Coast Guard Monitoring for Peril, Poachers
By Kristopher Hanson
Coast Guard crews have been busy responding to a series of mishaps around the Channel Islands in recent weeks, including encounters with sinking boats, stranded fishermen and injured divers, and they also caught a group of poachers.
The most recent incident occurred early Saturday, when a 50-year- old woman was airlifted from San Miguel Island after experiencing “the bends” during a dive nearby.
Potentially fatal, the bends describe a condition brought on when a diver improperly decompresses while surfacing.
Similar incidents involving two men have occurred off the Long Beach and Huntington Beach coasts since late July.
Then there’s the poachers. Coast Guard crews observed, photographed and later busted a group of commercial fishermen angling in a federally protected area near Santa Rosa Island.
The crew was reportedly using nets to capture large quantities of sardines and squid in the biologically rich Carrington Point Marine Reserve off the island’s northwest peninsula.
When Coast Guard and California Fish and Game investigators boarded the 58-foot fishing boat, they found 907 pounds of sardines and 89,831 pounds of market squid.
The catch was later sold by Fish and Game at market value so as not to go to waste, and the agency kept the money, pending the outcome of criminal proceedings against the unidentified anglers.
Other recent incidents include the near-sinking Aug. 3 of a 90- foot dive boat near San Nicolas Island (35 people rescued) and the grounding of a sailboat on Santa Cruz Island (two sailors rescued).
Rescuers said the dive boat began taking on water after losing its rudder, but crew members were able to stop the leak before the boat went under.
The sailors, meanwhile, were found stranded about 3 a.m. in a few feet of water on the deserted south side of Santa Cruz Island. They were later taken to Oxnard and reportedly are doing fine.
Port a big benefactor
New figures show the Port of Long Beach continues to be one of the city’s biggest benefactors, doling out roughly $700,000 so far this fiscal year to community organizations, local businesses and nonprofit groups.
The sum includes $190,000 during the past three months to groups like Sea Festival ($50,000), the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce ($39,204), Aquarium of the Pacific ($10,000) and Long Beach Public Library ($2,500).
To receive such money, the port stipulates the organization or event request the funds in writing and have a strong “nexus with port operations.”
Groups that didn’t meet that criteria, according to port officials, include the Historical Society of Long Beach, Police Athletic League, CSULB Hispanic Students Business Association and the Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Truck grants available
Despite the slumping economy, a federal lawsuit and growing bureaucratic red tape, Long Beach Harbor Department officials are forging ahead with an aggressive diesel truck ban affecting some 17,000 drivers in the harbor area.
In the past week, the port began accepting applications from truck drivers for grants and loans offering up to 80 percent of the cost for newer, cleaner vehicles to replace their smoke-belching junkers.
Grants of up to $20,000 are also available to pay for the emission retrofit of a used model.
In January, port authorities adopted a progressive ban on older diesel rigs requiring all trucks entering port property meet 2007 emission standards no later than Jan. 1, 2012.
The ban begins Oct. 1, when all pre-1989 rigs are barred.
Despite a lawsuit from the American Trucking Association to block portions of the plan, the port’s goal is to cut diesel emissions from trucks by 80 percent within five years.
To learn more about the loans and grants, visit www.polb.com, call 888-556-8789 or visit the “Clean Trucks Center” on Terminal Island at Pier S Avenue and New Dock Street.
Takasaki to retire
The port’s man in Japan, a well-connected trade veteran named Jiro Takasaki, is retiring after more than 16 years representing Long Beach to businesses, government and environmental officials throughout Japan.
Takasaki, a soft-spoken but forceful liaison who started in the business nearly 50 years representing Japanese shippers, will officially retire at the end of September.
His recent triumphs include helping port authorities negotiate a landmark “green” shipping lease between Long Beach and Japanese shipping giant Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line).
The agreement requires the 89-year-old conglomerate to plug its ships into dockside electrical outlets in port, use low-emission loading equipment and burn cleaner fuels in its ships.
In 2007, Takasaki coordinated a visit by Mayor Bob Foster and port staff to Japanese shipping bosses and workers. The meeting helped draw additional business to Long Beach’s marine terminals and accelerated the adoption of environmental initiatives, said Trade Relations Director Don Snyder.
Before retiring, Takasaki will help his potential successor, Norihiko Iwato, transition to the new position.
The port budgets about $100,000 annually for outside trade representation in Japan – the bulk of which went to Takasaki in recent years.
kristopher.hanson@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1466
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