By Johnny McDonald

The Port District’s industrial and maritime sector is vastly misunderstood and often overlooked as an important engine to our economy, according to commission chairman Bob Nelson.

“Over 90 percent [nationwide] of consumer goods move by sea, a kinda invisible process, unless you’re near the water,” he said. “Your grocery stores are all lined with these goods but it doesn’t occur to people how it all came to our shores. A little out of sight, out of mind.”

To better acquaint the public with the importance of these imports, a revealing four-minute video has been prepared by the port’s communications staff.

“It [shipping sector] leads to the investment in our maritime capabilities that might be invisible to the public,” he said. “It extends beyond the public and the policy makers in Washington. Until recently, there has been very little attention given to the infrastructure needs of our ports and waterways.”

Nelson, a longtime civic leader and public relations executive, then broadened his discussion of other key port activities.

“Only real competition we have with Los Angeles [Port] is in the cruise ship area,” he continued. “We are appreciative that Disney has decided to move its home port to San Diego which has a more Disney-like experience rather than an industrial port like Los Angeles.”

As for shipping imports, Nelson said Los Angeles is principally a mega port for large container vessels.

“We do compete with Long Beach on big project cargo,” he said. “We also compete with Port Hueneme in regard to automobile shipments.”

Nelson was pleased about the recent healthy uptick in the cruise industry.

“On the West Coast, the cruises were hit by a trifecta: recession, Mexican cartel crime and new cruise locations in Australia, Asia and the Baltics,” he explained. “Almost all of the cruise companies backed off during the recession period.

“Each time we receive a deed from a cruise ship, it creates a million dollar overall economical activity,” he continued. “With a homeport ship like the Disney Wonder, we’re talking about $2 million. That translates into lots of jobs.”

He said this year, the Port District revenues will reach $145 million, 60 percent of which comes from hospitality real estate activities.

“We have 16 hotels and over 70 restaurants on our tideland,” he said. “Simultaneously, we can seat 13,000 for lunch.”

He also pointed out that the Department of Defense operates 17 of the bay’s 51 shoreline miles.

“We work at an operational level with the Navy, supplementing security and helping them in environmental planning,” he said. “They sit in on our environmental advisory committee.”

Nelson said the port is looking into new land use projects, dealing with transportation, infrastructure, and for public general use.

“Overall planning will take another two years in the study of environmental impacts,” he added. “We’ll be asking the coastal commission for an amendment to its master plan. We told our planning team not to think small.”

Elsewhere around the Port: The extended marina in Chula Vista has added over 7,500 boat slips in the harbor and there is talk about building more … Nelson said he traveled to Washington, D.C. and Mexico City to conventions there to resolve any misunderstanding about sportfishing regulations on Baja waters … As a regional economic powerhouse, the port oversees nearly 800 business agreements. In a 2013 report by Economic & Planning Systems, the total economic impact of all business activity within the port’s jurisdiction equals to 57,000 jobs and nearly $7.5 billion in output … The $130 million Lane Field North hotel project under construction at North Harbor Drive at Broadway is a prominent site known as the first home of the San Diego Padres. It will feature 17 floors, 400 hotel rooms, a fitness center and a swimming pool in addition to 27,000-square-feet of retail and restaurant space … A $10 million, 27,000-square-foot restaurant on Harbor Island is expected to be completed this month … A report released in November described the progress in reducing air emissions from the port’s greenhouse gas emissions — from non-military ocean-going vessels, harbor craft, locomotives, on-road vehicles and cargo handling equipment — were reduced by 42 percent in 2012 compared to the baseline year of 2006. Other harmful air pollutants were also significantly reduced, including nitrogen oxides by 50 percent, diesel particulate matter by 75 percent, and sulfur dioxide by 94 percent.

— After an award winning, 38-year sports-writing career with the San Diego Union and authoring three books, Johnny McDonald now considers writing a hobby. You can reach him at [email protected].