Port of Oakland Gets Its Own Stimulus Package

Two new developments promise to give the Port of Oakland competitive cargo advantages in the future. Late last month, the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners approved a precedent-setting long-term agreement that is the first of its kind for U.S. marine terminal concession agreements. As a consequence, Ports America Outer Harbor Terminal, LLC (PAOH) will be the new concessionaire for Outer Harbor berths 20-24 for 50 years beginning in January 2010.

PAOH envisions investing $2.5 billion over the life of the concession for capital improvements in the Outer Harbor. According to PAOH, economic consultant Martin Associates estimates this long-term agreement will bring over 6,000 jobs and more than $100 million in direct personal income.

You could call it a stimulus package at the Port of Oakland, said executive director Omar Benjamin. We know it will translate into local business and employment opportunities and environmental improvements to the maritime area.

Traditionally, the port has had 10-15 year lease agreements. This concession is for 50 years and requires the concessionaire to be responsible for operations, investment in capital improvements and development of the property. The concession of the property is expected to enhance maritime activity by attracting intermodal cargo with a modern terminal and, in turn, deliver long-term economic, environmental, and community benefits.

In other news, port spokesmen announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has approved $32 million in federal funding for Oakland harbor projects in the fiscal year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. While    the bill still needs Senate and Presidential approval, it promises to provide $25.1 million for completion of the 50-foot Oakland Harbor Deepening Project and $6.9 million for routine operations and maintenance of the Oakland harbor.

The Port of San Francisco was a more festive place last month due to the influx of three Carnival Cruise Lines Fun ships. These vessels represent millions of dollars in revenue and thousands of labor hours for San Francisco businesses and workers.

The 2,000-passenger Carnival Elation sailed from San Francisco’s Pier 70 shipyard on March 10 after 12 days of scheduled repairs and refurbishments by BAE San Francisco Ship Repair. The Elation returned to southern California, where she offers three- and four-day itineraries to Mexico.

Another Carnival ship, the 960-foot Carnival Spirit, arrived in San Francisco Bay March 13, also for a two-week refit at the Pier 70 drydock. The Spirit offers a variety of West Coast and Hawaii cruises throughout the year.

Combined, these two repair jobs are generating 100,000 hours of work for shipyard workers and revenue of approximately $8 million, a percentage of which comes to the Port by agreement with BAE Systems. This is a most welcome boon in this difficult economic period.

Furthermore, BAE Systems has been working in conjunction with the City of San Francisco’s CityBuild Academy to train members of the local community for well-paying trade careers. Spearheaded by Supervisor Sophie Maxwell and Mayor Gavin Newsom, CityBuild coordinates workforce training and job placement for construction projects. Hugh Vanderspek, president and general manager of BAE Systems San Francisco, said that the first five CityBuild graduates sponsored by BAE Systems started work this month at the shipyard.

A third Carnival ship, the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor, made her maiden call to San Francisco on March 21. Built in Italy in 2008, the ship offers her 3,000 passengers a host of innovations, including a 21,000-square-foot spa and a 5,500-square-foot children’s play area. Beginning in April 2009, the Splendor will provide year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach.

The Vallejo-based California Maritime Academy is offering an online certificated course in Maritime Security Awareness for workers in the maritime environment. The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002 require that regulated vessel and facility owners and operators assure and document that they have provided Maritime Security Training for other personnel who routinely have access to, and perform business operations inside the controlled security perimeter of a regulated facility or vessel. This includes administrative and management personnel, as well as vendors, truck drivers and service providers who require access to secure areas. Depending upon the level of existing knowledge and expertise a student brings to the course, the online self-paced training can generally be completed in 2-4 hours.

Making this course available online provides flexible access for busy workers who need this training, explains J. Kim McNutt, Dean of Cal Maritime’s Extended Learning program. They can complete the course at their own pace and in coordination with their work and personal schedules.

Taking the course is easy to do, and it is especially cost-effective when the company or organization has a large number of employees or just a single individual who needs the training. Those who successfully complete the course receive a Cal Maritime certificate upon completion. As an added benefit, we keep records of past certification and can issue a replacement copy for an individual if needed at a later date for proof of completion.

The new and improved Cal Maritime online course fully satisfies the requirements of the ISPS Code and MTSA regulations.