News from the Port of Redwood City – October 2014

Photo courtesy of the Dutra Group

The last time the channel was dredged to its authorized depth was December 2009. Since then areas of the channel have silted in. The Port has been working with the USACE to perform this dredging in order to increase allowable draft for ships. The current channel depth limitation for navigation of -22 feet is causing extra costs and  logistics problems for the cargo shippers at the Port.

Thanks to the support of the Port’s Congressional delegation, including Congresswoman Jackie Speier and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the City of Redwood City, and Port businesses, the funding for this project was secured earlier this year.

This project will dredge the navigation channel to a depth of -28 feet by December 2014 and to the fully authorized depth of -30 feet by mid-2015. The dredging contractor, RE Staite Engineering Inc., has been issued the notice to proceed by the USACE and will start dredging soon. Approximately 300,000 cubic yards of material, primarily Bay mud, will be dredged from the channel and deposited at the approved

Redwood Harbor (Photo by Jeff Birdwell)

in-Bay site near Alcatraz Island.

Due to the large volume of material and tight project schedule, multiple dredges, barges, tugboats and other equipment will be deployed in the channel to work on a 24/7 schedule. The USACE has prepared information on the dredging activity and equipment in the navigation channel that will be posted on the Port’s website.

The Port will share this information with local marinas, sailing clubs, rowing teams, and other small boat users of the channel to warn them to stay a safe distance away and proceed with caution in the areas where dredging equipment is working.

Port Chairman Ralph Garcia said, “Since federal funding was secured, our partner on this project, the San Francisco District of the Army Corps of Engineers, has worked diligently get this maintenance dredging scheduled as soon as possible in order to lift the restrictions on ships using the channel.”

The Port’s tonnage has been steadily increasing since 2009 and last year reached 1.8 million metric tons. The majority of the cargo is construction materials to supply the many major construction projects, underway and planned for the Redwood City area and Silicon Valley.

Port Receives Grant from Homeland Security

The Port of Redwood City is receiving a $328,750 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for an interagency operations center (IOC) and maritime security training and exercise support.

The Port Commission accepted the grant at a recent meeting, which requires the Port to contribute 25 percent toward the project– $109,583 – for a total cost of $438,333.

The IOC will be developed by refurbishing available office space within the Port’s administration building. The completed project would include such items like an upgraded Port computer network, video walls, IOC laptops, interoperable radios and enhanced telephone system.

The training and exercise grant will provide training support for U.S. Coast Guard and U.S.Maritime Administration approved training to enhance maritime domain awareness for port staff, tenants, and first responders to protect Port infrastructure and personnel.

Manager of Environmental, Security, and Safety Programs Christopher Fajkos reported that as a public agency, the Port is mandated to remain compliant with various state/federal security and emergency response requirements, which this grant will assist them in being able to do.

He added that in addition to helping the Port with its own requirements, a new IOC would offer yet another valuable emergency response facility that regional agencies could use in the event of a large scale disaster.

Dick Claire

Ralph Garcia

• Ralph Garcia, Chairman
• Richard Claire, Vice Chairman
• Simms Duncan, Secretary

  Simms Duncan

The Port Commission held an election of officers at its Oct 8, 2014 meeting. Ralph Garcia was elected Chairman for the second time during his six year term as a Port Commissioner. He replaced Lorianna Kastrop.
Dick Claire was elected Vice Chairman and Simms Duncan was elected Secretary of the five-member Commission, whose fifth member is Dick Dodge.

Dick Dodge

Lorianna Kastrop

Paul Shepherd Announces Retirement

Besides being a staunch supporter of the Port of Redwood City for three decades, Shepherd has been active in various civic betterment initiatives in San Mateo County and has served in leadership roles in a number of professional and regional business associations.

He is a past chairman of SAMCEDA, and remains active as a senior advisor to the organization. He is a past director of the Redwood City-San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce, where he continues to serve on the Housing & Transportation Committee. He is a Director of the Bay Planning Coalition. He participates in regional issues as a member of theSilicon Valley Leadership Group Working Council, and Transportation, Housing and Land Use committees, and the Bay Area Council’s Transportation Committee.

In addition, he serves on the Sequoia Awards Board (and is a former Chairman). The Sequoias grant college scholarships to Redwood City students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service through exceptional volunteer work.

Paul Shepherd

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