Port Commission President and Ballardite Gael Tarleton received the Maritime Industry Public Official of the Year Award at the annual Seattle Maritime Festival Luncheon this week.

“Gael digs into the issue, demands facts, becomes fully informed and then takes a position. And, importantly she then follows up with advocacy, leadership and action,” said Mike Moore, President of the Seattle chapter of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association when announcing the award. “This kind of leadership is essential to the maritime sector.”

Other award categories included the Marine Environmental Business of the Year, and the Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award.

Port of Seattle’s Marine Maintenance won the the environmental initiatives award for finding alternative methods for cleaning docks without disturbing water or marine life on port property, in efforts at cleaning and capturing water and sediment.

Captain Chris Woodley of the U.S. Coast Guard won the Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award for his years of service at Sector Puget Sound, where he was instrumental in creating new standards of vessel safety for fishing boats working the Alaska market.

For more information on the Maritime Festival, click here: http://www.seattlepropellerclub.org/maritimefestival.html