The RangeMarker is the newsletter of the Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers, Inc.
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Membership of the PacificCoast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers, Inc. (PCC) is well represented by harbormasters, port managers, marina owners,corporations, firms and institutions of higher education. All of which, support the objectives of the Congress. If you are new to the profession, operate a marine facility or are involved in the marine industry and are looking for valuable and current information, membership in the PCC is your organization. Join today and see what the PCC members are doing in their ports and marinas.
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Join us for the 42nd Annual Membership Conference Vancouver, B.C April 5-8, 2016 Hosted by The False Creek Harbour Authority B.C. 
For more information, please click on the link to the PCC website below |
Letter from our President
Hello members,
The 42nd Annual Conference is a little over a month away and I can tell you that the team at the False Creek Harbour Authority has been busy working away trying to ensure that this conference will be another success and lives up to all of the past conferences the PCC has hosted. I was able to take a walk through the venue last week and even though we've hosted a conference at this location in the past, it was truly breath taking to be in some of the rooms that the conference will be in. One of the highlights will be the Tuesday night reception as it will be held on the 35th floor with a 270 degree view of the Vancouver city skyline, the scenic mountains of the north shore, the gorgeous waterfront of English Bay/False Creek and the beautiful, world famous Stanley Park. The usual PCC golf tournament will also be played on the Tuesday before the conference and is always great time to get out and network with others in the marine industry. When you see the email, don't hesitate to come on out for a swinging good time! The hotel room block has currently been filled but the hotel has added more rooms to the block so don't wait any longer and book today!
Assistant Harbour Manager at the False Creek Harbour Authority, Michael "Turk" Turkington has been putting together some information about extracurricular activities for you and any guests you may bring to do while you're here during your visit to Vancouver. Only a short distance from the hotel you can stroll the 1000 acre Stanley Park, enjoy a 30 minute drive up to the scenic city view lookout on Cypress Mountain, head on up to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park to get a full days' worth of activities in like crossing the 127 year old suspension bridge, the one of a kind tree tops adventure excursion or the new cliff walk. Other "not to be missed" things to do should include a short 15 minute walk to the small ferry dock and take it over to the second most visited tourist destination in Canada - Granville Island, or taste the many variety of culinary specialities the local chefs are serving. If you're planning to come early or stay late and are interested in receiving more information about these activities, then don't hesitate to contact Turk at turk@falsecreek.com
Your Board of Directors, Eric and the T&E Committee, and Cliff & Cheryl have put a lot of effort into making this 42nd Annual Conference another outstanding event with a full range of agenda topics and informative sessions that will sharpen your skills while providing invaluable networking opportunities. You could not ask for more, so consider this an investment in both your marina and yourself..... I promise you won't be disappointed. Also don't forget, there will be a lot of old friends and acquaintances waiting for you to show up!
It's a rewarding experience for me to serve as your President and to be able to give back to the organization that has provided me with so much over the years. If I can be of any assistance to any of you at any time, please don't hesitate to contact me.
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 PCC Online Survey
Leslie Taylor
Harbour Authority Association B.C.
Shortly after the 2016 Spring membership meeting, April 5-8, 2016 in Vancouver, the PCC will once again be conducting an online survey.
Watch for it in your inbox and please complete at your earliest convenience.
In March of 2014 we conducted our first membership survey. For results of that survey follow the link. PCC 2014 Online SurveyWhat did that survey tell us?
- The membership feels that the PCC board and executive team are doing a good job of organizing the 2 annual conferences.
- The membership is happy with the work the board and executive team are doing throughout the year.
- The response to the question of moving to 1 conference a year was inconclusive.
- We could improve distribution and content of the newsletter.
This is not a lot of information to affect how we move forward. When the results get real interesting is when the second and subsequent surveys are completed. At that point we can make comparisons to past results and draw some important conclusions and make decisions on how best to move forward with the organization. I now have results from 4 years of doing surveys of the Harbour Authority Association of BC membership; this has allowed us to make changes to our program based on the opinions and needs of the entire membership. We have even used our data to obtain funding. In addition we have used the online survey tool to answer single questions with very conclusive results.
Generally speaking the 4 main reasons for conducting surveys are:
1 Uncover the answers. In a non-intimidating survey environment we learn about what motivates survey respondents and what is important to them. The anonymity of an online method of gathering information elicits responses that participants may otherwise be reluctant to express.
2 Evoke discussion. Whether at the PCC board level, or during less formal discussions, participating in a survey can evoke meaningful discussion. Topics that are put to the back of your mind suddenly become important again.
3 Base decisions on objective information. Conducting surveys is an unbiased approach to decision-making. We don't have to rely on "gut feelings" to make important business decisions. We can collect unbiased survey data and develop sensible decisions based on analyzed results. By analyzing results, we can immediately address topics of importance, rather than waste time and valuable resources on areas of little or no concern.
4 Compare results. Survey results provide a snapshot of the attitudes and behaviors - including thoughts, opinions, and comments - about our target survey population. This valuable feedback can become our baseline to measure and establish a benchmark from which to compare results over time.
I would like to encourage you to use an online survey service to get information from your own customer base. It is very simple to use, basic services are often available at no cost. For more information or assistance do not hesitate to call me at 250-339-3970, or email contact@haa.bc.ca. I thank you in advance for completing the PCC 2016 online survey. Best Regards Leslie Taylor
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Strong returns continue for fishing off of Grays Harbor
Robin Leraas
Port of Westport, WA
Home to more than 200 commercial fishing vessels, the Port of Grays Harbor's Westport Marina was once again the highest commercial seafood landing port in both value and volume in Washington State. According to the annual report by NOAA Fisheries, more than 100 million pounds of product valued at $64 million was landed in 2014.
Nationwide, Westport ranks 13th in volume and 15th in value landed. "From the fishermen out at sea to our upland processors and our truck drivers and brokers that get it to market, commercial fishing is an important piece of our region's economy," reports Marina Manager Robin Leraas. "We look forward to another good year here in Westport and we will strive to provide the infrastructure, facilities and service to meet our fishing industry's needs."
More than 2,000 jobs are related to commercial fishing activities at the Westport Marina according to an economic impact analysis completed by Martin Associates in 2013. Much of this volume landed at Westport is processed immediately at the plants located at the uplands of the Marina. In recent years, more than $30 million in private investment has been spent on new and expanded processing facilities with more growth expected.
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20th Anniversary of the Clean Marine Program in Canada
Mike LoyHarbour Manager False Creek Harbour Authority - Fishermen's Wharf On December 1, 2015 Boating Ontario celebrated its 20th Anniversary of the Clean Marine Program that highlighted how much the program has grown over the past two decades and included an awards presentation and a discussion about how the program can continue to progress into the future. The awards presentation was a great opportunity to recognize a facility in each of the 3 Provinces in Canada that participate in the Clean Marine Program for the accomplishments they have achieved in protecting our environment. Boating Ontario President, Al Donaldson, said "choosing the best facility in each province - Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia - where the Clean Marine Program operates, wasn't an easy task". Michelle Young from BC's Georgia Strait Alliance presented their top award to the False Creek Harbour Authority - Fishermen's Wharf. Accepting the award, Harbour Manager Mike Loy said "I could write all the policies and procedures I wanted, but if this program was to work, I knew that we needed the buy-in from all of our users. Quebec presented their top award to Le Club Nautique de Roberval and Ontario's top award was presented to Lefroy Harbour Resorts. It was truly an honor to be recognized with this distinction and was a pleasure to attend and receive this award at the Boating Ontario Conference in Huntsville, Ontario. We will continue to stay the course with our continued commitment to the Clean Marine Program and the Environment.
To all of the Clean Marine Certified Facilities - Keep up the good work! 
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Congratulations
Hello members of the PCC!
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I'm pleased to announce that we have just awarded Steven Leskin his level three Certified Marina Operator (CMO) certificate. He has completed all levels of Alaska Southeast extended learning program training modules.
Congratulations Steve, for your commitment and dedication to growth within the marine industry.
Best of luck to you!
Mike Loy
President
Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters & Port Managers, Inc
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Net Recycling
 Leslie Taylor Harbour Authority Association B.C.
Over the last two years, there has been somewhat of a paradigm shift in Steveston harbour when it comes to old fishing nets. Rather than sitting tattered and neglected outside in the west coast elements, they are now gathered into organized piles in our seine lane, waiting to be bagged and sent on their final journey as nets, and their inaugural journey as a renewable resource. Eight months after we sent out our first shipment of 18,000 kg of nylon fishing net to be recycled by Aquafil in Slovenia, we have sent out our second load, bringing the total to ~ 37,500 kg of net shipped out for recycling. Eight months may seem a long time to acquire enough net for a second load, but it's a marked improvement over the eighteen months it took to get the first one out, and we're continuing to streamline the process as we move forward. That said, it is still a fairly slow process acquiring enough net to bag for a shipment. I wish to pass on my thanks to Mike Loy and Mike Turkington from False Creek HA, as they have dropped off several totes of green nylon gill net to add to our pile this past summer. Contributions like this are essential to the continued success of this project. Every scrap of net that we can add to the pile, whether a full tote or simply a garbage bag full, not only protects fish stocks and other wildlife by ensuring that old nets stay out of the water and out of our landfills, but also ensures that a high performance, highly recyclable material can be used again. This is an important and significant contribution toward global sustainability - my hope is that one day in the not too distant future, tossing net in a waste bin rather than in a recycling container will be as strange as tossing an aluminum can in the garbage is now. If we can continue to prove that this program works on an increasing scale, we can make a real difference not just in BC, but worldwide. Our newest partner in this initiative, World Animal Protection, has been pushing ahead with their Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), the annual conference for which was in London, UK this September. It is hoped that through the GGGI, programs like ours that are proven to work can be disseminated to other communities and organizations in an effort to reduce and eventually eliminate ghost gear from waters around the globe. As part of their continuing efforts to not only prevent ghost gear from entering waterways, but also to recover nets that are already there, World Animal Protection is hoping to team up with the Northwest Straits Initiative out of Washington State to recover a seine net from the sea floor near Pender Island in April, 2016. They hope to then put that recovered net through our recycling program here as a pilot to hopefully spearhead an organized recovery effort of nets on the BC coast and offer a start to finish solution. We also had a visit from six representatives from the Vancouver Aquarium's Ocean Wise program on July 10, 2015 where they got a tour of Steveston Harbour and got to learn about not only our fish sales float and unloading station, but also our net recycling initiative and how it relates to their mandate of spreading awareness about sustainable fishing. They put up a post on their Aquablog about the goings on in Steveston this summer, so be sure to check it out: http://www.aquablog.ca/category/ocean-wise/. The Richmond News also did a story about our net recycling project, so hopefully that will help spread the word through the community and encourage others to participate. We are also currently in talks with Plastix Global, out of Denmark, to find a way to recycled all types of fishing gear (traps, nets, rope) regardless of material. We hope to have a pilot project for that completed in the first half of 2016, and hopefully we can find a cost-neutral solution to getting rid of used fishing gear all over the coast of British Columbia, and hopefully, in time, North America. We've come a long way since this idea of recycling old fishing nets was first proposed to us by Interface Inc. back in 2013, but there's still much to be done and many challenges to be overcome. The primary challenges this program continues to face are: 1) Identification. Since the program as it is now is only capable of recycling nylon6 nets (including monofilament), it is important that any net that is dropped off to Steveston Harbour is nylon6. Fortunately, most seine body web is nylon6, as is virtually all gill net, so the problem isn't insurmountable, but it is worth noting. For more information on how to identify nylon6 net as opposed to polyethylene (the most common other net type, used primarily in drag nets and seine bunt), contact Joel Baziuk at Steveston Harbour Authority (joel@stevestonharbour.com). 2) Quantity. It is still proving difficult to acquire the volume of nylon6 net needed to sustain the momentum of this project, mostly because fishers tend to still see value in their old nets, even if they so badly deteriorated that they are no longer usable for fishing. We are still working on finding solutions to this issue, but I wish to stress again that every little bit of net that is dropped here to be recycled is an important part of this project. 3) Distribution. We're finding that, even if someone outside of Steveston Harbour has some net they'd be willing to donate to be recycled, getting that net here still poses an issue. Notwithstanding the commendable efforts of False Creek HA as mentioned above, there are other harbours who may have nets to drop off but they can't easily get them here. We are working on setting up a potential distribution network along the coast of BC, whereby designated containers / bins could be located at several harbours along the coast and a truck could come and load up all of the nets and bring them to Steveston in one trip. We are working with the Ocean Wise group about this at the moment but we are open to other suggestions. Vessels coming to Steveston with empty holds that nets could be put in are other potential methods to get the nets to Steveston for recycling. 4) Economics. As much as this is an important initiative both from an environmental and sustainability perspective, the reality is that it is only sustainable as a program if it is financially viable. We understand that HAs (ourselves included) are non-profit organizations who can't be spending our budgets on stripping / bagging nets and transferring them around the province, so we have to be creative in how we offset these costs. Currently, Aquafil, our recycling partner, pays for the labour to strip the nets and for shipping the nets from Steveston to Slovenia. This is still a cost-effective way for them to do business for now, but it is a fine line. We are seeking alternate funding sources for net distribution, stripping and bagging to make this project more sustainable long-term. Grants and other sources of federal funding are one avenue, but we are open to any other suggestions. These challenges, while significant, are not impossible to surmount - but we will need your help to turn this into a truly powerful and far-reaching initiative. Every piece of old / discarded gear we can divert from the landfills and our waterways is a small victory in the quest toward creating a long-term, sustainable fishing industry. We wish to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to and / or supported this project. For more information or to see how you can get involved, contact Joel Baziuk (joel@stevestonharbour.com). |
 ALASKA CLEAN HARBORS
Rachel Lord
Clean Water Program Director
Thanks again to PCC for such a great conference in Juneau this past September. While I've attended the Alaska Harbormasters Association meetings for years, this was my first PCC meeting and it didn't disappoint! I thought that the RangeMarker would be a great place to provide a brief follow-up from Alaska Clean Harbors and the Alaska Derelict Vessel Task Force.
Our Clean Harbors course is live and available through the University of Alaska Southeast online. You can search their courses and sign up at any time. Like the other courses offered through 'Career Training for Ports and Marinas', this is a self-paced and interactive course great for you and your staff!
On our website, www.alaskacleanharbors.org, you'll find resources for waste management and pollution prevention that are relevant throughout the West Coast. We have a biannual newsletter, the Clean Harbor Currents, which includes a 'Wheelhouse' section written for your customers. These pages can be printed and handed out at your marina office, or directly to customers. Topics covered include: Spill Response (Summer 2015 and Spring 2014), Where Do I Take It? Waste disposal (Winter 2014-15), Clean Fueling (Winter 2013-14), Spring Boatwork (Spring 2013), and Boat Cleaning (Summer 2012). All issues can be found on the ACH homepage. Finally, the Alaska Abandoned & Derelict Vessel Task Force is working hard to create resources to track and monitor ADV around Alaska's coastline, and draft suggestions on how to prevent future ADVs. As marina managers, we welcome your feedback and input at any point. You can find all of our past meeting summaries and developed resources at http://alaskacleanharbors.org/resources/harbor-management/derelict-vessels/. I'll be down in Seattle presenting on ADV alongside Global Diving & Salvage and ADV Coordinators from CA and WA among others at the Clean Pacific Conference in June. I have loved working with harbormasters around Alaska since 2009. I am happy to be connecting beyond AK through PCC to those of you throughout the West Coast. All the best for a safe, clean and prosperous spring and summer in 2016!
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"Help"
The RangeMarker has evolved greatly over the years. It started as a typed, black and white photo copied flyer, then a color flyer that was folded,stapled and sent U.S Mail. We then moved forward with a full color, paged newsletter and now an emailed Newsletter with links and plenty of room for articles and information. The plea goes out always for your articles. The content of the RangeMarker is driven by the members of the Pacific Congress. It is your opportunity to share any information on projects, issues, problems, announcements, interesting stories or anything at all. This can include cartoons or interesting pictures. The Pacific Coast Congress is made up of members with a wealth of knowledge and experience. We want to capture that in written form in the RangeMarker. It is an opportunity to solicit your staff, and tap into those with valued interest and information to write an article. The success and quality of the RangeMarker hinges on your articles and contributions. So take a little time out of your busy day and if you have something to share, write it down, listen to your staff, they may have an interesting idea or story to share. It's a great opportunity to value them by asking them to write something. Thank you to those who have helped out with your articles. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at email. Send all articles to Articles {clmaynard2@msn.com.} Word is the best format, and if you have pictures send them separate and in jpeg. Thank You Cliff Maynard RangeMarker Editor
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 Professional Services and Vendors
Please visit our vendors for products and professional services. As members their contribution is invaluable to our industry in both product quality, services and information. They represent a wide variety of products from computer software, construction, engineering, products and more.
Click below for a full list and links to our vendors:
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 Welcome aboard our New Members!
Kendrick Equipment
Dave Marshall WebsiteCook Inletkeeper Rachel Lord
The PCC does not advertise for new members, and our membership is via word of mouth and our organization speaks for itself. Those in the industry hear about the good thing's we do and offer. We encourage each of you to keep getting the word out to those you know and encourage them to become a member. If you have any questions about membership or need assistance with providing information please contact the,
Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters & Port Managers, Inc.
Executive Secretary
click on email link below
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THINK ABOUT IT
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"Career Training for Ports and Marinas"
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About 8 years ago, the Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers began to discuss ways that they could increase the knowledge, skills and professionalism of employees of their harbours. The president at that time, Ray Majeski, was the harbormaster in Sitka, Alaska so he turned to the local campus, University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka to investigate training opportunities for harbor employees.
The timing couldn't have been more perfect. The Sitka Campus was applying for a grant which provided the opportunity to develop online courses at a non-academic level. The courses were developed in close partnership with the Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers, the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators, the Harbour Authority Association of British Columbia, and Washington Sea Grant. Drawing from these professional organizations, UAS partnered content experts with instructional designers. The content experts were expert in the fields of Oil Spill Prevention, Fire Safety for Marinas, and other topics related to Harbor Management. The instructional designers were expert in how to develop an engaging effective online course, but relied completely on the professionals to provide the content. An education committee from PCC provided the initial direction for UAS to take and ensured that the result would be the kind of quality that would truly support the industry.
Ten courses now comprise the Career Training for Ports and Marinas program. PCC provides certificates at 3 levels. Complete any 3 courses of your choice for Level 1 Certification, another 3 courses of your choices for Level 2 Certification, and the last 4 courses for Level 3 certification. The courses are:
1. Marine Structures and Materials
2. Facility Safety
3. Oil Spills: Prevention, Preparedness and Response
4. Fire Safety for Ports and Marinas
5. Customer Service for Ports and Marinas
6. Marina Utilities: Electrical Systems
7. Marina Utilities: Water and Sanitary Sewer
8. Hazardous Materials and Waste: Risks and Controls
9. Harbor Operations and Planning
10. Harbor Administration
All of the courses are offered online. They take approximately 12-15 hours of actual work, but students are given 3 months to complete them. Clear navigation instructions and tutorials are provided when students begin, so that even if they've never taken an online course before, they quickly learn how easy it is. Content material is provided through text and pictures or audio lectures accompanied by notes; there are interactive self-check activities, and sometimes a short written account of an actual walk-about the harbor. Students are in touch with the instructors for the courses by email. Instructors are Shannon Kinsella, Ray Majeski, Larry Boyer, Alan Sorum, Eric Olsson, John Lewis and David Garrett. All instructors are professionals in the field of harbor management.
Check out the UAS website to learn more about each course and about the instructors or to register for a course. They cost $195 per course.
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RangeMarker Editor
Cliff Maynard
The Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters 120 State Avenue, PMB 231, Olympia, WA 98501
Toll-Free: 800-236-0748 Fax: 800-236-0748
Email: clmaynard2@msn.com
HELP US IMPROVE THE RANGEMARKER BY PROVIDING YOUR FEEDBACK AND IDEAS!!
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