Port RePort - Port of Pascagoula

Port RePort
Mississippi’s Largest Port
December 2008
A Note from the Director… Mark McAndrews
Inside This Issue:
Maritime Service
Industries Gearing
up for Progress
New Personnel
Employee Awards
Singing River Island
Jackson County Port
Authority Board
of Commissioners
2
3
3
4
5
Port Facts...
The Port of Pascagoula ranks 16th in the United
States ports for foreign cargo volume.
Approximately 150 state, local and county
seaport agencies, navigation districts and port
authorities make up the public sector port
industry today.
For every $1 billion in exports shipped through
seaports, 15,000 U.S. jobs are created
Hurricanes Gustav and
Ike, in addition to
producing our thoughts
and prayers for our
Louisiana and Texas
colleagues, generated a
period of frenzied activity
in
re-opening
our
channels following the
storms.
Outstanding
cooperation and coordination among the Corps of
Engineers, Coast Guard,
Pilots, tugs, and terminals
kept vessels moving while navigation
aids were replaced and severe shoaling
addressed. The main ship channel, from
the sea buoy into the Bayou Casotte
Harbor, has been fully restored to
authorized project depth. Work is still in
progress on the Pascagoula River
Channel which is currently restricted to
32 feet.
Activity throughout the port
continues to increase, with private
industry investing billions of
dollars
in
shoreline
improvements.
Refinery
expansions at Chevron and
the $1+ billion Gulf LNG
Terminal under construction
will increase vessel traffic.
We are working with our
users, service industries, and
governmental partners to
determine
the
future
improvements necessary to
ensure continued safe,
efficient vessel movement
through our channels and harbors.
Cargo through the public facilities is
up 27% year-to-date from last year, with
increases in frozen foods, forest
products, and components associated
with local construction projects. Our
facilities modernization program is
continuing with B-Terminal next,
followed by South Terminal and E and F
Terminal as we continue to position
ourselves for future growth.
Groundbreaking for Gulf LNG Energy, LLC
Gulf LNG Energy recently held a
groundbreaking ceremony for its $1.1
billion liquefied natural gas import
terminal in the Port of Pascagoula.
Senators
Cochran
and
Wicker,
Congressman Gene Taylor and Governor
Haley Barbour were present for the
event.
Construction on the site began in
February 2008. Land has been cleared,
an access road built, and dredging for the
berthing areas and channel access is
complete. Pilings are currently being
driven for the two storage tanks and the
wharf area.
The project is on schedule for the
terminal to be operational in 2011 and is
creating hundreds of construction jobs.
When complete, the facility will generate
50 to 60 full-time jobs with approximately 150 LNG vessels calling the port.
Shipments of liquefied natural gas will
arrive at the import terminal in specially
designed and constructed double-hulled
vessels. The degasification process for
this terminal will be the more costly and
environmentally friendly “closed loop”
system.
Groundbreaking photo on page 2...
Pilings for LNG Storage Tanks
2
Officials Break Ground for Gulf LNG Energy, LLC
Governor Barbour, Senators Cochran,
Wicker and Congressman Taylor join
Port Director Mark McAndrews
and Gulf LNG Energy, LLC Officials
in the groundbreaking event.
Port Service Companies Gearing Up for Progress
Colle Towing Company, Inc.
Meet Captain
Darryl Langley
Pascagoula Bar Pilots
Photo credit: Brian Gauvin
Colle Towing Company, Inc. is proud to
add the tugboat JOHN COLLE to their fleet
making a total of 6 ship docking tugs
working in the Port of Pascagoula. The
JOHN COLLE, named for the president of
the company, was built locally by the Colle
Shipyard crews and put into service in
December 2007. The vessel is 98 feet long
and 36 feet wide with 6,000 horsepower
driven by Caterpillar 3516B Engines and
Rolls Royce Z-Drives. The new tugboat
meets Fifi 1 Fire Fighting Certification with
water pumping capacity of 11,600 gpm at
180 psi. and foam generating capability.
President of the company John Colle said
he “is extremely happy with the
performance of the tug and very proud of
the work the shipyard crews did on the
construction.”
The Pascagoula Bar Pilots are
always looking ahead to provide
continuous navigational safety
within the Port of Pascagoula.
Captain Darryl Langley joined the
association last year beginning his
pilot apprenticeship in the Port of
Pascagoula. Captain Langley began
his career with Colle Towing
Company seventeen years ago and
went through the ranks to acquire
his Master on Harbor Tugs certification.
Darryl lives in Ocean Springs with
his wife and two daughters. He joins
the other bar pilots, Captains Baker,
Gautier, Lundy, Mosso, Robertson,
and Torjusen.
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95 Years of Service...
Left to right: Ronnie Mills of Vancleave,20 years; Bud Broome of Wade,
25 years; Jack Grubbs of Pascagoula, 25 years; and Colby Taylor of
Orange Grove, 25 years.
The Port Authority recently honored
four employees for their many years of
dedicated service. All four are employed
at the Bayou Casotte Industrial Water
Treatment Plant which is managed by
the Jackson County Port Authority.
Water from the Pascagoula River travels
15 miles from the intake station at
Cumbest Bluff to the plant in Kreole
where it is treated and released to
industries in Bayou Casotte. Industries
using the treated water include – Chevron
Pascagoula
Refinery,
Mississippi
Phosphates, First Chemical Corporation,
BP Amoco, Rolls Royce, and Gulf LNG
Energy, LLC. The facility operates 24
hours a day, seven days a week.
WauKeita
Chestang-Graves
WauKeita Chestang-Graves has joined the
port authority staff as an Administrative
Assistant. WauKeita serves as the
receptionist, directs incoming calls, handles
the task database, mail distribution and
supports all areas of administration.
A native of Moss Point, Mississippi,
WauKeita resides in Jackson County with
her three children – Kenneth, Korbin, and
Kered who are students at Resurrection
Catholic School.
Through the years, WauKeita has been
very active in the school Parent Teacher
Organization and has served on the RCS
School Board. She also volunteers for the
American Red Cross, participates in the
Jackson County Heart Walk, and local cleanup campaigns.
Pat Nix Receives 20 Year Plaque
Patrick O. Nix recently received his 20
year plaque from Jackson County Port
Authority President Charles Persons.
Patrick is a resident of Pascagoula and
works in Facilities Maintenance. His many
skills in engineering, carpentry, electrical
and plumbing are a major asset for repair
and maintenance of buildings, equipment
and utility systems throughout the port.
Patrick is also well known in the
community for his many years as a soccer
referee.
At Left: Commissioner Persons
giving Pat Nix his 20 year plaque.
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Congratulations 2008
Jackson County Leadership Class
The Jackson County Leadership Class
of 2008 visited the Port Authority for
their final session prior to graduation.
Approximately 25 members of the class
were in attendance for the port and
economic development programs. Mark
McAndrews, Port Director, greeted the
guests. Betty Ann White, Mgr. of
Government Affairs and Public Relations,
gave a presentation on the roles, history,
economic impact and current posture of
the Port Authority. Natalia Diaz, Senior
Project Manager for the Jackson County
Economic Development Foundation,
gave an update on recent development
projects in the county.
SINGING RIVER ISLAND
Jackson County
Port Authority
Port Of
Pascagoula
3033 Pascagoula St.
P.O. Box 70
Pascagoula, MS 39567
Phone: 228-762-4041
Fax: 228-762-7476
E-mail:
info@portofpascagoula.com
We’re on the web!
www.portofpascagoula.com
New life for former Naval Station Pascagoula
Naval Station Pascagoula, located on
Singing River Island, was a victim of the
2005 round of base closures ordered by
the federal Base Realignment and Closure
Commission (BRAC) ruling. Following many
months of teamwork (between the
Mississippi Secretary of State, the Local
Redevelopment Authority
[LRA], the Port Authority
and the Navy), the 500+
acre island with 75
buildings was officially
returned to the State of
Mississippi on June 1, 2007.
Since that time, the
island has become an
administrative complex for
over 200 employees of the
Ship Systems sector of
Northrop
Grumman
Corporation (NGC). With
their Pascagoula shipyard
located directly north of
the island, NGC occupies over half of the
office buildings available on the island.
The U.S Coast Guard Station Pascagoula
was a tenant prior to the base closure and
they have chosen to remain on the island,
as well as Keesler Federal Credit Union and
Mississippi Security Police.
Additionally, while rebuilding their
Pascagoula office complex, NOAA has
located three (3) modular offices on the
island for their seafood inspection
laboratory.
Meanwhile, the Jackson County
Economic Development Foundation
(JCEDF) is actively involved in marketing
the remaining buildings and property on
the island for lease in accordance with the
guidelines provided by the State. According
to George Freeland, JCEDF Executive
Director, “we will continue to partner with
the Port Authority to market the remaining
assets as we are committed to fully
maximizing the economic development
diversification and impact of the entire
property.”
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2008 – 2012 Jackson County Port Authority
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
The Jackson County Port Authority Board of Commissioners is a nine- member board comprised of appointees
by the Jackson County Board of Supervisors and the Governor of the State of Mississippi. Each of the county’s
five supervisors assigns a representative to serve on the Jackson County Port Authority Board of Commissioners
for a four- year term. The Governor also appoints four members to the board.
Charles M. Persons
James M. Colmer, Jr.
Warren Gautier
President
Secretary
A graduate of the
University of
Southern
Mississippi, Mr.
Persons serves as
President of the
Mississippi Gulf
Coast Foreign
Trade Zone; is a
member of the Mississippi Association of
Life Underwriters; former member of the
Jackson County Economic Development
Foundation; and past President of PassPoint Life Underwriters Association. He
was appointed by District 1 Supervisor
Manly Barton and has served on the board
since 1992.
A graduate of the
University of
Mississippi, Mr.
Colmer is a
partner with the
law firm
Heidelberg,
Steinberger,
Colmer and
Burrow, P.A. He has served as President,
Vice-President and Director of the
Pascagoula Rotary Club, Director of the
United Way of Jackson County and is a
graduate of Leadership Mississippi. This is
Mr. Colmer’s fourth term on the Jackson
County Port Authority. He was appointed
by Governor Haley Barbour.
A graduate of the
University of
Southern
Mississippi, Mr.
Gautier is a native
of Jackson
County and a selfemployed
businessman. He
is active in the American Shrimp
Association and has served previously on
the Jackson County Airport Authority and
the Jackson County Economic
Development Foundation. Mr. Gautier was
appointed by District 3 Supervisor Michael
Mangum and is serving his fourth term on
the board.
J.R. “Jim” Hoskins
Ronald Robinson
Wallace Easley
Vice-President
Mr. Easley is a selfemployed
businessman and
is serving his third
term on the board.
He is Chairman of
the Budget and
Finance
Committee of
Emmanuel Baptist Church, Development
Director for the Community Care Network,
and is a former board member of the
Homes of Grace. Mr. Easley was appointed
by Governor Haley Barbour.
Mr. Robinson is
President and
business agent for
the International
Longshoremen
Association (ILA),
Local 1752 and
1967. He is also
Vice-President of
ILA South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District
and serves as a Commissioner on the
board of Mississippi Regional Housing
Authority #VIII. Mr. Robinson represents
Supervisor Tommy Brodnax of District 4
and is serving his third term on the board.
A graduate of
Louisiana State
University, Mr.
Hoskins worked
for Chevron USA
for thirty-three
years and retired
from the Chevron
Pascagoula
Refinery as Financial Manager. He is a past
President of the East Central Civic
Association and a former Vice-Chairman
of the Homes of Grace. Mr. Hoskins was
appointed by Governor Haley Barbour and
has served four times previously on the
board.
Continued on Page 6...
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2008 – 2012 Jackson County Port Authority
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
William “Benny”
Lassitter
A graduate of the University
of Southern Mississippi, Mr.
Lassitter retired from Ingalls
Shipbuilding as Vice-President
of Operations. He serves as
President of the Moss Point
Rotary Club and is a member
of the Jackson County Home
Builder’s Association, the
Jackson County Chamber of
Commerce and the East Gulf
Coast Board of Realtors. Mr.
Lassitter is serving his second
term on the board and was
appointed by Governor Haley
Barbour.
Carolyn Moore
Mrs. Moore is the Chief
Professional Officer of the
United Way for Jackson and
George Counties and is retired
from the Jackson County Port
Authority following twentyeight years of service. Mrs.
Moore attended the
University of Southern
Mississippi and Mississippi
Gulf Coast Community
College. She is serving her
first term on the board and
was appointed by District 2
Supervisor Melton Harris.
Gregory L.
Williams
A graduate of the University of
Mississippi, Mr. Williams is a
Mississippi Real Estate Broker
with many years in property
management and
development. He is active in
the national, state and local
Associations of Realtors,
Mississippi Rural Water
Association, Ocean Springs and
Jackson County Chambers of
Commerce and the Mississippi
Gulf Coast Golf Association. He
is serving his first term on the
board following his
appointment by District 5
Supervisor John McKay.
John L. Hunter
Attorney for the
Board
Mr. Hunter is a partner with
Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter
& McCormick, P.A. He is a
former Assistant District
Attorney for Jackson County,
a member of the Mississippi
Bar, the American Bar
Association, Mississippi
Association for Justice, the
American Association for
Justice, and the American
Board of Trial Advocates.
Mr. Hunter has served as
attorney for the Port
Authority since 1992.
Cargo Volumes Increase in 2008
Cargo through the Port of
Pascagoula public docks continues to
increase in 2008. Third quarter
tonnage figures for 2008, compared
to the same period for 2007, are up
27%. Forest and paper products
(lumber, plywood, poles, linerboard)
have increased 11% while frozen
poultry exports are up 28%. Inbound
shipments of construction aggregate
this year have also influenced the rise
in numbers. The aggregate is being
used for infrastructure development
on the Gulf LNG Energy terminal
property.
Latin America and the Dominican
Republic continue to be major
markets for forest and paper
products while the Baltic Region
receives the lion’s share of frozen
cargo exports.
Mississippi’s Largest Port
Caribbean Forest Carriers loading
lumber for the Dominican Republic.