The majority of California ports came together on December 3rd to announce their plans for improved defense against sea level rise recognizing that climate change poses a serious threat to U.S. ports and coastal communities.
The “Storms, Flooding and Sea Level Defense” conference was coordinated by the Propeller Club of Northern California and took place at Scott’s Seafood in Oakland, California.
Port Presentation Hightlights:
U.S. Customs San Francisco Deputy Port Director Steve Baxter briefed PCNC lunch attendees on recent operational developments at Bay Area ports and airports on November 5th.
Attendees included guests of the Ports of Oakland, San Francisco, PCC Logistics and CBFANC.
Dave Kaval, president of the Oakland Athletics, wants a “partnership” with the Port of Oakland maritime industry so as to build the new A’s ballpark and “preserve and protect jobs on the waterfront.”
Speaking to the Harbor Safety Committee of the San Francisco Bay on August 8th, Kaval said that the A’s have pledged to:
JOIN THE PORTS OF SAN FRANCISCO, OAKLAND, LONG BEACH, LOS ANGELES, SAN DIEGO, REDWOOD CITY, PORT OF HUENEME & PROPELLER CLUB OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
A new U.S. report, using advanced analytic software, says waves and storm surges are gaining momentum from sea level rise and collectively pose a more immediate threat than was previously believed. The result could be serious damage to California coastal cities and ports by 2040. Read entire article
A University of Rhode Island team has concluded that the top 100 US ports may need to invest between $57 billion to $78 billion to accommodate a two-meter increase in sea level rise and recent surveys indicate that some U.S. port designers are beginning to incorporate sea level rise into their planning process. Read entire article.
The $165 million Seabrook Floodgate Complex, completed in 2012, protects New Orleans by reducing storm surge entering from Lake Pontchartrain. (Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). Read entire article
Catastrophic flooding in 2019 is slowing or stopping barge traffic along the Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas rivers and adversely impacting farmers and exports. Read entire article
On September 10th, USCG’s Captain Marie Byrd told PCNC that the Bay Area is a vital source for petroleum and agricultural goods and that these resources could be at risk from an earthquake or other catastrophic event. USCG is working with Northern California Ports, the Harbor Safety Committee as well as the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) to support preparedness.
U.S. Coast Guard Captain Marie Byrd told attendees at the Propeller Club of Northern California on September 10th that vulnerabilities of bridges and refineries continue to be a focus of emergency response plans seeking to protect the Marine Transportation System (MTS).
Byrd said emergency response exercises focusing on the San Francisco Bay Area Port Recovery Plan will be part of the annual Fleet Week San Francisco activities taking place between October 6-14, 2019.
“The Propeller Club of Northern California salutes the success of Port of Oakland Executive Director Chris Lytle. Chris’ announcement of his retirement represents a great loss to the Port and the Northern California maritime community. He was a friend and supporter of PCNC and we will miss him.”
Jerry Moro, director of Northern California Operations for the Harbor Trucking Association, says plans for the Oakland Athletics’ baseball park to be constructed at the current site of the Port of Oakland’s Howard Terminal will generate so much car traffic that harbor trucking will be brought to a near standstill during baseball games and other events.
The result will be to place container terminal operations at risk.
by Stas Margaronis
A new U.S. report, using advanced analytic software, says waves and storm surges are gaining momentum from sea level rise and collectively pose a more immediate threat than was previously believed. The result could be serious damage to California coastal cities and ports by 2040.
Elaine Forbes, executive director for the Port of San Francisco, told AJOT that rising sea levels are already threatening downtown San Francisco and Port property requiring the construction of a new sea wall (photo below). The projected cost is $5 billion.
The impact is similar to sea level rise driven storm surge damage suffered by U.S. cities and ports along the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coasts from Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy and Harvey.
At the Luncheon Bill Mongelluzzo discussed such topics as:
Please see enclosed Power Point and luncheon photos
The Stevedoring Services of America (SSA), general manager, who runs the Port of Oakland’s largest container terminal, Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT) says that the Port must quickly embark on an expansion of the Turning Basin located in the Oakland Estuary or face the loss of next generation container ship business.
In an interview with AJOT, Jim Rice, general manager SSA Marine Inc said that it became clear when CMA’s 18,000 teu (twenty-foot unit) container ship, Benjamin Franklin, docked at OICT three years ago that maneuvering the ship through the Turning Basin “was not going to work on a regular basis because the Basin was too narrow.”
The president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) warned maritime operators and customers to expect higher California air emission related taxes and fees in 2019.
John McLaurin, PMSA president, told a Propeller Club of Northern California luncheon audience to prepare for higher taxes and fees on harbor trucks, warehousing and possibly a tax on ocean containers.
He also strongly criticized plans by the Oakland Athletics to build a new ballpark at Howard Terminal on Port of Oakland property.
Maritime Stakeholders Voice Opposition to Proposed Oakland A’s Ballpark at Port of Oakland
by Stas Margaronis
The proposed Oakland Athletics baseball park to be located at the Port of Oakland (See rendering) is drawing criticism and opposition from maritime stakeholders, but a spokesman for the Oakland Athletics says that many of the industry’s concerns can be addressed.
Taj Tashombe, Vice President External Affairs for the Oakland A’s, outlined remedies to the Propeller Club of Northern California board of directors at a January 18th meeting: The Athletics will work with the City of Oakland and the Port of Oakland to mitigate traffic issues caused by fans attending baseball games 80 times a year and impacting harbor trucking. The team will support an infrastructure investment fund and trucks-only on and off freeway ramps linked to the nearby 880 freeway.