive national security material to China, U.S. officials said Thursday.Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, was charged with conspiracy and bribetaking in connection with taking nearly $15,000 in exchange for photographs and videos of sensitive U.S. military information, the officials said. U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, whose age was not disclosed, was charged with conspiring to send national defense informationâŚ
Coast Guard, Local Agencies Respond to Boat Fire near Santa Cruz Island
Coast Guard and partner agencies are responding to a vessel fire near Santa Cruz Island Monday.At approximately 3:15 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watchstanders overheard a mayday call via channel 16 of an engulfed 75-foot commercial diving vessel with 38 people aboard.Crews from the Coast Guard, Santa Barbara Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department and Vessel Assist responded. The fire department crews were fighting the fire when the vessel sank 20 yards off shore in 64 feet of water.Five people were evacuated aboard a good Samaritan pleasure craft Great Escape.Currently, 33 people aboard the vessel are unaccounted for.Watchstanders launched two Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crewsâŚ
USCG Commandant Delivers SOTCG Address
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard delivered his first State of the Coast Guard address Thursday at Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach in San Pedro.Speaking from the largest port in the nation, Adm. Karl Schultz highlighted Coast Guard security and marine safety operations, which facilitate $4.6 trillion in annual economic activity.Schultz also recognized the service and sacrifice of Coast Guard men and women deployed around the world ensuring global peace and prosperity, including servicemembers supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Central Command.
Cargo Ships Slow Transits to Curb Emissions, Protect Whales
Partners in an initiative to cut air pollution and protect whales have announced results from the 2017 program and publicly recognized the 11 shipping companies who participated, reducing speeds to 12 knots or less in two regions. For the first time the program included speed reduction zones in the San Francisco Bay Area in addition to the Santa Barbara Channel region. The voluntary incentive program started July 1 and ended November 15, 2017. Automatic Identification System (AIS) data for ship speeds in the program verified that more than 140 transits were successful in reducing speeds to 12 knots or less, and more than half of these were successful in achieving a bonus incentive for slowing to 10 knots or less.
NOAA Honors MOL
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) is pleased to announce that the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has honored MOL with an award for the company's participation in the 2016 Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) incentive program. Launched in 2016 by NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Volgenau Foundation, the VSR program is a voluntary program that incentivizes containerships to slow down to speed at or below 12 knots, thereby reducing air pollution and enhancing protection of endangered whales in the Santa Barbara Channel.
Evergreen Recognized for Protecting Blue Whales
Evergreen Line has received recognition for its excellent performance in a voluntary environmental and ecological protection program, which started on July 1 last year and ended on November 15. The initiative was aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions of vessels and avoiding whale collisions by encouraging slow sailing speeds in California's Santa Barbara Channel region. The recognition ceremony took place on January 23, 2017. Vessels enrolled in this program were required to reduce speeds to 12 knots or less within 95 nautical miles of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. This practice helps to minimize the emissions of greenhouse gases and thus reduce their influence on air quality within the port community.
$307,500 PSGP Funding for Hueneme Port
The Port of Hueneme announced that it will receive more than $307,500 in funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Fiscal Year 2016 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The funds will provide multi-functional applications protecting critical port and regional 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 as well as enhance the response capabilities of our regional law enforcement partners. Said President of the Board Dr. Manuel LopezâŚ
Hueneme Port Expands Ship Pollution Reduction Program
The Port of Hueneme launched the second phase of its Grid-Connected Shore Power System, celebrating another next step forward in reducing air emissions and minimizing environmental impact. Among the community leaders attending the ribbon cutting were Congresswoman Julia Brownley, County Supervisor Kathy Long, Ms. Sabiha Khan with Senator Dianne Feinsteinâs office, Port Hueneme Mayor Douglas Breeze, and VCTC chairman Keith Millhouse. By connecting to the Portâs Grid-Based Shore Power System, refrigerated cargo vessels calling the Port can shut down their auxiliary marine engines and operate on shore power in lieu of diesel fuel dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
First CA Port Joins Green Marine
The Port of Hueneme, ranked in the top 11% of all U.S. Ports for general cargo flow has signed on as a participant in Green Marine, the largest voluntary environmental program for the maritime industry in North America. The announcement was made November 23rd by Jess Herrera, President of the Oxnard Harbor Districtâs Board of Harbor Commissioners. Green Marineâs environmental program makes it possible for ports, terminal operators and shipping lines to voluntarily reduce their environmental footprint through a comprehensive program that addresses key environmental issues and criteria using 11 performance indicators including air emissions, community impacts, environmental leadership and much more.
Mary Anne Rooney Named APP President
Mary Anne Rooney, Harbor Commissioner at Californiaâs 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 APPâs Second Vice President, was selected at the groupâs 102nd Annual Conference held in August in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. As a result, the Port of Hueneme will host APPâs Annual Conference in 2016. âI am very honored to be selected by my peers and have the opportunity to leverage the port and industry needs of our regionâŚ
Pacific Storm Triggers Tornado, Mudslides, Floods in Southern California
A Pacific storm pounded Southern California with heavy rain and high winds on Friday, triggering a small tornado, flash floods and mudslides that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of homes, damaged dozens of others and disrupted passenger rail services along the coast. One person was found dead on Friday in a rain-swollen flood-control channel in the Orange County town of Garden Grove, which could mark the third storm-related fatality on the West Coast since Thursday. Separately, rescue teams saved two people after they were swept away in the fast-moving Los Angeles River near a homeless encampment, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in Twitter messages.
Legislation Signed for Ports Upgrades
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.
Port of Hueneme to Get US$400,000 Security Upgrade
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.
First Vessel 'Plugs In' to New Hueneme Power System
The Port commissioned the Hamburg Sudâs M/V Cap Palmerston, carrying fresh fruit for Chiquita Brands of Charlotte, North Carolina during a ribbon cutting ceremony to introduce the Port of Huenemeâs recently installed Grid-Based Shore Power system. Community leaders were on hand to view this first vessel âplug inâ. The initial test of âplugging inâ 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 of Hueneme Receives EPA Grant
Port staff received news that the Port of Hueneme was among the awardees to receive funds through the EPAâs Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). The funds will be used to complete an enhanced phase II to the Portâs existing Shore Power Project that will allow additional vessels to simultaneously connect to the Portâs 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.
Port of Hueneme Tests Grid-Based Shore Power
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 âplug inâ by Hamburg Sudâs M/V Cap Pasley, carrying fresh fruit for Chiquita Brands of Charlotte, North Carolina. The initial test of âplugging inâ 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 vesselâs ability to synchronize with and connect to the Portâs grid-based system.
Jaenichen Visits Port of Hueneme
Acting Maritime Administrator Paul âChipâ Jaenichen met today with Port of Hueneme officials and Port customers for an industry stakeholder meeting and tour of the Port of Hueneme and Navy Base Ventura County. BMW, Global Auto Processing Services, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, Chiquita, Del Monte, Yara, the ILWU and Port Stevedores participated in a strategic round table discussion focusing on partnership opportunities, marine highway trade and Port priorities moving forward. âAmericaâs Ports truly are our economic gateway,â said Acting Maritime Administrator Paul âChipâ Jaenichen.
Port of Hueneme Creates US$1.1-Billion Economic Impact
The Portâs 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 yearsâŚ
Contract: Additional Mission Modules for LCS
Northrop Grumman received a $25.2m contract from the U.S. Navy for additional Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Modules. The company will deliver three mission module packages - two for surface warfare missions and one for mine countermeasures. "Northrop Grumman continues to demonstrate that, as the mission package integrator, we are delivering high quality, fully integrated mission modules," said Doug Shaffer, director of information operations and electronic attack, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.
Navy Unmanned Helicopter Wish-List Getting Real
Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered the second MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter to the U.S. Navy after completing final assembly at the company's unmanned systems center in Moss Point, Miss. The aircraft is joining the first one delivered to Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif., to conduct flight testing before using the system for operational missions in 2014. "Since 2006 we have conducted final assembly of the earlier MQ-8B Fire Scout aircraft from our Moss Point facilityâŚ
Port of Hueneme Hi-Tech Security Drill Deemed a Success
The security drill was the first since the rollout of the Portâs new Maritime Advanced Systems and Technology Lab (MAST) program and involved an Offshore Platform Security Threat Awareness and Response Program exercise (OPSTAR) conducted by the Naval Postgraduate Schoolâs Center for Asymmetric Warfare and the U.S. Coast Guard. The half day OPSTAR exercise called for a simulated attack and occupation of an Off Shore Oil Platform within the Santa Barbara Channel and included a noâŚ
Port of Hueneme Board President Shows the Flag in Taiwan
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. âIt was an honor and privilege to represent the United States on this leadership mission and I developed valuable insights about Taiwan,â Rooney said. TheâŚ
Hueneme Reports Record Cargo Year
The Port of Huenemeâs 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.