PNWA celebrates successful stern buoy installation
PNWA is thrilled to announce that the installation of three new stern buoys on the Columbia River has been completed. The new stern buoys are now in the water at Lower Vancouver, Prescott, and Rainier and will be ready for use next week.
Stern buoys play a vital role in local economic activity by securing deep draft ships at anchorages on the deep draft Lower Columbia river. The U.S. Coast Guard recently expanded existing anchorage locations and created new ones, but stern buoys were needed at some of these locations to prevent ships from drifting into the shipping channel or grounding at the shore. The need for the new stern buoys was especially urgent as increased ship traffic and forecasts for additional larger vessels have added to the demand for safe anchorages. Stern buoys are relatively low-cost infrastructure elements which will allow for full utilization of the newly deepened Columbia River shipping channel.
The Portland District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a feasibility study, approved in August 2011, to examine the placement of stern buoys at Columbia River anchorages, recommending that three additional buoys be placed on the Lower Columbia. Costs for the project were shared by the Corps (75%) and local sponsor funding for this project, provided by the Ports of Portland, Vancouver, Kalama, and Longview (25%).
We would like to recognize the great work that was done by the Corps, port staff, Columbia River Pilots, and the support of our Northwest Congressional delegation to bring this project to completion. This is a major accomplishment in a time of decreased budgets that will have a lasting and significant impact on the economic vitality of our region.
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PNWA Welcomes Two New Members
Puget Sound Pilots
Puget Sound Pilots (PSP) is an organization of marine pilots dedicated to the protection of Puget Sound's marine environment, economy and security. PSP members guide oil tankers, cargo vessels and cruise ships safely through difficult passages, tricky currents, and high traffic shipping lanes to dock at Puget Sound ports and then return to the open sea. The Puget Sound Pilots are independent professionals who work on behalf of the citizens of Washington State. Currently, 53 sea captains are active members of the Puget Sound Pilots; members have an average of 30 to 35 years of marine experience and almost 15 years of pilot experience. Their expertise and commitment to excellence has produced an unparalleled safety record of more than 165,000 sailings over the last twenty years without a major incident. For more information, visit http://www.pspilots.org/ or contact Walt Tabler at wtabler@pspilots.org.
Whole Brain Creative, Inc.
Whole Brain Creative provides professional graphic design, web design and writing services to maritime organizations whose marketing and public relations departments are overloaded, and to those that may not have their own in-house team to fulfill these needs. With offices in Astoria and Portland, Oregon, Whole Brain Creative has ten years of experience in the maritime industry developing press releases, ads, newsletters, brochures, presentations, e-newsletters and websites for clients ranging from private towing and drilling companies to port authorities as well as regional and national maritime industry associations. Learn more at www.wholebraincreative.com or contact Tiffany Estes at tbestes@wholebraincreative.com .
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Request for membership referrals
PNWA has welcomed multiple new members this year, often thanks to connections made by our members. Please let us know if you have other partners or contacts that would be a good fit for PNWA's membership by contacting Natalie Whitlock at natalie.whitlock@pnwa.net.
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Call for WRDA projects
Though there has not been an enacted Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) since 2007, the House and Senate have had several calls for potential projects in the past few years. As the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee (EPW) considers possible WRDA work later this fall, we would like to encourage PNWA members who may have new WRDA projects or issues to touch base with PNWA staff. We would like to ensure our list continues to be complete for our membership, should a WRDA effort (that includes projects) move forward. Please contact Heather Stebbings at heather.stebbings@pnwa.net for more information.
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We need your photo submissions!
PNWA is preparing to launch a new website later this fall, and we need your help! We are looking for high quality photographs that you have taken of the river system, ports, dams and other infrastructure and local commodities that we can use for our website and publications. If you have images that you can share with us, please email natalie.whitlock@pnwa.net. Many thanks.
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