Chairman DiBella Meets with Local Supply Chain Experts in Tacoma, Anchorage, and Juneau

From May 18 - May 22, FMC Chairman Laura DiBella traveled to Tacoma, WA; Anchorage, AK; and Juneau, AK for meetings with shipping stakeholders and transportation officials to discuss specific challenges in the Pacific Northwest and Arctic regions.

At the AgTC Annual Meeting in Tacoma, Washington, Chairman DiBella delivered a keynote address and answered questions from the audience on FMC priorities and recent issues surrounding supply chain disruptions and U.S. cargo. The Chairman valued this opportunity to meet with individuals across the industry and hear their viewpoints on various transportation topics. While in Tacoma, Chairman DiBella also met with leadership executives from the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and Port of Los Angles to discuss international trade, port operations, and supply chain issues.

Chairman DiBella toured the Port of Tacoma, learning about the new maritime skill center, which, in partnership with local school districts, trains students in maritime and industrial trades. This center provides a new approach to address the skilled labor shortages in the maritime sector while equipping students with valuable, in-demand skills before they graduate. Chairman DiBella also visited the Port of Everett and the Boeing factory, discussing the port's role in importing and exporting goods for both private and military industrial production in the Pacific Northwest region.

After visiting Tacoma, Chairman DiBella traveled to Anchorage, Alaska, where she met with Senator Murkowski's and Senator Sullivan's staff, as well as representatives from TOTE and Matson to hear about the unique transportation challenges in Alaska. Chairman DiBella toured the Don Young Port of Alaska to discuss port activities and operational challenges. This visit gave the Chairman a deeper understanding of the unique transportation and infrastructure issues Alaskans face, including limited inland road and rail access and earthquake-vulnerable docks.

Finally, Chairman DiBella visited Juneau, Alaska, where she attended a U.S. Navy League of Juneau roundtable discussion with stakeholders across the maritime and cruise industries, as well as local government representatives from Juneau. The discussion centered on impacts from various policies on Southeastern Alaska, which depend on maritime transportation to support freight, fisheries, tourism, and everyday commerce. Chairman DiBella also met with US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Little to hear about current operations in the Arctic region, an expanding area for both military and commercial maritime activity.

The Chairman ended her trip by celebrating National Maritime Day at the Aurora Harbor Phase IV ribbon cutting ceremony, marking the completion of an infrastructure improvement project in Juneau. Chairman DiBella's remarks focused on the history of National Maritime Day and how this historic industry continues to sustain American economic growth.

Laura DiBella is a Commissioner with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. The thoughts and comments expressed herein are her own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Commission.