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July 30, 2013
In this issue:
At their Thursday meeting, commissioners are expected to discuss CEO John Wolfe’s performance in his third year on the job and his compensation package.
Commissioners will also consider requests to construct stormwater treatment facilities at the Port’s log yard on the Hylebos Waterway, amend the lease and equipment rental agreement with the log yard operator, extend the contract for federal lobbying services and enter into an agreement with the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration to fund the operation and maintenance of tidal and wind gauges at the Port.
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.
Dustin Stoker joined the Port Monday as director of operations, bringing more than 14 years of experience in both domestic and international terminal management.
Most recently, Stoker was with Terminal Systems, Inc. as director of Deltaport Operations at Port Metro Vancouver, B.C. His past experience includes management positions in operations at Abu Dhabi Terminals, Port of Salalah/APM Terminals and APM Terminals in the Netherlands. Stoker holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington.
Through the first half of the year, Tacoma container volumes increased 29 percent year to date to 930,794 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs). International container volumes improved 41 percent year to date, with a 40 percent gain in imports and 38 percent increase in exports.
The double-digit growth continues to reflect the addition of the Grand Alliance and its associated carriers last July and positive year-to-date growth from our established customers. International container volumes are expected to moderate in August, as August 2012 marked the first full month of Grand Alliance vessels calling Tacoma.
Auto imports, intermodal lifts and log exports also posted year-to-date gains through June. View all cargo stats.
Join us on our free guided boat tours Sunday, Aug. 25, for a ship-side view of one of North America's largest container ports during Tacoma Maritime Fest.
The boat departs from 535 Dock St. at 10 and 11:30 a.m., and 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. Tickets are required and will be available at the Port booth beginning at 9 a.m. the day of the tours. Boarding is first come, first served. Passengers with mobility challenges should plan to take the 10 a.m. tour when the tide makes it easier to board.
For more information, call 253-593-4485.
Commissioner Don Meyer will report on the progress tallied in the first year of our strategic plan at the Aug. 1 Gig Harbor Public Affairs Forum. The breakfast event begins at 7:30 a.m. at Cottesmore of Life Care, 2909 14th Ave. NW in Gig Harbor.
Request a Port speaker for your civic event.
Business leaders from across the state will hear an update on Congressional trade policy achievements and upcoming opportunities Aug. 8 at the Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) Summer Trade Luncheon.
Under the theme “The Trade Policy View from D.C.,” the event features a panel discussion with trade policy advocates Jon Gold from the National Retail Federation, Christopher Wenk from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and David Thomas from the Business Roundtable.
The event is scheduled to run from noon to 1:30 p.m. and includes lunch. Register online.
Learn how international trade benefits Washington state in the trans-Pacific partnership and trade promotion authority fact sheets on our website.
Join us at farmers markets throughout Pierce County this week to learn more about our annual boat tours, public access sites and the 43,000 Pierce County jobs related to international trade.
Stop by our booth at the Broadway farmers market in downtown Tacoma from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, at the Puyallup Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 3 or at the Lakewood Farmers Market from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 6.
The comment period closes Wednesday for the draft 2013 update to the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy.
Launched in 2008, the strategy is a collaborative effort by the ports of Tacoma, Seattle and Metro Vancouver, B.C., to improve the region’s air quality. The draft update sets goals to reduce maritime-related diesel emissions 75 percent per ton of cargo by 2015 and 80 percent by 2020.
View the draft update and submit comments by July 31 on our website.
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