Port of Redwood City ends year with grants, award

This grant helps the port focus on its sustainability goals, Executive Director Kristine Zortman said. 

“Our port is so small so we don’t have a lot of dollars laying around to launch into planning efforts, so we’re really excited to see how we can improve on becoming a better steward of our resources,” Zortman said. 

The money will look to alternative fueling initiatives, with a particular focus on hydrogen-based fueling and infrastructure upgrades, Zortman said. This effort is a part of advancing port operations through 2050 by improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions. 

Hydrogen-based fueling has become increasingly embraced across the world, Zortman said, and many are finding it to be safe with a positive public perception.

Though the Redwood City port is not as adjacent to residential communities as others are, Zortman said caring for the air quality associated with its operations is important for South Bay residents. 

“We want to make sure we’re doing good as it relates to air quality and reducing particulate matter in emissions significantly so that nobody downwind from us is being impacted,” Zortman said. 

An innovation in community outreach award was also granted by the American Association of Port Authorities for the port’s Lunch & Learn Program Series — an initiative dedicated to educating local elected and business leaders about the regional importance of maritime operations, Zortman said.

The program began in the fall of 2022 as a way to connect the community with the activities of the port. The behind-the-scenes tour invites passengers onto a large vessel operated by the Marine Science Institute for a trip down the channel.

“It’s very well received, people were really, truly feeling they were getting something from the program, that they were educated about something they didn’t know,” Zortman said. “This fits in with our goal of educating about the power of ports.” 

Zortman said the award from the AAPA also allows other ports a part of the association to share impactful initiatives and take notes from one another. 

Dredging of the channel will be completed by mid-December, Zortman said, which will help stabilize how much importing and exporting the port can expect — though an increase in ship calls suggest this hasn’t been much of a concern.  

After expecting a lean fourth quarter in terms of imports and exports, Zortman said the port has actually seen an increase in tonnage and is expecting five ships just this month and is “seeing good across the board.” 

“We have a lot of good things going on,” Zortman said. “The recognition and the grants continue to elevate the significant role the port plays for our region as a whole.”