As expected, the Occupy movement’s plans to shut down West Coast ports last month proved to be largely symbolic, having a minimal impact on cargo operations.
Participants in the Asia Night gala included: (left to right) Beth Schnitzer, mistress of ceremonies; Lyz Ferguson, Cal-Asia chairman; Dennis Wu, Asia Night Chairman; C. Richard Kramlich, 2011 New Silk Road Award recipient; Ms. Jeremy Potash, founding executive director of Cal-Asia; Mark Dosker, Cal-Asia president; and master of ceremonies Jon Erlichman. Photo by Daniel Leong, San Francisco
By Patrick Burnson
Published: January, 2012
As expected, the Occupy movement’s plans to shut down West Coast ports last month proved to be largely symbolic, having a minimal impact on cargo operations.
Port of Oakland spokesmen also noted that a great deal of misinformation was being circulated by Occupy participants. Chief among those myths, said spokesmen, was that the port had been closed. While sporadic interruptions took place in the morning, trucks continued to move cargo. However, "no ships were loaded or unloaded that day," said spokesmen, and some terminals were unable to operate because of the protesters.
How the port will react to future disruptions remains in doubt, however. No firm strategy has been announced and Occupy participants have threatened to restage an event next year.
Cal Maritime Announces 2012 Training Cruise
The California Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), a campus of the California State University, today announced the itinerary for its 2012 training cruise. The annual training voyage, which is part of the specialized curriculum offered at Cal Maritime, provides students who are pursuing a U.S. Coast Guard license with the hours of sea experience they need to graduate and work aboard ships of any size worldwide.
The 2012 training cruise will depart Cal Maritime on Sunday, April 29 and return to campus on Friday, June 29. Approximately 320 students and 56 officers and staff members will participate on the voyage aboard Cal Maritime’s 500-foot training ship Golden Bear, which will log approximately 8,500 nautical miles during the voyage.
For the duration of each summer training cruise, Cal Maritime cadets are responsible for running the ship, including navigating and driving the ship, repairing and overseeing the engines and maintaining the vessel. All training cruises are supervised by Cal Maritime faculty, the ship’s captain and chief engineer, and a team of experienced mariners.
Ports of call for this summer’s training voyage will include Sacramento; Los Angeles; Punta Arenas, Costa Rica; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Acajutla, El Salvador. In addition, the ship will make a humanitarian visit to Haiti to deliver medical equipment to the University of Haiti Medical Center. While in Haiti, cadets will also donate clothing, toys, and money to a Haitian orphanage, in coordination with Vallejo CMA Kiwanis.
One of the highlights of this summer’s training cruise will be its transit through the Panama Canal, something the Golden Bear has not done in more than a decade. Captain Harry Bolton, director of marine programs and commanding officer of the Golden Bear, said the experience will be one to remember for cadets and seasoned mariners alike.
"Going through the Panama Canal is a phenomenal experience, and really makes you realize how much the canal has changed commerce throughout the world," said Captain Bolton, himself a 1978 graduate of Cal Maritime. "You can be in one ocean and then be in another ocean of the world in just16 hours. Knowing that this feat of engineering is as viable today as it was 100 years ago is just amazing."
In addition to the Panama Canal, the itinerary for this summer’s cruise will present cadets with other unique opportunities that will allow them to receive training in conditions to which they are not frequently exposed.
For example, during the transit to Sacramento—something the ship hasn’t done in 15 years—cadets will encounter all kinds of shallow water and narrow channels that make ship handling a challenge. In addition, the visit to the Caribbean will give students a chance to navigate through highly trafficked waters.
"Traveling to the Caribbean brings an element of excitement to this summer’s training cruise," said Bolton. "It will be a great time of the year to travel to Jamaica, which we haven’t been to in 40 years. Our cadets will be navigating in a place they haven’t been, and there will be lots of traffic to maneuver around. Every leg of this summer’s voyage will be busy, which is a good part of the experience and will really enhance their training."
Kramlich Receives Award at Asia Night Gala
More than 350 business and diplomatic leaders attended the California-Asia Business Council’s 17th annual Asia Night gala in San Francisco on November 29 to watch C. Richard Kramlich receive the 2011 New Silk Road Award.
Kramlich, who is chairman and co-founder of venture-capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with $11 billion of capital currently committed to new businesses in the United States and Asia, was honored for fostering the growth of jobs, as well as technological cooperation, trade and capital flows across the Pacific.
Also participating in the presentation ceremonies at the Intercontinental Hotel were Beth Schnitzer, mistress of ceremonies; Lyz Ferguson, Cal-Asia chairwoman; Dennis Wu, Asia Night chairman; Ms. Jeremy Potash, founding executive director of Cal-Asia; Mark Dosker, Cal-Asia president; and master of ceremonies Jon Erlichman.
The 2011 award consists of a gold-embroidered silk Chinese rank badge depicting the mystical creature Qilin. Paired wines with each dinner course were provided by Napa Valley’s Helena View Johnston Wineries, which is exporting California wines to Asia. A live auction of Asian treasures was conducted by owner Redge Martin of Clar’s Auction Gallery.
Asia Night benefits the award-winning programs of nonprofit Cal-Asia to help U.S. companies expand their commercial activities in Asian markets. For more information, visit www.CalAsia.org.
