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July, 2010

NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 30, 2010

Port of Kalama names
interim Port Commissioner

KALAMA — The Port of Kalama Commissioners are pleased to announce the selection of local businessman Troy Stariha as interim Port Commissioner effective immediately. Mr. Stariha will assume the seat formerly held by Commissioner Fred Swanstrom, who died in May after 15 years of service. Mr. Stariha will represent the port until January 2012, when Mr. Swanstrom's term would have ended The position will go before voters in November 2011. Mr. Stariha, a Kalama resident since 1981, owns Kalama Auto Supply and Repair in downtown Kalama. The port also announces recent changes to its staff. Liz Newman, most recently responsible for information technology and special projects for the port, has replaced Mindi Linquist who left to accept a position as political director of "People for Patty Murray". Ms. Newman's new title is marketing and communications manager. Ms. Newman has worked for the port since 1999. Sean Clark was hired to fill a new staff position as planner. He will be involved with permitting and projects. Mr. Clark most recently worked as traffic manager for Cameron Glass.


Port of Seattle truck registry
now up and working

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle reports it has successfully implemented its Drayage Truck Registry (DTR), a program that insures only clean trucks will access port terminals. Drayage truck drivers have until December 31, 2010 to register their trucks, which are required to have a 1994 or newer engine. It is estimated that around 1500 trucks are in the port’s drayage fleet, and since DTR went live late last week, over 200 have registered online. The online registry is available to trucking companies and independent owner/operators, and requires the truck’s VIN, license plate, make/model, and contact information. If compliant, the driver or company is issued a “Green Gateway” sticker identifying their vehicle as being clean and ready to enter a port terminal, where security will be enforcing the sticker requirements beginning January 1, 2011. A dedicated hotline, 206-787-6888, and e-mail address have been established to help any truckers with the registration process, or to help them find alternate means of registration if they need further assistance.


Matson Navigation expanding
China/Long Beach Express run

OAKLAND — Matson Navigation Company has announced that it is expanding its China – Long Beach Express by adding a second string of vessels, which will provide service from the ports of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai to Long Beach. The weekly service will allow Matson to further extend its geographic presence in China. Operations will begin in mid-August and be in full deployment by early October. With the new service, Matson will offer twice weekly departures from Shanghai, distinguished by its 10-day transit time, the fastest in the Transpacific trade. Matson currently offers customers a weekly service from Xiamen, Ningbo and Shanghai to Long Beach. Matson offers ocean transportation services for Hawaii, Guam, China and Micronesia, as well as logistics services.


Rail traffic numbers
jump during week

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads reports that rail traffic for the week ending July 3, 2010 topped comparison weeks from both 2008 and 2009. Carloads were up 18.8 percent, at 286,777 cars, from the comparable week in 2009 and up 0.4 percent from the same week in 2008. Comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008 included the July 4th holiday. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 231,286 trailers and containers, the highest since week 42 of 2008. Volume was up 36.6 percent from a year ago and 19.1 percent from 2008. Container volume of 197,134 was the sixth highest week ever and the highest since week 39 of 2007. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume gained 39.8 percent and trailer volume rose 20.9 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume increased 30.8 percent and trailer volume fell 21.3 percent. Eighteen of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009, with metallic ores up 205.5 percent; motor vehicles and equipment up 122 percent; metals and metal products up 80.3 percent; and crushed stone, sand and gravel up 50.6 percent. Seven of the commodity groups also posted gains over 2008 levels.


Genco Shipping & Trading
receives new Supramax ship

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has taken delivery of the GENCO LORRAINE, a 2009-built Supramax vessel. The GENCO LORRAINE is the first of 13 vessels to be delivered to the company under Genco's agreement previously announced on June 25, 2010 to acquire 13 Supramax vessels from Setaf SAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bourbon SA. The company also announced that it has reached an agreement to enter into a time charter for the GENCO LORRAINE with Olam International Limited for 23 to 25 months at a rate of $18,500 per day, less a five percent third party brokerage commission. The time charter for the GENCO LORRAINE is expected to commence on or about July 31, 2010 and is subject to the completion of definitive documentation. The company used its available cash to pay the remaining balance of $29.16 million for the GENCO LORRAINE. On July 16, 2010, the company entered into a commitment letter for a $253 million senior secured term loan facility and, upon the closing of this credit facility, intends to use the credit facility to refund $20 million associated with the purchase of this vessel to the company.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 29, 2010

Trade between NAFTA partners
climbs during month of May

WASHINGTON, DC — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 39.5 percent higher in May 2010 than in May 2009, reaching $66.8 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The 39.5 percent increase was the largest percentage year over year increase in total U.S.-NAFTA trade by surface modes on record back to April 1994. May was the third month in the last four with a record percentage year-over-year increase. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in May 2010 remained 9.9 percent below the May 2008 level despite the 2009-2010 increase. North American surface freight value rose 1.5 percent in May 2010 from April 2010. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors. Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. In May, 86.2 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in May was up 15.4 percent compared to May 2005, and up 36.2 percent compared to May 2000, a period of 10 years. Imports in May were up 31.8 percent compared to May 2000, while exports were up 41.8 percent.


Behing the scenes information series
returning to Portland harbor

PORTLAND — Since the mid-1800’s, Portland’s harbor has supported access to international trade, a strong industrial base and good paying local jobs. Although marine and industrial business on the waterfront continues to be a major economic engine for the region, not everyone understands the “why” and “how.” With the return of the “Portland Harbor: Behind the Scenes” series of free talks and tours, the Port of Portland and the Working Waterfront Coalition are partnering on educational and entertaining events that provide a unique and close-up view into the daily operations of Portland's working harbor. Talks are held at the St. John's Pub, and tours include a wide variety of waterfront businesses. For example, the previous series included a shipyard tour, Coast guard demonstration and a barge launch, just to name a few. Updates on future talks and tours are being posted on the port website as they become available at www.portofportland.com. You can also become a “fan” of the series, and find additional information about the series on Facebook by searching for “Portland Harbor.”


New 88,000 dwt vessel
joins NYK bulk carrier fleet

TOKYO — On July 29, NYK took delivery of a new 88,000 DWT bulk carrier, MAIZURU BISHAMON, which was built at the Marugame Shipyard of Imabari Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. The vessel, which has a wide beam and shallow draft, is the first specialized coal carrier for NYK to operate for the Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. (KEPCO), and will be chiefly used to transport fuel coal from Australia and Indonesia to KEPCO’s Maizuru Power Plant in Maizuru City, Kyoto. The amount of coal consumed by the plant is expected to double when an additional unit at the power plant becomes operational in August. To reduce transportation costs and ensure the steady transport of energy, NYK’s specialized coal carrier has been adopted. A naming ceremony was held at the shipyard on July 23, prior to the delivery of the vessel. Makoto Yagi, president and director of KEPCO and his wife, Yasumi Kudo, president of the NYK, and other parties were in attendance. Following the announcement of the name by Mr. Yagi, his wife cut the ceremonial rope. The name “Bishamon” is well-known to Japanese as one of the seven gods of good fortune, which are believed to have arrived on a ship full of treasures bringing people good fortune.


Port Manatee selects firm
for Berth 12 dredging work

BRADENTON, FL — The Manatee County Port Authority has announced that Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. has been awarded the contract for Port Manatee’s Berth 12 dredging project. The project, which includes dredging the berth to a depth of 41 feet at mean-low-water and extending it from 1,000 feet to nearly 1,600 feet, is the final piece of Port Manatee’s 11-year, $200 million port expansion project. Great Lakes’ $14.8 million bid was accepted just two months after initial bids were rejected by the port authority for exceeding the engineer’s estimate for the cost of the project. The re-bid process resulted in a $2.3 million savings for the port – 14 percent less than the original bid.


VeriTainer nets Indonesian patent
for crane mounted scanning unit

FREEMONT, CA — Silicon Valley based VeriTainer Corporation, the global crane-mounted maritime security solutions firm, has received notice of granted patent from the Indonesian Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights for the fundamental crane-mounted scanning patent for Indonesia. Along with Indonesia, VeriTainer holds the fundamental CMS patent in Taiwan, New Zealand and Singapore. Two other key patents on VeriTainer’s technology, the company’s 4th and 5th evolving out of VeriTainer’s Oakland trials in 2007 and 2008, were issued in the United States earlier this year. Those patents have also been filed internationally. Additionally, VeriTainer has several other unique innovations in its patent program pipeline.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Unknown source causes damage
to MOL tank vessel M. STAR

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.(MOL) has reported that at about 5:30 a.m. JST (00:30 local time) on Wednesday, July 28, west of the Strait of Hormuz at 26°27' N 56°14' E (Oman territorial waters), the VLCC M. STAR owned by MOL, suffered hull damage caused by an explosion which seemed to be an attack from external sources. The degree and details of hull damage are currently under investigation but no serious injury was reported, although one of the crew was slightly injured, and no oil leaked from the hull. Further, M. STAR continues its voyage, making for the UAE port of Fujairah, where the damage and its causes will be thoroughly investigated. M. STAR took on crude oil Tuesday, July 27, at the UAE Port of Das Island, after which it departed for Chiba Port in Japan.


Congressman spearheads resolution
marking Coast Guard Academy anniversary

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) has managed the passage of H.Con.Res. 258, Congratulating the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy and its staff for 100 years of operation of the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. “I was proud to shepherd this Resolution through the House of Representatives,” said Congressman Cummings. “The Coast Guard Academy has produced thousands of our nation’s best, brightest and bravest; the men and women of our United State Coast Guard. They function as our country’s last line of defense and so often as the first rescuers at the scene of an emergency. We, as a nation, owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude, both for their work in the classrooms of the Academy, and their service under the flag of this great land. I congratulate the Coast Guard Academy for a wonderful 100 years and hope they will continue producing the leaders of tomorrow for 100 years to come.” The School of Instruction to the U.S. Revenue Cutter Academy was established at Fort Trumbull in New London, Connecticut, in 1910, and later became known as the Coast Guard Academy after the consolidation of the Life Saving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service in 1915. The Academy moved to its present location along the banks of the Thames River in 1932.


BNSF changing strike price
for fuel charge to $2.50 per gallon

FORT WORTH, TX — BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has announced that the strike price, the Highway Diesel Fuel (HDF) price at which BNSF will assess a fuel surcharge, will be reset from $1.25 per gallon to $2.50 per gallon. This change reflects current fuel pricing trends which on a sustained basis have averaged above $2.50 since 2005. The change applies to BNSF's mileage-based and percent-of-revenue fuel surcharge programs for Agricultural Products, Industrial Products, Coal and Automotive shipments beginning January 2011. Intermodal shipments will not be affected. Underlying base rates will be appropriately adjusted to reflect the new strike price. Tables reflecting the new strike price and other program details are available on the BNSF Web site. BNSF sales and marketing representatives will provide customers with additional details as they become available over the next few months.


Crowley continues to deliver
relief to Haiti earthquake victims

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation continues to work with relief and commercial organizations to provide goods and materials needed by Haiti residents in the aftermath of January's major earthquake. Most recently, Crowley began transporting emergency housing units for Steel Elements International, LLC to homeless families. Shipped in 20-foot containers and packaged as building sets, the homes are assembled in country by trained Haitians and humanitarian aid workers. To date, Crowley's logistics group has managed the transportation of 68 containers for Steel Element's containers destined for Port-au-Prince. In all, Steel Elements plans to send 300 containers to relief organizations in Haiti. The temporary structures, which replace tents, measure 10 feet by 20 feet and are hurricane resistant, fire resistant and earthquake resistant and are the ideal structure for harsh environments, according to the manufacturer. They are being delivered to various aid organizations in Port-au-Prince and Leogane, including CHF International and the Lutheran World Federation.


Hamburg Sud boosting rates
for US West Coast to Europe

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Hamburg Süd has announced that effective September 1, 2010, a general rate increase (GRI) will be applied to all cargo moving from the West Coast of the United States and Canada to Europe. Tariff cargo as well as existing service contracts will be increased by the following amounts:
US$150/20' equipment
US$300/40' equipment


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Port of Grays Harbor nets funds
for rail system improvements

ABERDEEN, WA — Thanks to Senator Patty Murray and the Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), the Port of Grays Harbor is $4 million closer to their goal of raising more than $15 million to construct additional rail storage tracks in the marine terminal complex. With exports more than double 2009 same period volumes, the Port of Grays Harbor, on Washington’s Pacific Coast, is working diligently to construct the rail system to handle the thousands of automobiles and nearly one million tons of US agricultural products and liquid bulks shipping through Grays Harbor. The challenge is securing funding for this critical infrastructure.


Port of Tacoma project
earns AAPA environmental nod

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma demolition program has won the 2010 Environmental Enhancement Award from the American Association of Port Authorities, a trade group representing leading port authorities throughout the Western Hemisphere. The port also received an AAPA Honorable Mention in the Environmental Mitigation category for Gog-le-hi-te II, a former city landfill along the Puyallup River that now provides valuable wetland habitat for native plants, shore birds, juvenile salmon and other critters. The port's demolition program resulted in recovering or recycling an average 87 percent — and in some instances more than 98 percent—of materials from 57 structures on the Tacoma Tideflats. The 7,071 tons of recycled or reused material kept about 275 dump truck loads of waste out of community landfills. The structures, including old piers, shuttered steam plant, abandoned office building and former chemical facility, were removed to make way for environmental cleanup and planned terminal, road and rail development. In addition to the environmental honors, ports also received recognition for information technology, facilities engineering and communications achievements. The Port of Tacoma received communications honors for making commission meetings and presentations more accessible through webstreaming, and for its annual breakfast program featuring industry experts. The awards will be presented Sept. 22 during AAPA’s 99th Annual Convention in Halifax, Nova Scotia.


Port of Bremerton
continues clean audit run

BREMERTON — For the 18th consecutive year, the Port of Bremerton has received no findings in its audit report from the Washington State Auditor's Office. The state’s annual audit for 2009 reported that the port is in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations and its own policies and procedures. In examining the port's internal financial practices and activities as a whole, the office found that the port's controls were "adequate to safeguard public assets." The Port of Bremerton, like the other 75 Port districts in Washington State, is a special purpose district whose charter under the law is to promote economic development, to facilitate job creation, to provide for marine and aviation transportation, and to promote tourism. Its primary business operations are its marinas in Bremerton and Port Orchard, the Bremerton National Airport and its business and industrial parks. These operations are important catalysts for business development as well as contributors to the County’s job and tax base and its tourism industry. The full audit reports are available to the public at http://www.portofbremerton.org/ and http://www.sao.wa.gov/auditreports/auditreportfiles/ar1003946.pdf


ATA truck tonnage index
falls during month of June

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations' advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 1.4 percent in June, although May's reduction was revised from 0.6 percent to just 0.1 percent. May and June marked the first back-to-back contractions since March and April 2009. The latest reduction lowered the SA index from 110.1 (2000=100) in May to 108.5 in June. The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 115.9 in June, up 6.5 percent from the previous month. Compared with June 2009, SA tonnage climbed 7.6 percent, which was just below May's 7.7 percent increase and the seventh consecutive year-over-year gain. Year-to-date, tonnage is up 6.6 percent compared with the same period in 2009.


Genco Shipping & Trading
adds handysize vessel to fleet

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has taken delivery of the GENCO OCEAN, a 35,000 dwt Handysize newbuilding. The GENCO OCEAN is the first of five vessels to be delivered to the company under Genco's agreement previously announced on June 9, 2010 to acquire five Handysize vessels from companies within the Metrostar group of companies. The GENCO OCEAN is expected to be delivered to its charterer, Cargill International S.A., on or about July 28, 2010 to commence a time charter for 35 to 37 months. The rate for the time charter will be linked to the Baltic Handysize Index (BHSI), incorporating a floor of $8,500 and a ceiling of $13,500 daily, with a 50 percent profit sharing arrangement to apply to any amount above the ceiling. The rate will be based on 115 percent of the average of the daily rates of the BHSI, as reflected in daily reports. Hire will be paid every 15 days in advance, net of a 5.00 percent third party brokerage commission. The company used its available cash to pay the remaining balance of $29.9 million for the GENCO OCEAN. On July 14, 2010, the company entered into a commitment letter for a $100 million secured term loan facility and, upon the closing of this credit facility, intends to use the credit facility to refund $20 million associated with the purchase of this vessel to the company.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 26, 2010

Port Metro Vancouver
sees emissions reductions

VANCOUVER, BC — Together with its partners, Port Metro Vancouver reports it is exceeding expectations when it comes to emissions reduction. Port Metro Vancouver has raised the bar when it comes to lowering air emissions in the key areas the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy 2009 Implementation Report has laid out, including rail, cargo handling equipment, ocean going vessels, port administration, harbour craft and trucks. Emissions reduction targets in the 2009 report set a common goal, but Port Metro Vancouver’s efforts to protect the air shed have exceeded expectations.


CMA CGM vessel
breaks Seattle box mark

SEATTLE — The container ship CMA CGM RABELAIS made its first call at the Port of Seattle on July 19 and shattered the port’s previous container handling record with 4,300 containers loaded and discharged. “This is a clear demonstration of the growing volumes CMA CGM is moving through our harbor,” said Port of Seattle Managing Director Linda Styrk. “It also shows that our terminal operators, labor force, trucking services and rail facilities are prepared for growth and capable of handling higher high volumes.” The 6,500-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) RABELAIS is part of CMA CGM’s Columbus Loop, a pendulum service that connects Seattle to Yokohama, Shanghai, Ningbo (China), Hong Kong, Yantian (China), Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia), the Suez Canal and the U.S. East Coast. The RABELAIS is one of seven CMA CGM ships calling Seattle that recently replaced a smaller 5100 TEU capacity vessel in response to growing market demand.


APL cold-ironing project
moving forward in Oakland

SINGAPORE — APL reports it has moved a step closer to an environmental breakthrough. The world’s fourth-largest container carrier said it has completed the retrofit of five vessels for cold-ironing. Cold-ironing is industry jargon for turning off a ship’s diesel generators at berth and connecting instead to cleaner shore-side power. The clean-air technique will be introduced next winter at APL’s marine terminal in Oakland, California. APL will become the first and only carrier or terminal operator at the Port of Oakland to cold-iron ships. By shutting down shipboard generators in Oakland, APL expects to eliminate 50,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide emissions annually. Nitrogen oxide is a leading component of smog. The carrier also expects to eliminate 1,500 pounds of particulate matter emissions a year. APL has been equipping its C-11 class vessels with cold-ironing capabilities throughout 2010. The last of the five ships returned to service this month from the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore. The ships are scheduled to plug in at port beginning early in 2011. That’s when APL expects to complete a construction project to electrify its Oakland vessel berths for cold-ironing. APL has been awarded two grants, totaling $4.8 million, for the cold-ironing project. Part of that funding helped finance the month-long retrofit of each ship. Cold-ironing is one of the most recent measures announced by APL to curb vessel air emissions. Others include slow steaming, the use of low-sulfur fuel at port and an extensive test of emulsified fuel.


DOT boss expands project
to bring women into transport field

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the expansion of an internship program designed to encourage young women to pursue careers in transportation. Secretary LaHood made the announcement at a Women’s Small Business Day hosted by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The internship program will expand from one to ten regions of the country, enabling young women from colleges and universities across the country to participate. It will be administered through the Department’s 11 Small Business Transportation Resource Centers. These Centers, spread throughout the nation, provide resources, technical assistance and outreach to all 50 states and U.S. territories. Each Center will be responsible for placing qualified female college students in transportation related internships in their regions. The expanded program, based on a successful pilot with Spelman College that Secretary LaHood announced in 2009, is part of a broader effort by the Department of Transportation to create a pipeline of younger women coming into the transportation workforce. In May 2010, Secretary LaHood also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Women’s Transportation Seminar International to engage women at the juncture when they’re beginning to think seriously about their futures and inspire them to pursue careers in transportation by completing undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math. The aim is to attract and retain a new generation of women in transportation professions. The program is one of several internships and fellowship programs offered through the U.S. Department of Transportation for both high school and college age girls. The expanded effort supports President Obama’s mission and the work of the White House Council on Women and Girls.


The Barbers opens shop
at Portland International Airport

PORTLAND — Haircuts, hot lather neck shaves and shoe shines are available inside Portland International Airport. The Barbers, a locally owned company, is opening its 17th location in the Portland/Vancouver area and will celebrate the airport event with specials, including $5 haircuts and discounts on hair products. The Barbers combines the pleasures of the old-fashioned barbershop – handsome ambiance, a comfortable old-style chair and a good magazine or newspaper – with the modern touch of flat screen TVs, a selection of quality barbershop supplies, and the shop’s signature neck and shoulder massage after every haircut. Owners Don and Alison Lovell opened their first location in 1999; they now have eight stores in Portland and eight in Vancouver, Wash. Don Lovell said, The Barbers at PDX is located pre-security, to the left of the entrance to the A/B/C security checkpoint. A lighted barber pole marks the spot.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 23, 2010

Ports of Seattle, Tacoma
reducing pollutants in region

SEATTLE/TACOMA — A new report finds efforts by the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma have resulted in a reduction in pollutants in the Puget Sound region. The Port of Seattle says it has made significant reductions in regional air pollutants, according to the new Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy 2009 Implementation Report. Port programs were found to successfully improve the air quality from shipping and cruise vessels berthing at port facilities, cargo handling equipment, and trucks serving port terminals.


Alaska Airlines test flights
show new scheme reduces emissions

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines demonstrated next-generation flight procedures this week during a test flight over Puget Sound that burned less fuel and reduced emissions by 35 percent compared to a conventional landing. The flight was part of Alaska Air Group's "Greener Skies" project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) focused on using satellite-based guidance technology pioneered by Alaska Airlines to fly more efficient landing procedures that will reduce environmental impacts in the Puget Sound region. The airline, in cooperation with the Port of Seattle, Boeing and other airlines serving Sea-Tac, is seeking Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for the procedures, which could ultimately be used by all properly equipped carriers at Sea-Tac. Testing for the project began last summer and, since then, Alaska Airlines has flown two other demonstration flights and submitted more than half of the proposed procedures for FAA review. Representatives from Alaska, Boeing, the FAA and the Port of Seattle participated in the most recent demonstration to observe the level of flight path precision and fuel consumption on eight landing approaches in a Boeing 737-700. With a landing weight similar to a typical passenger flight, the shorter and more efficient approaches reduced carbon emissions and saved 400 pounds of fuel per approach. The test flight used satellite guidance technology called Required Navigation Performance (RNP) to fly more direct, continuous descent approaches. Alaska Airlines estimates the new procedures at Sea-Tac will cut fuel consumption by 2.1 million gallons annually and reduce carbon emissions by 22,000 metric tons, the equivalent of taking 4,100 cars off the road every year. They will also reduce overflight noise for an estimated 750,000 people living below the affected flight corridor.


Horizon Lines numbers
improve during second quarter

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has reported improved financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended June 20, 2010. On a GAAP basis, Horizon achieved second-quarter net income of $3.7 million, or $0.12 per fully diluted share, on revenue of $305.6 million. This compares with a net loss of $31.1 million, or $1.02 per share, on revenue of $278.5 million for the second quarter of 2009. On an adjusted basis, second-quarter net income rose to $4.8 million, or $0.15 per fullydiluted share, from $4.1 million, or $0.13 per fully diluted share, a year ago. The 2010 second-quarter adjusted net income excludes charges of $1.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for antitrust-related legal expenses and a voluntary separation program for certain union employees. The 2009 adjusted net income excludes expenses totaling $35.2 million, or $1.15 per share, consisting primarily of a $20 million pretax charge related to the class-action legal settlement in Puerto Rico, a $10.6 million tax valuation allowance, and $4.1 million in pretax antitrust-related legal expenses.


US rail freight traffic
on even keel during week

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads has reported that rail traffic remains steady with U.S. railroads originating 284,716 carloads for the week ending June 26, 2010, up 11.4 percent compared with the same week in 2009, but down 13.2 percent from 2008. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR now reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 227,229 trailers and containers, up 20.5 percent from a year ago and down only 1.1 percent compared with 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 22.1 percent and trailer volume rose 12.3 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume increased 7.7 percent and trailer volume dropped 32.2 percent. Seventeen of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009, with metallic ores, up 172.2 percent; metals and metal products, up 75.4 percent; and motor vehicles and equipment, up 55.2 percent, posting the most significant gains. Four of the commodity groups – including farm products, metallic ores and nonmetallic minerals, posted an increase over 2008 levels.


New Lynden Transport service
offers GPS tracking of shipments

ANCHORAGE — Lynden Transport's EZ Tracing system just got better with the addition of GPS mapping of shipment locations while in route over the highway. By clicking on a link on the Lynden Transport website, customers can monitor their shipments on a digital map that shows the truck as it moves from origin to destination. Lynden Transport is the only Alaska trucking company to offer this live tracking service to its customers. The company also launched a brand new website, www.lyndentransport.com/ltia, redesigned based on customer feedback for easier navigation. GPS mapping is the latest addition to Lynden Transport's other recent service improvement, Predictive Delivery, which provides customers up-to-date delivery times for their shipments in major services centers in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Juneau and Ketchikan. The EZ Tracing GPS mapping feature is automatically engaged each time a shipment is booked through the EZ Commerce system.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 22, 2010

Senators praised for new
Help Transportation Act of 2010

WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), with co-sponsors Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), have introduced the Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance to Help Transportation Act of 2010 (FREIGHT Act), a landmark bill, leading the charge to transform America’s transportation policy and investment by focusing on the freight network that enables goods and commodities to move about and reach their markets. The FREIGHT Act provides a visionary, comprehensive, systemic approach to infrastructure investment that addresses the nation’s commerce needs while providing a solid foundation that will also help our nation meet its energy, environmental and safety goals. The bill also calls for the creation of a new National Freight Infrastructure Grants initiative – a competitive, merit-based program with broad eligibility for multimodal freight investment designed to focus funds where they will provide the most public benefit.


Pacific Northwest ports
included in AAPA awards program

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), a trade group representing leading port authorities throughout the Western Hemisphere, has selected 24 seaports to be recognized for exemplary projects, programs and initiatives at its annual awards program event this fall. The awards will be presented to winning ports at a Sept. 22 luncheon in conjunction with AAPA's 99th Annual Convention in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (http://www.aapa2010.com/), which runs Sept. 19-23. Pacific Northwest ports included in this year's awards are:
The Port of Tacoma, winner of this year's Environmental Enhancement award for the Port of Tacoma Demolition Program, which resulted in the port and its tenants recovering or recycling 7,071 tons of material from 57 structures being removed from the Blair-Hylebos Peninsula and surrounding Tacoma Tideflats area to make way for remediation and planned terminal, road and rail development;
The Port of Seattle, winner of this year's Comprehensive Environmental Management award for its Environmental Compliance Assessment Program, which the port implemented in 2009 to evaluate and assist with tenant environmental compliance to better meet high public expectations and stringent compliance regulations for environmental quality; and an Honorable Mention in the same category to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for their joint Water Resources Action Plan, which is a pioneering water quality initiative that is enabling the two Southern California seaports to get a head start on complying with stricter regulatory standards and lay out a groundwork for a successful water improvement strategy.
In addition to the above honors, ports will receive recognition for a total of 63 winning entries in AAPA's 43rd annual Communications Awards Program. Fourteen Award of Excellence plaques and 30 Award of Merit and 19 Honorable Mention certificates will be distributed during the convention to the winning ports in the communications competition.


Port of Olympia nets grants
for marine terminal security

OLYMPIA — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded the Port of Olympia four grants totaling over $2.4 million to increase safety and security at the marine terminal. The port applied for the funds through FEMA’s Round 10 Port Security Grant program, which requires zero matching dollars from the Port.
The grants cover the following items:
• Security lighting and cameras will replace broken and inefficient lights on the terminal and will purchase additional lights and security cameras ($2.03 million).
• A new telescopic material handler will give staff the ability to replace and repair terminal lights ($206,000).
• A new portable, generator-powered telescopic boom lighting unit will direct light to locations where it is needed ($139,000).
• A new security and emergency response vehicle will enable a quick response to emergencies. ($43,000).


International Trade Commission
inks Year in Trade publication

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has released The Year in Trade 2009, its annual overview of the previous year's trade-related activities. The USITC's The Year in Trade is one of the government's most comprehensive reports of U.S. trade-related activities, covering major multilateral, regional, and bilateral developments. The publication reviews U.S. international trade laws and actions under these laws, activities of the World Trade Organization (WTO), U.S. free trade agreements and negotiations, and U.S. bilateral trade relations with major trading partners. The Year in Trade 2009 includes complete listings of antidumping, countervailing duty, safeguard, intellectual property rights infringement, and section 301 cases undertaken by the U.S. government in 2009. The report also provides an overview of U.S. trade in goods and services during 2009. Statistical tables highlight U.S. bilateral trade with major trading partners and trade under U.S. trade preference programs. The Year in Trade 2009 (USITC Publication 4174, July 2010) will be posted on the USITC's Internet site at www.usitc.gov. The report also is expected to be available at federal depository libraries in the United States and at offices of the U.S. Information Agency abroad.


DHL launches new program
to help businesses trade globally

PLANTATION, FL — DHL, the global logistics company, has launched a comprehensive international trade initiative in the U.S. to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) overcome the challenges they face when performing business globally. DHL offers networking events, website resources, and a recently expanded U.S. operational network to help SME’s take advantage of DHL’s international expertise. SME’s are a dynamic and fast-growing part of the U.S. economy, employing tens of millions of workers and according to the U.S. Government creating the majority of new private sector jobs within the past 15 years. SME’s can also access many new resources through DHL, including a dedicated small business portal and website – www.DHLsmallbusiness.com – that offers online tools, reference guides and special offers. The small business portal serves as a database for sharing knowledge, best practices and other topics of interest to SME business owners. Additionally, DHL’s Business Across Borders e-newsletter in collaboration with Inc. provides shippers with the foundational knowledge needed to succeed in a global marketplace.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Port of Vancouver, USA
celebrates maiden voyage

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA welcomed the MERCURY LEADER, commanded by Capt. Quazi Mukit Hossain of Bangladesh, on the vessel's maiden voyage to the United States on July 16, 2010. Capt. Hossain and his 21-member crew were welcomed to Vancouver by Capt. Minoru Taguchi, senior manager of Operations for NYK Line (North America), Inc.; Jay Orrell and Ann Tetreault of Subaru of America, Inc.; Steve Steele, local agent for Inchcape Shipping Services; Doug Beeber, senior vice president of Jones Stevedoring; and Robin Wright and Margerie Sedam of Merchants Exchange; along with port representatives Ken Mishler, Greg Westrand, and Deb Taylor. The MERCURY LEADER was built in Japan and launched June 18, 2010. The vessel is 610 feet in length and has a deadweight capacity of 15,045 tons. The crew for the vessel’s first visit to the Port of Vancouver USA is from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The vessel is owned by Yamabiko Shipholding S.A. and operated by Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK). Inchcape Shipping Services is the agent for the vessel. After an initial stop in New Westminster, BC Canada, the MERCURY LEADER discharged 1,062 Subaru vehicles while in port.


Genco Shipping & Trading
offering senior notes, common stock

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has commenced concurrent public offerings of convertible senior notes and common stock. Genco intends to use the net proceeds from these offerings to fund a portion of the purchase price for its previously announced acquisitions of 13 drybulk vessels from Bourbon SA and five drybulk vessels from affiliates of Metrostar Management Corporation as well as for general corporate purposes. Genco intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $100 million principal amount of convertible senior notes due August 15, 2015 in an underwritten registered public offering. In connection with this offering, Genco intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $15 million principal amount of convertible senior notes. The notes will be convertible, under certain circumstances, into cash, shares of Genco common stock, or a combination of cash and shares, at the option of Genco. The offering price, interest rate, conversion price and other terms of the convertible senior notes will be determined by Genco and the underwriters. Genco also intends to offer concurrently, subject to market and other conditions, 2,820,000 shares of its common stock in an underwritten registered public offering. In connection with this offering, Genco intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional 423,000 shares of common stock.


New FTA study finds
billions needed for rail repairs

WASHINGTON, DC — A Federal Transit Administration (FTA) study estimates the cost of bringing the nation’s rail and bus transit systems into a state of good repair at $77.7 billion. In addition, a yearly average of $14.4 billion would be required to maintain the systems. FTA’s National State of Good Repair Assessment Study, requested by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as a follow-up to the 2009 Rail Modernization Study report to Congress, provides a comprehensive analysis of the costs required to bring the nation’s rail and bus transit systems into good operating order. The 2010 study released today is based on data provided by 36 additional rail and bus operators in both rural and urban areas. While most of the $77.7 billion backlog can be attributed to rail, more than 40 percent of the nation’s buses are also in poor to marginal condition. “State of Good Repair” for the country’s transportation network is one of the five system-wide goals included in Secretary LaHood’s proposed Strategic Plan for the Department of Transportation. The assessment is available online at http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_11865.html


OOCL plans to increase
Asia to New Zealand rates

HONG KONG — To ensure the continued provision of high quality services and sufficient capacity to cater for customer requirements, OOCL is implementing the next phase of its revenue recovery program with effect from August 15, 2010. Freight rates for traffic from Asia to New Zealand, will be increased by USD 250 per TEU. Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. Headquartered in Hong Kong, OOCL is one of the world's leading container transport and logistics service providers, with more than 280 offices in 55 countries.


Coast Guard Cutter HEALY
completes first phase of mission

SEATTLE — The nation’s largest ice breaker, Coast Guard Cutter HEALY, is scheduled to arrive at the Alaska Railroad Freight Dock, Seward, today, after concluding the first component of its Arctic West Summer 2010 mission. HEALY is spending the summer in the Arctic, conducting Arctic Ocean hydrographical research and mapping the Extended Continental Shelf. HEALY is spending the summer underway in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and the Arctic Ocean for the three separate components of its AWS10 mission. During the first component, the crew of the HEALY worked with researchers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to collect and study water and ice samples, looking largely to learn more about the refractive properties of sunlight in the Arctic environment. This part of the mission included on-ice deployments, small boat operations, and scientific casts conducted from the ship. After departing Seward, the HEALY will begin the second component of the mission, which is the final year of a three-year collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter LOUIS S. ST-LAURENT to map the floor of the Arctic Ocean, helping to create a more complete picture of the topographical features of the Arctic seafloor. The third component will include deploying several types of hydrographic moorings, as well as recovering hydrographic moorings deployed on earlier missions. The HEALY, which was commissioned in 2000, and is the newest and largest of the nation’s three polar icebreakers. The 420-foot-long cutter is homeported in Seattle, with a permanent crew of 80 and a primary mission of scientific support.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Crowley orders pair of new
Ocean Class tugboats from Bollinger

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation's vessel construction boom is continuing unabated with its recent order of two additional high-bollard-pull Ocean Class tugboats from Bollinger Shipyards. The latest contract brings the number of new 10,880-horsepower tugs being constructed for Crowley to four, and adds to the more than $1 billion the company is investing in new tugs, high-capacity barges and articulated tug barge tank vessels (ATBs). The new tugs, OCEAN SUN and OCEAN SKY, will join the OCEAN WAVE and OCEAN WIND in the Crowley fleet over the next two-and-a-half years, and further solidify the company's standing as an industry leader in ocean towing, salvage and offshore marine support for the upstream energy industry.


New Washington State ferry
conducting sea trails in Puget Sound

EVERETT — Puget Sound residents may get a glimpse at the new state ferry CHETZEMOKA this week as it travels through the Sound on sea trials. Contractor Todd Pacific Shipyards is required to conduct these trials to demonstrate the vessel to U.S. Coast Guard and WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) inspectors before WSF accepts delivery of the vessel. The sea trials team is comprised of a master and crew hired by Todd with their Test and Trials Department. The sea trials must be conducted away from other marine traffic to complete the demonstrations efficiently and without interference from other vessels. Later this month, WSF crews will begin operational training and familiarization with the CHETZEMOKA on the Port Townsend/Keystone route in preparation for the vessel to begin service in late August. Approved contract change orders have granted an additional 30 days to the delivery schedule. WSF and Todd have developed an integrated delivery schedule which will allow Todd to complete final outfitting while WSF conducts crew training and familiarization. WSF will meet its August 2010 service delivery milestone. The CHETZEMOKA is the first new Washington State Ferry of the 21st century, and the first step in replacing the ferry system’s aging fleet to ensure continued safe and reliable service. The inaugural sailing of the Chetzemoka will occur on Sunday, August 29, with celebrations on Whidbey Island, aboard the CHETZEMOKA, and in Port Townsend. The events are currently in the planning phases, and more information will be provided as details are confirmed.


Port of Seattle ECAP program
earns AAPA environmental award

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle is one of four ports nationwide to win a 2010 Environmental Improvement Award from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). The port’s Environmental Compliance and Assessment Program (ECAP) was recognized by the association in the Comprehensive Environmental Management category. ECAP is a tenant focused program designed to minimize the environmental impacts of tenant activities and maintain regulatory compliance through education and compliance assessment. ECAP is not an enforcement program, rather ECAP team members work collaboratively with tenants to minimize environmental impacts in ways that also work with the tenant’s business objectives. One of the important considerations of the program is accommodation of tenants with a wide range of environmental and regulatory knowledge. To manage that challenge, ECAP has a flexible system of Environmental Impact Codes which determine the frequency and intensity of tenant assessments.


Crystal Cruises continues string
of world's best cruise line honors

TOKYO — For a record 15th consecutive year, Crystal Cruises has been voted “World’s Best Large-Ship Cruise Line” by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. The ultra-luxury line is the only vacation experience – cruise line, hotel, or resort – to have been voted number 1 for 15 years, each year since the inception of this magazine’s awards. Crystal Cruises’ 2010 World’s Best Score of 90.47 is one of the line’s highest ever scores and its second highest score in eight years. Crystal Cruises, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NYK, was founded in 1988 and offers a range of luxury cruises on its two ships, CRYSTAL SYMPHONY and CRYSTAL SERENITY, which were recently recognized as the top two medium-sized cruise ships in the world.


Port of Bellingham celebrating
25th anniversary of 'Goonies' film

BELLINGHAM — The Port of Bellingham invites all to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the cult classic "The Goonies" with fun children's activities and a free outdoor showing of the classic movie, in which a group of youngsters go in search of hidden pirate treasure. This Bellwether Family Fun Night will start off with a puppet stage for kids to act out their own pirate adventures, along with face painting and henna temporary tattoos. The movie will start at dusk, approximately 8:15 pm. Bellwether Family Fun Night is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 19 at Tom Glenn Common, 16 Bellwether Way, Bellingham. This event is sponsored by the Port of Bellingham, Bellwether on the Bay, TM Anthony's at Squalicum Harbor and Anthony's Hearthfire restaurants, the Hotel Bellwether, Sanitary Services, Kuru Kuru Sushi and Redden Marine in cooperation with Allied Arts and the Pickford Film Center. For more information, go to www.portofbellingham.com/bellwetherfamilyfun.htm, email info@portofbellingham.com or call (360) 676-2500.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 19, 2010

Bellingham Port Commission
extends search for new director

BELLINGHAM — The search for an executive director for the Port of Bellingham will continue this summer as the commissioners announced that they would be interviewing additional candidates in a few weeks. Commissioners this week directed their Seattle-based search firm, Waldron and Associates, to revisit the 110 applications that were submitted in May and help them select more people to interview. They hope to conduct additional interviews by the end of August.


Vigor Marine LLC buying
Marine Industries Northwest

PORTLAND — Vigor Marine LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vigor Industrial, will purchase the assets of Marine Industries Northwest, Inc. (MINI) in Tacoma. The transaction is expected to close on or about August 6, 2010. "We are excited about the opportunity to grow our company presence in the Puget Sound," said Frank Foti, president and CEO of Vigor Industrial. "We already have operations in Bremerton and Everett. This acquisition will allow us to increase our customer and employee base in the region." The company will operate the facility as Vigor Marine Tacoma, and will continue providing vessel repair, conversion, and construction services at that location. Vigor Marine LLC is a provider of marine repair services on the West Coast. The company has locations in Oregon, California, and the Puget Sound, and sends riding crews and remote deployment teams across the globe.


WSF employee retires
following investigation

SEATTLE — Washington State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond has announced that the Department has concluded its investigation of John (Jack) Nannery, an employee in WSDOT’s Ferries Division. Mr. Nannery was featured in a recent media investigative report about his questionable use of sick leave. The recently concluded WSDOT investigation found that during the first half of 2010, Mr. Nannery, a 30-year employee at WSF’s Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility, called in sick on four days that he also coached high school baseball after work hours. WSDOT terminated Mr. Nannery in the 1990s for falsification of time records but he was re-hired after his union filed a grievance and they prevailed at hearing. The State Auditor’s Office also reported in 2009 on an investigation into Mr. Nannery’s use of state resources and leave time. Following the WSDOT investigation, a pre-disciplinary hearing was conducted based on information in the investigation and Mr. Nannery’s previous performance issues. Subsequent to that hearing, Mr. Nannery submitted a letter of retirement to WSF. WSF has accepted Nannery’s voluntary retirement in lieu of termination.


Navios Maritime Acquisition
eyes purchase of seven tankers

PIRAEUS, Greece — Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation has announced that it has signed a securities purchase agreement which contemplates the acquisition of a fleet of seven VLCC tankers for an aggregate purchase price of $587.0 million. Navios Acquisitions intends to finance the acquisition as follows: $453 million with bank debt, $123 million with cash and $11.0 million through the issuance of Navios Acquisition shares. The final purchase price is subject to customary working capital adjustments, and consummation of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including third party consents. The transaction is anticipated to close in September of 2010.


Old Dominion Freight Lines
wins pair of quality awards

THOMASVILLE, NC — Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. has earned Logistics Management’s “2010 Quest for Quality Award” in a pair of categories – Expedited Motor Carriers and Multiregional LTL Carriers. This year’s awards – part of the 27th Annual Quest for Quality Survey of Logistics Management readers, which include buyers of logistics and transportation services – will be featured in the magazine’s August issue. The industry-wide survey recognizes the leading providers of transportation services. The Expedited Motor Carriers award was presented to OD-Expedited while the Multiregional LTL Carriers honor was bestowed to the entire company.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 15, 2010

STX HARMONY maiden voyage
celebrated at Port of Grays Harbor

ABERDEEN, WA — The maiden voyage of the M/V STX HARMONY was celebrated late last month at Terminal 4 at the Port of Grays Harbor. The vessel was constructed by Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipbuilding in China. The keel was laid on December 30, 2008 and launched December 12, 2009. Longshore workers loaded debarked logs and pulp onto the STX STX HARMONY bound for China and Korea.


Port of Everett calling for
public input for Collins Building

EVERETT — The Port of Everett will be collecting personal stories, images and artifacts about the Collins Building now through August 31, 2010, in an effort to capture the community’s experiences and memories surrounding the building. The information collected, along with materials the port has, will be used in the creation of an educational narrative booklet, interpretive signage and an interactive multimedia CD.
Some key themes the port is asking people to share include, but are not limited to the following:
– People and stories
– Milltown ties
– Images and artifacts (i.e. brochures/marketing materials from the casket operations)
– Manufacturing process
– On the business side … casket distribution, sources of lumber, business partners, notorious people who purchased a casket from the factory; and
– Others
Community input is essential to the success of these pieces. The port encourages those who would like to share their written stories, artifacts, photos, etc. to contact Catherine D’Ambrosia, port staff, at catherined@portofeverett.com or by calling 425-388-0617.


Underpass project begins
for Port Metro Vancouver

VANCOUVER, BC — Port Metro Vancouver reports that July 15 marked the groundbreaking of the Lynn Creek Rail Bridge and Brooksbank Avenue Underpass Project, representing the first of several North Shore Trade Area improvements. These improvements are part of the $225 million in public and private sector investments towards infrastructure improvements on the North Shore. Port Metro Vancouver contributed $17.6 million toward the Lynn Creek Rail Bridge and Brooksbank Underpass infrastructure improvements, toward a total investment of $43 million. Other funding partners include the Government of Canada and Canadian Pacific. As part of the development plan, the project will give residents a north-south trail connection along Harbourview Park in support of the District and City of North Vancouver’s community objectives. Currently, North Shore terminals are estimated to generate 12,300 direct and indirect jobs in British Columbia, paying more than $600 million in wages annually.


Intermodal tally jumps
for US freight railroads

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports that intermodal volume on U.S. freight railroads for the week ended June 19, 2010, reached its highest level since the 45th week of 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 227,985 trailers and containers, up 21.2 percent from last year but down .2 percent from 2008. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR now reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 23.2 percent while trailer volume rose 10.5 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume was up 8.8 percent while trailer volume fell 32.8 percent. Rail carloads last week also posted gains over the comparable week in 2009. U.S. railroads originated 284,913 carloads during the week ended June 19, up 9.2 percent from the comparable week in 2009, but down 10 percent from 2008.


Rail association praises
Carbon Capture and Storage act

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has announced support for the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Deployment Act of 2010 (S. 3591) introduced by Senators John D. Rockefeller IV (D- W.Va.) and George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio). Coal is the single largest customer segment for the nation’s freight railroads, supporting one in every five railroad jobs. “Senators Rockefeller and Voinovich are to be commended for their leadership in ensuring that clean coal technology can be deployed and implemented as soon as possible,” said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. “Domestic coal is abundant, affordable and if this bill is passed will be even cleaner. It is affordable coal-based electricity that helps power the nation’s economic recovery and supports our global competitiveness.” Railroads deliver 70 percent of all U.S. coal shipments to their final destinations, moving enough coal to meet the electricity needs of every home in America. It is the cost-effectiveness of freight rail that has made it the transportation mode of choice for moving coal – and today twice as much coal can be shipped for roughly what it cost 30 years ago.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 15, 2010

Bellingham Draft Master Plan
presented to community

BELLINGHAM — Bellingham waterfront redevelopment planning took another step forward when the City of Bellingham and Port of Bellingham released a Preliminary Draft Master Plan for community review on July 15. The document is posted on line and will be available at an Aug. 11 open house.


Topping off of rental car facility
celebrated at Sea-Tac Airport

SEATTLE — One year after re-starting the project due to the bad economy, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s new Rental Car Facility celebrated it’s topping off July 14, with the help of one of the four tower cranes on-site to signal the halfway point of a project creating an estimated 3,000 jobs. The Port of Seattle, the City of SeaTac, Turner Construction and representatives from the rental car industry and Washington State Building & Construction Trades Council placed their signatures on the top beam before it was lifted into place. Construction on the $419 million, 23-acre site will generate more than 3,000 local, family-wage jobs and nearly $2 million in tax revenue for the City of SeaTac over the life of the project. The facility is scheduled to open in spring of 2012. The Consolidated Rental Car Facility will support all airport-related rental car operations at one location. It is designed to meet the current and future demands of the traveling public. The facility will be a five-story structure that will greatly improve the size, space, and efficiency of rental car operations that are currently spread out from the main terminal garage and multiple off-site locations. In addition, the facility will open up two floors of public parking, more than 3,200 spaces, in the main terminal garage. The project was temporarily suspended in December 2008 due to the meltdown in the global credit market. The Port of Seattle Commission approved the successful sale of $317 million in revenue bonds in late June 2009 in order to re-start the project.


Evergreen phasing out
chassis program in Boston

TAIPEI — In an effort to improve operational efficiencies, free-up terminal space, reduce pollution, allow truckers quicker turnaround times and for its customers,
Evergreen Line will begin to phase out providing chassis for import and export cargo commencing August 15 in Boston, MA. The U.S. is the only country where ocean carriers provide chassis, Evergreen Line said in a statement, and it is neither efficient nor economical to continue to do so. Drayage companies and owner-operators are fully qualified to manage and maintain chassis fleets with greater ease and cost-effectiveness, while providing the same standard level of service to the Importers and Exporters", the company noted. It is expected that the move will also save hours for truckers, reduce turnaround times save fuel, significantly reduce air pollution (CO2 and NOx emissions) and will have a greater positive impact on the environment. The program will start in the Boston area and will gradually expand to other areas within the United States.


NASSCO delivers tenth
T-AKE vessel to Navy

SAN DIEGO — General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has delivered USNS CHARLES DREW (T-AKE 10) to the U.S. Navy. The ship is named in honor of Dr. Charles R. Drew (1904-1950), the African American surgeon and hematologist who pioneered the procedures for the safe storage and transfusion of blood. NASSCO began construction of USNS CHARLES DREW in October 2008. The 689-foot-long supply ship will serve under the Navy's Military Sealift Command. The ship is capable of delivering almost 10,000 tons of dry cargo and petroleum products at one time to Navy and allied ships underway at sea. Including the CHARLES DREW, NASSCO has delivered ten T-AKEs, which are also known as Lewis and Clark-class ships. The eleventh through thirteenth ships are under construction at the San Diego shipyard. Construction of the fourteenth and final ship of the Lewis and Clark class will begin in the fall.


Hamburg Sud ending relationship
with ZIM in North Europe/Israel service

HAMBURG — Hamburg Süd has announced that as from October 2010 onwards it will separate from ZIM in the North Europe – Israel service and mount its own independent operation, details of which are still under consideration. Detailed information on the enhanced service concept which will feature improved connectivity to Hamburg Süd’s Global Liner Network will be presented as soon as the corresponding analysis will have been finalized.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Seattle Port Board Oks
close to $5 million in projects

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle Commission has approved nearly $5 million in projects that will improve seaport facilities, dredge the waterway at Terminal 5, and provide land for South Park Bridge replacement footings. Commissioners also authorized CEO Tay Yoshitani to develop a strategy for development of port facilities at Terminal 91.
Projects approved include:
Replacement of four mooring dolphins on Harbor Island so that the facility can accommodate up to four 400-foot barges and generate additional revenue for the seaport division;
Maintenance dredging for Terminals 5 and 18, ensuring adequate depth for navigation and cleaning the waterway by capping contaminated sediments;
Strategic plan for developing unused property around Terminal 91; and
Granting permanent easements over port property to King County for reconstruction of the
South Park Bridge.


Freight transport index
falls during month of May

WASHINGTON, DC — The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.4 percent in May from its April level, declining after two consecutive monthly increases, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the Freight TSI has risen 4.4 percent over the last 12 months, starting in June 2009, after declining 15.3 percent in the previous 10 months beginning in August 2008. The index has increased in nine of the last 12 months. Through the first five months of 2010, the index declined 1.9 percent with small increases in January, March and April combined with a 3.5 percent decrease in February and the 0.4 percent decrease in May. 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. The May Freight TSI of 97.7 is a 4.4 percent increase from the recent low of 93.5 reached in May 2009. In May 2009, the index was at its lowest level since June 1997. The Freight TSI is down 13.5 percent from its historic peak of 112.9 reached in May 2006. Although the index rose 4.4 percent from May 2009 to May 2010, it remains below the level of every other May since 1997 when it was 92.7. March 2010 was the first month since July 2008 in which the Freight TSI exceeded the level of the previous year. The index has exceeded the previous year's level every month since March but still remains below the level of earlier years. The freight index is down 12.4 percent in the five years from May 2005. The index is down 1.8 percent in the 10 years from May 2000. 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.


Northrup Grumman consolidating
Gulf Coast shipbuilding business

LOS ANGELES — Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced plans to consolidate its Gulf Coast shipbuilding operations and explore strategic alternatives for its Shipbuilding business. As a result of the Gulf Coast consolidation, the company will recognize an estimated pre-tax charge of $113 million in the second quarter of 2010. In addition, as previously disclosed, in the second quarter of 2010, the company will record a tax benefit of $296 million related to the final settlement with the Internal Revenue Service of tax returns for the years 2004 through 2006. The net impact of the charge and the tax benefit will increase second quarter 2010 earnings from continuing operations by about $0.73 per share. Neither of these items is reflected in the financial guidance the company provided on April 28, 2010. The consolidation of Gulf Coast ship construction is the next step in the company's efforts to improve performance and efficiency at its Gulf Coast shipyards, which began with the integration of its shipbuilding operations in early 2008. Since that time, Gulf Coast organization and leadership, operating systems, program execution, risk management, engineering, and quality have been the focus of intense improvement efforts. Consolidating new ship construction on the Gulf Coast in one shipyard will position Shipbuilding to achieve additional performance improvement and efficiency over the long term. Ship construction at Avondale will wind down in 2013. Future LPD-class ships will be built in a single production line at the company's Pascagoula, Miss. facility. The company anticipates some opportunities in Pascagoula for Avondale shipbuilders who wish to relocate.


General Maritime changes
revolving credit line terms

NEW YORK — General Maritime Corporation has announced that it has amended its $750 million revolving credit facility, dated as of October 20, 2008. Under the terms of the amended Credit Facility, led by Nordea Bank Finland plc, DnB NOR Bank ASA and HSH Nordbank AG, General Maritime will be able to incur indebtedness under the proposed new $372 million senior secured credit facility previously announced by the company, associated with the recently announced acquisition of seven vessels. In addition, the definition of EBITDA has been revised for purposes of the Net Debt to EBITDA maintenance covenant and the indebtedness covenant. As revised, EBITDA will include the pro forma earnings for the seven newly acquired vessels for the tested period prior to the delivery date of each vessel. Calculation of the pro forma earnings will be based upon the 10-year monthly average of the daily historical spot rates published by Clarksons PLC for the particular vessel class less an amount equal to the good faith estimate of the daily operating expenses for the particular vessel class. All other material terms of the Credit Facility remain unchanged.


AAR president selected
for transport institute board

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has announced that President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger has been named a member of the Mineta Transportation Institute’s Board of Trustees. Established by Congress in 1991, the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) is a national University Transportation Center and a Department of Transportation National Center of Excellence, specializing in policy studies related to multimodal surface transportation. Mr. Hamberger has served as president and CEO of the AAR since July 1998. Previously he was a managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell. He joined the firm in 1989 after serving as assistant secretary for governmental affairs at the Department of Transportation. Representing all major surface transportation modes, the MTI Board of Trustees includes members of Congress and other respected members of the transportation community. The board provides policy direction, assists with needs assessment and connects the institute and its programs with the international transportation community.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, July 13, 2010

New initiative to promote
PNW aviation biofuel program

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Portland International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Spokane International Airport and Washington State University have announced a strategic initiative to promote aviation biofuel development in the Pacific Northwest. The first regional assessment of its kind in the United States, the “Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest” project will look at biomass options within a four-state area as possible sources for creating renewable jet fuel.


PIERS trade data finds
increase in containerized imports

NEWARK, NJ — PIERS Global Intelligence Solutions trade data indicates that the second U.S. economic stimulus package for first-time home buyers led to a 20 percent increase of containerized U.S. imports from China during May, an 8.1 percent in April and an overall 12.2 percent year-to-date. New homeowners purchasing furniture caused an 18 percent surge in furniture imports, but the increase is not expected to last. Today, China is importing and exporting goods at a record pace. Overall container traffic moving through Chinese ports soared by 21.9 percent in May from a year earlier, hitting an all-time monthly high of 12.44 million TEUs. Cargo backlogs and rising freight rates are heating up, primarily because of tight capacity, indicative of a peak season arriving two months early. The data is consistent with the timing of the U.S. government incentive. To qualify, homebuyers had to sign a purchase contract by April 30 and close the deal by June 30. As a result, new home sales surged by 14.8 percent in April to an annual rate of 504,000, while plunging 33 percent in May. Imports of furniture from China increased in May to 114,000 TEUS up by 17,378 from the previous year. June statistics are likely to reveal this trend of increased inbound shipments for furniture. Even imports of blankets, sheets and towels are showing a significant increase of 32.8 percent over 2009.


MOL using Descartes
for European ICS filings

WATERLOO, Ontario — Descartes Systems Group, a federated global network logistics solutions provider, announced that MOL, a multi-modal transport company, has selected Descartes to help manage its container division’s European Union (EU) Import Control System (ICS) customs filings. MOL selected Descartes to help manage import security filings into Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy. With its Global Filer solution, Descartes is working together with customers, like MOL, to help its customers and partners be ready to comply with the EU ICS requirements scheduled to be effective in January 2011. The Descartes Global Filer solution is architected to support the 27 EU and other countries around the world that require import security filings.


General Dynamics NASSCO
delivers new product carrier

SAN DIEGO — General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has delivered the fourth ship of its State-class product carriers to American Petroleum Tankers, LLC, a joint venture of the Blackstone Financial Group. The ship is named EMPIRE STATE, the state nickname of New York. NASSCO began constructing the Empire State in January 2009. At a length of 600.4 feet (183 meters), the double-hulled ship has a cargo capacity of approximately 331,000 barrels. The EMPIRE STATE will be used initially to carry refined petroleum products for the Department of Defense under a commercial charter. General Dynamics NASSCO employs more than 3,700 people and is the only full-service ship construction and repair yard on the West Coast of the United States.


New NOAA study discovers
Puget Sound waters more acidified

WASHINGTON, DC — Scientists have discovered that the water chemistry in the Hood Canal and the Puget Sound main basin is becoming more “acidified,” or corrosive, as the ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These changes could have considerable impacts on the region’s shellfish industry over the next several decades. The study, co-sponsored by NOAA, the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory and School of Oceanography (UW), the Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was conducted in the winter and summer of 2008 to determine the combined effects of ocean acidification and other natural and human- contributed processes on Puget Sound waters. Annual survey support is typically provided by UW’s Puget Sound Regional Synthesis Model Program (PRISM), while EPA provided the ocean survey vessel Bold for the summer survey. The research team estimated that ocean acidification accounts for 24–49 percent of the pH decrease in the deep waters of the Hood Canal sub-basin of Puget Sound relative to estimated pre-industrial (before 1850) values. The remaining change in pH between when seawater enters the Sound and when it reaches this deep basin results from the decomposition of organic matter. Over time, the relative impact of ocean acidification could increase significantly, accounting for 49–82 percent of the pH decrease in Puget Sound subsurface waters (depths greater than 40 meters) for a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to the study.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 12, 2010

First Westwood ship arrives
at Port of Portland terminal

PORTLAND — The arrival of the WESTWOOD VICTORIA officially signaled the start of a new service from Portland to Japan and Korea for regional containerized exports. Arriving in the harbor July 11, the first Westwood Shipping Lines vessel to call at the Port of Portland received a warm welcome at Terminal 6.


Repair work set to begin
on Sea-Tac Airport runway

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle is reminding area residents the center runway of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will be closed for concrete panel replacement from July 13 to September 11, 2010. The 60-day project will replace deteriorating concrete surface panels on runway 16C/34C to allow the continued safe operation of the runway until full reconstruction slated in 2016. The closure is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13. Approximately 150 panels will be replaced to address degradation such as cracking, spalling, and faulting which can result in concrete debris that can break loose and be hazardous to aircraft. This number represents less than four percent of the approximately 4,000 concrete panels that make up the center runway. All air traffic will be directed to the outer two runways during the project. Construction work will be done during daytime hours to reduce noise impacts to area neighborhoods during the evening. During the closure, airport neighbors may notice increased noise associated with changes in runway use. Most departures are expected to be on the runway closest to the terminal and most arrivals on the third runway. Finish work, such as striping and pavement sawing, is scheduled to occur during overnight hours up to two weeks after the runway reopens. This low impact finish work will not require daytime closure of the runway. The runway closure will not affect airline flight schedules or passengers.


Portland Coast Guard Commander
relieved of duties following investigation

SEATTLE — Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District, reports he has relieved Capt. Fredrick G. Myer from his duties as commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Portland, Friday, citing alleged misconduct due to a violation of military regulations, specifically unauthorized use of a government computer. Specifically, Capt. Myer was found, during an investigation, to have repeatedly viewed pornographic and other restricted internet sites on a government computer. Pending a final determination by the Commandant of the U.S Coast Guard in Washington, D.C., as to Capt. Myers case, Capt. Leonard R. Tumbarello, has been temporarily assigned to Sector Portland and the sector is conducting normal operations. "The decision to relieve a commanding officer is never easy and is taken very seriously. We take the Service's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty as guiding principles of our personal and professional conduct," said Rear Adm. Blore. "When any service member violates these core values they must be held accountable, especially our commanding officers. This action, while unfortunate and difficult, is in the long term best interest of the unit and the Service."


Ship management firm guilty
of pollution act violations

WASHINGTON, DC — Irika Shipping S.A., a ship management corporation registered in Panama and doing business in Greece, pleaded guilty on July 8, 2010 before Maryland U.S. District Court Judge Frederick J. Motz, to felony obstruction of justice charges and violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships related to concealing deliberate vessel pollution from the M/V Iorana, a Greek flagged cargo ship that made port calls in Baltimore, Tacoma and New Orleans. According to the multi-district plea agreement arising out of charges brought in the District of Maryland, Western District of Washington, and Eastern District of Louisiana, Irika Shipping has agreed to pay a $4 million total penalty, be placed on probation for a maximum period of five years, and be subject to the terms of an Enhanced Environmental Compliance Program. The proposed $4 million penalty includes a $3 million criminal fine and $1 million in organizational community service payments that will fund various marine environmental projects. In Maryland, $750,000 will go to the congressionally established National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and be used for Chesapeake Bay projects. In Washington, $125,000 will go to environmental projects in and around the waters of Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan De Fuca. In Louisiana, $125,000 will go toward funding habitat conservation, protection, restoration, and management projects to benefit fish and wildlife resources and habitats. Under the terms of the proposed plea agreement, Irika Shipping and its ships must also be audited by an independent firm and supervised by a court appointed monitor. According to court documents, the investigation into the M/V Iorana was launched in January 2010 after a crew member passed a note to the Customs and Border Protection inspector upon the ship's arrival in Baltimore alleging that the ship's chief engineer had directed the dumping of waste oil overboard through a bypass hose that circumvented pollution prevention equipment required by law. The whistleblower's note stated: "We are asking help to any authorities concerned about this, because we must protect our environment and our marine lives."


Navios Maritime Acquisition
takes delivery of two tankers

PIRAEUS, Greece — Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation, an owner and operator of tanker vessels, has announced the delivery of the COLIN JACOB and the ARIADNE JACOB. These LR1 product tanker vessels, built in 2007, immediately commenced three-year time charters at a rate of $17,000 net per day plus profit sharing. It is anticipated that these charters will generate aggregate base annual EBITDA of approximately $6.9 million. Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation is an owner and operator of tanker vessels focusing in the transportation of refined petroleum products (clean and dirty) and bulk liquid chemicals.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 9, 2010

Coast Guard identifies
crew of crashed helicopter

SEATTLE — The U.S. Coast Guard has identified the one survivor and three crew members who lost their lives, Wednesday, after their MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed in the waters off of James Island, near La Push, Wash. Lt. Lance D. Leone, 29, of Ventura, Calif., survived the crash and is being treated at a Seattle hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He is married. His awards/accolades include: Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, two Coast Guard Unit Commendation Medals, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation, Global War Terror Service Medal, Commandant's Letter of Commendation, Coast Guard "E" Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, Transportation 9-11 Ribbon, Coast Guard Rifle Sharpshooter Ribbon, Coast Guard Pistol Marksman Ribbon. He has served in the Coast Guard for more than eight years.


Port Tracker Report predicts
slowing of container volumes

WASHINGTON, DC — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to be up 16 percent in July compared with the same month a year ago, but double-digit increases seen in recent months should taper offer this fall as retailers cautiously manage their inventories, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. U.S. ports handled 1.25 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units in May, the latest month for which actual numbers are available. That was up 10 percent from April and 20 percent from May 2009. It was also the sixth month in a row to show a year-over-year improvement after December broke a 28-month streak of year-over-year declines. One TEU is one 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent. June was estimated at 1.24 million TEU, a 22 percent increase over last year as summer merchandise arrived on store shelves. July is forecast at 1.29 million TEU, up 16 percent from last year; August at 1.26 million TEU, up 9 percent; and September at 1.29 million TEU, up 13 percent. October – which would traditionally be the highest-volume month of the year as retailers stock up for the holiday season – is forecast at 1.24 million TEU, up four percent, with November projected at 1.13 million TEU, up three percent. The first half of 2010 was estimated at 6.8 million TEU, up 15 percent from the same period last year. Imports for 2009 totaled 12.7 million TEU, down 17 percent from 2008’s 15.2 million TEU and the lowest since the 12.5 million TEU reported in 2003.


Rail freight traffic tally
continues up during week

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads reports that for the week ended June 12, 2010, U.S. freight railroads continue to post traffic gains over 2009 levels. U.S. railroads originated 288,973 carloads last week, up 10.5 percent from the comparable week in 2009. However, carloads were still down 10.3 percent from the same week in 2008. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR now reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Carload volume on Eastern railroads was up 12.6 percent from last year, but down 14.9 percent from 2008. In the West, carload volume was up 9.1 percent from last year but down 6.9 percent from two years ago. Intermodal traffic totaled 223,075 trailers and containers, up 17.7 percent from last year but down 2.3 percent from 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 20.1 percent while trailer volume rose 5.9 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume was rose 6.2 percent while trailer volume fell 33.3 percent.


OOCL plans rate boost
for Asia to Australia service

HONG KONG — Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) reports it is implementing the next phase of its revenue recovery program with effect from Aug 1, 2010. Freight rates for traffic from Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Indian Subcontinent and Middle East) to Australia, will be increased by USD 250 per TEU. OOCL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. Headquartered in Hong Kong, OOCL is one of the world's leading container transport and logistics service providers, with more than 280 offices in 55 countries.


Tsakos Energy Navigation
takes delivery of new tanker

ATHENS — Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited has announced the delivery and charter of the 105,000 dwt DNA-aframax tanker URAGA PRINCESS from Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Japan, the final newbuilding in a series of eight ordered in 2004. Upon delivery, the vessel entered a minimum 30-day repositioning voyage with the oil trading arm of a major financial institution.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 8, 2010

Unit train project completed
at Port of Vancouver, USA

VANCOUVER, USA— Yesterday, the Port of Vancouver USA announced completion of the Terminal 5 Unit Train Improvement project. The project, part of the larger West Vancouver Freight Access (WVFA) project, adds 35,000 feet of new rail capacity to the port’s internal system. The new track, constructed in a loop with associated yard tracks, is located at the port’s recently developed Terminal 5 (T-5) and will provide rail service for a variety of cargoes, including wind energy components. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) began using the new loop track at the end of June.


Rescue teams respond to
crash of Coast Guard helicopter

SEATTLE — The multiple agency response to recover the crewmembers from an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crash that occurred, Wednesday, in the waters near James Island, Wash., has concluded. One crewmember is at a Seattle hospital being treated for non-life threatening injuries and the remaining three are deceased. The Coast Guard is not releasing the condition of the survivor or the names of the crewmembers until next of kin notification is complete. The next step of this response is the salvage and investigation phase. The investigation can include survivor interviews, witness interviews, and review of information from the flight data recorder. A good Samaritan retrieved two crewmembers from the water and transferred them to Emergency Medical Services. The search began at approximately 9:45 a.m., when the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, Ak., crew did not perform a routine radio check-in. The Coast Guard responded with two Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH 60 Jayhawk helicopter crews, two Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., MH 65 Dolphin helicopter crews, and three Coast Guard Station Quillayute, Wash., response boat crews. Dive teams from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the National Parks Service assisted with the search along with the Quileute tribal response teams and Canadian Air Force.


The Greenbrier Companies
releases third quarter numbers

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — The Greenbrier Companies has reported results for its fiscal third quarter ended May 31, 2010. Revenues for the third quarter of 2010 were $211.5 million, down from $244.4 million in the prior year's third quarter. EBITDA for the quarter was $25.9 million, or 12.2 percent of revenues,compared to $20.3 million, or 8.3 percent of revenues in the third quarter of 2009. The company's net earnings for the quarter were $4.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $51.1 million, or $3.04 per diluted share, in the prior year's third quarter. Net earnings for the quarter include noncash charges of $1.2 million, net of tax, or $0.06 per diluted share, for warrant amortization expense and amortization of convertible debt discount, as well as a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $0.8 million, net of tax, or $0.04 per diluted share. Net loss for the prior year's third quarter included noncash charges of $51.0 million, net of tax, or $3.03 per diluted share, for the impairment of a portion of the company's goodwill, and $0.6 million, net of tax, or $0.03 per diluted share, for amortization of convertible debt discount. The company ended the quarter with $117 million of cash and $106 million of committed additional borrowing capacity. In May 2010, Greenbrier issued 4,500,000 shares of common stock at a price of $12.50 per share, generating proceeds (net of expenses) of $52.7 million. The company received a $14 million tax refund during the quarter related to tax loss carry backs. New railcar deliveries in the third quarter of 2010 were 700 units, compared to 800 units in the third quarter of 2009. Greenbrier's new railcar manufacturing backlog as of May 31, 2010 was 4,400 units with an estimated value of $370 million. Marine backlog was $75 million as of May 31, 2010. Greenbrier commenced management of a lease fleet of nearly 4,000 railcars valued at approximately $230 million, acquired by the newly-formed WL Ross-Greenbrier Rail Holdings I LLC (WLR-GBX).


Senator Cantwell unveils
new oil industry legislation

SEATTLE — On July 6, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said she will introduce legislation to require the oil drilling industry to continually integrate the latest technologies into oil spill prevention and response plans. Speaking at a press conference on Seattle’s waterfront, Senator Cantwell said the oil industry has failed to update its response plans with the best technology available because of weak regulations. Had the latest technologies been in place this spring, Senator Cantwell said, the ongoing spill in the Gulf of Mexico might have been prevented, or its impact limited. After Congress reconvenes, Senator Cantwell will chair a hearing of the Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard to address shortcomings and vulnerabilities in oil industry prevention and response technology.


Study finds truck numbers
could skyrocket within 20 years

BELLINGHAM — In 10 years, an additional 1.8 million trucks will be on the road; in 20 years, for every two trucks today, another one will be added. Already bottlenecks on major highways used by truckers every day are adding millions of dollars to the cost of food, goods, and manufacturing equipment for American consumers. As a result, according to a new report, the transportation system that supports the movement of freight across America is facing a crisis. At joint news conferences in Des Moines, Iowa; Memphis, Tennessee; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) released Unlocking Freight, an analysis of America's freight system that finds our highways, railroads, ports, waterways, and airports require investments well beyond current levels to maintain - much less improve - their performance. The report identifies key projects in 30 states that would improve freight delivery and dependability, and offers a three-point plan to address what is needed to relieve freight congestion, generate jobs and improve productivity. Unlocking Freight is the second in a series of reports generated by AASHTO to identify the need to increase capacity in our transportation system. For more information and to see state examples of freight capacity needs, go to http://expandingcapacity.transportation.org/


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 7, 2010

President Obama reports on
National Export Initiative gains

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, President Barack Obama provided a progress report on the National Export Initiative (NEI), which shows that the President’s goal of doubling exports and supporting several million new jobs over five years is on track, and that exports in the first four months of 2010 grew almost 17 percent from the same period last year.


Laboratory teams with VeriTainer
for container scanning research

LIVERMORE, CA — Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and VeriTainer Corporation have entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The CRADA will be used to refine and enhance VeriTainer’s patented crane mounted scanning (CMS) technology. The CRADA will be in place for three-and-a-half years and require approximately $4 million in funding. LLNL will work in cooperation with VeriTainer’s scientists and engineers to enhance both gamma and neutron detection sensitivity, while maintaining the capabilities of VeriTainer’s CMS. The system has been operated for the past four years in field tests run at three ports and in five different terminals. VeriTainer Corporation is a venture-backed leader in crane-based radiation detection technology for scanning of shipping containers to ensure that the world's ports are free from nuclear terrorism. VeriTainer's patented technology enables scanning of 100 percent of shipping containers, addressing a principal vulnerability of the world's population centers and allowing for rapid scanning of containers entering and exiting ports without disrupting the flow of commerce. Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national security laboratory that develops science and engineering technology and provides innovative solutions to our nation's most important challenges. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.


APL transports history
with Cleopatra exhibit move

SINGAPORE — APL reports it has safely transported artifacts from Egypt for their first US visit for the world premiere of an exhibition on the life and times of Cleopatra. The exhibition, “Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt”, links unique remnants of the great pharaoh’s rule with the current search for her complete history. It is organized by National Geographic and Arts and Exhibitions International, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM). A collection of 142 artifacts is showcased in the exhibition, including colossal red granite statues of a Ptolemaic King and Queen with a combined weight approaching 5 tons, which APL transported in two 40-foot ocean containers. APL also handled statues in the likeness of the goddess Isis, sphinxes, and an array of ancient tools. APL project teams from Egypt, Dubai, the US and Singapore worked closely with the organizers and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, which assigned a representative to accompany the antiquities on their 9,000km ocean voyage.


Congressman Cummings pleased with
Coast Guard Academy diversity progress

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07), chairman of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, reports he was pleased to learn of increasing diversity at the United States Coast Guard Academy. The Coast Guard Academy's Class of 2014 reported for training on June 28. At that time, 199 male and 90 female cadets were sworn into the class. The gender diversity of the Coast Guard Academy has consistently increased in the past several years. Thus, the Class of 2012 was comprised of only 29 percent female cadets while the Class of 2014 is 31 percent female. Along with gender diversity, nearly 24 percent of the incoming class are non-Caucasian, including 35 Hispanic Americans, 15 African Americans, and 13 Asian Americans. By comparison, the Class of 2012, which was sworn in 2008, was comprised of only 12 percent of cadets who identified themselves as an ethnic minority. In April, Chairman Cummings convened a hearing regarding civil rights programs and diversity initiatives in the United States Coast Guard. The hearing examined a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concerning changes made by the Coast Guard’s Civil Rights Directorate. The Subcommittee also examined diversity at the Coast Guard Academy.


Bellingham Port Commisioners
talking to public over coffee

BELLINGHAM — If you have questions or comments for the countywide Port of Bellingham, the commissioners would like to talk with you. In July they have scheduled four "Coffee with a Commissioner" sessions around the county so that they can hear directly from the people they represent. "We have a regular time in our meetings for public comment, but we thought we could reach more people if we invited them to join us for coffee," said Commission President Jim Jorgensen. "We want to answer people's questions and hear their ideas." Commissioner Jorgensen said that if these first four sessions get a good turnout, they'll schedule more in other parts of Whatcom County. Each of the sessions will be hosted by one commissioner and a staff person and will include coffee, tea and breakfast pastries.
Coffee with a Commissioner Sessions ---- 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Monday, July 12: Commissioner Michael McAuley-- Lynden's Fairway Cafe, 1726 Front Street
Tuesday, July 13: Commissioner Jim Jorgensen-- Blaine Boathouse, Blaine Harbor
Wednesday, July 14: Commissioner Scott Walker -- Bellingham Cruise Terminal, Fairhaven
Thursday, July 22: Commissioner Michael McAuley-- Squalicum Boathouse, Squalicum Harbor
Everyone is welcome to attend.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, July 6, 2010

FMC representatives
present views to Subcommittee

WASHINGTON, DC — Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr. and Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye appeared July 1, before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation to update the Subcommittee on the status of the Commission's Fact Finding Investigation No. 26, Vessel Capacity and Equipment Availability in the United States Export and Import Liner Trades; the current state of the U.S. economy and liner trade growth; and progress of the Container Availability Pilot Project. In Commissioner Dye's testimony, she outlined her approach and status of the investigation, noting that the first phase focused on soliciting information on problems in three main areas: vessel space shortages, chronic container shortages in certain parts of the U.S., and ocean carrier practices regarding service contracts. An intensive series of confidential interviews were conducted around the country and included participation from all sectors of the maritime industry.


Olympia Port Commissioners
select advisory committee members

OLYMPIA — The Olympia Port Commission appointed new members to the Port Advisory Committee (PAC) at its regular meeting on June 28, held at Tumwater City Hall. An interview committee comprising Commissioner Jeff Davis, Executive Director Ed Galligan and PAC Chair Lisa Cosmillo reviewed applications and interviewed candidates.
New PAC members are:
• Richard Korn and Steve Garrett (terms expire June 2012)
• Frank Gorecki and John Hurley (terms expire June 2013)
Alternates are:
1. Owen McCurty
2. John Youmans
3. Heber Kennedy
The new PAC Chair is Dr. Riley Moore; Vice Chair is Don Melnick.


Sri Lanka maritime cadets
training onboard APL vessels

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA — APL has begun training cadets at sea in an effort to tap into the strong pool of graduates from Sri Lanka’s top maritime training academies. APL said that three navigational cadets from Mercantile Marine Management are already sailing on APL ships, and will soon be joined by six more. Nine engineering cadets from Colombo International Nautical & Engineering College are currently in the final phase of class room-based training before taking up onboard posts. In addition to taking graduates from leading private colleges, APL is, exploring opportunities with top government establishments such as the Mahopola Training Institute. According to statistics provided by the Director of Merchant Shipping, Sri Lanka has more than 300 cadets graduating from its institutions every year. However, opportunities for essential onboard training have until now been limited. APL has been operating in Sri Lanka since the 1980s. Today, it offers five weekly services touching global trade lanes and a wide range of value add logistics services.


OOCL announces changes
to management structure

HONG KONG — OOCL has announced the following changes in headquarters and management positions, effective from August 1, 2010: CL Ting, managing director, Corporate Planning, will retire after 36 years with the company. Mr. Ting has played a key role in building OOCL as a successful organization. Stephen Ng, currently director, Trans-Pacific Trade, will succeed Mr. Ting as director of the Corporate Planning Department. He will be appointed as a director of OOCL. Michael Kwok, currently general manager, Corporate Administration, will be appointed as director of Trades. He will also be appointed as a director of OOCL, Tony Tong will be promoted to director, Trans-Pacific Trade.


NYK Logistics expanding
China branch office network

TOKYO — NYK Logistics (China) Co. Ltd. (NLC), a wholly owned subsidiary of NYK, has opened two branches in the inland area of China, along the Yangtze River—one in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, and another in Wuxi, which is located in the Yangtze River Delta. With the opening of these new offices, NLC now has 12 branch offices along with its head office in Shanghai and four representative offices. NLC established its head office in Shanghai on June 1, 2000, the first comprehensive logistics company wholly owned by a Japanese company, and since then, NLC has set up branches in Tianjin, Qingdao, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Dalian, Ningbo, and Suzhou, mainly cities along the seacoast. In February, NLC opened a branch in Nanjing to expand its business inland. The opening of these new offices enhances the inland network further. In addition to its developing inland network, NLC is preparing to open branches in Chongqing, which is a large industrial city located along the Yangtze River, and Chengdu, which is the capital of Sichuan province. NYK continues to expand its inland logistics service network and provide a comprehensive logistics service to meet various customer needs by utilizing its seacoast network in addition to its developing inland network along the Yangtze River.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 5, 2010

Tarragon, Port of Olympia agree
to back off East Bay negotiations

OLYMPIA — The Port of Olympia and Tarragon have jointly announced their mutual decision to not extend the Exclusive Negotiation Agreement for the development of East Bay. The perties are discontinuing negotiations because the market has not recovered as originally anticipated to justify the financial commitments and timelines necessary for development of the property. As a result, neither party could benefit from an agreement made at this time. The port remains committed to the vision of East Bay as a vibrant mixed-use district in downtown Olympia. The port is continuing environmental cleanup of the site so it will be shovel-ready when the market recovers. It will not immediately issue a new Request for Proposals but will instead evaluate the best way to position the properties for market recovery. Interim or short-term uses could be explored. Tarragon stated clearly that their due diligence found East Bay to be suitable for development. Market conditions were the issue for both Tarragon and the port. The port will receive all associated work products that Tarragon commissioned during the negotiation process. The community has the benefit of new streets, sidewalks, lighting and parking and can look forward to the new Hands On Children’s Museum and the Public Plaza. LOTT Clean Water Alliance has relocated to their new building and is the first tenant on the East Bay property. Tarragon is one of the most active and influential developers in the Puget Sound region. Founded in 1995, with more than 20 million square feet of commercial real estate projects in its portfolio, Tarragon has achieved recognition in the industrial, retail, mixed-use, residential and office markets.


Senator Murray talks oil spills
at Port of Seattle's Fisherman's Terminal

WASHINGTON, DC — On July 2, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) joined Washington state fishermen and small business owners at Fisherman’s Terminal in Seattle to discuss how the devastating impact of the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill emphasizes the need to hold BP accountable for the Gulf Coast spill and make sure a similar catastrophe never happens off of the West Coast. Senator Murray was joined by Margaret Hall, the owner of a seafood processing plant who spoke about how she was devastated after the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill and her business has never been the same. Richard Tarabochia and his son Ryan also spoke. Their family has been fishing for three generations, but after the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill they had to fight to get the compensation they deserved and they ended up losing their livelihood. At the event, senator Murray discussed a bill she co-sponsored, the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act, which would make sure that BP is held accountable and Washington state taxpayers are not left holding the bag for big oil’s mistakes. She also talked about her strong support for a West Coast drilling ban to make sure that the devastation we are seeing now in the Gulf never happens off the shores of Washington state. She noted that Washington state’s coastal region supports 150,000 jobs and generates almost 10 billion in economic activity - all of which would be threatened if drilling were allowed to happen off the West Coast.


Marcella Szel named director
of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

OTTAWA — Canada’s Transport Minister John Baird has announced the appointment of Marcella Szel of West Vancouver, British Columbia, to the board of directors of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for a term of three years, effective June 19. Ms. Szel holds a B.A. and an honours law degree from the University of Alberta. She worked for Canadian Pacific Railway from 1977 to 2009, where she held a number of senior positions, including senior vice-president of marketing and sales, senior vice-president of marketing and government affairs, and vice-president of strategy, law and corporate secretary. Currently a member of the Global Transportation Hub Authority (Saskatchewan) and a trustee of the Vancouver Police Foundation, Ms. Szel also brings with her a wealth of experience on other committees and boards.


General Dynamics Electric Boat
nets $51.8 million Navy contract

GROTON, CT — General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $51.8 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy to plan and perform the post-shakedown availability (PSA) on the nuclear submarine USS NEW MEXICO (SSN-779). Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. The PSA, which will comprise maintenance, repairs, alterations and testing, will be performed in Groton and is expected to begin this month. Up to 450 employees will be engaged in the work, which is scheduled for completion by July 2011. USS NEW MEXICO is the sixth ship of the Virginia Class of submarines. Electric Boat and its construction teammate, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, have received contracts to produce a total of 18 Virginia-class submarines. Thirty ships are planned altogether.


AAPA security seminar
set for Port of New Orleans

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Security is one of the highest priorities for seaports throughout the Western Hemisphere. Protecting the people and freight that move through these international shipping hubs and their surrounding communities is essential for ensuring public safety and keeping regional and national economies intact. To better enable seaports and their maritime partners to manage today's complex security issues, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), in cooperation with the Port of New Orleans, will hold its annual Port Security Seminar July 21-23 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans. Among the topics to be discussed are port policing and law enforcement challenges, crime scene management, issues surrounding the new Transportation Worker Identification Credential, federal port security policies and legislation, and emergency preparedness. In addition, the program will feature special sessions on disaster recovery and resiliency planning, including a presentation by U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry-commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District headquartered in New Orleans-on the oil spill recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. More information about AAPA's 2010 Port Security Seminar is available at http://www.aapa-ports.org/ (click on the "Programs & Events" tab and look under "Current Seminar and Workshop Schedule") or by clicking http://www.aapa-ports.org/Programs/seminarschedule.cfm?itemnumber=17160


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 2, 2010

Puget Sound ScRAPS program
removes 200th polluting truck

SEATTLE — On July 1, the Scrappage and Retrofits for Air in Puget Sound (ScRAPS) program scrapped its 200th truck. ScRAPS started last November with the goal of taking at least 250 container-hauling, or “drayage,” trucks with pre-1994 engines off the road. Through the program, truckers receive $5,000 or the blue book value of their truck – whichever is greater—in return for scrapping their old truck. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency developed the ScRAPS program using grant funding from the Port of Seattle and contracted its implementation to Cascade Sierra Solutions (CSS), an Oregon-based non-profit organization with expertise reducing emissions from the trucking industry. The program was designed to support the goals of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, which aims to lower emissions from all sectors of maritime operations.


Washington State Ferries
set to sail new vessel

SEATTLE — The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division (WSF) has announced that the new 64-car ferry CHETZEMOKA will make its inaugural sailing between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend on Sunday, August 29. The Chetzemoka is the first new Washington state ferry built in more than a decade. WSF will meet its goal of placing a new vessel into service in August 2010. The CHETZEMOKA is well under way on its integrated construction schedule. It is currently undergoing final outfitting and dock trials at Everett Shipyard. WSF will conduct dockside training in mid-July and full crew and vessel training will commence in late July before placing the vessel into service at the end of August. WSF has been without a state-owned ferry to serve the Port Townsend/Keystone route since November 2007. The state has been leasing the 50-car Steilacoom II from Pierce County since January 2008 to serve this challenging route until new ferries could be built. WSF awarded the $65.5 million contract for construction of the CHETZEMOKA to Todd Pacific Shipyards (Todd) of Seattle in December 2008. Beginning construction in January 2009, Todd worked with its subcontractors Everett Shipyard, Nichols Brothers Boat Builders and Jesse Engineering to meet an aggressive 18-month timeline to build this first vessel in the class of Kwa-di Tabil (64-car) Ferries. WSF is building new ferries to replace its aging fleet. Nine of WSF’s 20 auto-passenger ferries are between 40 and 65 years old and must be replaced in the next 20 years. Construction is well under way on the second Kwa-di Tabil ferry, and steel is being cut for the third vessel. The $114.1 million contract for the second and third vessels, awarded to Todd in October 2009, includes an option to purchase a fourth 64-car ferry. WSF will pursue procurement of a 144-car ferry rather than a fourth 64-car ferry if sufficient funding is available prior to exercising the option to build the fourth 64-car ferry.


US rail freight carloads
increase during week

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads reports U.S. railroads originated 270,251 carloads for the week ending June 5, 2010, up four percent compared with the same week in 2009, but down 16.4 percent from 2008. Unlike the comparison weeks from 2008 and 2009, Week 22 of 2010 included the Memorial Day holiday. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR now reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 191,758 trailers and containers, up 1.6 percent from a year ago, but down 18.9 percent compared with 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 4.5 percent and trailer volume fell 13 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume decreased 11.5 percent and trailer volume dropped 45.8 percent. Ten of the 19 carload commodities increased from the comparable week in 2009, with metallic ores, up 208 percent, and metals and metal products, up 69.8 percent, posting the most significant gains. Only one commodity group – the “all other carloads” category – posted an increase over 2008 levels.


Evergreen places order
for ten new container ships

TAIPEI — The Evergreen Group has placed orders with Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd in Taipei for ten 8,000-TEU L-class environmentally advanced container vessels. The first vessel is due for delivery in 2012 and will join the Evergreen Line global containership fleet. Six of the new vessels will be built for Evergreen Marine Corporation and four for Evergreen International S.A. (Panama). The ships are being built at a cost of $103 million each. The new ships will be constructed under the Greenship design concept developed by Evergreen Group Chairman Dr. Chang Yung-Fa nearly 10 years ago and first introduced in 2003. The highly developed features have been built into every Evergreen Line vessel since then. The Greenship program has taken environmental protection and compliance to a superior level.


Crowley presents Midshipman
with maritime security award

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation has presented U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Midshipman Kevin Kinsella with the Maritime Security Enhancement Award, during the academy's graduation awards convocation. Charles Hill, chairman of the academy's alumni foundation, presented the recognition certificate and cash award on behalf of Crowley to Midshipman Kinsella. Each year, Crowley recognizes a student at USMMA who demonstrates a strong interest in a career in port, maritime or transportation security. Midshipman Kinsella, a native of Allentown, Pa., majored in logistics and intermodal transportation and served as the 1st Batallion executive officer, responsible for the day-to-day workings of the battalion. During his time at the academy, Kinsella was also president and captain of the Kings Point rugby football club and a member of the emergency medical service squad, where he earned an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification. Midshipman Kinsella graduated with a 3.28 grade-point average (GPA). After graduation, Midshipman Kinsella will take a commission as an ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard and will be assigned to the cutter Waesche, the newest of the high-endurance national security cutters.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 1, 2010

Bellingham port director candidates
to speak at community reception

BELLINGHAM — Four finalists for the Port of Bellingham's executive director position will be in Bellingham from July 7-9 to take part in a comprehensive interview process. This will include in-depth interviews with port's board of commissioners, two staff groups and a community stakeholder group. Candidates also will be taken on a tour of port operations. The fifth finalist, Larry Williams, notified the port on June 29 that he decided to withdraw from consideration so that he could pursue opportunities that are more in line with his personal and professional goals. The port commissioners invite the community to attend a reception for the executive director finalists. The community reception will begin at 5 p.m., Thursday, July 8, at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven. The finalists will each give a brief presentation and be available for informal conversations. Feedback on each candidate will be gathered at the reception. More than 100 people applied to serve in the port's top administrative position. The finalists have a mix of broad port experience, and public sector employment. The commission anticipates making a final hiring decision by the end of July.


Trio of carriers teaming up
for improved Asia/Mexico service

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced the creation of a new consortium with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ("K"Line) and Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) to upgrade Asia- Mexico and West Coast South America (WCSA) container service. MOL has been offering Asia - Mexico and WCSA service (CWL) jointly with "K" Line and will launch the upgraded Asia- Mexico and WCSA service along with a new partner, NYK. The new service will offer two loops covering Mexico/Ecuador/Colombia and Mexico/Peru/Chile, respectively. The companies will also deploy larger vessels to the service to meet growing demand in Asia- Mexico and WCSA trade.
Loop 1: "WL1"
(70-day turnaround, weekly service. Mainly 3,200 TEU-class vessels)
Port Rotation: Yokohama, Keelung, Hong Kong, Da Chan Bay, Xiamen, Shanghai, Busan,
Manzanillo (Mexico), Callao (Peru), Iquique (Chile), Valparaiso (Chile), Lirquen (Chile),
Callao, Manzanillo, Yokohama
Loop 2: "WL2"
(63-day turnaround, weekly service with 2,000/2,100 TEU-class vessels)
Tokyo, Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nagoya, Yokohama, Manzanillo (Mexico), Buenaventura
(Colombia), Guayaquil (Ecuador), Manzanillo, Tokyo


RailAmerica set to purchase
Atlas Railroad Construction Co.

JACKSONVILLE, FL — RailAmerica has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Atlas Railroad Construction Company (Atlas) and related assets for $21.5 million in cash plus closing adjustments for working capital, which are estimated to be approximately $2.5 million. The transaction is expected to close July 1, 2010. Founded in 1954, Atlas is a railroad engineering, construction, maintenance and repair company operating primarily in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast. Atlas provides railroad construction services principally to public-transit agencies, industrial customers, and short line and regional railroads. For the next 12 months, RailAmerica estimates Atlas will generate approximately $25 million in revenue, $3.5 million in operating income and $2.1 million in depreciation and amortization. RailAmerica intends to use cash on hand to finance the purchase.


APL environmental efforts earn
sustainable shipping operator honor

LONDON — Global container carrier APL has been named the 2010 Sustainable Shipping Operator of the Year. A panel of maritime and environmental experts presented the honor here last week at the Sustainable Shipping Awards. APL, the world’s fourth-largest ocean carrier, took the award from a list of finalists including Caribbean Cruise Lines, CMA, Louis Cruise Lines, and Maersk Lines. The judging panel said it selected APL "for the combination of initiatives, positive proven results and their conscientious ongoing effort." Awards were given in six categories of maritime sustainability. APL was the only ocean carrier to be honored. In making its award decision, judges reviewed a list of APL environmental protection initiatives undertaken in 2010. The list includes:
•retrofitting five container ships for cold-ironing, which will enable them to shut down auxiliary diesel engines in port;
•constructing shore-power capability at its Oakland, California marine terminal to cold-iron vessels;
•slowing down vessels at sea to reduce fuel use and emissions;
•testing a ballast water treatment system to prevent the spread of invasive species into waterways; and
•introducing a new website that addresses the environmental challenges facing container shipping.
APL said it continues with ongoing environmental efforts that include new engine technology to reduce emissions, fuel conservation measures ranging from friction-reducing hull paint to coastal zone speed reduction, and low-sulfur fuel use in vessels at U.S. West Coast ports.


Pair of Crowley scholarships
presented to Webb Institute students

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Two undergraduate students, Andrew Lachtman and Lidia Mouravieff, at the Webb Institute in Glen Cove, N.Y. were recently awarded Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial scholarships for their community service and academic achievements. Retired U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Robert C. Olsen, Jr., president of Webb Institute, presented Ms. Mouravieff and Mr. Lachtman with Crowley scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year. The Crowley scholarship, which was established at Webb in 2008, is awarded to students who demonstrate leadership in academics and the community and have an interest in the maritime industry. Mr. Lachtman, a native of San Diego, Calif., is involved in several school activities and is currently serving as chairman of Webb's Honor Council, which is responsible for resolving violations of the student honor code. He is a member of several professional societies, including the U.S. Green Building Council, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the American Society of Naval Engineers and the Marine Technology Society. He has also been a member of Webb's volleyball team and is an avid cyclist and runner. Ms. Mouravieff, who is also a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the American Society of Naval Engineers and the Marine Technology Society, is from Washington, N.J. She is a member of the Webb band, soccer team, student court and serves as the social committee chairperson.