Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8c
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
September 26, 2023
DATE: September 13, 2023
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 – Second Quarter, Third and Fourth
Quarter 2023 Requests.
ACTION REQUESTED
Commission approval of international travel requests for known travel in the second, third, and
fourth quarters of 2023.
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. 8c Page 2 of 4
Meeting Date: September 26, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Travel
Dates
No. of
Attendee
s
Reason for
Travel
Destination
Other Information
June
18-22
1
Daejeon, South
Korea Sister City
Trade Mission
Daejeon,
Incheon,
South Korea
Commissioner Cho traveled to
Daejeon and Incheon, South Korea
as part of City of Seattle Mayor
Harrell’s sister city delegation,
building economic and trade
connections.
Sept.
18–19
1
Underwater
Noise Workshop
– International
Marine
Organization
London,
England
Commissioner Felleman traveled to
the International Marine
Organizations (IMO)’ Underwater
Noise Workshop to represent the
Port of Seattle’s leadership in our
maritime sustainability programs.
Oct 5-6
1
Daejeon
Institute of
Science and
Technology for
Enterprise &
People –
Economic &
Science City
Mayors Forum
Daejeon,
South Korea
Commissioner Cho, as a follow up to
his earlier trip to Daejeon, was
invited to speak at this economic
conference, to talk further about
building economic and trade
connections, and how the Port
supports small businesses through
our Port.
Oct. 18-
20
1
Green Port
Congress &
Cruise
Lisbon,
Portugal
Commissioner Felleman will attend
the Green Port Congress & Cruise
conference to represent the Port of
Seattle’s leadership in our maritime
sustainability programs, and bring
back best practices from other
leading ports.
Oct 31-
Nov. 2
2
International
Association of
Ports and
Harbors (IAPH)
Abu Dhabi,
United Arab
Emirates
Commissioner Cho and
Commissioner Mohamed, will travel
to Abu Dhabi to represent the Port
at the IAPH yearly conference.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 3 of 4
Meeting Date: September 26, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
World Port
Conference
Port of Seattle is a member of the
International Association of Ports
and Harbors (IAPH), a non-
governmental organization (NGO)
founded in 1955. IAPH has
developed into a global alliance of
ports, representing today some 160
ports and 120 port-related
businesses in 87 countries. The
member ports together handle well
over 60% of the world’s sea-borne
trade and over 60% of the world
container traffic.
Nov 1-
11
1
Governor
Inslee’s Study &
Trade Mission to
Australia
Australia
Currently exploring if a
Commissioner could join Governor
Inslee’s trade mission to Australia to
visit the cities of Sydney, Hobart, and
Melbourne to build trade ties,
including a focus on maritime
industry and sustainable fuels.
Nov.
27-29
1-2
BIPC Port of
Busan’s
International
Ports
Conference
Busan, South
Korea
Commissioner Cho, and potentially
another Commissioner, will attend
the Port of Busan’s annual maritime
conference, as well as re-sign our
sister port agreement with Busan,
and further our work with the Green
Corridor Feasibility Study between
Busan and the Northwest Seaport
Alliance.
Nov. 30
–Dec 12
1-3
United Nations
Climate Change
(COP 28)
Conference
Dubai, United
Arab Emirates
The Port is seeking a formal
invitation for a Commissioner and
Port staff to attend, and potentially
speak at, the COP 28 meetings in
Dubai in order to further advance
our Port’s leadership role related our
sustainability efforts – particularly
our green corridor work.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 4 of 4
Meeting Date: September 26, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
None.
