Metro Ports

#MeetMetroPorts: Spotlight on Braulio Juarez ? At Long Beach Pier G, Braulio ensures operations run smoothly as our Purchasing Manager. From overcoming unexpected challenges to embracing a mindset of daily learning, his dedication exemplifies Metro’s dedication to quality and service. ? Let’s hear more from Braulio - ? Q: Tell us a little about your background and what led you to your role at Metro. A: I first became familiar with Metro while working for Carnival Cruise Line, where I spent 11 years as their Pier/Staff Supervisor. During that time, I developed a strong understanding of port operations, which eventually led me to my current role at Metro. ? Q: Can you describe your terminal at the Port of Long Beach? What makes it noteworthy? A: Pier G offers a distinct deep-water advantage. With a 50-foot deep berth, it stands out as a premier bulk terminal capable of accommodating 80,000-metric-ton vessels. Its high-efficiency operations enable discharge rates exceeding 5,000 metric tons per hour, ensuring maximum throughput for high-volume bulk cargo. ? Q: What would you say is the most important aspect of your job? A: As the Purchasing Manager, I believe the most critical part of my job is meeting the operational and maintenance needs by ensuring the availability of goods and services. This requires foresight, coordination, and strong relationships with vendors and suppliers. ? Q: What is a creative solution you've come up with to solve an operational problem? A: One situation stands out: a critical motor broke down on a Friday night, and we didn’t have a spare to replace it. Leveraging strong relationships with our vendors and customers proved invaluable. I contacted a trusted vendor to check for local stock, but none was available. I then reached out to one of our customers who had previously purchased the same type of motor. With their cooperation, we coordinated with our mechanics to retrieve the motor, and we purchased it from them. We later replaced it with a new one to restock their inventory. This quick thinking minimized downtime and production losses for the weekend. ? Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you? A: I took a year of Japanese in high school, and I had the chance to practice it while working at LAX. It was a fun and rewarding experience that taught me the importance of connecting with people across cultural boundaries. ? Q: What advice would you give to new employees at Metro? A: My biggest piece of advice is to learn something new every day. It doesn’t matter how many years of experience you have—there’s always room to grow and discover new ways to improve.

Celebrating Leadership Excellence: Key Promotions at Nautilus International Holding Corporation We are proud to announce the well-earned promotions of three exceptional leaders within the Nautilus family of companies. Their expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to operational excellence continue to drive our success in the maritime industry. Metro Ports #Leadership #MaritimeIndustry #TeamNautilus #MetroPorts

Happy holidays from all of us here at Metro Ports!

Celebrating the holiday season with our incredible Metro Ports and Metro Cruise Services teams in Galveston! For over two decades, this operational hub has been a cornerstone of excellence, thanks to the dedication of the folks in these photos. ? Here’s to the hardworking team that keeps it all moving—happy holidays to all! ? Michael Nelson Anthony Newman Lee Swietlikowski Robert Van Leeuwen Amy Nelson Bobby Oberlechner, BS, MEd, CSP Teri Buller Doug Petersen-Bava, SPHR Christopher Cornwell #Maritime #Cruise #Stevedoring #Galveston #Teamwork

Happy Thanksgiving from Metro Ports! ? We’re sending our heartfelt gratitude to our exceptional team and valued customers. Your trust and dedication are the foundation of our success. ? Wishing you a warm and joyful holiday.

On Veterans Day, November 11th, we honor those who have bravely served our country. ? At Metro Ports and across the Nautilus group of companies, we are deeply grateful to the veterans within our workforce for their courage, dedication, and sacrifice. We thank each of you who have served in the United States Armed Forces, and we recognize the incredible contributions you have made both to our nation and to our company. ? #VeteransDay #Honor #Maritime

#MeetMetroPorts and Adam Balderson, our Regional Director of Operations. Raised in Wilmington, NC, Adam grew up in his family’s small business, learning early on to connect with people from all walks of life. His maritime journey began through a high school friend, Metro's Jaimie Wightman, at Southeast Crescent Shipping, where he started as an equipment operator and clerk, handling everything from military vehicles to project cargo. Under the guidance of experienced mentors, Adam quickly built his expertise. ? When Metro Ports acquired Southeast Crescent and expanded, Adam embraced new responsibilities, traveling to operations in Galveston, San Diego, Vancouver, Boston, and Charleston. He advanced to managing vessel operations, bulk warehousing, and tank farms, ultimately becoming Terminal Manager. Now, as Regional Director of Operations, Adam brings over two decades of hands-on expertise, contributing to the growth and development of Metro Ports across the Carolinas. ? Let’s hear more from Adam: ? Q: How has the maritime industry evolved over the years? A: Safety has seen a major transformation. It’s become almost “fashionable” to embrace a forward-leaning safety culture. Metro has been ahead of the curve, and it’s been an essential and positive shift for the industry. ? Q: What’s most important part of your role today? A: Ensuring that resources, assets, and knowledge are aligned with operational priorities. Keeping the team informed and creating a clear path for their success is crucial. ? Q: Describe your terminals and the cargo they handle. A: In Morehead City, we handle project cargo like aircraft, wind energy components, and organic grains. Wilmington sees a mix of bagged cement, lumber, fertilizers, steel, and military equipment. We operate the cement and fertilizer terminals as well as the RoRo cargo. Charleston’s main focus right now is bulk material. ? Q: What’s the most innovative solution you’ve come up with at work? A: It’s hard to pick one. We solve a lot of problems, and most great ideas come from collaboration. Sometimes, an equipment operator has the best perspective, other times, it’s the sales team. I believe in listening to everyone and giving credit where it’s due. ? Q: What might people be surprised to know about you? A: I’ve been surfing since I was seven and took up paddleboarding about 10 years ago, which I enjoy with my wife and daughter. In the colder months, I like fishing from the beach and doing cold plunges. Recently, I picked up pickleball—my wife got me into it, and I was hooked right away. ? Q: Any advice for new employees at Metro? A: Be curious and ask questions. Your growth depends on your willingness to take on responsibility. Go beyond your job description, show your value consistently. Your success will be noticed, and it is contagious! ?

#MeetMetroPorts Mike Johnson founded and ran a successful truck accessory business for several years before selling it and transitioning to the maritime industry in 2010. Now the Operations Manager at Metro Ports' Stockton terminal, he oversees bulk cargo handling and focuses on smooth, safe operations. His problem-solving skills and adaptability have been a huge asset to our operations in the region. Let’s hear more about Michael: Q: You had a career before this one; what were your first impressions of Metro when you joined the team? A: It was challenging but exciting to start a new career with a company like Metro. Q: Describe your terminal, location and the cargoes you handle. A: Stockton, California is roughly 70 Nautical miles from San Francisco Bay, which is a nine-hour transit for vessels to reach our berth. We are primarily a Bulk handling facility, and we occasionally handle Break Bulk and Project Cargo. Q: What’s the trick to running your operations seamlessly? A: Being able to multi-task and keep an open mind when working on solutions to certain challenges. Q: Tell us about a project you've worked on that didn't go as planned. What did you learn from it? A: While working a project cargo vessel, a ship’s crane failed during the operation. This brought an alarming issue to the Longshoreman, which required us to bring a Shore Crane in to complete the job. I learned that developing several back up plans is crucial to being a successful stevedore. Q: What's the most innovative solution you've come up with to solve a problem at work? A: A customer once asked us to blend two different cargoes while loading a ship, which created challenges in achieving the correct mix. Initially, we tried loading from two separate pads simultaneously, but the cargoes ended up layered on the belt line, leading to inaccurate sampling and added costs for the customer. To solve this, I proposed layering the cargoes in a way that would blend them during the reclaiming process. This approach resolved the issue without any additional costs to the customer. Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you? A: Starting in my early teens, I developed a love of motorcycles and racing Motocross. All through High School, I competed throughout the state of California, and by my senior year in High School, I earned a professional license. I continued to race into my late 50’s and I’ve received multiple #1 plates. Q: What advice would you give to new employees at Metro? A: Keep an open mind and always ask questions. No two operations will ever be exactly the same, so being adaptable and open to learning is key. ?

Happy Labor Day from all of us at Metro Ports.

#MeetMetroPorts: A series spotlighting the dedicated people behind our operations. Ken Stone is a 30-year veteran in maritime who joined us in 2017 and has been strengthening customer relationships, driving business development, and enhancing efficiency ever since. Let's hear more from Ken: ? Q: Tell us about your terminal and the cargoes you handle.? ? A: Metro’s Great Lakes Stevedoring, located on the southern tip of Lake Michigan, is the only bulk cargo stevedore here at the Ports of Indiana - Burns Harbor. We handle a wide variety of bulk commodities consisting of fertilizer, grain, salt, magnesite, manganese, iron ore, limestone, coal tar, stainless steel scrap and various coke products.?? ? Chicago is just across the lake. We can see the reflection coming off the golden Prudential building on a clear, bright, sunny day usually around noon.? ? Q: What's the most innovative solution you've come up with to solve a problem at work?? ? A: I was able to identify a solution to significantly increase our daily throughput when loading foundry coke into the screening plant. Initially, we were using a front-end loader to feed the screener directly, which required us to wait for the screener to process each bucket of coke before loading the next one. To improve efficiency, we invested in repairing a Telestack feed hopper unit we received from SEC in Wilmington. By using the feed hopper to transfer coke continuously into the screener, we eliminated the need to wait between loads. This change boosted our daily throughput by approximately 100-150%. ? Q: In your long career, what accomplishment are you most proud of?? ? A: I’m proud of the long-term relationships I’ve built with our customers, the local ILA labor union, peers, and Port stakeholders. I’ve had the opportunity to earn their valued respect and trust by displaying integrity and consistently upholding my commitments. ? Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you? ? A: I enlisted in the US Navy about a year after graduating from high school. Due to family hardships, I wasn’t able to pursue it as a career but I’m fortunate that the majority of my education in the maritime industry has been achieved by “On the Job Training”.? ? Q: Can you tell us more about your team?? ? A: I work alongside the best team here in Burns Harbor. They are versatile in all areas of the operation, which include planning day to day operations, efficient manning requirements, billing, providing excellent customer service, learning and understanding new processes. I believe you are only as good as your team and I’m proud of their dedication and professionalism.? ? Q: What do you appreciate most about working for Metro?? ? A: I appreciate all the training and knowledge I have gained in my 7-year tenure, allowing me to better understand all business models and processes. The trust and support is greatly appreciated, helping make my job that much easier.???