Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8j
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
August 9, 2022
DATE: August 2, 2022
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Karin Zaugg Black, International Business Protocol Liaison
LeeAnne Schirato, Commission Deputy Chief of Staff
Aaron Pritchard, Commission Chief of Staff
SUBJECT: Approval of Commission International Travel – Third and Fourth Quarter 2022
ACTION REQUESTED
Commission approval of international travel requests for known travel in the third and fourth
quarters of 2022.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Article III(5)(h) of the Commission’s Bylaws and Rules of Procedure requires approval of
Commissioner international travel requests by Commission authorization. The authorization shall
include: the number of commissioners traveling (if applicable), the port-related reason for travel,
and the dates and destination of travel. International travel requests shall be submitted to the
Commission Office 21 days in advance of each calendar quarter. Travel change requests for
previously approved international travel shall again be put before the full Commission for review
and action. Commissioners not receiving advanced travel authorization for international travel
shall report to the Commission regarding the purpose of their travel, dates of travel, location of
travel, benefit received by the Port through the travel, and shall seek majority approval of the
post-travel authorization in order to submit claims for travel expense reimbursement. Travel
requests of Commissioners should be equitable to all members and consistent with the interests
of the Port. Domestic travel requests are approved by the Commission President consistent with
the requirements of Article III(5)(h).
The following are known travel requests for approval as of this authorization date:
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8j Page 2 of 3
Meeting Date: August 9, 2022
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Travel
Dates
No. of
Attendees
Reason for
Travel
Destination
Sept
12-23
Sept
17-20
Nov 7-
18
Nov
12-19
1
1
1
1
Governor Jay
Inslee and WA
State Department
of Commerce
Nordic Cluster and
Trade Mission
Offshore Wind
Study Trip
COP 27 Meetings
Seattle Metro
Chamber/Greater
Seattle Partners’
International
Leadership
Finland,
Norway
Copenhagen
and Esbjerg,
Denmark
Sharm el-
Sheikh, Egypt
Tokyo and
Kobe, Japan
President Ryan Calkins received an
invitation to participate in the
Governor’s and Washington State
Department of Commerce’s trade
delegation to the Nordic countries of
Finland and Norway.
The reason for the visit is to strengthen
trade relations with these countries,
with a focus to deepen and broaden
partnerships with both countries as part
of MOUs related to smart ports and
clean technology, which includes
maritime and sustainability
components.
In conjunction with the Governor’s
Nordic Cluster and Trade Mission,
Commission President Calkins will travel
to Denmark during a gap in the itinerary
to visit the Zero Emissions Shipping
Center in Copenhagen and the Port of
Esbjerg that manages wind energy
project cargo as further study for
offshore wind opportunities.
The Port is seeking a formal invitation
for a Commissioner and Port staff to
attend, and potentially speak at, the
COP 27 meetings in Egypt in order to
further advance our Port’s leadership
role related our sustainability efforts –
particularly our green corridor work.
The International Leadership Program
study mission agenda will include high
speed rail, including technologies and
systems, railway line operations and
management; earthquake preparedness
and resiliency for transportation
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8j Page 3 of 3
Meeting Date: August 9, 2022
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Nov
16-19
1-3
Mission: Tokyo
and Kobe, Japan
Seattle-Kobe
Sister City 65
th
and
Sister Port 55
th
Anniversary
Delegation
Kobe, Japan
oriented development and housing;
workforce development for
transportation industry;
hydrogen/alternative fuels.
The Sister City and Sister Port
Anniversary Delegation will overlap with
the International Leadership Delegation
in Kobe, and the program agenda will
contain similar program elements on
high speed rail, with a more in-depth
look at the Port of Kobe’s work on
hydrogen and alternative fuels, as well
as emergency preparedness and
resiliency. This portion will also include
commemorative events celebrating our
sister city and sister port anniversaries,
highlighting some small business
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
None.