KUSI celebrates National Maritime Day and the Port of San Diego

KUSI celebrated the Port of San Diego’s Working Waterfront with a live broadcast from Coronado Thursday morning.   David Davis, Brandi Williams and the rest of the cast were celebrating National Maritime Day, GMSD style!   In case you missed it, check out some of the highlights from the morning in the videos above.

More on the Port of San Diego:

Since 1933, Congress has declared May 22 National Maritime Day, a day for the United States to observe its proud maritime heritage, honor the men and women who serve and have served as merchant mariners, and recognize the contributions of our American maritime industry. Observance of National Maritime Day honors the maritime industry and the benefits it brings Americans in terms of transportation, jobs, goods and recreational opportunities. America’s network of ports is responsible for moving cargo vital to the world’s economy. The maritime industrial sector generates employment and economic impact with jobs in the military; ship building and repair; leisure boating and recreation; transportation, cargo and cruise operations; Coast Guard and Customs and Border Projection; commercial fishing and seafood processing; and high technology for maritime defense and security, research, pharmaceuticals and energy. The maritime industry on Port tidelands contributes nearly $3.5 billion and 21,000 jobs to the regional economy with family-sustaining salaries and benefits. Changes in the economy have made maritime trade more important than ever.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO:
The Port of San Diego was created as a special district in 1962 by an act of the State Legislature to manage the San Diego Bay tidelands on behalf of the citizens of California. The Port has operated without tax dollars since 1970 and has been responsible for $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities: Coronado, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego waterfront properties. The Port is part of a vast global network of worldwide ports that delivers goods at home and abroad. The Port of San Diego is the 4th largest of the 11 public ports along the California coast. It processes a variety of cargo including fresh fruit, automobiles, cement, structural steel, fertilizer, turbines, steel, yachts and other bulk cargo. It is one of 17 commercial “strategic ports” designated by the military to load or offload equipment and personnel on short notice. The Port and the maritime industry also provide vital support to the U.S. Navy.

FOR INFO:
For more information about San Diego’s maritime industry visit the portofsandiego.org

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND…

MARITIME:
The Port’s two marine cargo terminals are the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal in San Diego and the National City Marine Terminal in National City. In fiscal year 2013, 2.7 million metric tons of cargo came through the terminals and maritime revenue totaled $33.5 million. Principal inbound cargoes at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal are perishables and refrigerated commodities, fertilizer, cement, and breakbulk commodities. Primary export cargoes include refrigerated cargo, breakbulk and bulk commodities. Dole Fresh Fruit Company is a tenant of the terminal, importing about 2 billion bananas a year. The National City Marine Terminal, located on the National City waterfront, is the most efficient vehicle import/export facility on the West Coast. It is a first-rate facility for special breakbulk, heavy equipment and major project cargo. Owned by the Port of San Diego, and operated by Pasha Automotive Services, the terminal serves as the primary port of entry for one out of every 10 cars imported to the United States.The Port also operates two cruise ship facilities that are only minutes from the San Diego International Airport, Amtrak and trolley stations, as well as popular hotels, restaurants and attractions offered by the downtown San Diego waterfront. San Diego is one of California’s top three cruise ports.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION:
The Port has several programs to help improve the health of San Diego Bay and the tidelands. In 2006, an environmental fund was created to pay for projects that go beyond state and federal regulations. Since then, $7.9 million has been allocated for about 64 projects, most of which have been completed. In 2008, the Port kicked off its Green Port Program. The program spells out how the Port and waterfront businesses can minimize its impact on the environment while still continuing its day-to-day operations. Included in the effort is the clean truck program, which requires trucks to meet the state’s air quality standards for port trucks. In addition, the Port started the voluntary vessel speed reduction program, in which cargo and cruise vessel operators are asked to reduce speeds while traveling in and near San Diego’s harbor to cut down on the emissions from the ships. The Port has successfully switched on its shore-power system at the cruise ship terminals and at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, which will improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by allowing cruise and refrigerated container ships to “plug in” rather than run their diesel engines while in port. In December 2013, the Port was among the first ports in the nation to adopt a Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on District tidelands.

ECONOMIC CATALYST:
Money that the Port generates from real estate leases and maritime activities benefits the public through environmental stewardship of San Diego Bay; 20 public parks; public projects including the San Diego Convention Center, the Port Pavilion at Broadway Pier, and repairs to the Imperial Beach Pier; as well as the ongoing redevelopment of the Chula Vista Bayfront. The Port has operated without tax dollars since 1970 and has been responsible for $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities.

FUN AND RECREATION:
The Big Bay® — San Diego Bay and its surrounding tidelands — provides a recreational haven for boaters, cyclists, fishermen, runners and art enthusiasts. The 20 public parks along the waterfront include amenities such as children’s playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fields, baseball fields and miles of scenic walkways. There are public fishing piers, public boat launch ramps and several accessible boat docks. The Port is also the title sponsor for large public events such as the annual Big Bay Balloon Parade and the July 4th Big Bay Boom fireworks show on San Diego Bay.

HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY:
As homeport to the U.S. Navy’s Third Fleet, two cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals and because of its close proximity to San Diego International Airport, the Port of San Diego is one of 17 U.S. ports that are considered strategic ports. Harbor security is a dominant factor in the Port’s daily operations and the Harbor Police Department works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Navy, Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the California Office of Homeland Security, California National Guard and other state and local agencies to administer an over-arching regional and integrated approach to port and seaport security. There are 122 sworn police officers in the Port’s Harbor Police Department. The Harbor Police officers are trained firefighters. They patrol the tidelands property as well as San Diego Bay and San Diego International Airport.

PORT WIDE:
The Port has nearly 800 business operating on tidelands ranging from shipyards and ship repair yards, yacht clubs, marinas, hotels, attractions and restaurants surrounding San Diego Bay.