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Update on Significant Dredging of Port’s Navigation Channel
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| Phase two of the $12.8 million maintenance dredging at the Port of Redwood City’s Redwood Creek channel by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contractors is underway, and by the time phase three is completed this winter, the Port’s navigation channel will be dredged to its authorized depth of 30-feet for the first time since December 2009.The first phase dredged the channel to 28-feet and was completed last December. The depth is crucial for Port channel users. Port officials have been working with the USACE to perform this dredging to increase allowable draft for ships. When Phase one started in September of last year, the safe navigation depth of 22 feet was causing extra costs and logistics problems for the cargo shippers at the port.”Increasing the depth of the channel by six feet meant that the cargo carrying capacity of the ships calling at the port increased by 10,000 to 12,000 tons per ship,” said Executive Director Michael Giari.
Phase two of the dredging project, which should be completed by early August, will bring most of the channel depths down to the project authorized depth of minus 30 feet. Due to limited funding and limits on how much dredged material can be place in San Francisco Bay, Phase three will dredging any remaining high spots in the channel and place the material at an approved “deep” ocean site.
Thanks to the support of the port’s Congressional delegation, including Congresswom
an Jackie Speier and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the City of Redwood City, and Port businesses, the funding for this project was secured last year.
The Panamax size ships calling at the Port with construction material from British Columbia have fully loaded drafts of greater than 040 feet. The US Army COE in a recent study concluded that every ocean going ship that calls at the Port has a loaded design draft greater than 30 feet. The shippers have to light load and have told the Port that every foot of increased channel depth helps them to be more efficient and carry more cargo.
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.
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Port Commission Adopts Spending Plan
for 2015-2016
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The Port of Redwood City Board of Commissioners has approved its fiscal year 2015-2016 budget, projecting operating revenues at $6,897,000 and operating expenses at $4.5 million.The budget projects a $413,845 subvention to the City of Redwood City from the Port’s net income, which is projected at $1,743,886 million after subvention and non-operating expenses.Operating revenue assumptions, reported Executive Director Michael J. Giari, include:
- Tonnage of 1.8 million metric tons of cargo, a relatively small increase over the prior year compared to three years of double digit increases during the economic recovery. Tonnage is primarily composed of construction sand and aggregates imported from Canada and recycled scrap metal exported primarily to Asia.
- Tariff and general rate increases of 2 percent.
- Recreational boating revenue of $540,000 is based on a continued 10 percent vacancy factor.
- Commercial leases and temporary rentals show a revenue increase of ó percent due to rent increases.
The Port of Redwood City operates from its own revenues and receives no tax dollars.
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Your Guide to 4th of July at the Port & Downtown Redwood City
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A spectacular fireworks display and a concert at the Port of Redwood City cap off a huge Fourth of July celebration in Redwood City.
The fireworks will be able to be seen from several areas in Redwood City. The fireworks will start about 9:30 p.m.
Livewire, a high-energy six-piece dance cover band, will perform at the Port from 7:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Livewire showcases an eclectic mix of the best songs from the 70’s and 80’s through current rock and dance hits, the band covers a wide range of music, from Journey to Michael Jackson, to the Black Eyed Peas & LMFAO.
(to read more, click on this link, which is the detailed story we sent out last week): http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Your-Guide-to-4th-of-July-at-the-Port—Downtown.html?soid=1109799539021&aid=TRBdSTd5U3Q |
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Why Ports Are Important
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| There are several stories that highlight the importance of ports in the United States and Canada and Latin America in the current issue of Seaports Magazine. This is the link for you to pick the article that you would like to read.http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/AAPQ/AAPQ0215/index.php#/0
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Port Again Sponsors Popular Nine-Week Music in the Park Series
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We ran this story in May and are repeating it for the remaining concerts this summer.
The Port of Redwood City and the Redwood City Civic Cultural Commission are again bringing the popular Music in the Park concert series back to Stafford Park starting on June 24 for nine consecutive Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Stafford Park is at the corner of King Street & Hopkins Avenue.
The announced lineup:
- June 24: Snap Jackson & The Knock on Wood Players, a Stockton-based award winning acoustic quartet playing Americana, bluegrass, soul, and old time music.
http://www.knockonwoodplayers.com/
- July 1: Sinister Dexter, a 10-piece soul machine that brings the unique sound of the great funk horn bands.
http://sinisterdexter.net/index.php
- July 15: Andre Thierry, playing Zydeco, a musical genre evolved in southwest Louisiana French Creole speakers which blends blues, rhythm and blues, and music indigenous to the Louisiana Creoles and the native people of Louisiana.http://andrethierry.com/
- July 22: Lara Price, playing blues.
http://www.laraprice.com/home.html
- July 29: The Famous ,led by guitarist/vocalists Laurence Scott and Victor Barclay, playing rock, punk, Americana. http://www.thefamous.net/
- August 5: Native Elements, comprised of 10 seasoned musicians with decades of experience in reggae, rock, metal, blues, jazz, r&b and hip hop. http://www.reverbnation.com/nativeelements
- August 12: Houston Jones, a five-member band playing Americana.http://www.houstonjones.com/
- August 19: Top Shelf, consisting of four male vocalists, various featured female vocalists or dance troupes, and a four-piece rhythm section playing Motown, smooth jazz, and funky soul. http://www.topshelfclassics.com/
There will be a concession tent selling hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips and drinks, operated and donated by the Optimist Club of Redwood City. All proceeds benefit the Save the Music program in Redwood City Schools.
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