Douglas F. Wong, Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco announced April 1, 2004 that he is resigning to pursue other job prospects. He will continue working with the San Francisco Port Commission and the Mayor’s Office to ensure a smooth transition. Mr. Wong has served as executive director at the Port since December 1996.

Mr. Wong said, “I am certain that Mayor Newsom will continue the work to enhance the Port’s scenic waterfront revitalization that has occurred in the past seven years. I want to thank Port staff, the Port Commission and Mayor Willie Brown for the opportunity to serve as executive director.”

As Executive Director, Mr. Wong has managed all activities along the Port’s 7.5 miles of waterfront property under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Port Commission. The five divisions of the Port include Maritime; Real Estate; Planning & Development; Engineering & Maintenance; and Finance & Administrative Services. The Port has an operating budget of $53 million and approximately 230 employees.

During Mr. Wong’s tenure, the Port has successfully completed several multimillion dollar development projects and public improvements that have restored, renovated, and revitalized the City’s waterfront. Major projects completed include rehabilitation of the historic Ferry Building, the Pier 1 Maritime Office Building project, the Downtown Ferry Terminal Project, Mid-Embarcadero Roadway Project, the Hyde Street Commercial Fishing Harbor, Rincon Park, Heron’s Head Park Wetlands Restoration Project, SBC Park (formerly Pacific Bell Park) home to the San Francisco Giants, China Basin Ferry Landing, and Fisherman’s Wharf Port Walk.

Projects underway include: Bryant Street Piers Mixed Use and International Cruise Terminal Project at Piers 30/32; Brannan Street Wharf; Piers 27-31 Recreation Project, Rincon Park Restaurants; Piers 1½, 3, & 5 Historic Preservation Project; and the Hotel at Broadway and Embarcadero Project.
Over the past several years, the Port has worked hard to develop more cruise business to support the planned new cruise terminal at Piers 30/32. Now, San Francisco is experiencing the largest growth in the cruise business in more than thirty years. More than 210,000 cruise passengers will sail on 93 voyages embarking from the Port in 2004, providing a significant boost to the region’s economic impact and visitor and maritime industries.

Recently, the Port of San Francisco was awarded $3.4 million from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for security enhancements to its cruise and ferry terminals. The award is part of a $170 million Port security grant program, which finances security planning and projects to improve dockside and perimeter security.