Port of Hueneme CEO and Port Director Kristin Decas reports that imports and exports hit an all-time high at the Port with 1.6 million tons of cargo moving through the Port. This represents an 8.1% increase over last year’s performance of 1.48 million cargo tons. The previous cargo record was set in FY2015 with 1.56 million cargo tons.

Decas recently told AJOT that the agricultural trade did very well in 2018:

Banana imports were up 5% - 5% increase in imports is substantial when factoring the Port imports over 3.3 billion bananas a year – while pineapples and melon imports were up 50%. And Decas noted, the Port’s South American connection “our Sealand service linking ports in South America has been a major contributor,” to the increase.

Vehicle Trade Slowing

The Port’s car business remains strong but subject to a national slowdown in auto imports: “There has been a national decline in the import of passenger cars, but the Port has done better than other U.S. ports and so there hasn’t been as much of a dip.”

The Port provided this national car and light truck import snap shot based on conditions in 2018:

In January, 2019 Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean (WWO) joined BMW North America (BMW) and GLOVIS America (GLOVIS) and entered into long-term contracts with the Port. Representing over half of the Port’s cargo revenue, the automobiles reach more than 13 states.

“In a time of uncertainty from ongoing global trade talks and a watchdog approach to the tariff discussion, we are encouraged to see our major automobile customers reaffirm their continued investment in our Port and our community,” Oxnard Harbor District President, Mary Anne Rooney noted.

Deepening Channel to 40-Feet

The Port will have a deeper berth and ship channel by 2020 taking it from 35 feet to 40 feet, Decas said. The project is largely funded by a $12.3 million TIGER Grant (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Port projects that deepening the harbor will create over 563 new jobs, $28 million in business revenue, $5.8 million in local purchases, and $4.6 million in state and local taxes.

The Port is partnering with Marine Advanced System & Technology (MAST), the U.S. Navy, Matter Labs and the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County on a leading-edge technology incubator located at a Port warehouse: “They have a 3D printer that can be used to develop components for the Port as well as a number of other projects that we see fostering new economic development and jobs in Ventura County,” Decas said.

The annual MAST Expo on April 10th is a collaborative event that brings together leading tech innovators, entrepreneurs and customers to exhibit their cutting-edge technologies and to network in a port and maritime environment. STEM students are exposed to leading companies and demonstrations to spark the next generation of leaders. Decas praised the contribution of Erick Matter, founder of MatterLabs, who helped spearhead the collaboration.

The Port’s website notes that Matter is “A Silicon Valley native, he founded Higher Standard Solutions – a Strategic Technology company and led the company to steady profitability starting from the first year and continues to provide solutions to some of the biggest companies in the world. He has since founded, managed and driven countless startups to success.

Decas said “sea level rise is a hot topic” and the Port is very focused on protecting Port facilities from sea level rise.