“As the Port of Hueneme’s representative in Congress, I am always so enthused by the new business and new jobs that the Port brings to the region,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley, representing California’s 26th District. “Moving goods efficiently through the supply chain is critical for businesses of all shapes and sizes and infrastructure at our ports is a key part of that equation.”
With pressures on the supply chain, this type of service is not only important to goods movement and U.S. consumers, but to reducing emissions by alleviating shoreside and waterborne bottlenecking at the larger congested ports while generating benefits for the local community.Commissioner Rooney expressed the Board’s strong support of this service coupled by its unwavering commitment to the environment and community, “As we build these services, we are motivated by the opportunities that it brings to foster economic prosperity and sustainable growth. These type of cargo operations create good paying jobs. Our successes also provide us with the critical revenue to invest in sustainable operations and zero emission technology, such as the electric UTRs (cargo handling trucks) the Port procured to offload containers.”
Putting to use its longstanding 2004 Joint Use Agreement with the Navy, the cargo will initially be staged on Navy property to avoid disruption to the critical existing services at the Port.
“It is truly an honor to participate at this historic occasion and on behalf of the Navy, I’d like to welcome the Genco Pyrenees FedEx Logistic Cargo vessel onboard Naval Base Port Hueneme,” said Capt. Robert “Barr” Kimnach, Commander of Naval Base Ventura County. “Strong community ties are critical to ensure our continued mission success. The Navy has endured a valued partnership with this community for over 80 years, operating the harbor after the outbreak of World War II.”
This operation is first of multiple chartered vessels scheduled to come to Hueneme with the plan to schedule more over the next year based on success with the initial services. With FedEx owned chassis lined up and truckers ready, the cargo will make a quick departure from the base to distribution facilities lined up off-port.
Dona Lacayo, CCO & CPAO of the Port of Hueneme said, “We worked together to have the entire logistics network in cue to move the cargo through each of the supply chain partners-from origin, ocean and trucking to destination facility. We thank FedEx Logistics and all of the project partners for a great collaboration and for making the first FedEx ocean charter a great success.” |