PORT OF LOS ANGELES FLOATS ENTRY IN THE 2008 ROSE PARADE
Flotilla Marks Port’s First-Ever Appearance in the Parade
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — December 21, 2007 — The Port of Los Angeles makes its first entry into the Rose Parade on January 1, 2008 with a unique combination of six separate vessel floats celebrating the Port’s diverse operations with the theme “the place where the world comes together.” The Port’s float is the official City of Los Angeles entry into the Rose Parade, marking the City’s 110th consecutive entry and earning it the title “longest-running float entrant in the parade.”
The Port’s float was created by veteran Rose Float designers Phoenix Decorating Company and was decorated by Port and City of Los Angeles employees, and other volunteer groups, over the past month.
The vessels creating the Port’s entry include:
The S.S. Los Angeles container ship, complete with electrical plug to highlight the Port’s commitment to clean operations and as the only place in the world where container ships “plug in” to electrical power while at dock. The container ship float will be carrying Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Harbor Commission President S. David Freeman and Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz.
The Love Boat cruise ship, celebrating the Port of Los Angeles Cruise Center as the home to the 1977-1986 television series and the west coast’s largest cruise port today, with more than 1 million passengers passing through each year. This ship also sports an electrical plug as the Port of Los Angeles also prepares to “plug in” cruise ships in 2008.
Catch of the Day fishing boat, is a salute to the major commercial fishing and cannery operations that employed tens of thousands of people at the Port during the first half of the 20th century. The local fishing fleet still operates today and brings in millions of pounds of squid, shrimp, shark, swordfish, lobster, rock cod, halibut, sardines and slime eel on an annual basis. This float carries two Port of Los Angeles employees who were selected through a drawing: Stacy Allen, a 28-year employee who works in the Engineering Division, and Vanessa Guillen, a 3-year employee who works in the Marketing Division.
L.A. Port Police SAFE™ (Secure Around Flotation Equipped) boat, represents the Port’s own dedicated police force of more than 120 officers. The Port Police SAFE™ boat is used to escort cargo and passenger vessels in and out of the Port, patrol 3,300 acres of water and transport the Dive Team during everyday Port Police operations.
"Wilmington Tug” tug boat, is named after the original tug boat operator that served the Port of Los Angeles 100 years ago and pays homage to the vital work these small harbor craft perform every day.
The Rose Parade kicks off at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, January 1, 2008.
Celebrating its Centennial in 2007, the Port of Los Angeles is America's premier port. As the leading seaport in the nation in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port generates 919,000 regional jobs and $39.1 billion in annual wages and tax revenues. A proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles, the Port is self-supporting and does not receive taxpayer dollars. At the Port of Los Angeles, high priority is placed on responsible and sustainable growth initiatives, combined with high security, environmental stewardship and community outreach. For its industry leading environmental initiatives, the Port received two Environmental Protection Agency awards in 2006. The Port of Los Angeles - A cleaner port. A brighter future.