NCFA Visited MARAD Vessels at Sperry

An earlier blog article wrote of the upcoming visit by the National Commission for the Future of the Army’s (NCFA) to JBLM and the public hearing available to the community to share its comments with the commission.

The NCFA is a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee established by the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive study of the structure of the Army, and policy assumptions, related to the size and force mixture. The NCFA visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) September 22-25.

During the public hearing, members of the community, including the Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber, the South Sound Military & Communities Partnership, the Washington (State) Military Alliance/Washington State Dept. of Commerce and the City of Lakewood spoke of logistics, the Great Circle, quality of life, the Pivot to the Pacific, relationships with the Washington National Guard and other matters relevant to a grand design for tomorrow’s Army from the perspective of the Pacific Northwest and JBLM.

However, an aspect of their visit not reported has been the NCFA’s visit to the MARAD vessels in ready reserve condition at Sperry Ocean Terminals (aka Sperry Dock) at the Port of Tacoma, Commencement Bay.

On September 23, Miguel Jimenez, Director PNW-D and Christopher Donohue, PNW-D Marine Cargo Specialist joined with the Port of Tacoma (Andre Elmaleh, Military Liaison; Sean Eagan, Director Governmental Affairs, Robert Meyer, Senior Manager Port Operations, Gerry Fiola, Chief of Security, Louis Cooper, Senior Director Security and Labor Relations, and Bari Bookout, Executive for Non-Containerized Business and Commercial Strategy) and Military Sealift Command (MSC) (Bruce Leach, Director), and the USCG (Captain of the Port,CAPT M.W. “Joe” Raymond) to welcome the NCFA members at the Port and aboard the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessel CAPE ISLAND berthed at the Sperry Ocean Terminals. The joint team facilitated the continuation of JBLM's presentation to the NCFA addressing the unique regional power projection capabilities at JBLM and the PNW Strategic Seaport.

Jimenez began the discussion by setting the stage with some history about military port operations in the PNW, transitioning to present SDDC PNW-D capabilities. He explained the difference between Strategic and Alternate Seaports noting all of the key ports in the PNW and the metrics measured through Strategic Analysis through the Ports for National Defense program conducted by SDDC, Transportation Engineering Agency. The Port of Tacoma highlighted their ability to rapidly receive, stage, and load military cargo. MSC discussed how they are postured regionally and along the West Coast to support rapid movement from the PNW. The Commission asked questions regarding the life of steam powered ships (both CAPE I vessels berthed at the Sperry Dock are steam powered). The Captain of the Port discussed water side security response and relationships through committees like the Port Readiness Committee.

The Commission members included Thomas Lamont, former Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower, former Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler, III (retired), and LTG Jack Stultz (retired).

The Commission will issue its report no later than February 1, 2016.  Contact:

Col.Kristen Dixon, Public Affairs Officer, Commission Staff, 571-294-2914, NCFA or Joe Eule, 571-256-2643, or at 2530 Crystal Drive, Taylor Bldg., Suite 5000, Arlington, VA 22202, (o) 571.256.2651. 

Master Mariner Chamber & Community Volunteer

Gary Coy, President of Sperry Ocean Dock, was recognized as the Propeller Club’s Master Mariner of the Year at the Maritime Day Luncheon.

Coy is a second generation Washingtonian who grew up in the family business – neighborhood movie theaters during the 1940’s and 1950’s – until he moved to Alaska, where he worked as a commercial fisherman for several years.  He returned to Washington as an employee of The Boeing Company and served for two years in the U.S. Army.

After his discharge, Coy returned to work in several fields.  For a number of years, he owned a restaurant and office products business.  His career path included commercial and industrial waterfront real estate and eventually led to co-ownership of the Sperry Ocean Dock.

Sperry Ocean Dock is comprised of state-of-the-art fendering with metered shore power in a fenced, lighted, clean and secure area for large, oceangoing vessels.  As such, Sperry Ocean Dock is a vital national security asset for Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The two ships stationed at the Sperry Ocean Dock facility are controlled by the federal government’s MARAD department and provide critical sealift for military operations.  Firefighter schools along with local, state and federal government agencies use the vessels for unique training opportunities.  In addition, the ships are potential resources for the community during natural disasters capable of producing electricity, water, shelter and medical facilities.

Presenting the award, Rockney Nigretto, Past International President of the Propeller Club of the U.S. and Past President of the Tacoma Propeller Club, said: “(Gary Coy) has been a steadfast supporter of the military, from concern for the living condition for our troops to assuring that intermodal sealift is well supported.  By this June, he will have made 23 trips to visit Congress, seeking support for the maritime industry and the military in the Pacific Northwest.  He has made a unique and lasting impact on military readiness on the West Coast.  I quote from one source: ‘One could easily argue that, through his consistent interaction with government leaders - Congress, Transcom, Marad and others – he is responsible for the expansion of the Marad fleet berthed on the West Coast and the jobs that they have created.  His creativity and tenacity in support of military readiness and the national interest has distinguished him among his peers and has served our nation well.’”

Coy has greatly improved his site through removal of a multi-story building of approx 180,000 sq ft.  During a Phase 2, he's removed approx. 20,000 sq ft of rail loading dock/decking, that was directly along the upper shore line bank.  And, in the big Phase 3, he's removed approximately 88,000 sq ft. of over-water coverage, approximately 1,000 creosote piles, and restored 650 lineal feet of beach and tidal area.  To date, he has created approximately 100,000 sq ft of intertidal habitat area.  Plus, his company is looking to do two more phases, starting with a small phase this summer, removing additional over-water coverage and more creosote piles.  And the real praise comes from having never been offered, or even asked for any type of public funding.

Coy has been extremely active in the South Sound community as a utility commissioner and member of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber.  As a Chamber member, he is the record holder for attending the most Washington-to-Washington, D.C. Conferences in the nation’s capital where he advocates on behalf of the maritime community.  He is an active member of the HLNC, Association of the United States Army, Navy League, Transportation Club of Tacoma and, of course, the Propeller Club.

Proposed Rules Against MARAD Ships

Washington State, through its Shoreline Management Act, requires all jurisdictions to develop a plan for managing shorelines. Shorelines are the area from the water's edge for 200 feet inland.

Tacoma is in the final stages of its Shoreline Master Program Update. The Tacoma Planning Commission has recommended the Tacoma City Council adopt a land use zoning regulation that would negatively impact the MARAD vessel moorage at Sperry Ocean Dock.

These vessels are actively used for training and support of the JBLM mission, as well as a number of operational and training uses for military, security, law enforcement and firefighters. Much myth-information about these ships is used by opponents of their continued operations here.

The most critical issue is the recommendation to move the boundary between the zoning area Shoreline-6 District (for pedestrian and recreational use) to include lands currently in the zoning area Shoreline-7 District (for industrial and terminals use). That move will cause the Sperry Ocean Dock property, leased for MARAD ships, to become a non-conforming use, subject to harmful constraints on future financing, leasing and permitting.

You are urged to oppose this action and keep Sperry in the Shoreline-7 District. You may comment at a final public hearing on:

September 27, 5:30 p.m.
Tacoma Council Chambers
747 Market Street, Tacoma 98402

. . . or write or email your concerns to:

Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Councilmembers
City of Tacoma
747 Market Street, Suite 1200, Tacoma, WA 98402
Email: Marilyn.Strickland@cityoftacoma.org

The final vote for adoption is scheduled for November 22.  Don't delay as your support in needed now.