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Federal Maritime Administration Official Visits Port, Offers Support

MARAD Administrator Sean T. Connaughton with the Port’s Senior Director of Maritime, Ron Popham.Sean T. Connaughton, Administrator of the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD), visited the Port of San Diego on September 11. Mr. Connaugton took a tour of the Port's maritime facilities and visited two of our largest tenants, General Dynamics/NASSCO and Pasha Automotive Services.

In early September, Board Chairman Michael Bixler received a letter from Mr. Connaughton, who expressed his concerns with the Freight Preservation and Bayfront Redevelopment Initiative that will be placed on the November 4 ballot. The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration believes that the initiative would affect the Port's role as both a Department of Defense Strategic Port and commercial port.

MARAD selected the Port of San Diego as one of 19 strategic ports in the United States. The Port received this designation by cooperating with the military on several load-out operations at both the National City and Tenth Avenue Marine Terminals. The load-outs have been on a regular basis since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003.

MARAD serves as an advocate for the United States maritime industry to promote America's growth and international competitiveness in a safe and healthy environment. Its mission is to strengthen the United States maritime transportation system, including infrastructure, industry and labor to meet the economic and security needs of the nation.

Sean T. Connaughton was nominated by President George W. Bush in June 2006 to be the Maritime Administrator and he was confirmed by the Senate on August 3, 2006.