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April, 2011
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, April 29, 2011
NOAA set to sign off
on Port of Newport facility
NEWPORT — Joshua Dodson, Project manager, DAY CPM Services,
provided an update regarding the NOAA MOC-P Project to the Port
of Newport board of commissioners at their regular meeting on
Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Mr. Dodson announced that, “On
Friday, April 29, the project will be signed off by NOAA. The
project was actually completed on April 26, 2011, five days ahead
of schedule. It’s pretty incredible all the events that have
taken place over the last 22 months, and here we are just a few
days away from having NOAA accepting the project.”
“Friday, April 29, is an important milestone,” added
Don Mann, port general manager. ”A delegation from NOAA will
be conducting their final walkthrough of the facility, determine
the final rent and provide the port a signed acceptance
letter.” The signed acceptance letter is the focus of the
supplemental lease agreement that establishes final rent and
terms. A tentative community open house with a limited facility
walkthrough has been scheduled for July 16 and 17 with a public
ribbon cutting ceremony on August 12.
Court slashes Horizon fine
from $45 million to $15 million
CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced that a
federal court has granted a request by the U.S. Department of
Justice to reduce the company's fine related to federal antitrust
violations in the Puerto Rico tradelane from $45 million to $15
million. As a result of the reduced fine, Horizon Lines is no
longer facing the prospect of a May 21, 2011, default under its
convertible note indenture. The company could have been declared
in default by the convertible note holders on any judgment over
$15 million that the company was unable to pay, bond, or
otherwise discharge in full within 60 days of the March 22, 2011
judgment. The reduced fine of $15 million is payable over five
years without interest, with $1 million payable within 30 days of
March 24, 2011 (which has been paid), $1 million on or before the
first anniversary, $2 million on the second anniversary, $3
million on the third anniversary, and $4 million annually on the
fourth and fifth anniversaries.
US rail freight traffic
sees gains during week
WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR)
reports weekly rail traffic gains with U.S. railroads originating
293,798 carloads for the week ending April 9, 2011, up 1.8
percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume
for the week was also up 12.4 percent compared with the same week
last year, totaling 228,713 trailers and containers. Eleven of
the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the
comparable week in 2010. Those groups posting significant
increases included: metallic ores, up 59.2 percent; motor
vehicles and equipment, up 28.9 percent, and grain, up 16.5
percent. The commodity groups reporting a notable drop in weekly
traffic were primary forest products, down 33.2 percent, coke,
down 16.7 percent, and waste and nonferrous scrap, down 12.8
percent.
Horizon Lines releases
first quarter numbers
CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has reported financial
results for the fiscal first quarter ended March 27, 2011. As a
result of previously announced plans to discontinue the logistics
business, financial results are being presented on a continuing
operations basis, excluding the discontinued logistics
operations. On a GAAP basis, the first-quarter net loss from
continuing operations totaled $33.3 million, or $1.08 per diluted
share, on revenue from continuing operations of $285.4 million.
On an adjusted basis, the first-quarter net loss from continuing
operations totaled $28.0 million, or $0.90 per diluted share,
after excluding charges totaling $5.4 million after tax, or $0.18
per diluted share. The charges include $2.3 million associated
with a severance agreement, $2.2 million for antitrust-related
legal fees, $0.6 million for a loss on modification of debt, $0.5
million for the early retirement of certain union employees, and
a tax impact of $(0.2) million. In the year-ago first quarter,
Horizon Lines reported a net loss from continuing operations of
$11.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, on revenue of $274.7
million. On an adjusted basis, the net loss totaled $10.5
million, or $0.34 per diluted share, after excluding
antitrust-related legal expenses and costs for early retirement
of certain union employees totaling $1.2 million, or $0.04 per
share.
Top Ships taking back
vessel from charterer
ATHENS — TOP Ships Inc., an international maritime shipping
company that provides transportation services for crude oil,
petroleum products, and dry bulk commodities, has announced that
it has taken repossession of the M/T IONIAN WAVE from the
previous charterer and delivered the vessel to a major charterer
under a new bareboat charter for a minimum period of seven years
with three successive one-year options at a daily rate of US$
9,000. TOP Ships Inc. reports it is examining its options,
including discussing a commercial solution with the previous
charterer, in order to recover the amounts due. TOP Ships Inc.
also announces that it has entered into a new time-charter with a
Korean charterer for the M/V CYCLADES, a 75,681 DWT Panamax
drybulk vessel, built in 2000 in Japan. The time-charter is for a
period of three years at a gross rate of $20,000 per day.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Bremerton Port Commission
taps Thomson as new CEO
PORT ORCHARD, WA — Port of Bremerton Commissioners have
selected Tim Thomson, current director of Business Development,
to be CEO when Cary Bozeman retires on Dec. 31, 2111. In his
previous career, Mr. Thomson landed A-6E Intruders off the decks
of the USS ENTERPRISE and the USS CARL VINSON, and commanded
Attack Squadron 52 at NAS Whidbey and NAS Pensacola, FL. As the
new CEO of the Port of Bremerton, he will face a different kind
of challenge and opportunity. Originally hired in 1999 as the
port’s Real Property manager, Mr. Thomson’s
responsibilities have increased over the years. He is currently
director of Business Development and manages the Olympic View
Industrial and Business Parks. The parks include over 587 acres,
500,000 square feet of industrial buildings, over 30 tenants and
employ approximately 1,000 people. Active in his community, Mr.
Thomson is a former president of the Port Orchard Rotary Club,
former president of the Kitsap Peninsula Visitor and Convention
Bureau and former president of the Puget Sound Naval Bases
Association.
NOL Group honored with
Asian Freight & Supply Chain awards
SINGAPORE — NOL Group won accolades for excellence in
Shipping and Logistics and CEO Ron Widdows received the Lifetime
Achievement Award at the 25th Asian Freight & Supply Chain
Awards. Container carrier APL was named Best Shipping Line in the
Transpacific and Asia-Europe trades. APL Logistics won in the
category of Best Logistics Service Provider – Sea Freight.
Mr. Widdows, a 40-year shipping industry veteran, received career
recognition for his broad impact on global trade and
transportation. In addition to heading up NOL, he is chairman of
the World Shipping Council and past chairman of the Transpacific
Stabilization Agreement. The Lifetime Achievement Award was the
third major honor for Mr. Widdows in the past two years. In 2009
he was named Admiral of the Ocean Sea by the United Seamen’s
Service. Last year he received the Connie Award from the
Containerization and Intermodal Institute.
Ceremony marks naming
of new OOCL container ship
HONG KONG — Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. (OOCL) held
a naming ceremony today for OOCL BEIJING at Wharf No. 7 of
Hungdong –Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. (HZ) in
Shanghai, China. OOCL BEIJING is the first of the eight 8,888-TEU
vessels on order from HZ. OOCL BEIJING is 335 meters long, 42.8
meters wide with the deadweight of approximately 100,400 mt. and
a container carrying capacity of 8,888 TEU. OOCL Beijing will be
deployed on the MAX service with a port rotation of Shanghai /
Ningbo / Hong Kong / Shekou / Singapore / Jebel Ali / Damman /
Bandar Abbas / Port Kelang / Singapore / Hong Kong, and back to
Shanghai in a 42-day round trip.
Federal funds earmarked
to purchase rail cars for Caltrans
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
has announced the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will receive a $100 million grant to purchase
domestically manufactured rail passenger cars and locomotives for
the Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin corridors. Both the Pacific
Surfliner and San Joaquin lines experienced a surge in ridership
over the last decade; the Pacific Surfliner service saw more than
65 percent in ridership growth, and San Joaquin service
experienced a 45 percent increase in ridership. This new
equipment will accommodate the ridership growth with additional
cars and locomotives available for improved service. This money
will allow Caltrans to purchase 27 bi-level intercity rail
passenger cars and two diesel-electric intercity locomotives that
comply with uniform standards that create a level playing field
allowing U.S.-based manufacturers to more effectively compete.
Latin American Ports congress
set for June 22 - 24 in Lima
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Peru's national ports group, ENAPU S.A., in
partnership with the American Association of Port Authorities
(AAPA) and the Peruvian government, will sponsor the
international seaport association's XX Congress of Latin American
Ports in Lima, June 22-24. The title of this year's ports
congress is Challenges for Latin American Ports: Competitiveness
and Efficiency to Adjust to the New International Economic
Scenario. The meeting of port executives from throughout the
Western Hemisphere will address a host of compelling industry
topics, such as: The World Economy and the Proposal for the
Development of Latin American Ports; Sustainability of Latin
American and Caribbean Ports; Strategies of Global Port Operators
and of Shipping Lines; Port Security; Positioning and
Consolidation of the COAS HUB; and a panel discussion on the
subject of financing sources for ports. The business program will
be supplemented with other activities, including presentations by
port service providers. These activities are being organized to
promote interaction, sharing of best practices and strengthening
the integration of port logistics at the global level. Visit
http://www.congresopuertosperu2011.com/ for detailed information
in Spanish, English and Portuguese about the XX Congress of Latin
American Ports program.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Log business returning
to Port of Everett terminals
EVERETT — The Port of Everett finished loading its first log
ship in four years Tuesday, providing longshoremen with some
welcome but potentially dangerous work. The Korea-bound ship, the
PORT PHILLIP, provided jobs for six days for about 35 people,
said Ken Hudson of Local 32 of the International Longshoremen's
and Warehouseman's Union. It's something that's happening all
along the West Coast these days. China imported a record number
of logs last year -- 34,347 million cubic meters valued at $6.07
billion, according to China customs. The Port of Everett is
working to set up the infrastructure to remove bark from the logs
and is looking to send more wood to Korea and Japan, which
doesn't require the bark to be removed. Everett used to be a
major log port, but shifted to containers and bulk cargo as the
log business diminished in the '80s and '90s. The last log ship
left Everett in 2007.
Upgrades to Marine Drive
approved by Blaine City Council
BLAINE — The Port of Bellingham reports that engineering and
design work will get underway this spring on improvements to
Marine Drive, following the Blaine City Council’s approval
of a engineering contract with local Reichhardt & Ebe
Engineering, Inc. The council approved a $45,450 contract for
engineering and design services for this project, which will lead
to improvements and reconstruction of a short section of Marine
Drive from near Peace Portal to just west of the railroad tracks.
This $572,000 project is being funded primarily with a $520,000
state Transportation Improvement Board grant. The required 10
percent matching funds of $52,000 are being split between the
City of Blaine and the Port of Bellingham. During the engineering
and design phase of the project, the city of Blaine will meet
with businesses, marina users and community members to ensure
that the design serves the needs of the community and the
construction work is coordinated so that impacts are reduced as
much as possible, Blaine Public Works Director Steve Banham said.
The city of Blaine anticipates the engineering and design phase
ending the end of 2011 and construction work beginning spring
2012. Community meetings about this project will be announced
later this spring.
Port of Seattle honors
top firefighter for 2010
SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle Fire Department is honoring
Captain Jason Schnase with the 2010 Port of Seattle Firefighter
of the Year award. The person honored with this award each year
is chosen by a vote of all the department members. Cpt. Schnase,
a resident of Kent, is an eight year veteran of the Port of
Seattle Fire Department who started as an entry level firefighter
in 2003. He is currently on the Technical Rescue Team, is a
Hazardous Materials Technician and in 2008 became one of the
department's first to graduate from the Officers Development
Academy in 2008. Over the years, Cpt. Schnase has demonstrated
great initiative to further his skills and knowledge. This past
year he took on the task of instructor at the Washington State
Fire Academy where he demonstrated exemplary leadership and
teaching skills. Other members who were nominated this year
include Todd Starkey and Greg Baruso. The award will be presented
during a private reception on April 29.
Mitsui announces improvements
to Singapore/Nhava Sheva/Karachi run
ROTTERDAM — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced
the upgrading of its Singapore-Nhava Sheva-Karachi Service (NKX)
into two new loops: “NCX” linking China and Nhava
Sheva, and KPX connecting Singapore with Pipavav and Karachi. NCX
will be MOL’s first direct service linking Shanghai and
Shenzhen, China, and Nhava Sheva on India’s west coast. KPX
will serve Karachi, Pakistan, and Pipavav on India’s west
coast. The NCX service will employ four 2,500teu vessels. The KPX
service will use three 2,500teu vessels.
NCX Rotation: Shanghai (Thu/Fri), Da Chan Bay (Sun/Sun), Hong
Kong (Mon/Mon), Singapore
(Fri/Sat), Nhava Sheva (Thu/Fri), Port Kelang (Thu/Thu),
Singapore (Fri/Fri), Shanghai
KPX rotation: Singapore (Fri/Sat), Pipavav (Sat/Sat), Karachi
(Sun/Tue), Colombo
(Sat/Sat), Penang (Wed/Wed), Port Kelang (Thu/Fri), Singapore
Ride on Crowley tug
up for bids on eBay
SEATTLE — Bids are now being accepted on eBay for a chance
to win a ride for four aboard Crowley's winningest tugboat,
HUNTER, as it races against the field in Seattle Maritime
Festival's annual tugboat race on Saturday, May 14. All proceeds
from the auction, which will be open today, through Friday, May
6, will benefit the Seattle-based not-for-profit Ryther Child
Center, a recognized leader in behavioral health services for
Washington state children and their families facing complex
challenges. The bidding will begin at $100. This
once-in-a-lifetime experience will give the winner and three
guests (children over the age of 12) the opportunity to ride the
tug HUNTER - which is considered the fastest tugboat on the West
Coast - as it competes in the Class A Unlimited Race against
several of the fastest tugboats in Elliott Bay across the
Downtown Seattle Harbor. This year's festival and race will be
especially memorable, as it will also serve as part of the Port
of Seattle's 100th anniversary celebration. To participate in the
auction, visit eBay and register as a user. Unsuccessful bidders
are still encouraged to contribute to Ryther by making a donation
online at http://www.ryther.org/index.htm. Ryther is a recognized
leader in behavioral health services for Washington state
children and their families facing complex challenges. Founded in
1885, Ryther is one of the region's most enduring nonprofit
organizations serving vulnerable children and their families.
NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Oregon, Washington governors
announce design choice for new bridge
PORTLAND — Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and Oregon
Governor John Kitzhaber have announced their plan to take
advantage of federal funding opportunities and break ground on
the Columbia River Crossing project in 2013. “Our timing is
important – we are seeking nearly $1.3 billion in federal
funding for this project. We must secure a federal Record of
Decision on our design this year to ensure the best chance of
receiving full funding,” said Governor Gregoire.
Port of Coos Bay taps ARG Trans
as new operator for rail line
COOS BAY — The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay has
chosen ARG Trans as the preferred operator for the Coos Bay rail
line. The port selected the company following a request for
qualifications from interested rail transportation companies in
September 2010 and interviews with five final candidates in
January 2011. The port will begin negotiations with ARG Trans on
a contract or lease agreement for train operations and rail line
maintenance. Founded in 2003, ARG Trans is a rail-related
transportation enterprise. The company purchased the San Pedro
& Southwestern Railroad, chiefly moving agricultural
chemicals, grains and building products in the Southwestern
United States. It also operates a transload facility serving
southeast Arizona. The 134-mile Coos Bay rail line is undergoing
nearly $24 million in repairs, with partial service scheduled to
resume in late June or early July. Full service is expected in
fall 2011. The rail line will be operated as the Coos Bay Rail
Link (CBR), and will serve the Coos County, western Douglas
County and western Lane County region of southwest Oregon. Rail
connections through Eugene serve destinations and markets to the
north, south and east.
ATA truck tonnage index
climbs during month of March
ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations’
advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index
increased 1.7 percent in March after falling a revised 2.7
percent in February 2011. The latest gain put the SA index at
115.4 (2000=100) in March, which was the highest level since
January of this year (116.6). In February, the index equaled
113.5. The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the
change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any
seasonal adjustment, equaled 123.3 in March, up 20.7 percent from
the previous month. Compared with March 2010, SA tonnage climbed
6.3 percent, which was higher than February’s 4.4 percent
year-over-year gain, but below the 7.6 percent jump in January.
For the first quarter of 2011, tonnage increased 3.8 percent from
the previous quarter and 6.1 percent from the first quarter 2010.
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing
68 percent of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight
transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks
hauled 8.8 billion tons of freight in 2009. Motor carriers
collected $544.4 billion, or 81.9 percent of total revenue earned
by all transport modes.
Corps of Engineers announces
Willamette Falls Locks to stay closed
PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers alerts
commercial and recreational mariners that Willamette Falls Locks
on the Willamette River at West Linn, Ore., will remain closed to
public use in 2011. The locks ended a limited public operations
season Sept. 20, 2010. Maintenance crews will try to accommodate
a small number of commercial lockages that coincide with
regularly-scheduled maintenance activities, and lockages
requested by proper authorities to deal with emergency
situations. Since 2007, the Corps has only received a minimal
regular budget allocation for Willamette Falls Locks to maintain
caretaker status, primarily due to a lack of commercial traffic
and a low benefit-to-cost ratio. The Corps has been able to
operate and maintain the locks for limited public use the past
few years only due to special Congressional funding above the
regular budget allocation.
NYK earns spot
on ethical firms list
TOKYO — NYK has been recognized as one of 2011 World’s
Most Ethical Companies by the U.S. think tank Ethisphere
Institute. This is the fourth consecutive year for NYK to receive
this recognition. This list has been compiled annually since 2007
by the research-based institute, an international think tank. The
World’s Most Ethical Companies designation recognizes
leading companies that go beyond making statements about doing
business “ethically” and translate those words into
action. NYK is the only shipping company included among the 110
listed in the 2011 World’s Most Ethical Companies, and only
one of six Japanese companies recognized.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, April 25, 2011
Cargo ship strikes pier
following loss of propulsion
ASTORIA — A cargo vessel carrying lumber struck a pier and
two barges damaging a building at the Wauna Georgia Pacific
papermill in Clatskanie, Ore., Friday. The motor vessel SUZAKI
WING out of Panama struck the pier at approximately 5:53 p.m.
after losing propulsion. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in
Astoria dispatched an MH-60 helicopter crew and a 25-foot
response boat crew to the scene. The Clatsop River Patrol and
local EMS and fire crews were also on scene. No pollution or
injuries were reported, but one of the barges was pushed to shore
by tugboat after papermill staff determined it might sink. The
Captain of the Port closed the area to deep draft vessels, but
the waterway otherwise remained open. The cause of the propulsion
loss is unknown, but will be investigated by Coast Guard vessel
inspectors.
NOL Group making plans
to replace retiring president/CEO
SINGAPORE — NOL Group has announced its executive succession
plan to appoint Ng Yat Chung the next group president and chief
executive officer. Mr. Ng will take over for Ron Widdows, who
will retire from his present post at the end of this year and
remain as a senior adviser to the company. Mr. Ng will be
appointed as an executive director to the Board of Directors with
effect from May 1, 2011. He will be working closely with Mr.
Widdows before assuming full responsibilities as group president
and chief executive officer on January 1, 2012. Mr. Ng spent 28
years in key leadership roles in Singapore’s Armed Forces
(SAF). Prior to assuming his present role as a senior executive
with Temasek Holdings, he was Chief of Defence Force from 2003 to
2007, where he had been instrumental in transforming the SAF as a
networked, knowledge-based force and driving close integration
between the Army, Navy and Airforce. A graduate from Cambridge
with an MBA from Stanford, he most recently headed Temasek’s
Energy & Resources portfolio and was co-head of Australia
& New Zealand and co-head of Strategy.
Federal court hits logistics firm
for illegal freight forwarding operations
WASHINGTON, DC — A federal court has barred Indigo
Logistics, LLC, located in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, for
violating the Shipping Act by acting as an ocean freight
forwarder without a Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)-issued
license or proof of financial responsibility. Judge Timothy C.
Batten, Sr. issued the preliminary injunction order in the U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on April 15,
2011. The court’s order applies to the Indigo Logistics
Defendants, which include Indigo Logistics, LLC; its president
Liliya Ivanenko; Leonid Ivanenko, who is responsible for
Indigo’s day-to-day operations; as well as their agents,
servants, employees, and attorneys, and those in active concert
or participation with them. The order enjoins the Indigo
Logistics Defendants from acting and operating as an ocean
transportation intermediary without a valid license and bond,
proof of insurance, or other surety. Violation of the injunction
could lead to defendants being held in civil contempt by the
court. On April 7, 2011, the FMC initiated an investigation based
on evidence that the Indigo Logistics Defendants had provided
services as an ocean freight forwarder since at least 2008
without the requisite license or bond. On April 8, 2011, the FMC
requested that the court enjoin the Indigo Logistics Defendants
from further illegal activities. The maximum penalty for a
violation of the Shipping Act or Commission regulation is $40,000
per violation.
FreeSeas announces plans
to sell MV FREE ENVOY
PIRAEUS, Greece — FreeSeas Inc., a transporter of dry-bulk
cargoes through the ownership and operation of a fleet of
Handysize and Handymax vessels, has announced that the company
has entered into an agreement to sell the M/V FREE ENVOY, a
1984-built, 26,318 dwt Handysize dry bulk carrier for a sale
price of $4.2 million. The FREE ENVOY is currently employed in
the spot market, and is expected to be delivered to her new
owners within May 2011. FreeSeas expects to realize a gain on the
sale of the vessel, which will be recognized in the second
quarter of 2011. Most of the proceeds will be applied towards
reducing company debt.
Shipyard nets MarAd loan
to build platform supply vessels
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda
has announced a $241 million loan guarantee that will allow the
Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, FL, to build five
platform supply vessels (PSVs) for export to Brazil, to provide
service in new deepwater oil fields there. Eastern Shipbuilding
Group has built eight PSVs since 2003, with three more under
construction. The vessels, built for Boldini S.A. of Rio de
Janeiro, are estimated to result in 300 new local jobs over the
next three-and-a-half years. Demand for supply vessels for the
Brazilian offshore drilling market has increased substantially.
The supply ships will transport workers, supplies, parts and
chemicals to offshore oil rigs. They will also serve as rescue
and emergency response vessels, with extensive salvage,
firefighting and medical facilities. The Maritime Administration
has previously provided federal assistance to Eastern
Shipbuilding Group. In 2008, Eastern was awarded a $581,000
federal grant for shipyard software and equipment from the
agency’s Small Shipyard Grants Program. And in 1999, the
Maritime Administration provided a federal guarantee on a $6
million loan to finance facility upgrades. The Maritime
Administration currently guarantees approximately $2.2 billion in
U.S. shipyard projects, including construction of tugs, barges,
dive support vessels, drill rigs, ferries, tankers, offshore
supply vessels, and container vessels.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, April 22, 2011
Scuttlebutt setting records
at new Craftsman Way location
EVERETT — On April 15, Scuttlebutt Brewing Co. opened at the
Port of Everett's new Waterfront Center and drew record crowds.
The waterfront restaurant and brewery now located at 1205
Craftsman Way, almost doubled its best day volume at its previous
location off West Marine View Drive, Scuttlebutt Co-owner Phil
Bannan said. The port signed a six-year lease with multiple
options with Scuttlebutt in August 2010 for 5,560-square-foot
space. This doubles the room for customers, creates more kitchen
space and adds a full service bar. The expanded bar also
increases the number of Scuttlebutt beer on tap from eight to 12.
Scuttlebutt has been a tenant of the Port of Everett since its
company started in 1996. Its former location is part of an
environmental cleanup and the building, along with the other
abandoned structures will be removed in 2012 as part of the
cleanup effort. The area is part of the port's waterfront
revitalization effort.
MarAd publishes report
spotlighting US marine highways
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
has released a report --
http://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/Americas_Marine_Highway-Report_to_Congress-April_2011.pdf
-- which will serve as a roadmap to the future in creating and
further strengthening the nation’s marine highways. Prepared
by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime
Administration, the report, America’s Marine Highways,
highlights the benefits of using coastal and river transportation
as part of America’s new clean energy economy. Congress
requested the report to show how water transportation can help
move the nation to a more environmentally-sustainable
transportation system, reduce highway congestion and cut down on
the maintenance and replacement costs of the nation’s roads
and bridges. The report highlights the department’s
accomplishments in supporting the development of America’s
marine highway system. Since formally starting the program last
year, Secretary LaHood designated 18 Marine Highway Corridors
that will support economic growth and create jobs in communities
across the country. In addition, the department awarded $215.3
million from the TIGER I and TIGER II (Transportation Investment
Generating Economic Recovery) programs to jumpstart or expand
marine highway projects. Finally, the Department commissioned a
study of new ship design to serve the marine highway markets and
to be useful to the military if needed.
US rail carloads up
during month of March
WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR)
reports monthly rail carloads in March 2011 increased 3.4 percent
compared with the same month last year, for a total of 1,493,553
carloads. According to AAR’s monthly Rail Time Indicators
report, intermodal traffic in March increased 8.5 percent for a
total of 1,111,301 trailers and containers compared with March
2010. On a seasonally adjusted basis, carloads were up two
percent and intermodal was up 0.5 percent over February 2011.
March also saw the addition of 1,198 employees, bringing the
total number of Class I rail employees to 154,502 nationwide. As
of April 1, 2011, 283,649 freight cars, or 18.7 percent of the
fleet, remain in storage. This represents a decrease of 22,667
cars from March 1, 2011. March 2011’s carload traffic
percentage increase is the lowest of any month since early 2010
due, in part, to strengthening rail traffic volumes in the 2010
comparison month. Despite that, March 2011 marks the thirteenth
straight month for carload and the sixteenth straight month for
intermodal traffic increases on a year-over-year basis, showing
the continued gradual upward trend in rail traffic.
Study finds truck drivers
continue bad driving habits
ARLINGTON, VA — In a recently released study, the American
Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) reveals that truck
drivers with certain driving records (i.e. prior crashes,
violations and convictions) are more susceptible to being
involved in a future truck crash than their peers with clean
driving records. The analyses in the report draw on data from
582,772 U.S. truck drivers over a two-year time frame to expose a
dozen driver behaviors that raise a driver’s risk of being
involved in a truck crash by more than 50 percent. ATRI compares
these new findings to a series of parallel analyses the
organization conducted in 2005, demonstrating the stability of
numerous behavior-based crash indicators. Meanwhile, differences
between the two studies highlight the dramatic safety
improvements the industry has seen since 2005, including record
low 2009 truck-involved crash rates and overall reductions in the
percentage of roadside inspected drivers found violating any of
FMCSA’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. To
continue reducing the occurrence of crashes and crash-related
behaviors, ATRI reports on enforcement and industry best
practices that are capable of addressing the problem behaviors
identified in this study. ATRI also provides a list of “top
tier” states which emphasizes those states that have proven
track records of maximizing their enforcement resources while
minimizing their share of the nation’s truck crashes. A copy
of this report is available from ATRI at www.atri-online.org.
Port of Bellingham calling for
4th of July celebration vendors/bands
BELLINGHAM — The Haggen Family 4th of July Celebration is
seeking bands and vendors for this year’s festivities at
Bellingham’s Zuanich Point Park. Haggen Food & Pharmacy
stores, in partnership with the Port of Bellingham and
Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry, are
presenting a day of entertainment, food and fun. Haggen has been
the primary sponsor of the Bellingham fireworks display, one of
the largest in the state, since 1995. Live music, children’s
activities and vendor booths offering food, crafts and more
– all introduced for the first time in 2009 – will be
presented at Zuanich Point Park during the hours leading up to
the fireworks show. All activities will be free, but vendors will
charge for their wares. With the added features, the July 4
celebration has drawn an estimated average of 10,000 people the
last two years to Zuanich Point Park. Businesses interested in
sponsorship and vendor opportunities may contact Sheila Connors,
Marketing & Events director for the Bellingham/Whatcom
Chamber at (360) 734-1330. Singers, musicians and bands
interested in performing may visit
www.portofbellingham.com/July4.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Port of Seattle names winners
of Sea-Tac environmental awards
SEATTLE — In conjunction with Earth Day, the Port of Seattle
has announced the first-ever winners of Sea-Tac Airport’s
Green Gateway Environmental Excellence Awards for airport
tenants. Both Alaska Airlines and HMSHost won in the
Environmental Performance Category for their recycling and
composting accomplishments. Alaska Airlines earned the honor for
increasing its in-flight recycling capture rate from 28 percent
in 2009 to 46 percent in 2010, and for increasing recycling at
its Sea-Tac flight kitchen from 25 tons in 2009 to 106 tons in
2010. HMSHost won for both recycling and composting. This airport
partner diverted about 90 percent of its pre-consumer food scraps
from landfills by using composting procedures at all of its
Sea-Tac Airport food preparation areas. In addition, HMSHost
recycled 70 tons of cardboard, 83 tons of glass and large
quantities of other recyclable materials through its efforts in
the terminal and off-site airport support locations. The port
recently established the awards program at Sea-Tac in conjunction
with the port’s 100th anniversary in 2011, and the
port’s commitment to be the Green Gateway for its
environmental leadership and award-winning programs.
Maersk Line presented with
FMC Chairman's Earth Day Award
WASHINGTON, DC — Federal Maritime Commission Chairman
Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr. has announced that Maersk Line has
received the Chairman’s Earth Day Award for innovation and
environmental leadership in vessel operation, vessel design, and
efforts to increase carbon emissions transparency. This is the
second annual award given by the FMC Chairman for the ocean
shipping industry’s top leaders on environmental issues.
Last year’s recipient was the Port of Los Angeles for the
air quality improvements from its Clean Truck program. The FMC
Chairman’s Earth Day Award recognizes members of the ocean
transportation community for their innovation, leadership, and
success in developing and implementing sustainable shipping
practices. Chairman Lidinsky noted that in 2006, Maersk Line was
the first ocean carrier to begin voluntarily switching its
vessels to low-sulfur fuel when they called on the Port of Los
Angeles. Since that time, Maersk Line switched to low-sulfur fuel
for calls in Tacoma, Seattle, and Houston. This pioneering
fuel-switching program has saved 4100 tons in air pollutant
emissions in North America. Chairman Lidinsky also cited Maersk
Line’s efforts to drive the efficient design of new vessels.
He pointed to Maersk Line’s newly ordered Triple-E class
containerships, which will have a hull designed for fuel-saving
slow speeds, will employ efficient engines that use exhaust gas
to produce extra energy, and promise to reduce by 20 percent the
carbon emissions per container shipped as compared to
Maersk’s current best-performing vessels. In addition,
Chairman Lidinsky praised Maersk Line’s leadership in
working to provide reliable data on carbon emissions from its
vessels. He noted that in October 2010, Maersk Line became the
first shipping line to receive independent verification of its
vessels’ carbon emissions data.
Horizon Lines takes home
Lowe's Platinum Carrier honor
CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has been awarded the
2010 Platinum Carrier Award by home improvement retailer
Lowe’s Companies Inc. Horizon was the only Jones Act ocean
carrier so honored. Lowe’s presented the Platinum Carrier
Award, the highest Lowe’s honor an ocean carrier can
receive, to Horizon Lines for achieving exemplary on-time service
and reliability. It is the fifth consecutive Platinum Carrier
Award, and the 10th consecutive year in which Horizon Lines has
been honored by Lowe’s. Horizon Lines has received the
Platinum Carrier Award for years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, prior
to this most recent award. Each year since 2001, Horizon Lines
has earned Lowe’s Outstanding Ocean Service Provider Award
or the Platinum Carrier Award for consistently providing superior
service in the U.S. domestic ocean trades to Alaska and Hawaii.
American Railcar reopening
Ohio Castings operation
ST. CHARLES, MO — American Railcar Industries, Inc. has
announced that Ohio Castings' board of directors approved a plan
to restart production at its railcar castings facility in
Alliance, Ohio. Ohio Castings was temporarily idled in June 2009
due to weak demand in the new railcar market. Over the past
several months, ARI has seen an increase in new railcar quotes,
orders and backlog. In response to the increase in demand, Ohio
Castings is expected to begin shipping castings during the third
quarter of 2011.
Crowley continues string
of Toyota quality awards
JACKSONVILLE, FL — Toyota Logistics Services recently
presented Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group
with its Excellence in Quality Award for 2010 in recognition of
Crowley's performance transporting thousands of Toyotas from the
U.S. to Puerto Rico during the year. It was the ninth consecutive
year Crowley has received the award from Toyota. Crowley's Puerto
Rico vessels are designed with specialized automobile decking,
which allows up to 240 vehicles per voyage to be driven on,
stowed and transported in a protected space. A team of auto
checkers and traffic specialists play a large role in ensuring
that load lists are correct and documentation is complete prior
to sailing. Additionally, the company has dedicated fenced,
lighted and secured terminal space in Jacksonville for
approximately 225 Toyota vehicles near the vessel loading ramp,
minimizing the need for Toyota vehicles to be driven around and
through the terminal.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
NYK containership rescues
crew of burning fishing vessel
TOKYO — SOUTH ISLANDER, a multipurpose containership owned
by NYK-Hinode Line Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of NYK Line,
rescued all 27 fishermen (10 Japanese, 8 Indonesians, and 9
Kiribati) from a troubled fishing vessel, DAIICHI SHOEI MARU, 870
kilometers east of Guam on April 17. DAIICHI SHOEI MARU requested
the rescue after its engine room caught fire. SOUTH ISLANDER was
sailing from Yokohama to Honiara, Solomon Islands, and was 222
kilometers southwest of the fishing vessel when the US Coast
Guard radioed a request to assist at around 2:20 p.m. (JST) on
April 17. SOUTH ISLANDER rushed to the scene, and at about 10:20
p.m., found the abandoned crew in life rafts a safe distance from
the burning DAIICHI SHOEI MARU. All 27 fishermen were then safely
transferred to the SOUTH ISLANDER at about 10:30 p.m. The rescued
fishermen are in good health.
Port of Coos Bay employees
honored for safety efforts
COOS BAY — Employees of the Oregon International Port of
Coos Bay achieved a No-Time-Lost Safety Award for 2010, as part
of the port’s long-established Safety Training Program.
During recent years, the port has experienced lower worker’s
compensation insurance rates due to increased safety training for
employees, and reduced accidents and lost-time injuries. The
port’s worker’s compensation experience rate is
slightly more than one percent. Previously, the Special Districts
Association of Oregon recognized the port’s progressive
safety training efforts and safety awareness program with a
Safety Award. The port owns and manages the Charleston Marina
& RV Park, the Charleston Shipyard, the Coos Bay rail line,
in addition to marketing the North Bay Marine Industrial Park and
promoting the use of Coos Bay’s deepwater port.
Cofferdam completed surrounding
grounded vessel in Columbia River
PORTLAND — Work crews completed installation of an 850-foot
metal sheet-pile cofferdam around the barge DAVY CROCKETT Monday.
The cofferdam includes an impermeable liner, which will trap any
oil, tar balls and other pollutants in the enclosure while crews
dismantle the vessel. The DAVY CROCKETT Response Unified Command
plans to begin the vessel’s destruction tomorrow. Workers
will separate the 229-foot stern section from the rest of the
vessel first. This cut will take place underwater. After the cut,
the stern will be refloated, which involves pumping off several
hundred thousand gallons of ballast water. Until then, crews will
stage equipment and ensure the cofferdam is functioning according
to plan. The DAVY CROCKETT was first reported aground in the
Columbia River near Camas, Washington in January. A light sheen
was reported in the immediate area of the vessel at that time.
Shuttle links Everett marinas
with Tulalip Resort Casino
EVERETT — Beginning on May 20, 2011, the Tulalip Resort
Casino will be offering free shuttle service between the Port of
Everett Marina facilities and the casino. The shuttle will stop
at three strategic locations several times per day picking up
boaters and other community members interested in visiting this
destination location. The locations include:
• South Marina (near Woodfire Grill and Anthony’s)
• Port Gardner Inn; and
• Waterfront Center in the North Marina
The initial service will begin on May 20 and go to October 1,
2011. The shuttle service is designed to run during peak visiting
boater season from May through September. In 2010, the Port of
Everett hosted more than 5,700 visiting boaters at its facility
– the largest public marina on the West Coast. The shuttle
schedule is available on the Port of Everett’s calendar of
events at www.portofeverett.com and can be accessed at
www.TulalipResort.com.
Lloyd's List calling for
annual awards nominees
LONDON — Lloyd’s List is opening nominations for its
internationally renowned annual awards ceremony. The Lloyd’s
List Awards, Global 2011 will be held on 20 September, 2011 at
the London Hilton Park Lane, where some 600 guests will pay
tribute to their peers at the maritime industry’s most
prestigious and hotly contested awards ceremony. This year’s
awards reflect the central disciplines essential to the survival
and prosperity of shipping and will feature 14 categories
recognizing effort and achievement ranging from the Safety Award
and Seafarer of the Year to Port Operator of the Year, Innovation
Award and Newsmaker of the Year. The deadline for entries is June
10, 2011, after which time all nominations will be passed to an
advisory board drawn from across the industry who will assess
each entry and forward a shortlist of award contenders to the
international panel of judges. For more information on how to
enter the awards, sponsor a category and/or book a table, log on
to: www.lloydslist.com/globalawards
NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Congressman secures funding
for Coos Bay Rail Line upgrades
WASHINGTON, DC — On April 15, Oregon Congressman Peter
DeFazio announced that $2.5 million in federal funding has been
made available to the Port of Coos Bay for the rehabilitate and
repair the Coos Bay Rail Line. These funds will be used by the
port to purchase additional railroad ties so traffic on the line
can move at increased speeds allowing shippers to move loads
faster and in a more cost-efficient manner. Rep. DeFazio had
previously secured $5 million for the development of short-haul
intermodal projects in Oregon in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU). The funds made available to the Port of Coos Bay
came from these SAFETEA-LU funds. The Coos Bay Rail Line was
embargoed by the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (CORP), a
subsidiary of Fortress/RailAmerica, in September 2007. The
embargo resulted in the loss of hundreds of jobs and negatively
impacted businesses in Southwest Oregon. Since CORP embargoed the
Coos Bay Rail Line, Rep. DeFazio has worked with the Port of Coos
Bay, and state, and local shippers to get the line reopened. In
2008, Rep. DeFazio testified before the Federal Surface
Transportation Board and requested they approve the port’s
application to force the sale of the line to the port from CORP.
In March 2009, Rep. DeFazio also secured $8 million in federal
funds to help the port buy the rail line. Later, Rep. DeFazio
requested the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) award $13.5
million in competitive grant funds to finish repairs on the Coos
Bay Rail Line. The DOT fast-tracked the response and obligated
the funding to the port.
Container volumes rising
at Port of Tacoma terminals
TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma’s container volumes
continued to improve in March, marking their sixth straight month
of year-over-year growth. Year-to-date, the port’s container
volumes are up nine percent. So far this year, the port has
handled 352,190 TEUs. Full export containers are up 18 percent.
This is largely due to the strong market demand for commodities,
such as lumber. Full import containers are up five percent. Other
year-to-date port cargo highlights include: Breakbulk -- up 83
percent; Auto imports -- up 55 percent; Total tonnage -- up 22
percent, For additional port cargo stats, see:
http://www.portoftacoma.com/Page.aspx?nid=155
United Arab Emirates
joins IMO antipiracy program
LONDON — The Djibouti Code of Conduct was signed yesterday
in Dubai by HE Dr. Saeed Al Shamsi, assistant minister for
International Organizations of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UAE has become the 18th signatory to
sign the Code of Conduct, set up by the International Maritime
Organizarion (IMO) to develop regional capacity to counter piracy
in the Gulf of Aden and Western Indian Ocean. Signatories to the
code, which has been in effect since January 29, 2009, undertake
to co-operate in a variety of activities, including:
• the investigation, arrest and prosecution of persons
reasonably suspected of having committed acts of piracy and armed
robbery against ships, including those inciting or intentionally
facilitating such acts;
• the interdiction and seizure of suspect ships and property
on board such ships;
• the rescue of ships, persons and property subject to
piracy and armed robbery and the facilitation of proper care,
treatment and repatriation of seafarers, fishermen, other
shipboard personnel and passengers subject to such acts,
particularly those who have been subjected to violence; and
• the conduct of shared operations – both among
signatory States and with navies from countries outside the
region – such as nominating law enforcement or other
authorized officials to embark on patrol ships or aircraft of
another signatory.
In addition, the code provides for the sharing of related
information, through a number of centers and national focal
points using existing communication infrastructure and
arrangements such as the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination
Centre in Mombasa, Kenya, the Rescue Coordination Sub-Centre in
Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania and the regional
maritime information centre in Sana’a, Yemen. Signatories to
the Code also undertake to review their national legislation with
a view to ensuring that there are laws in place to criminalize
piracy and armed robbery against ships and to make adequate
provision for the exercise of jurisdiction, conduct of
investigations and prosecution of alleged offenders.
Evergreen joining Wan Hai Line
for Taiwan/Madras Trunk Service
TAIPEI — Evergreen Line, Wan Hai Line and Interasia Lines
will launch a weekly Taiwan-Madras Trunk Service (TMT Service)
commencing April 29 from the
port of Taichung. The 28-day trade route is as follows:
Taichung-Keelung-Hong Kong-Hong Kong (MID
stream)-Nansha-Shekou-Port Klang-Chennai-Penang-Port
Klang-Singapore-Yantian- Hong Kong-Taichung. Evergreen Line will
deploy one ship, Wan Hai will deploy two vessels and Interasia
Lines will also supply one ship of 1300 TEUs to operate in this
trade lane. Interasia Lines' KARIN SCHULTE will make the first
sailing.
Horizon Lines taps Hamlin
as operations senior VP
CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced that
William A. Hamlin has been named senior vice president of
operations for the company's Horizon Lines, LLC operating
subsidiary. Mr. Hamlin reports to Brian Taylor, executive vice
president and chief operating officer, of Horizon Lines, Inc. In
his new role, Mr. Hamlin oversees Horizon Lines' ocean
transportation services, inland services, the order-to-cash
cycle, maintenance, safety, security, network operations, North
America terminals and technology. He is based in the Dallas,
Texas operations center, which he helped develop during his
tenure with the company's predecessor, Sea-Land Service, Inc.
(Sea-Land).
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, April 18, 2011
Corps completes initial cleanup
of World War II munitions near Pier 91
SEATTLE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports it
completed initial cleanup of World War II-era military munitions
around the Port of Seattle's Terminal 91 on March 30. The Corps
of Engineers used a variety of thorough surveys, including sonar,
remotely operated vehicles, and diver surveys to fully assess
Terminal 91. The surveys uncovered 11 discarded military
munitions. Discarded military munitions are unfired military
munitions that have been abandoned, discarded, or improperly
disposed of and are still capable of functioning. There is a low
explosive hazard risk associated with discarded military
munitions. Additionally, the surveys identified 212 other
munitions-related items. These items include munitions debris and
small arms ammunition. Munitions debris are components from
munitions that do not contain explosives or pyrotechnics.
Munitions debris also can be small pieces of metal or fragments.
Small arms ammunition includes bullets, empty shell casings and
shot gun shells. There is no explosive hazard risk associated
with munitions debris and small arms ammunition. All of the items
were safely removed and destroyed. The Port of Seattle will
continue performing their routine security dives. If more
munitions are found, the items will be safely removed and
destroyed accordingly.
Port of Vancouver, BC
sees first cruise ship of 2011
VANCOUVER, BC — Port Metro Vancouver anticipates a busy 2011
cruise season with 200 calls and more than 650,000 passengers
expected to arrive and depart from the port’s two cruise
terminals, Canada Place and Ballantyne. The first cruise ship of
the 2011 cruise season, the CRYSTAL SYMPHONY, arrived at Canada
Place on April 17 at approximately 7:00 a.m. Port Metro Vancouver
has been internationally recognized with a number of awards and
accolades, including the Berlitz “Most passenger friendly
port in North America” award, Dream World Cruise
Destinations magazine’s “Best Turnaround Port
Operations” award, and “Best Turnaround
Destination” award. Each cruise ship home ported call in
Vancouver contributes approximately $2 million to the local
economy. Port Metro Vancouver is Canada’s largest port,
trading $75 billion in goods with more than 160 trading economies
annually.
General Dynamics NASSCO
launches new T-AKE vessel
SAN DIEGO — General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned
subsidiary of General Dynamics, has launched the U.S. Navy's
newest supply ship, USNS WILLIAM MCLEAN (T-AKE 12), during an
evening christening ceremony at the shipyard. The USNS WILLIAM
MCLEAN is the 12th of a class of 14 dry cargo/ammunition ships
slated to serve as Combat Logistics Force (CLF) ships or be part
of the Maritime Prepositioning Force. USNS WILLIAM MCLEAN is
named after William Burdette McLean (1914–1976), the U.S.
Navy physicist who conceived and developed the heat-seeking
Sidewinder missile. The Sidewinder was the first effective
heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter
aircraft. After five decades, variants and upgrades of the
Sidewinder remain in active service with many air forces today.
More than 1,000 people attended the evening launch of the USNS
WILLIAM MCLEAN at the NASSCO shipyard. McLean's eldest niece,
Mrs. Margaret Taylor, served as the ship's sponsor. Mrs. Taylor
christened the ship by breaking the traditional bottle of
champagne against the bow before the 689-foot-long vessel slid
into the waters of San Diego Bay.
Crowley Maritime adding
500 new containers to fleet
JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner
services group is adding 500 new containers to its equipment
fleet in order to better serve the growing needs of its customers
in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and throughout Central America.
Once received, the company's equipment fleet will include over
46,000 pieces. This recent acquisition represents growth of
nearly four percent in the company's fleet of 45-foot (102"
wide) containers and nearly five percent of the 40-foot high-cube
container fleet. Included in the acquisition are 250 new, 45-foot
(102" wide) containers and 250 new 40-foot (96" wide)
high-cube containers. While some of the 40-foot containers have
been received and are in service, the 45-foot dry containers are
slated for construction by the end of April. As the containers
are received, they are being dispersed throughout Crowley's liner
service areas based on customer needs. Since 2003, Crowley has
invested close to $240 million dollars to modernize its equipment
fleet by nearly 24,000 units.
Port association schedules
infrastructure investment seminar
ALEXANDRIA, VA — The American Association of Port
Authorities (AAPA), in coordination with the Georgia Ports
Authority, will host a seminar Communicating the Importance of
Infrastructure Investment, June 21-23, in Savannah, Ga. Targeting
public and government relations professionals throughout the
freight transportation industry, the conference will focus on
effectively communicating with policymakers, and those who
influence policy, on the benefits of freight infrastructure
improvements. Another focus of the program will be to help those
who advocate for freight break down the barriers that may
separate their organization's government relations and public
relations functions. Doing so can create operational synergies
that better enable communicators to reach infrastructure policy
and legislation influencers and decision-makers. More information
about AAPA's Communicating the Importance of Infrastructure
Investment seminar is available at
http://www.aapa-ports.org/2011PUBREL or by calling AAPA's Ed
O'Connell at 703- 684-5700.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, April 15, 2011
WTSA member carriers
ink service contract checklist
OAKLAND — Member container lines in the Westbound
Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) have published a
checklist of recommended issues to be considered in service
contract negotiations. The intent is to increase efficiency and
clarity in the contracting process, and to minimize the potential
for disputes. The new contracting checklist is in part a response
to difficulties experienced during the 2009-10 economic downturn
in bookings, space and equipment availability, and other areas.
WTSA members focused their discussions with shippers in seven key
areas of contracting as they formulated the principles: volume
commitment; rate stability and predictability; surcharges; fuel
surcharges; service; recourse; and miscellaneous issues such as
contract duration and detention/demurrage concerns. Among the
specific factors recommended for consideration in the contracting
process:
* Encouraging the parties to consider a specified contract volume
commitment, with better
communication and more accurate forecasting about volume
expectation by season, product
or lane segment for purposes of reserving equipment.
* Discussion of alternative pricing components in a contract,
including the term during
which rates are effective, possible reviews during the contract
term, or a band in which
rates could fluctuate over the entire contract term, subject to
triggers.
* More clearly defining the bunker fuel charge, with
consideration of either specified
amounts or clearly stated links to specific carrier tariff
sections, as well as the
formula under which a charge would float.
* Possible notice provisions when new surcharges are introduced,
discussion of the
purpose of such surcharges and how they are calculated.
* More specific service commitments, with performance measures
and non-performance
penalties or incentives built into the contract.
WTSA said it will post the full checklist of contracting
principles shortly on a separate page within the
“Markets” section of its website, under the heading
“Shipper Relations”, and will invite comment from the
shipping public via the site.
Freight transportation index
drops during month of February
WASHINGTON, DC — The amount of freight carried by the
for-hire transportation industry declined 1.5 percent in February
from January, falling after two consecutive monthly increases,
according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau
of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Freight Transportation
Services Index (TSI). BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative
Technology Administration, reported that shipments measured by
the Freight TSI rose 12.9 percent over the last 22 months,
starting in May 2009, after declining 15.7 percent in the
previous 16 months beginning in January 2008. Freight shipments
have increased in 16 of the last 22 months. In February 2011,
freight shipments were at about the same level as in September
2008 when the amount of freight was early in the decline. The
Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight
shipments in ton-miles, which are then combined into one index.
The index measures the output of the for-hire freight
transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire
trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight. For
the first two months of 2011, freight shipments measured by the
index were down 0.6 percent, trending down following a 6.4
percent rise in freight shipments for the full year 2010 and a
2.1 percent rise in during the final three months of 2010.
Freight shipments in February (106.5 on the index) rose 12.9
percent, from the recent low in April 2009 (94.3). In April,
freight shipments were at their lowest level since July 1997. The
February level is down from the historic freight shipment peak
reached in January 2005 (113.3). The TSI is a seasonally adjusted
index that measures changes from the monthly average of the base
year of 2000. It includes historic data from 1990 to the present.
Release of the March index is scheduled for May 11.
New WSF ferry SALISH
holding sea trials in Puget Sound
SEATTLE — Keep a look out for the new state ferry SALISH
this week as it completes builder's sea trials in Puget Sound.
The vessel is expected to begin serving the Port
Townsend-Coupeville route this summer, restoring full two-boat
service to the route for the first time since 2007. Contractor
Todd Pacific Shipyards is conducting sea trials to demonstrate
the vessel to U.S. Coast Guard and WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF)
inspectors before WSF accepts delivery of the vessel. Later this
spring, WSF crews will begin operational training and
familiarization with the SALISH on the Port Townsend/Coupeville
route to get the vessel ready to sail this summer. The SALISH's
sister ship, the CHETZEMOKA, began service on the Port
Townsend-Coupeville route in November 2010. For more information
about the SALISH, including photos of vessel construction, visit
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Ferries/64CarFerries.
Rail freight traffic count
breaks record during week
WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR)
has reported record gains in rail traffic for the week ending
April 2, 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 305,905 carloads,
up 5.7 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal
volume for the week was also up 19.4 percent compared with the
same week last year, totaling 234,308 trailers and containers.
This week's carload total is the highest since late 2008. The
comparison week from 2010 includes the Good Friday holiday.
Fifteen of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from
the comparable week in 2010. Those groups posting significant
increases included: motor vehicles and equipment, up 25.7
percent; metallic ores, up 23.4 percent, and metals and products,
up 19.5 percent. The commodity groups reporting a notable drop in
weekly traffic were primary forest products, down 29.3 percent,
and waste and nonferrous scrap, down 12.4 percent.
General Maritime takes delivery
of new Suezmax tanker newbuilding
NEW YORK — General Maritime Corporation has announced that
it has taken delivery of the GENMAR SPARTIATE, a Suezmax
newbuilding. The GENMAR SPARTIATE is the final vessel to be
delivered to the company under General Maritime's agreement
previously announced on June 9, 2010 to acquire five Very Large
Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and two Suezmax newbuildings from
companies affiliated with the Metrostar Management Corporation.
General Maritime Corporation is a crude and products tanker
company serving principally within the Atlantic basin, which
includes ports in the Caribbean, South and Central America, the
United States, West Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe and the
North Sea.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Development plan approved for
Portland International Airport
PORTLAND — The Portland City Council and the Port of
Portland Commission have adopted the integrated, longrange
development plan for Portland International Airport and its
surroundings, clearing the way for implementation. The plan was
developed through a collaborative effort involving the city, port
and Portland-Vancouver metropolitan community.
Port of Vancouver, USA
nets $10 million in DOT funds
VANCOUVER, USA — An agreement has been signed between the
Port of Vancouver USA and the U.S. Department of Transportation
that secures $10 million in funding for the port’s West
Vancouver Freight Access (WVFA) project, an on-going, multi-year
effort to improve the movement of freight through the port and
reduce congestion on the regional rail system. The port was
selected to receive the funding in October 2010 as part of the
department’s TIGER II (Transportation Investment Generating
Economic Recovery) program. Signing of the agreement between the
two parties was the final step necessary to guarantee the
port’s receipt of the funding. Divided into 20 project
elements, the WVFA project includes construction of a new dual
carrier rail access into the port, enhancement of the port’s
internal rail system, relocation of port facilities and utilities
to accommodate track realignment, and improvements to port
roadways. The $10 million TIGER II grant will be used for two
specific elements. An overpass at Gateway Avenue will be
constructed to separate vehicle and train traffic and provide
necessary access to Terminal 5, supporting a future potash export
facility, wind energy imports, Subaru America, and other
waterfront tenants and customers. Funding also will go toward
track improvements to serve the port’s grain terminal,
operated by United Grain Corporation (UGC). The improvements will
double the number of rail cars that can be unloaded at one time,
from 11 cars to 22 cars. The planned rail improvements will
coincide with UGC’s $72 million expansion of the grain
elevators already underway. Both projects are expected to begin
in 2011.
Port of Seattle cruise season
set to begin tomorrow morning
SEATTLE — Arrival of the Crystal Cruise’s SYMPHONY
tomorrow, marks the beginning of the Port of Seattle’s 2011
cruise season. The SYMPHONY is expected to dock at Bell Street
Pier, at Pier 66, at 9:00 a.m., and will be visible in Elliott
Bay starting approximately 8:00 a.m. Helicopters covering morning
traffic should be able to spot it around 7:30 am. Seattle’s
cruise business—currently leading all U.S. cruise homeports
on the west coast in passenger volume and number of ship
calls—is responsible for more than 4,447 jobs, $425 million
in annual business revenue, and nearly $19 million annually in
state and local tax revenues. Each vessel call generates almost
$2 million for the local economy.
Diana Containerships OKs deal
to buy three Panamax box ships
ATHENS — Diana Containerships Inc., a global shipping
company specializing in the transportation of containers, has
announced that it has signed three Memoranda of Agreement (one
with Maersk Line UK Ltd., and two with A.P. Moller Singapore Pte.
Ltd.) for the purchase of three Panamax container vessels, MV
MAERSK MADRID, MV MAERSK MALACCA, and MV MAERSK MERLION. The
MAERSK MADRID is a 1989-built vessel of 4,206 TEU capacity. The
purchase price for the vessel is U.S.$22.5 million. The MAERSK
MALACCA and MAERSK MERLION are both 1990-built vessels of 4,714
TEU capacity each. The purchase price for the vessels is U.S.$24
million each. The expected dates of delivery from their previous
owners to the Company for all three vessels are between May 20,
2011, and June 20, 2011. The employment of the three vessels is
anticipated to generate approximately U.S.$43.5 million of gross
revenues for the minimum scheduled period of the charters.
Maersk Line moving toward
low-sulpher fuel in Singapore
COPENHAGEN — Maersk Line has announced its active
participation in the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative by
committing to switching to low-sulphur fuel in Singapore. The
announced fuel switch backs up the Maritime and Port Authority of
Singapore’s engagement with the shipping line community to
reduce carbon and sulphur emissions in Singapore. Maersk Line
signed the Maritime Singapore Green Pledge on April 12, 2011,
stating its commitment to safeguard the Singaporean environment
by driving towards cleaner and more fuel efficient shipping
services. Maersk Line’s goal is to drive its operations
towards zero sulphur while cutting CO2 by at least 25 percent per
container between 2007 and 2020. Since its first fuel switch in
2006 in California, Maersk Line has advocated for sulphur
reductions beyond regulatory requirements, and for establishing a
level playing field in partnership with ports, authorities,
shipping lines and customers. As part of the company’s
global ‘Zero SOx’ program, Maersk Line has committed
itself to implementing at least ten fuel switch programs before
2015.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Past Fritz Companies agent
Larry O'Neil dies in Spokane
HOQUIAM, WA — Mary O'Neil, ex-wife and ex-boss of Larry
O'Neil reports the longtime Pacific Northwest maritime worker
died on March 20, 2011. Mr. O'Neil worked as a boarding agent for
Fritz Companies from January 1987 to June of 1999 when he took a
disability retirement following heart surgery. Around that same
time, Fritz Companies was purchased by UPS and the steamship
group was disbanded. Mr. O'Neil was well liked by the many people
with whom he came in contact including U S Customs Agents,
Immigration Agents, documentation clerks and vessel agents of the
various steamship agencies that he served. In 2005 Mr. O'Neil
moved to Spokane, Washington, where he lived with his sisters
until the time of his death. Shortly after his move, a drug
administered in connection with another heart surgery caused his
kidneys to fail. Since then he was been subject to dialysis three
times weekly until his body began to reject the intrusive
procedure. Mr. O'Neil is survived by his daughter Debbie Grinols
of Spokane and his son Terry O'Neil of Seattle, his sisters Mary
Watson and Teresa O'Neil of Spokane and brothers Gerald of San
Jose, CA, Mark and Mike of Spokane and by Mary O'Neil of Hoquiam,
WA.
World's largest ro/ro vessel
calls Port of Tacoma's Terminal 7
TACOMA — MV TONSBERG, the largest vessel ever built in the
roll-on roll-off cargo segment, made its maiden call to the Port
of Tacoma on April 8, calling at Terminal 7. The recently
launched Mark V class TONSBERG, is the 150th anniversary vessel
of the Wilh. Wilhelmsen (WWL) group. The vessel is the largest of
its kind, with a length of 265 meters offering a cargo volume of
138 000 cubic meters over six fixed and three hoistable decks.
The pioneering roll-on/roll-off vessel was built at Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries in Nagasaki, Japan. Four Mark V vessels will be
delivered to Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA and its partner Wallenius
Lines. The second vessel will be delivered in August and two in
2012. The TONSBERG is the fourth vessel with this name in the
Wilh. Wilhelmsen fleet. It is named after the coastal town in
Norway where Wilh. Wilhelmsen was founded in 1861. WWL has been
calling the Port of Tacoma regularly for 26 years.
Groundbreaking ceremony set for
Port Angeles Composite Campus
PORT ANGELES — On April 19, 2011 at 1 p.m., the Port of Port
Angeles will celebrate the groundbreaking of the Composite
Manufacturing Campus (CMC). The CMC is 6.5 acres of the 123 acre
Airport Industrial Park with building pads for three large
composite facilities dedicated to both the hot and cold composite
manufacturing processes. The CMC will complement existing port
tenants as well as the composite manufacturers in the aerospace,
marine and alternative energy fields. The public is invited to
attend this event for the port, the local community and Clallam
County. The CMC is located at 2138 West 18th Street in Port
Angeles.
Giant mobile crane heading from
Port of Everett to Shanghai
EVERETT — The Port of Everett reports that FESCO
Transportation Group, the number one logistics provider to
Russia, has announced that it is transporting a 4.1 million pound
(1850 metric ton) Lampson Model LTL-2600B Mobile Crawler Crane
from Kennewick, Washington to China. The crane is scheduled to
arrive in China on April 15. This is the largest land- based
mobile crane in the world and the massive piece of equipment is
outfitted with a 400-foot main boom and a 160-foot jib. The crane
is being shipped from the Port of Everett to the Hunan province
in China and will be discharged in Shanghai to assist in nuclear
power plant construction. Designed and manufactured by Lampson,
the LTL-2600 provides a lift and carrying capacity of 2,358Te
(metric ton).
Marcon brokers sale
of three ocean-going tugs
COUPEVILLE, WA — Marcon International of Coupeville,
Washington has announced the sale of three twin screw,
ocean-going tugs from Malaysian based, International Bulk Trade
Pte. Ltd., to a private Central American buyer. The
Singapore-registered sister-tugs sold were the 2010 built SURYA
RATNA 18; the 2009 built SURYA RATNA 15 and the 2009 built SURYA
RATNA 16. All three tugs were built by Hung Seng Shipbuilding
Sdn. Bhd. in Sibu, Malaysia, and are powered by twin Cummins
KTA50M2 main engines producing a total of 3,200BHP at 1,800RPM.
Marcon acted as sole broker the transaction. Marcon International
Inc. has brokered the nine sales to-date in 2011 including two
smaller tugs. Several additional sales are pending and expected
to close within the next 30 days.
NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Portland Port Board holding
public budget meeting
PORTLAND — The Port of Portland Commission will hold a
public hearing this Wednesday, April 13 on the port’s
Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2011-12 Budget which begins on July
1st. The budget reflects continued slow economic recovery and a
transition from an unprecedented high capital project activity
level. Total port operating revenues and operating expenditures
are budgeted at $234.9 million and $149.6 million respectively
for FY 2011-12, compared to the Adopted FY 2010-11 Budget of
$245.1 million and $164 million. The majority of port revenues
come from user-based fees for service including airline, rental
car, parking and concessions revenue as well as land sales and
leases and marine terminal leases and fees. Just over $9 million
of the port’s budget comes from property taxes or about
seven cents per thousand assessed value. The FY 11-12 Proposed
Budget is based on assumptions of a modest increase in container
volumes and other marine business lines and moderate increases in
enplanements at PDX reflecting a slow but steady growth in air
travel. It also reflects the transition away from the port’s
owner/operator model at marine terminal 6 to a landlord model.
Terminal 6 was leased to ICTSI Oregon, Inc. effective February
2011. At their regular meeting on May 11, Port Commissioners will
consider preliminary approval of the FY 2011-12 Budget which
allows for review by the Multnomah County Tax Supervising and
Conservation Commission (TSCC). The TSCC will hold a public
hearing on the budget June 8, and the Port Commission will
consider final adoption of the budget on June 24. While no formal
action will be requested of the Port Commission at the April
meeting, the public is invited to comment at the hearing. Written
comments are also welcome up to the date of the May 11 Commission
meeting. Requests for budget documents and written comments can
be sent to: contactus@portofportland.com, or Port of Portland
Community Affairs Department, 7200 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR
97208. Budget documents can also be accessed via the Port
website, www.portofportland.com.
Port Tracker report predicts
rise in import cargo volumes
WASHINGTON, DC — Import cargo volume at the nation’s
major retail container ports is expected to be up nine percent in
April over the same month last year, according to the monthly
Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail
Federation and Hackett Associates. U.S. ports followed by Global
Port Tracker handled 1.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units in
February, traditionally the slowest month of the year and the
latest for which actual numbers are available. That was down
eight percent from January but up 10 percent from February 2010.
It was the 15thmonth in a row to show a year-over-year
improvement after December 2009 broke a 28-month streak of
year-over-year declines. One TEU is one 20-foot cargo container
or its equivalent. March was estimated at 1.2 million TEU, an
increase of 11 percent over March 2010. April is forecast at 1.24
million TEU, up nine percent from a year ago; May at 1.32 million
TEU, up four percent; June at 1.38 million TEU, up five percent;
July at 1.45 million TEU, up five percent; and August at 1.54
million TEU, up eight percent. The first half of 2011 is forecast
at 7.4 million TEU, up eight percent from the first half of 2010.
For the full year, 2010 totaled 14.7 million TEU, a 16 percent
increase over 2009. Last year’s percentages were high
because 2009’s 12.7 million TEU was the lowest level seen
since 2003. Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by the
consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the U.S. ports of Long
Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West
Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and
Savannah on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast. The
report is free to NRF retail members, and subscription
information is available at www.nrf.com/PortTrackeror by calling
(202) 783-7971. Subscription information for non-members can be
found at www.globalportracker.com.
Commerce Secretary releases
latest international trade report
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has
issued the following statement on the release of the February
2011 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the
Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau
of Economic Analysis. The report showed that U.S. exports of
goods and services in February 2011 decreased 1.4 percent from
January 2011 to $165.1 billion, with record exports of services
($47.2 billion). U.S. imports of goods and services decreased 1.7
percent over this period to $210.9 billion, causing the U.S.
trade deficit to decrease 2.6 percent since January 2011 to reach
$45.8 billion in February 2011.
Hanjin takes delivery
of two new container ships
SEOUL — Hanjin Shipping has announced that it received two
8,600TEU class containerships. Named HANJIN ROTTERDAM and HANJIN
SEATTLE, they are the last two of the series of five 8,600TEU
class ships received from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries. These
vessels are equipped with fuel-efficient and eco-friendly engines
that can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emission. According to
Hanjin, the vessels will be deployed in the carrier’s NE6
(Asia - North Europe 6) service soon after delivery. Port
rotation will be: Kwangyang – Busan – Ningbo –
Shanghai – Xiamen – Hong Kong – Yantian –
Felixstowe – Hamburg – Rotterdam – Singapore
– Kwangyang
Trucking fatality rate
drops to lowest level
ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations (ATA)
reports the rate of truck-involved fatalities on U.S. highways
fell to 1.17 per 100 million miles in 2009 – making that
year the trucking industry's safest since the federal government
began keeping track in 1975. The rate fell 14.1 percent from the
revised fatality rate of 1.37 in 2008, according to an analysis
of data released by the Federal Highway Administration and
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In addition to
the fatality rate, the truck occupant fatality rate fell more
than 17 percent to 0.17 per 100 million miles traveled. In 2009,
NHTSA recorded 3,380 fatalities in 2,987 crashes, both down from
the 4,245 fatalities and 3,754 crashes reported the previous
year. FHWA reported that in 2009 trucks traveled more than 288
billion miles – down from 310.7 billion the previous year,
though the agency significantly increased its historical truck
mileage figures prior to publishing their 2009 data.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, April 11, 2011
Port of Vancouver, USA
celebrates maiden voyage call
VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA welcomed the MV
STAR LIFE, commanded by Capt. John Psyllos of Greece, on the
vessel's maiden voyage to the United States on April 1, 2011.
Capt. Psyllos and his 19-member crew were welcomed to Vancouver
by Jason Eeds, local agent for Transmarine Navigation Corp.; Mike
Hanley, superintendent for Jones Stevedoring Co. and port
representatives Nick Haindl, Callie DeBoer and Debbie Taylor. The
STAR LIFE was built in Japan and delivered March 8, 2011. The
vessel is 555 feet in length and has a deadweight capacity of
28,210 tons. The crew for the vessel’s first visit to the
Port of Vancouver USA was from Greece and the Philippines. The
vessel is owned by Life Three Shipping Corp. and operated by
Alassia Newships Management. Transmarine Navigation Corp is the
agent for the vessel. The STAR LIFE e sailed from Imabari, Japan
and loaded approximately 25,800 metric tons of grain while in
port. The vessel departed on April 1 and will discharge the grain
in Hakata and Osaka, Japan.
Mitsui vessel clears hold
for high radiation levels
ROTTERDAM — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) reports that the
MOL-operated containership MOL PRESENCE arrived in Hong Kong, and
received permission to call at the port at 14:00 JST on Friday,
April 8 (local time: 13:00), 2011. On March 22, the company
received a report alleging higher than normal radiation had been
detected on the MOL PRESENCE during quarantine inspection at
Xiamen Port in Fujian Province, PRC. Re-measurement was conducted
on March 26, and the port authority notified MOL that “A
maximum of 3.5 micro sieverts per hour radiation was detected on
board, which is a higher level than the allowable maximum under
the present standard, therefore the vessel must be cleaned to
reduce the radiation before it can be allowed to off-load its
cargo at the port.” However, on-site inspection by a third
party was not approved, so the MOL PRESENCE departed Xiamen on
March 27, and was again inspected by Nippon Kaiji Kentei Kyokai
off Kobe Port on March 30. Subsequent to that inspection, MOL
received a report that the detected radiation level was
significantly lower than the level detected in Xiamen. The MOL
PRESENCE departed for Hong Kong on April 1, and, as a result of
inspection by the Hong Kong port authority, radiation safety was
confirmed and the vessel received permission to berth and conduct
cargo operation.
Evergreen joining other lines
for Far East/South America service
TAIPEI — Evergreen Line, COSCO Container Lines (COSCON),
Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Wan Hai Lines (WHL) have
announced they will jointly launch a new service linking the Far
East and the West Coast of South America (WCSA). This new weekly
service will commence from Kaohsiung on April 30, with a 70-day
round trip service operating with 10 ships of approximately 3,000
TEU. Evergreen Line will contribute four vessels, while COSCON,
PIL and WHL will each deploy two vessels. The port rotation is:
Kaohsiung - Yantian - Hong Kong - Ningbo - Shanghai - Manzanillo
(Mexico) - Buenaventura (Columbia) - Callao (Peru) - Iquique
(Chile) - San Antonio (Chile) - Callao (Peru) - Manzanillo
(Mexico) - Kaohsiung.
RailAmerica announces plans
to purchase three Alabama rail firms
JACKSONVILLE, FL — RailAmerica, Inc. has announced that it
has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of three short-line
freight railroads in the state of Alabama for a total purchase
price of $12.7 million. The transaction is expected to close in
the second quarter of 2011 and is subject to customary closing
conditions including regulatory approvals. The three railroads,
known individually as the Three Notch Railroad (THNR), the
Wiregrass Central Railroad (WGCR), and the Conecuh Valley
Railroad (COEH), are currently owned by affiliates of Gulf and
Ohio Railways, Inc. For the next twelve months, RailAmerica
anticipates these railroads will generate approximately $3.7
million in revenue, $1.2 million in operating income and $0.7
million in depreciation and amortization. RailAmerica intends to
use cash on hand to finance the purchase. RailAmerica, Inc. owns
and operates short line and regional freight railroads in North
America, operating a portfolio of 40 individual railroads with
approximately 7,300 miles of track in 27 U.S. states and three
Canadian provinces.
Port of Tacoma schedules
annual breakfast event
TACOMA — Trans-Pacific trade and U.S. exports will be two of
the major topics covered at the Port of Tacoma’s annual
breakfast on Tuesday, April 19. The event is being held at Hotel
Murano in downtown Tacoma from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Walter
Kemmsies, chief economist for Moffatt & Nichol, will be the
keynote speaker at the event. He is well-known for pioneering the
development of container volume forecasts by trade lane,
utilizing a blend of regional economic data with the identified
market reach of U.S. ports. In addition, Robert Sinner,
president, SB&B Foods will also be a speaker. SB&B is
headquartered in North Dakota. In the last four consecutive
years, SB&B Foods, Inc. has been recognized nationally by
Inc. 500/5000 as one the fastest growing companies in the U. S.
food industry. Other speakers will include: Connie Bacon,
president, Port of Tacoma Commission; Scott Mason, president,
ILWU Local 23; and John Wolfe, chief executive officer, Port of
Tacoma. Attendance at the event is $20 in advance, and $25 at the
door. Online registration is available at:
http://www.wtcta.org/index.php?CURRENT_PAGE_ID=933
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, April 8, 2011
Coast Guard investigating
allision of vessels on Columbia
ASTORIA — The Coast Guard is investigating an allision
involving the tugboat CLARKSTON and the deep draft cargo vessel
GENCO MARINE on the Columbia River near Vancouver, Thursday.
Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a call at
approximately 9:30 a.m., reporting the allision at Columbia River
mile marker 102.5, near the Vancouver anchorage, with possible
damage to the CLARKSTON. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Portland
is currently investigating. The GENCO MARINE was at anchor during
the time of the allision.
Disney Cruises moving from
Vancouver, BC to Port of Seattle
SEATTLE — For the first time ever, Disney Cruise Line will
set sail from Seattle in 2012. moving from Vancouver, BC.
Beginning May 28, 2012, the DISNEY WONDER will sail a total of 14
seven-night cruises from the Port of Seattle to Tracy Arm,
Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as Victoria,
British Columbia.
Rail freight tally continues
string of weekly increases
WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR)
reports rail traffic gains for the week ending March 26, 2011,
with U.S. railroads originating 299,903 carloads, up 1.9 percent
compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the
week was also up 5.7 percent compared with the same week last
year, totaling 223,034 trailers and containers. Eleven of the 20
carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable
week in 2010. Those groups posting significant increases
included: pulp, paper and allied products, up 19.4 percent; motor
vehicles and equipment, up 12.7 percent; chemicals, up 12.1
percent, and petroleum products, up 12.1 percent. The commodity
groups reporting a notable drop in weekly traffic were primary
forest products, down 20.6 percent; coke, down 15.4 percent, and
waste and nonferrous scrap, down 11.1 percent.
NYK adding service
covering Asia, Africa
TOKYO — In a further expansion of its Asia - Africa network,
NYK hs announced it will launch a weekly Asia-East Africa (AEF)
service from April 24, 2011, linking major Southeast Asia
transhipment hubs and fast growing Kenya and Tanzania. Ports of
call for AEF are as follows,
<AEF> 42 round days, weekly service with a rotation of:
Singapore (Singapore) - Port Klang (Malaysia) - Mombasa (Kenya) -
Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) - Singapore (Singapore)
This service will commence with the westbound voyage of DAMALI,
which is expected to depart from Singapore on April 24, 2011.
Port of Everett calling for
help to restore Union Slough
EVERETT — The Port of Everett invites the public to
celebrate Earth Day by helping to restore habitat at Union
Slough, a unique saltmarsh site in the lower Snohomish River
estuary. The Union Slough Saltmarsh Restoration site, owned by
the Port of Everett, was constructed in February 2001 and
expanded in October 2005 by removing two dikes and excavating a
channel system, allowing tidal waters to flood the site. These
actions converted 24 acres of former agricultural land to
conditions representative of the original habitat in the estuary
that benefit salmon, crab, waterfowl and shorebirds. Help the
area's native plants survive their early years by spreading mulch
to the native plants installed at the site getting them ready for
the dry summer months, weeding blackberry in priority areas to
get them ready for next fall’s planting season and picking
up trash and debris around the site. People For Puget Sound will
provide volunteers with tools, water and snacks. Volunteers are
asked to bring a sack lunch, refillable water bottle, and
enthusiasm for ripping out invasive weeds. Join People For Puget
Sound and volunteers, who are committed to re-establishing a
native plant community in Union Slough Saltmarsh Restoration
Site. To register for the event contact Gail Lassman at
register@pugetsound.org.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, April 7, 2011
State of Port of Vancouver, USA
discussed at annual Port Re:Port event
VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA is on course
delivering jobs and economic development in Southwest Washington,
and that's the message that was delivered at this week’s
sold-out Port Re:Port event. The annual state of the port
breakfast was held on Wednesday, April 6 from 7:30-9 a.m. at the
Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay. Speaking to a packed
audience of more than 300, Executive Director Larry Paulson
highlighted how port infrastructure investments are resulting in
private-sector investment. According to Mr. Paulson, “Our
strategy began several years ago when we charted a course that
included investments that would set up a chain of events that
captured the attention of people and companies in the local,
regional and global markets.”
Port of Portland earns honor
for brownfield redevelopment
PORTLAND — During the recent Brownfields 2011 conference in
Philadelphia, the Port or Portland and its partners, Alcoa and
FedEx Ground, were recognized with the national Phoenix Award for
the top brownfield redevelopment project in the country for
Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park (TRIP). Created in 1997, the
Phoenix Award honors those working to solve critical
environmental or social challenges, transforming blighted and
contaminated areas into productive new uses and sustainable
development projects. The award recognizes excellence in the
redevelopment of abandoned or underused industrial and commercial
facilities. Starting from a pool of 70 award applicants, the port
and its partners were notified in February that TRIP was selected
as a winner for the Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska region.
It was then awarded the top honor from a group of 10 projects
located across the country – each representing a U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency region. Port commissioners voted
in 2004 to purchase the 700-acre site in Troutdale, which
represented the largest remaining zoned industrial property
within the urban growth boundary. It was the home of an aluminum
smelter for 60 years, but it had been idled since the summer of
2002. The property was a Superfund site, and remediation to
industrial standards was completed by Alcoa in 2006. In October
2010, FedEx Ground began full scale operations at the first
facility within the new industrial park. The state-of-the-art,
447,000 square-foot regional distribution hub is located on 77
acres and supports a workforce of 800.
Greenbrier inks numbers
for second fiscal quarter
LAKE OSWEGO, OR — The Greenbrier Companies has reported
results for its fiscal second quarter ended February 28, 2011.
Revenues for the second quarter of 2011 were $286.3 million, up
from $200.0 million in the prior year's second quarter. Adjusted
EBITDA for the quarter was $19.4 million, or 6.8 percent of
revenues, compared to $15.9 million, or 8.0 percent of revenues
in the second quarter of 2010. The company's net loss for the
quarter was $550 thousand or $.02 per diluted share, compared to
a net loss of $4.8 million, or $.28 per diluted share, in the
prior year's second quarter. New railcar deliveries in the second
quarter of 2011 were 2,200 units, compared to 800 units in the
second quarter of 2010. Greenbrier's new railcar manufacturing
backlog as of February 28, 2011 was 9,500 units with an estimated
value of $720 million. Subsequent to quarter end, the company
received orders for an additional 2,400 units.
Carriers come together
for weekly Asia/East Africa run
TAIPEI — Evergreen Line, Wan Hai Lines (WHL), Mitsui O.S.K.
Lines (MOL) and Seacon have announced a weekly joint service
commencing in late April serving the Asia East Africa service
(AEF). Since May 2010, Evergreen and WHL have been operating the
liner service between Colombo and East Africa with satisfactory
results. Evergreen, WHL, MOL and Seacon (a Singapore carrier)
will inaugurate the AEF route with shortened rotation cycle
starting from major Southeast Asia transhipment hubs in Singapore
and Malaysia to Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa. The AEF
service will deploy six ships with capacity between 1,200-TEU and
1,350-TEU. Evergreen and WHL will supply two vessels each and MOL
and Seacon, one each. The EVERGREEN DAMALI will initiate the
weekly AEF service from Singapore on April 24, 2011 with the
following 42-day port rotation: Singapore-Tanjung Pelepas-Port
Klang-Mombasa, Kenya-Dar es Salaam, Tanzania-Singapore
APL expanding service
covering Central China/Philippines
SINGAPORE — APL has expanded its North Asia Philippines
Express (NPX) feeder service to cover Central China and Manila in
the Philippines beginning this month. Service enhancements also
include two weekly calls to Manila from Kaohsiung for improved
connectivity across Asia. South China and Hong Kong markets are
better served with direct calls to Manila, said APL. Enhanced
connections also link Philippine markets with Central China and
other Asian markets through calls in Kaohsiung. South East Asian
markets can connect at Kaohsiung with APL’s Intra-Asia
services, Korea China Straits (KCS) and Japan Thailand Vietnam
(JTV) services. North Asia cargo bound for the Philippines can
connect to NPX using KCS and JTV services via Hong Kong. APL will
deploy three vessels, each with a capacity of 1,100-TEUs
(twenty-foot equivalent unit). Port rotation for the NPX will be:
Ningbo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Kaohsiung, Manila, Cebu,
Cagayan, Kaohsiung and Ningbo.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Bellingham Port Commissioners
Ok lease with Seaview Yacht Services
BELLINGHAM — The Port of Bellingham’s Board of
Commissioners has unanimously approved a new five-year lease with
Seaview Yacht Service Fairhaven. Seaview already leases two port
buildings at Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park for its boatyard
haul-out, maintenance, repair and restoration work. Beginning May
1, it will expand under the direction of owner Phil Riise into
Building 6, with an additional 30,800 square foot area. This
building formerly was leased by Aluminum Chambered Boats, which
went out of business in 2010. Seaview has a reputation as one of
the nation’s most environmentally responsible boat repair
facilities. A primary component of their focus on environmental
stewardship is adherence to a full spectrum of environmental
policies, including Seaview’s enhanced Best Management
Practices directives to all employees, boater owners and outside
contractors. Seaview’s policies require all parties who
utilize the boatyard facilities to bear equal responsibility for
protection of the local environment. Mr. Riise reports that he
anticipates adding six jobs in May with one more job added every
other month until between 12 and 15 new jobs are created from
this expansion. Seaview North and Seaview Yacht Service Fairhaven
currently employ 31 people.
Port of Grays Harbor hiring
environmental scientists/engineer
ABERDEEN, WA — With the largest marine complex investment in
port history underway, the Port of Grays Harbor is welcoming Marc
Horton, an experienced environmental scientist and engineer, to
their staff. A former Deputy Director at the Washington State
Department of Ecology, Mr. Horton has served the past 19 years as
an engineering and environmental consultant assisting a variety
of clients with project development and permitting processes. Mr.
Horton is already familiar with the Port of Grays Harbor, having
worked on a number of permitting and environmental enhancement
projects for the port during his years with HDR Engineering and
Skillings Connolly, Inc. Mr. Horton begins working for the Port
on April 11, 2011.
Greenbrier announces closing
of Convertible Senior Notes offering
LAKE OSWEGO, OR — The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. announced
yesterday, the closing of its previously announced offering of
$230 million aggregate principal amount of 3.5 percent
Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 (Notes) which includes $15
million aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued to the
initial purchasers in connection with the exercise of their
over-allotment option. The Notes were offered only to qualified
institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended. The Notes are senior unsecured
obligations and rank equally in right of payment with the
company's other unsecured debt. Greenbrier intends to use the net
proceeds from the offering, together with additional cash on
hand, to purchase any and all of Greenbrier's outstanding $235
million aggregate principal amount of its 8 3/8 percent senior
notes due 2015 (2015 Notes) that are tendered pursuant to a cash
tender offer and consent solicitation which Greenbrier announced
on March 30, 2011, pay the consent and other fees in connection
with such cash tender offer and consent solicitation and redeem
or otherwise retire any and all 2015 Notes that remain
outstanding following consummation or termination of the cash
tender offer.
US Grains Council welcomes
free trade deal with Colombia
WASHINGTON, DC — After years of negotiations and advocacy
for the passage of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the
United States and Colombia, the U.S. Grains Council learned early
Wednesday morning that a deal has been struck on labor, clearing
the way for liberating the flow of trade between the United
States and this trading partner in Latin America. “The U.S.
Grains Council compliments the administration and congress for
their support of U.S. producers and for constantly keeping the
issue of free trade on the table over these last several
months,” USGC Chairman Terry Vinduska, said. “We are
also grateful for the cooperation the Colombian government has
provided the council in helping U.S. lawmakers understand the
importance of free trade agreements between the United States and
these two countries.” The council has been extremely active
in advocating the need to ratify the agreement. Earlier this
year, the council coordinated briefings with representatives of
the Colombian feed milling, swine and wheat industries to the
Senate Finance Committee, House Ways and Means Committee and
House and Senate Agriculture Committees. They explained that
while the United States has been a reliable supplier, duty
preferences afforded to Argentina and Brazil have eroded the
competitiveness of U.S. commodities.
Port of Portland schedules
free waterfront business tours
PORTLAND — Starting in mid-April, the Port of Portland and
the Working Waterfront Coalition are offering a series of free
tours providing special access to waterfront businesses and
industrial facilities that are normally restricted. Called
“Portland Harbor: Behind the Scenes,” past tours have
proven popular, often waitlisted, drawing return attendees and
prompting this third series. Except for those who regularly work
on the docks or spend time on the Columbia or Willamette rivers,
even longtime residents might not see the constant marine
industrial activity along the banks of the Portland Harbor that
supports the region’s jobs and economy. By taking people up
close and personal, tour organizers aim to improve that level of
understanding. The first seven tours are now available for
registration, with more to come. Tours in this series include:
· April 16: Port of Portland, Terminal 6 – Oregon’s
only international container terminal
· April 30: Port of Vancouver – Portland’s sister port
located across the Columbia from
Terminal 6
· May 7: Portland Bulk Terminals/Canpotex, Terminal 5 –
export facility for potash, used
in fertilizer
· May 18: Columbia Grain, Terminal 5 – a leading world
grain exporter
· June 1: Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. – local ferrous
and nonferrous metal recycler
· June 8: Zidell Marine Corporation – longtime Portland
family business and builder of
barges
· June 18: Vigor Industrial – at the Portland Shipyard,
specializes in maritime
construction and repair
Organizers suggest signing up for the tours soon, as they can
only accommodate a limited number of attendees and it is
first-come, first-served. For more information, contact Brooke
Berglund, outreach and tour program manager, at 503-415-6532 or
brooke.berglund@portofportland.com.
NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Crowley expanding service
covering Port-au-Prince, Haiti
FT LAUDERDALE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corp. has enhanced its
liner container shipping services by renewing its second
fixed-day sailing to Port-au-Prince
from Rio Haina and Port Everglades starting this week. After the
2010 earthquake in Haiti, Crowley reduced its twice-weekly
service to Haiti to a single port call on Mondays due to
infrastructure damage and resulting deterioration in the port's
service capabilities. Now that the infrastructure has been
repaired and those capabilities have been restored, customers
once again will have the valuable option of having cargo
delivered to Haiti from the Dominican Republic or South Florida
on Fridays in addition to Mondays.
Diana Shipping sets charter
for Panamax dry bulk carrier
ATHENS — Diana Shipping Inc., a global shipping company
specializing in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, has
announced that it has entered into a time charter contract with
Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea for one of
its Panamax dry bulk carriers, the m/v DANAE, at a gross charter
rate of US$15,600 per day, minus a five percent commission paid
to third parties, for a period of minimum 23 months to maximum 25
months. The charter is expected to commence by the end of April,
2011. This employment is anticipated to generate approximately
US$11 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period
of the charter. The DANAE is a 75,106 dwt Panamax dry bulk
carrier built in 2001.
Tests on Mitsui car carrier
show new trim system saves fuel
TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced the
joint development of an optimum trim system for vessels, along
with Akishima Laboratories (Mitsui Zosen) Inc. A pilot test of
the system, using a 6,400-unit car carrier, showed an increase of
up to four percent in fuel efficiency compared to a
conventionally equipped vessel, which in turn contributes to a
significant reduction in CO2 emissions. The optimum trim system
quantitatively assesses MOL captains' extensive practical
knowledge of vessel running attitudes through tank testing and
actual ship tests. This data is translated into graphs that make
it easy for seafarers to use the system. Tank testing by Akishima
Laboratories showed that appropriate trim adjustments can
significantly reduce wave drag, and these results were confirmed
in practical tests using the car carrier.
APL joining Sri Lanka center
to train 20 seafarers annually
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA — APL has agreed with Sri Lanka Port
Authority’s Mahapola Training Institute to train 20 new
seafarers from the Institute annually onboard its ships. The
agreement was signed by APL President Eng Aik Meng, the Sri Lanka
Ports Authority and the Directorate General for Merchant
Shipping. The agreement also extends the collaboration between
APL and the Institute in areas of maritime education, training,
management and development of seafarers. Together with the
country’s Directorate General for Merchant Shipping, the
parties aim to produce qualified maritime officers and engineers
for service onboard merchant vessels. Training courses run by the
Institute will be in line with international requirements for
safety, marine environmental protection and well-being of
seafarers. The Mahapola Training Institute will provide
customized training programs and facilities. These will focus on
preparing cadets and certified maritime offices for shipboard
employment in accordance to Standards of Training and
Certifications and Watch-keeping, and be endorsed by the
Directorate General. There are currently 24 cadets from Sri Lanka
serving on APL vessels. APL has been operating in Sri Lanka since
the 1980s. It offers five weekly services that connect to other
global trade lanes.
Port of Tacoma offering
free Earth Week bus tour
TACOMA — Kick off Earth Week with a behind-the-scenes peek
Saturday, April 16, at Port of Tacoma wildlife habitat and
environmental projects. The free narrated bus tour will include a
new site along Hylebos Creek with 25 acres of restored freshwater
and intertidal marsh, forested upland and riparian habitat, as
well as Gog-le-hi-te II wetlands along the Puyallup River and a
beach habitat alongside a cargo terminal. Visitors also will view
the port’s pioneering “tree in a box” to prevent
water pollution. This project is the first time the low impact
development technology has been used in an industrial setting.
Latest results show the native trees filter out 90 percent of
zinc from stormwater runoff. Tour details: Saturday, April 16, 10
a.m. to about noon. Begins and ends at the Fabulich Center, 3600
Port of Tacoma Rd. Space is limited for this free tour, and
reservations are required. Children age six and older are
welcome. Photo identification is required for passengers 17 years
of age and older. This tour will involve minor hiking;
comfortable shoes or mud boots and weather-appropriate clothing
are recommended. Reserve your free seat for the special April 16
Earth Week tour by calling (253) 383-9463 or emailing
bustours@portoftacoma.com.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, April 4, 2011
FMC Chairman warns shippers
to take care regarding situation in Japan
WASHINGTON, DC — Speaking to the Washington Freight
Transportation Policy Forum hosted by the National Industrial
Transportation League, Federal Maritime Commission Chairman
Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr. called for care, caution, and rational
analysis when members of the international shipping community are
responding to the crisis at the nuclear facility in Fukushima,
Japan. "It is imperative that all parts of the international
shipping community react with care, based on accurate information
and rational analysis," said Chairman Lidinsky.
"Overreactions based on fear and misinformation can
needlessly multiply the harm from this tragedy, both for Japan in
its time of need and for each of its trading partners."
Chairman Lidinsky added, "If you are a foreign government
deciding on policies for accepting ships from Japan at your
ports, a dockworker deciding whether to unload the ship, a
shipper deciding whether to go forward with an import or export,
an intermediary arranging transportation, or a carrier making
service decisions, you have a responsibility to consider safety.
But you also have a responsibility to gather the facts, heed the
experts, and make sound decisions that don’t needlessly harm
the supply chain that is so vital to all of our
livelihoods." Chairman Lidinsky also announced the
availability of a webpage --
http://www.fmc.gov/about/crisis_fukushima_japan_fmc_regulatory_assistance_shipping_advisory_resources.aspx
-- dedicated to the situation at the Fukushima plant with links
to advisories and information that would be of interest to the
shipping community. These include U.S. Coast Guard safety
advisories, the status of Japan’s major container ports at
Tokyo and Yokohama, and other useful information. During the
policy forum, Chairman Lidinsky also said that the commission
planned to follow up on its recent Fact Finding into Vessel
Capacity and Equipment Availability Issues with a project to
enhance service contracting practices for small and medium sized
shippers. Chairman Lidinsky encouraged those in attendance to
include in their new service contracts a clause providing that
the commission’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute
Resolution Services (CADRS) would assist in resolving their
disputes.
APL to begin scanning boxes
containing Japanese exports
YOKOHAMA — Global shipping line APL has said it will begin
radiation scanning of containerized Japanese exports delivered to
its marine terminal here for transport on APL vessels. The
decision makes APL one of the first container carriers to
undertake large-scale cargo testing for radioactivity since a
March 11 earthquake and tsunami damaged Japanese nuclear reactors
north of Yokohama. Testing is scheduled to begin April 6. The
carrier said it expects to scan approximately 200 containers
daily. Damage to the nuclear reactors has heightened radiation
levels in the vicinity of Fukushima, Japan, according to Japanese
authorities. They have established a 30-kilometer safety zone
around the site. The decision to scan Japanese exports at
Yokohama is the latest in a series of precautions taken by APL.
The carrier has directed ships at sea to remain 200 nautical
miles from the reactor site. It has also refused bookings within
the safety zone. APL commenced limited scanning March 26. No
radiation abnormalities have been detected on its vessels or
containers.
Public meeting to discuss
Sea-Tac Airport Noise Study
SEATTLE — The fourth in a series of public events for
Sea-Tac Airport's Part 150 Noise Study will be April 9 at Sea-Tac
Airport's Arrivals Hall. The Part 150 Study is looking at ways to
reduce aircraft noise impacts on communities around Sea-Tac
Airport. Drop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. At the open
house, there will be a number of stations staffed by port staff
and consultants. Some of the topics at the stations include:
* The new, still in draft form, noise remedy boundary, which
determines insulation
eligibility
* Discussion of noise abatement programs
* Potential new sound insulation programs
* An update on the Hush House, designed to suppress aircraft
engine testing noise
Participants can also sign up for airfield bus tours throughout
the day (space is limited).The Arrivals Hall is at the south end
of the main terminal, baggage claim level. Park at the south end
of the airport garage, on floors 5 through 8, near the yellow or
green elevators, rows N through U. Take the elevator to floor 4
of the garage and walk across skybridge 1 to the main terminal.
Look for signs directing you to the Arrivals Hall, next to
baggage claim carousel 1. Parking will be validated.
Grand Alliance joins other carriers
for expanded Trans-Pacific coverage
HONG KONG — Grand Alliance members Hapag-Lloyd (HL), Nippon
Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL),
along with Partner ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd (ZIM)
have jointly announced the new co-operation with Hyundai Merchant
Marine (HMM) within the Trans-Pacific All Water sector. The South
China East Coast Express 2 (SCE2) will be launched on May 12,
2011, in conjunction with the enhancement of the established
South China East Coast Express (SCE), offering a comprehensive
service network for Lines’ respective customers’
requirements. The new SCE2, with coverage on Pusan, Central China
and South China in Asia, will offer a service to the Southern US
East Coast ports complementing the established SCE. SCE will be
enhanced with a direct Westbound linkage to Miami, while Kingston
will be covered by SCE2. The port rotations of SCE and SCE2 are
as follows: SCE effective from May 13, 2011 -- Kaohsiung >
Shekou > Hong Kong > Panama Canal > New York >
Norfolk >Savannah > Miami > Panama Canal > Kaohsiung
SCE2 effective from May 12, 2011 -- Pusan > Shanghai
(Yangshan) > Xiamen > Da Chan Bay > Hong Kong >
Yantian > Panama Canal > Manzanillo > Kingston >
Savannah > Charleston > Kingston > Manzanillo >
Panama Canal > Pusan
Maersk Line names
new WAFMAX vessel
COPENHAGEN — Maersk has announced the naming of the first of
a series of 22 WAFMAX container vessels currently being built by
Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea. Named after the capital of
Guinea, MAERSK CONAKRY and the 21 other West Africa MAX
(“WAFMAX”) vessels on order from Hyundai will be the
largest container ships able to call West Africa. They are also
the most fuel-efficient, using 30 percent less fuel per container
moved than the industry average on the Asia-Africa trade. Once a
market served entirely by small ‘feeder’ vessels
operating from hubs like Algeciras, Spain, the 4,500 TEU WAFMAX
vessels are purpose-built to provide Maersk Line’s Asian
customers with direct services to West African ports. The ships
will be 250 metres long with a draught of 13.5 metres, the
maximum size allowable in West African ports. Some of the vessels
will be equipped with onboard cranes (‘geared’ vessels)
to enable calls at ports without standing cranes. The name-giving
ceremony, which took place at the Hyundai shipyard in Ulsan,
South Korea, was attended by representatives of Hyundai Heavy
Industries and A.P. Moller - Maersk. The vessels are to be
delivered this year and in 2012.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, April 1, 2011
Port of Tacoma files suit
against Thurston County
TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma filed a lawsuit against Thurston
County for "unlawful, arbitrary and capricious" land
use challenges to the port's former Maytown property. The current
property owner, Maytown Sand & Gravel, has filed a similar
lawsuit against Thurston County.
Foss earns Coast Guard nod
for completing vessel exams
SEATTLE — U.S. Coast Guard admirals from commands in Puget
Sound and the San Francisco Bay Area agree: When it comes to
safety and compliance, Foss Maritime is an industry leader. The
two U.S. Coast Guard admirals – G.T. Blore from the
Seattle-based 13th Coast Guard District and J. R. Castillo from
the Alameda, CA,-based 11th Coast Guard District – wrote
letters to Foss officials praising the company for its completion
of voluntary towing vessel examinations. Foss officials say that
35 out of its 36 tugs have passed the voluntary exam, which the
Coast Guard and federal government consider a bridge to mandatory
towing vessel regulations. The Richmond, CA,-based Bay Area group
was the first at Foss to complete the voluntary exams, according
to Capt. Igor Loch, the company’s director of marine
assurance. That region was followed by the Pacific Northwest,
Columbia-Snake River and Southern California.
Port of Seattle efforts
advance aviation biofuels
SEATTLE — Listening to President Obama share his vision for
reducing the nation's dependency on oil and calling for more
research and development of renewal aviation biofuels was music
to the ears of Port of Seattle executives and staff, who have
been working towards that vision for many years. Sea-Tac Airport
is partnered with The Boeing Company, Alaska Airlines, Washington
State University, Spokane and Portland airports, and Climate
Solutions to explore what feedstocks can be produced and refined
in the Northwest region into biojet fuels for commercial
aircraft. In addition to reducing the dependency on oil,
greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced. Recently, Sea-Tac
Airport received grants to help fund the electrification of
ground transportation equipment (currently diesel-powered) and to
install pre-conditioned air at the airport jet gates, allowing
aircraft to turn off their engines while parked, reducing jet
fuel consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In
addition, the port's own vehicle fleet includes a majority of
compressed natural gas and the contract with taxi provider,
Yellow Cab, require 100 percent 'green' vehicles by 2012.
US Rail freight numbers
beat previous week's tally
WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR)
reports rail traffic gains for the week ending March 19, 2011,
with U.S. railroads originating 293,772 carloads, up 2.3 percent
compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the
week was also up, totaling 222,788 trailers and containers, up
10.7 percent compared with the same week in 2010. Twelve of the
20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable
week in 2010. Those groups posting significant increases
included: metallic ores, up 93.5 percent; petroleum products, up
12.9 percent; motor vehicles and equipment, up 12.2 percent, and
pulp, paper and allied products, up 11.2 percent. The commodity
groups reporting a notable drop in weekly traffic were waste and
nonferrous scrap, down 14 percent and primary forest products,
down 10.1 percent.
Washington State Ferries
adding new online tool
SEATTLE — It just got even easier to plan a ferry trip. Now
riders can avoid the busiest times and skip long lines with a new
tool that highlights the best times to catch a ferry. Washington
State Ferries (WSF) added color-coded sailing schedules to its
website that pinpoint the least and most congested sailing times
for drive-on passengers. The schedules will be particularly
beneficial for weekend and leisure travelers, who typically have
more flexibility. Currently, the schedules are available for all
routes except the San Juan Islands, Tahlequah and Vashon Island.
WSF expects to have them for all routes by this summer. The
schedules were created based on ridership data from 2010. The
color-coded schedules are available on the right side of each
route schedule page beneath a tab titled Best Travel Times.
Sailing schedules are available at
www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedule.
