Inside Line: Boat building lease expected to add 50 jobs

Port of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 08/15/2012 02:50 PM PDT
INSIDE LINE
Port of Tacoma's e-news update.
 

August 15, 2012

In this issue:

On the agenda

Boat building lease expected to add 50 jobs
Commissioners are expected at their Thursday meeting to consider a three-year lease with SAFE Boats International to build patrol boats for the U.S. Navy at the Port's Earley Business Center.

The company will begin manufacturing five 80-foot-long patrol boats this fall, bringing an estimated 50 new jobs to Pierce County. The vessels will join the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command fleet.

Commissioners will also consider requests to upgrade the HVAC system at the Fabulich Center, extend a contract for federal lobbying services and temporarily extend the heavy haul corridor on State Route 509. See the full agenda.

Commission meetings begin at noon in Room 104 of The Fabulich Center, 3600 Port of Tacoma Road. Meetings are available live and on demand from the Port's website.

In the community 

Visit us at Tacoma Farmers Market Thursday
Join us in downtown Tacoma Aug. 16 at the Broadway farmers market. Among the food stalls, artisan crafts and fresh produce, you'll find friendly faces answering questions about the Port. Stop by our booth between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to learn more about our free Port tours and public access sites.

Join us Aug. 26 for free Port boat tours
Get a ship-side view of one of North America's largest container ports on board a free guided boat tour Sunday, Aug. 26. Tours begin and end at 535 Dock St. in the heart of Tacoma Maritime Fest.

The boat departs at 10 and 11:30 a.m., and 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. Arrive 30 minutes before departure. Tickets are first come, first served the day of the tours. Passengers with mobility challenges should plan to take the 4 p.m. tour when the tide makes it easier to board.

For more information about boat tours, visit our website or call 253-597-7564.

Pick up trash, earn food voucher for Maritime Fest
Join Citizens for a Healthy Bay Sunday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help clean up Tacoma's waterfront and mark the 20th anniversary of the Tacoma Maritime Fest.

Volunteers will meet at the Dock Street building parking lot and be shuttled to one of seven cleanup locations from Thea Foss Waterway to Point Ruston and Middle Waterway. Volunteers will receive a $4 food voucher to use at Maritime Fest.

Sign up to participate by emailing jriss@healthybay.org or calling 253-383-2429. Learn more.

Around the industry

Remembering Commissioner Jack Fabulich
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of former Port of Tacoma Commissioner Jack Fabulich, who died Aug. 10.

Fabulich served on our commission for 31 years during an era of tremendous growth and expansion. A graduate of the University of Puget Sound and former president of Tacoma-based Parker Paint Manufacturing Company, Fabulich was also very involved in the community. When he retired in December 2007, we renamed our major office building in his honor.

Learn more about Fabulich's legacy in this article or news release.

Taking action on our strategic plan
Construction equipment and engineers in hard hats will once again be common sights on the Tacoma Tideflats as the Port begins work on its strategic development plans.

Design work is currently under way to realign piers at the north end of the Blair Waterway. The rebuilt piers will allow two of the largest ships in the world to berth simultaneously. The project is the first step in redeveloping and expanding terminal capacity between the Sitcum and Blair Waterways.

Meanwhile, construction is scheduled to begin later this year to complete restoration work on the 50-year-old Terminal 7 wharf. The $600,000 investment will improve cargo movement and provide additional storage space at the Port-operated roll-on/roll-off terminal.

See all 50 initiatives included in the Port's 10-year strategic plan.

Globe Awards recognize trade-related businesses
Celebrate local companies who excel in international trade at the World Trade Center Tacoma's annual Globe Awards dinner Sept. 6.

The awards recognize the top importer, exporter, service provider and emerging business of the year. The dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Hotel Murano in downtown Tacoma. Cost is $100 for members and $125 for non-members before Sept. 1. Register online.