COVID-19 Update from Port of Everett CEO Lisa Lefeber (March 24, 2020)
As you are likely aware by now, last night Governor Inslee executed a statewide Stay Home, Stay Healthy order to further support the strides being made in the nationwide effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, and particularly, to flatten the curve of cases here in Washington state.
The two-week order directs everyone to say home unless pursuing essential activities or going to work in an essential services sector including, among others, key maritime transportation and logistics services provided by ports. City of Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin also issued a consistent directive specific to Everett residents and businesses last Friday evening.
In line with the Governor and Everett Mayor’s directives, the Port of Everett continues to operate under its current Emergency Operations status through April 8 to continue serving critical maritime functions at the international Seaport and public Marina; appropriate employee and community safeguards will remain in place.
Under the Port’s current Emergency Operations, the Port Administration and Marina Offices remain closed to the public with staff set up to serve you safety from home by phone and e-mail. We continue to maintain only essential staffing on-site in our Seaport, Marina and Security divisions with increased sanitation and proper social distancing measures in place. Permitted public and private infrastructure projects may continue to move forward with safety measures in place.
Effective immediately, we are taking additional measures through April 8 including:
- Reduction of fuel dock operations from five to three days a week (Thursday – Saturday; 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) and only accepting card payments
- Closing all public restrooms while maintaining fob access for liveaboards/boaters at the three main restroom facilities (one in each basin; South, Central and North)
- Closing Edgewater Beach Park in South Everett consistent with the Mayor of Mukilteo’s order to close Lighthouse Park
Closing half the launch lanes at the boat launch, and restricting access to support life safety functions, essential commercial uses, tribal access and transportation access to neighboring Hat Island; if the Port notices a large public presence at the launch in violation of the Governor’s directive to stay home, the Port reserves the right to close the boat launch entirely
In addition to the Governor’s directive, The Boeing Company has suspended operations in the Puget Sound for 14 days. The Port of Everett, a critical supply chain partner for the aerospace giant, will continue to perform its role of receiving and transporting all oversized parts for the 747, 767 (military and commercial), and 777(X) wide-body jets so they are ready for the company when production resumes.
We understand staying home is not ideal, especially when spring is finally knocking at our doors, but now more than ever it’s important to take these orders and the health and safety of our community seriously. We need to tackle this together to slow down this virus and save lives. To further support response efforts taking place in Snohomish County, I have authorized Port staff to use up to two volunteer days with full pay to support COVID-19 specific response in our community.
As I’ve said before, these are uncharted waters for all of us. At the Port, our top priorities in our response continue to be community safety and commerce. It is times like these that ports are needed more than ever to ensure the more than 99% of our nations goods that come by sea can get into communities across our nation, including goods we may typically take for granted, like toilet paper and basic medical supplies. I want to take a moment to thank all those who are critical in the transportation logistics chain, including port workers, longshoremen, tug boat operators, rail operators, truck drivers, and more! These are the people that are working every day to ensure the stores are full (as much as possible) and stocked.
I encourage you stay up to date with the latest Port updates. Our team has set up a COVID-19 page on the Port’s website at www.portofeverett.com/covid-19 to house operational updates, FAQs, waterfront business information and more.
For additional information, contact Catherine Soper, Public Affairs Manager, at 425-388-0680 or by e-mail at catherines@portofeverett.com.