Maritime Month 2017 Celebrates Industry’s Economic Impact, Offers Fun Family Events

PRESS RELEASE:

In recognition of the hardworking men and women who make San Diego’s maritime industry a success, the Port of San Diego is celebrating “Maritime Month” the entire month of May 2017 with family activities, public education and employee appreciation events.

To celebrate the importance of the San Diego maritime industry, a variety of activities have been planned throughout the month of May to give the public an upfront and personal opportunity to experience San Diego’s working waterfront. These activities showcase the Port of San Diego’s maritime industry in action and recognize the hardworking men and women who make the industry such a success.

FREE Boat Tours: Leaving from the Admiral Hornblower (710 North Harbor Drive, San Diego) All tours are on the Admiral Hornblower. We'll be boarding at Hornblower Cruises in-between the Broadway Pier and the Navy Pier. Look for the signs. All tours are handicap accessible. However, not all and decks are accessible.
Saturday, May 13 – Free tickets: 10:45 a.m. or 1:15 p.m.
Saturday, May 20 – Free tickets: 10:45 a.m. or 1:15 p.m.
FREE Bus Tours: Departing from Pepper Park (3299 Tidelands Avenue, National City)
Thursday, May 11 – Free tickets: 10 a.m.
Thursday, May 25 – Free tickets: 10 a.m.
The Propeller Club Luncheon: The Tiki Room at Bali Hai (2230 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego)
Thursday, May 18 – Buy tickets: 11:30 a.m.
Spirit of the Barrio Luncheon: Logan Heights Family Health Center (1809 National Avenue, San Diego)
Friday, May 19 – Buy tickets: 11:30 a.m.

“The Port of San Diego is our region’s gateway to the world,” said Port of San Diego Chairman Robert “Dukie” Valderrama. “Our maritime operations help generate billions of dollars in regional economic impact and attract goods and people from around the world. The men and women working in the maritime industry help create prosperity and a remarkable way of life for all San Diegans. We are proud to celebrate these hard working members of our community.”

Maritime operations at the Port of San Diego include hundreds of annual visits by cruise and cargo ships, a world-class shipbuilding and repair industry, a robust array of commercial fishing operations and a large, diverse range of affiliated or linked enterprises. Together these businesses play a significant role in making San Diego the thriving region it is today.

The maritime industry generates $2.7 billion in annual economic impact on the waterfront and an additional $1 billion in economic impact throughout the region. Additionally, the maritime industry produced nearly 13,000 family-wage waterfront jobs and an additional 11,000 indirect jobs throughout San Diego County, according to a report on 2015 economic impact.

The Port of San Diego is ideally located along major shipping routes and is home to a deep water harbor perfect for ships from around the world, connecting San Diego to the global economy. Whether it’s 230,000 passengers that arrive and depart the Port of San Diego for the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii and other destinations via the Panama Canal, the 2 billion bananas or the 450,000 automobiles imported through San Diego last year, the Port facilitates the movement of goods and people around the world. The global link created by the Port of San Diego is critically important to the economic growth and prosperity of the San Diego region. In fact, 25 percent of California’s economy can be attributed to international trade.