NEW MEMBER PROFILE transit is a major part of the Alaska transportation network,” said Fisher. “Governments around the world are challenged to determine the level of subsidy required for ferry systems and the question becomes, what level of government support is required to offset user fees. I know of only one system in the U.S. that actually covers costs from operations.” When asked about trends over the last year and the priorities of ports and harbors, Fisher noted that most were focused on the long-term outlook. “What we’ve seen lately is a lot of positioning for the
:
future,” he said. “A lot of ports are pursuing grant opportunities around activities where they think there will be growth, and rate studies, again, trying to be positioned well for the future.” While headquartered in Alaska, the focus of much of their work, Northern Economics has a presence in Seattle, Washington, as well which provides backing for additional projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. Not stopping there, the company has also taken on contracts all over the U.S. — for example, their recent work with NOAA Fisheries which required their specialized
talents in considering the socioeconomic changes associated with fisheries management in areas that included Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories in the western Pacific and Caribbean. “Our mission statement is to help society make better decisions,” said Fisher, “and that, along with our values — integrity, collaboration, playing a positive role in our clients’ abilities to make decisions, excellence, balance, objectivity, and joy — guide us in our approach to all our projects. “ For more information, visit https://northerneconomics.com/
NEW MEMBER PROFILE
Innovative Manufacturing Inc.
T
he APP is pleased to announce that Innovative Manufacturing Inc. is the latest company to join as an Associate Member. Specializing in a wide range of anti-corrosion, insulation, sealing and repair products, Innovative’s Marine Division Manager, Adam Eweida, saw a fit with the APP given their worldwide distribution. “The global cost of corrosion has been estimated to be as much as $2.5 trillion and the marine industry accounts for roughly 20 per cent of that figure,” he said, quoting a study
from the NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers) International and adding that the same study found a saving of 15 to 35 per cent of the cost of damage with the implementation of corrosion preventative measures. “The marine industry is especially vulnerable to corrosion as harsh ocean conditions result in compromised metal surfaces. Innovative Manufacturing provides solutions to protect against these deteriorating effects, especially for infrastructure like marine pilings.”
Background
Established in 1948, Innovative Manufacturing is a family-owned business headquartered in Delta, British Columbia. Growth in both the development of new products and their distribution chains can be credited to a strong research and development department where the team continuously explores ways to improve existing products and develop new ones in conjunction with partners and customers. Over the years, the company has branched out to offer products for the marine, industrial and construction industries in over 36 countries around the world. “We have non-exclusive distributor agreements in both the U.S. and Canada which allows us to sell direct as well as hold stock throughout North America, including hubs around Seattle, New Orleans, New Jersey, Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Montreal,” said Eweida. “Our ability to meet deadlines is a credit to the logistics team we have in place.” Another key focus for Innovative has been their commitment to working with class societies to provide January 2021 — PACIFIC PORTS — 49
