Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8c
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
October 27, 2026
DATE: October 5, 2026
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Karin Zaugg Black, Manager, International Relations and Protocol
LeeAnne Schirato, Commission Deputy Chief of Staff
Aaron Pritchard, Commission Chief of Staff
SUBJECT: Approval of Commission International Travel – Fourth Quarter 2026
ACTION REQUESTED
Commission approval of international travel requests for known travel in the fourth quarter of
2026.
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: October 27, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Travel
Dates
No. of
Attendees
Reason for
Travel
Destination
Other Information
Oct 28-30
1
Korea
Maritime
Week
Busan,
South Korea
Commissioner Cho will present at
Korea Maritime Week on the topic of
port cooperation initiatives to
advance maritime decarbonization in
our sister port of Busan, South Korea,
and meet key Korean green shipping
corridor partners to further the
objectives of our multi-port
memorandum. Korea Maritime Week
is a major maritime convention that
brings together experts, government
officials, industry representatives,
and the general public to discuss
maritime affairs, innovations, and
policies. The event features forums,
workshops, seminars, and exhibitions
covering a wide range of maritime
topics, including shipping, marine
technology, and ocean sustainability.
Nov 2-6
1
International
Association of
Ports and
Harbours
(IAPH)’s
World Port
Conference
London,
United
Kingdom
Commissioner Calkins will represent
the Port at IAPH’s annual World Ports
Conference. This international
gathering of key ports around the
world allows Port of Seattle to learn
from and share best practices with
key sister port partners, such as
Rotterdam, Netherlands; Singapore;
Busan, South Korea; and Kobe, Japan.
Seminar topics cover a wide range,
such as climate resilience, multi-fuel
bunkering, cyber resilience, trade
tariffs, energy hubs, and re-imagining
urban waterfronts.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 3 of 4
Meeting Date: October 27, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Nov 8-11
1
Association of
Washington
Business
(AWB) Trade
Mission to
South Korea
and Japan
Seoul,
South Korea
Commissioner Cho will represent the
Port of Seattle on the AWB’s trade
mission for the South Korea portion
of their mission. AWB, in partnership
with Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and the
Washington State Departments of
Commerce and Agriculture, will foster
relationships with our key trading
partners of South Korea and Japan,
focusing on industry sectors that
positively impact Washington’s
economy, with a strong focus on
trade policy, aerospace,
manufacturing, agriculture, and
energy.
Nov 8-15
1
Cascadia
Sustainable
Aviation
Accelerator
(SAF)
Tokyo,
Nagoya,
Osaka,
Japan
Commissioner Felleman will join the
Cascadia SAF study mission to Japan
with other elected officials and
leaders from WA state to study the
Japanese ecosystem of Sustainable
Aviation Fuels (SAF) in order to bring
back best practices and ideas for
fostering the SAF ecosystem and
supporting our global aerospace
sector in the Pacific Northwest and
Washington State.
Nov 9-11
1
United
Nations
Framework
Convention
on Climate
Change
(UNFCCC)—
31
st
Conference of
Parties (COP
31)
Antalya,
Turkey
Commissioner Calkins will represent
the Port of Seattle at the COP 31
meetings. COP 31 will bring together
world leaders, scientists, and other
stakeholders to negotiate and
accelerate action on climate change.
Topics include: Decarbonization of
maritime, aviation, and heavy
industries; financing mitigation and
adaptation; sustainability; and ocean
health.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 4 of 4
Meeting Date: October 27, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUES
None.
