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June, 2008

NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, June 30, 2008

King County Ferry District
taking charge of Seattle/Vashon run

SEATTLE — Beginning July 1, the new King County Ferry District will assume the cost of providing passenger-only ferry service between downtown Seattle and Vashon Island. According to Washington State Ferries (WSF) this is the first step towards the ferry district taking over full operation of this route. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division will continue to operate the route until July 2009. From July 2008 through June 2009, WSDOT will operate Seattle/Vashon Island passenger-only service at current levels and the service will be fully funded by the King County Ferry District. The ferry district will assume operation of the route beginning July 1, 2009, using King County crews. The service will continue to operate out of Pier 50. The Metropolitan King County Council created the King County Ferry District in 2007 to expand waterborne transit options for county residents. In addition to the Seattle/Vashon Island passenger-only ferry, the district now oversees operation of the Elliott Bay Water Taxi which runs between West Seattle and Pier 55 in downtown Seattle. In 2003, the state Legislature authorized counties to create local ferry districts whose sole source of revenue is a property tax assessment. In 2006, the Legislature then voted to end state funding for passenger-only ferries on June 30, 2007. The Legislature agreed to extend the Vashon service if King County would assume financial responsibility for the Vashon passenger-only ferry by July 1, 2008 and assume full operation of the route by July 2009.


New Super Post-Panamax crane
headed to Vancouver, BC port

VANCOUVER, BC — One of the world’s largest Super Post-Panamax dock-side gantry cranes is expected to arrive at Port Metro Vancouver July 4, after leaving China by ship three weeks ago. DP World, the terminal operator for Centerm container terminal on the south shore of Burrard Inlet, will take delivery of the crane from supplier Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. Ltd. (ZPMC) of Shanghai. DP World has invested more than $200 million since 2004 to more than double the handling capacity of Centerm container terminal. These improvements are key to Port Metro Vancouver’s strategy to capture increasing bilateral trade with Asian economies. The crane will be installed at Centerm next week and is expected to join the five existing cranes in service at Centerm by mid-August.


SSA Marine joint venture receives
Vietnam Investment Certificate

WASHINGTON, DC — In the presence of Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam presented SSA Marine and Cailanport Joint Stock Company with the Investment Certificate for their joint venture company, Cai Lan International Container Terminal Limited Liability Company ("CICT") The Investment Certificate allows CICT to develop and operate container terminals at Cai Lan Port, in Quang Ninh Province. CICT will develop and operate berths 2, 3 and 4 and cooperate on such other terminal operations as mutually agreed by the parties. The development of berths 2, 3 and 4 is estimated at a total project cost of $100,000,000.


Steel imports into US
drop during month of May

WASHINGTON, DC — Preliminary data show that overall steel imports in May 2008 decreased 17.71 percent from April 2008. The change in May’s total amount of steel imports was due to a general decrease in most goods, such as reinforcing bars -68 percent, wire rods -55 percent, and blooms, billets, and slabs -40 percent. Galvanized hot dipped sheets and strip increased significantly with an 89 percent growth. Stainless imports decreased only slightly -0.53 percent resulting from mixed increases and decreases in individual stainless products. May 2008 imports of steel mill products were down 25 percent compared to May 2007.


Coast Guard Barque EAGLE
stopping in Seattle tomorrow

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard Cutter Barque EAGLE, also known as "America's Tall Ship", is scheduled to make a one day stopover tomorros in Seattle on its way to participate in the Tall Ships Tacoma 2008 event. Two World War II era Coast Guard vessels with Puget Sound historical connections and another from the Vietnam War era will escort the square-rigged EAGLE into Elliot Bay. The EAGLE will be welcomed to Seattle by a three boat Coast Guard Heritage Fleet, which spans more than a half century of Coast Guard history. The fleet consists of an 83-foot patrol boat built in 1944, the 65-foot buoy tender BLUEBERRY, and an 82-foot foot patrol boat built in 1962 and formerly known as the POINT DIVIDE.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, June 27, 2008

For-hire trucking index
posts gains during May

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased on a month-to-month basis for the first time since January of this year, edging 0.5 percent higher in May. April’s tonnage reading fell a revised 0.6 percent instead of the previously reported 1.1 percent drop. The seasonally adjusted tonnage index equaled 114.8 (2000 = 100) in May. The not seasonally adjusted index increased 1.1 percent to 118.3 from 117.1 in April. The seasonally adjusted index was 3.3 percent higher compared with May 2007, marking the seventh consecutive year-over-year increase. In April, the year-over-year gain was 2.2 percent.


RoadLink agrees to acquire
CP Ships Trucking Ltd.

ATLANTA — RoadLink, a North American private independent intermodal logistics service provider, has announced that it has agreed to acquire CP Ships Trucking Ltd. (C-Truck) from Hapag-Lloyd (Canada) Inc., subject to review by Investment Canada. Upon closing, RoadLink will launch a new alliance with Fastfrate, a leading Canadian supplier of transportation and logistics services, to operate selected locations and further enhance their combined capabilities for customers across North America. Headquartered in Montreal, C-Truck was acquired as part of Hapag-Lloyd’s acquisition of CP Ships. Deciding to concentrate on its core business, Hapag-Lloyd made a strategic business decision to divest C-Truck, which has six locations in Canada and the United States and operates approximately 240 trucks, the majority of which are owner-operators.


Midwest flooding puts dent in
weekly rail freight traffic numbers

WASHINGTON, DC — At least partly because of floods in the Midwest, rail freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off during the week ended June 14 in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight in the week totaled 324,337 cars, down 4.4 percent from last year. Volume was off 4.4 percent in the West and 4.5 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 228,424 trailers or containers, down 4.8 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was off 1.3 percent while container traffic dropped 5.8 percent. Total volume was estimated at 33.3 billion ton-miles, down 3.5 percent from the 24th week of 2007. Seven of 19 carload commodities registered gains from a year ago with metallic ores up 14.6 percent, food and food products up 6.8 percent and grain up 6.2 percent. Among commodities reporting declines were motor vehicles and equipment, 17.6 percent; lumber and wood products, 17.1 percent; and farm products other than grain, 16.1 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 24 weeks of 2008 totaled 7,804,897 carloads, up 0.6 percent from 2007; 5,302,794 trailers or containers, down 3.1 percent; and total volume of an estimated 807.0 billion ton-miles, up 1.8 percent from last year.


Top ships plans sale
of five Suezmax tankers

ATHENS — TOP Ships Inc. has announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell five double-hull Suezmax tankers built between 1992 and 1996 for an aggregate sale price of $240 million. The vessels are expected to be delivered to their new owners between June 2008 and August 2008. The company said that the net proceeds of the sales may be applied to acquisitions and general corporate purposes.


Boeing's Flight of Hope
delivers aid to China relief effort

SEATTLE — The Boeing Company's third Flight of Hope filled Shanghai Airlines' newly delivered 737-800's cargo hold with 300 cases of new cone masks donated by the Washington-Sichuan Friendship Association on June 13 at Boeing Field in Seattle. The masks will be used by relief workers in China as they begin to rebuild some of the hardest hit areas damaged by the earthquake. Flights of Hope is a collaborative relief flight program between Boeing, its airline customers and nonprofit organizations to provide humanitarian aid in China by filling the empty cargo spaces of newly delivered airplanes with relief materials. Once delivered, the Sichuan Charity Federation will distribute the masks in needed areas.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, June 26, 2008

East D Street overpass
officially open in Tacoma

TACOMA — East D Street, a major corridor for rail and motor freight entering and leaving the Port of Tacoma industrial area officially opened this week, providing freight, motorists and pedestrians better access to much of Tacoma's industrialized "Tideflats" area as well as the revitalized Thea Foss Waterway. The overpass features wide sidewalks for pedestrians and bicyclists, Tacoma waterfront history placards and - built into the very architecture of the bridge - concrete silhouettes of historic Foss tugboats. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, speakers acknowledged the accomplishments of the $24.5 million FAST (Freight Action Strategy for the Everett-Seattle-Tacoma Corridor) project and its funding partners.


Corps sets informational meeting
to discuss Columbia Mouth dredging

PORTLAND — Channel maintenance will begin soon at the Mouth of the Columbia River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced. An informational meeting about the channel maintenance will be held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 10, in the Columbia River Bar Pilots conference room located at 100 16th St., Astoria, Ore. The schedule for dredging activities and disposal locations for sediment removed from the navigation channel will be presented and repair work planned for this summer on the north jetty sand berm also will be addressed. As in previous years, the meeting is also an opportunity to share information and coordinate activities among all of the attendees. The meeting is open to anyone who is interested. The contract for Mouth of the Columbia River maintenance dredging has been awarded to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock with work tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-July. The Corps’ dredge, ESSAYONS, will begin work at the MCR in August. The MCR navigation channel is located between River Mile 3 and River Mile -3, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. The Corps dredges the navigation channel each year to provide a lane of safer transit for vessels crossing the Columbia River bar.


Coast Guard marks opening
of National Maritime Center

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Coast Guard will unveil its National Maritime Center during a ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication scheduled today at 100 Forbes Dr., Martinsburg, W.Va. Although not yet fully staffed, the NMC is fully operational and houses U.S. Merchant Mariner Licensing and Documentation production as well as the Merchant Mariner Training Course Approval and Oversight Program. The center is expected to employ approximately 200 military, federal civilian and contract employees once fully staffed. Construction of the 60,000 square-foot NMC began in late 2006 and was completed in December 2007. The NMC moved from its temporary facility in Kearneysville to the new facility in Martinsburg once construction was completed. The mission of the NMC is to issue credentials to qualified mariners and approve maritime training courses in the most efficient and effective way possible. While the Coast Guard's Mariner Licensing and Documentation program is centralized at the center, 17 Regional Examination Centers operate as "storefronts and advocates" for the approximately 212,000 actively employed merchant mariners who require the services of the NMC. The General Services Administration and the Coast Guard worked in partnership to construct the NMC with developer JDL Castle Corp. and Mackie Johnson Architects, both of North Carolina, Bristol Group Construction of Kentucky and MBP Construction Engineering Inc. of Virginia. The building is owned by JDL Martinsburg LLC, an affiliate of JDL Castle Corp., and is leased by the Coast Guard at a cost of $30 million over the next 20 years.


Horizon Lines vessels
earn safety honors

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc., has been recognized for outstanding achievements in ship safety by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) at the Annual Safety Awards Luncheon held in Houston. The CSA-sponsored Ship Safety Achievement Award program recognizes outstanding feats of safety that contribute to saving a life, a ship or other property. This year, the Highest Honors award went to the HORIZON FALCON in recognition of the crew’s extraordinary courage and superior seamanship, without regard to their personal safety in adverse weather conditions, when they successfully rescued Chinese crewmembers of the capsized vessel HAI TONG 7 northwest of Guam last July. Three additional Horizon Lines vessels were presented Devlin Awards, which signify two or more years of injury-free operations. The vessels honored are the HORIZON SPIRIT (5 years injury-free); the USNS BRUCE HEEZEN (3 years injury-free); and the HORIZON PACIFIC (2 years injury-free).


Port of Seattle names winners
of Sea-Tac Fly Quiet awards

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle Commission recognized three airlines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as winners of the 2007 Fly Quiet Awards. For the second year in a row, SkyWest Airlines won the award for passenger airlines while Cargolux received top honors for cargo airlines. Horizon Air was also recognized as honorable mention. The Fly Quiet incentive program was designed to honor airline companies that work to reduce the impacts of jet noise on the region. Evaluations include measuring each airline on its noise abatement flight paths, overall noise level of its operations, and compliance for testing engines on the ground. The annual awards were established by port staff and a citizen advisory committee to increase airline and pilot awareness to benefit local communities. Both SkyWest and Horizon scored well due to their jets following noise abatement flight paths and through operation of many quieter Bombardier CRJ's (Candian Regional Jets) which produce lower average noise levels. Cargolux scored the highest in noise abatement procedures and won a close contest over Federal Express, who had won the award three straight years.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Vancouver, USA Port Commission
pushes back eminent domain decision

VANCOUVER, USA — Due to positive signs of progress in the negotiations with the Colf family for the acquisition of property for mitigation land, the Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners voted to again postpone its decision on action toward authorizing eminent domain at its most recent meeting. In its 3-0 vote, the full commission recognized the hard work that has been done since May 27 when it first considered a resolution to authorize the use of eminent domain, and expressed hopes that the positive negotiations between the Colf family and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would continue toward a negotiated agreement. The Columbia River Channel Improvement Project is well underway, with more than 50 percent of the project complete, and taking action to gain ownership of Martin Island to compensate for the habitat changes that occur due to the project is critical to the continuation of the project. The purchase of mitigation land on the Washington side of the river is still to be complete, so the use of eminent domain is an option that is required by Federal regulations to complete the project. Most of the project is being paid for by the Federal government, while the remainder is paid through a local match. A public hearing on the issue was held during the meeting, and no comments from the public were offered.


Oceania vessel sharing partners
plan changes to US West Coast runs

COPENHAGEN — The member lines of the Oceania Vessel Sharing Agreement (Hamburg Süd, Hapag-Lloyd, and Maersk Line) and ANL-USL will, subject to regulatory approval, restructure their existing services between the West Coast of North America and Australia/New Zealand. Under the proposed agreement the four lines will jointly offer eight monthly sailings under a three string service concept. ANL-USL will integrate their existing service with the Oceania VSA. A weekly Pacific Southwest String (PSW-1) will utilize six 2500 teu vessels calling Long Beach, Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney, Tauranga, Suva (3x per month) Honolulu (1x per month), Oakland, Long Beach. A fortnightly Pacific Southwest String (PSW-2) will call Long Beach, Tauranga, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Long Beach. This new PSW-2 string will be operated with 3 x 1300 teu vessels. The Pacific Northwest (PNW) string will sail fortnightly from Seattle, Vancouver, Long Beach to Tauranga, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and return via Auckland, Papeete (Tahiti), Ensenada (Mexico) to Oakland and Seattle. The PNW string will employ 4 x 1700 teu vessels. The departure days of the fortnightly PSW-2 and fortnightly PNW string from Long Beach are timed in such a way as to provide weekly fixed day departures. The Oceania VSA will provide 104 sailings in each direction with the most comprehensive port coverage. Start-up of the new service structure is planned for August.


Alliances teaming up
for new Asia/Black service

TOKYO — The member lines of The New World Alliance (TNWA) and the Grand Alliance (GA) have announced a jointly operated service from Asia to the Black Sea starting mid-June 2008. TNWA and the Grand Alliance carriers began co-operating in February this year with a slot exchange on their respective fortnightly services to the Black Sea. The new joint service will now provide shippers a weekly frequency with the common port coverage. Eight vessels will be deployed on the service. TNWA members will operate three vessels. Grand Alliance member lines will operate five vessels. Hanjin and UASC will keep participating in this service as slot charterers. Capacity for these eight ships is about 5,000 TEU. Port rotation for the Black Sea service is as follows:
TNWA service name: "EBX" (East-Mediterranean/Black Sea Express) Service Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Singapore, Suez, Istanbul, Constanza, Odessa, Constanza, Istanbul, Damietta, Suez, Jeddah, Singapore, Shanghai.


Trucking association exec
calls for boost to US oil supply

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations has urged the Bush Administration and Congress to implement a comprehensive plan to increase domestic oil supplies and ensure an affordable supply of oil for the nation’s 3.5 million truck drivers and American consumers. Speaking at a National Press Club press conference hosted by Consumers For More Energy, ATA Senior Vice President Tim Lynch encouraged Congress to implement policies that will reduce oil demand, accelerate the development of research and technology, prudently increase government oversight of the petroleum markets and increase domestic oil supplies.


Everett beach access trail
closing for cleanup work

EVERETT — The Port of Everett’s Pigeon Creek Public & Beach Access trail will be closed for two weeks starting June 23 to remove brush, vegetation and debris from the storm water filtration system. The trail, which runs along the port’s shipping terminals, will be closed Monday through Friday, and will be reopened on Friday at 5 p.m. through the weekend. Since the 4th of July falls on a Friday this year, the contractor has been directed to complete the work by Thursday to allow for public access through the holiday weekend. Signs will be posted at the trailhead and near the Bond Street entrance during closures. The port wanted to ensure the community had access to the beach during the weekend, so it directed the contractor to perform the work during the weekdays. Parking is available on Bond Street or along Terminal Avenue in designated parking areas. Two picnic tables and benches are located at the beach site.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, June 23, 2008

Port of Tacoma plans sale
of land earmarked for rail upgrades

TACOMA — IThe Port of Tacoma plans to sell the 745-acre Maytown property that it purchased for $21.25 million in 2006. As a result, the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Olympia interlocal agreement on the Maytown property will not be extended beyond the June 30th expiration date. The Port of Tacoma will now begin the process of divesting the Maytown property it purchased in 2006 as a potential location for rail enhancements. Since purchasing the property, the port also invested more than $250,000 on environmental cleanup of the site. The port is exploring a broad range of options for selling the Maytown property that will enable the port to recoup its investment in the property. The port will entertain all offers on the property. The zoning for the property is rural industrial and rural residential. Additionally, the port will soon be working with conservation groups to explore options for selling all or portions of the property for one or more conservation uses to recoup its investment. The Port of Tacoma cited significant changes that have occurred since 2006 that influenced its decision to sell the property. While a 2006 Washington State Transportation Commission Rail Study indicates the need for additional rail capacity in the region, the current economic slowdown, a reduction of container imports, and ongoing uncertainty about the timing and location for mainline railroad rail capacity investments reduces the immediate need for such a development. In addition, a lack of public support in Thurston County for the development of the Maytown property also contributed to the decision not to extend the interlocal agreement.


Oregon PUC Commissioner memo
takes hard look at LNG supply

PORTLAND — NorthernStar Natural Gas reports an internal May 30 memo from Oregon Public Utility Commission Chairman Lee Beyer to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski expressed concern about the future price of natural gas due to a combination of increased demand, lack of supply, increased production costs for Canadian and domestic resources, and a move away from coal-fired generation. According to the memo, rising gas prices will push up electricity prices, substantially creating problems for industry and especially low-income customers. The chairman also said there is no assurance that new pipelines into the Northwest will be built, and that an LNG terminal in the region would help in meeting demand and lowering gas transportation costs. "In sum," the memo said, "the commission believes, short term calamities aside, Natural gas will likely be available for the foreseeable future, but the question is: at what cost?" Oregon imports 100 percent of the natural gas it consumes. Meanwhile, the wholesale price of natural gas has increased 300 percent in the Northwest since 2000, with domestic natural gas trading today at $12 per million British Thermal Units (MMbtu). Regarding the ability for LNG to help lower the cost of energy for ratepayer, the report went on to say, "It is worth noting that the reported actual cost of delivering LNG to U.S. facilities is approximately $4.50 per MMBTU leaving lots of room for market economics to work."


Trucking association exec
warns against cap-and-trade law

ARLINGTON, VA — Expressing concern over the impact that pending cap-and-trade legislation could have on the nation's economy and the price of fuel for the trucking industry, a top trucking industry official has urged Congress to take a cautious approach to climate change initiatives. Testifying on behalf of the American Trucking Associations before the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Con-Way Inc. Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs Randy Mullett also stated that federal climate change policy must avoid encouraging a patchwork of local, state, and regional climate change laws that could hinder the ability of the trucking industry to function in interstate commerce. Citing the nation's 750,000 motor carriers who deliver goods across state lines, Mr. Mullet said the industry supports federal preemption of local, state and regional climate change laws. Currently, governmental entities are enacting localized climate change initiatives, which Mr. Mullett said is "unworkable and impracticable" given the interstate and diverse nature of trucking. Mr. Mullett added that cap-and-trade programs, the primary mechanism being discussed to promote carbon reductions, are more effectively applied to stationary sources. A widely diverse regulatory patchwork would impede the delivery of the nation’s goods by creating varied economic and administrative regulations that will serve as barriers to an efficient transportation system.


Marcon brokers sale
ot two ocean-going barges

COUPEVILLE, WA — Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington reports the recent sale of two more ocean-going barges. Offshore Express, Inc. of Louisiana has purchased two ABS loadlined, deck barges from Hawaiian-based operators Young Bros. Ltd. of Honolulu. KAHOKU is a 260' x 74' x 14', 2,133GRT flat deck barge built in Galveston, Texas in 1976. The 6,339dwt MALANA (ex-DTB-40) is a 286.1' x 76.1' x 17.4', 3,202GRT deck barge built by West Gulf Marine, Inc. in 1977 with an 1,800PSF uniform deck load and fitted with an open house covering the forward third of her deck. Both barges were U.S. flagged and located in Puget Sound at the time of the sale. They are scheduled to depart the Pacific Northwest shortly for Central America where they will be drydocked prior to starting on their next assignment for new owners.


Young vessel designers
help open new IMO offices

LONDON — A veritable flotilla of colorful and imaginative maritime craft has been created in the paintings submitted by local schoolchildren in an art competition organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the London-based United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety, security and efficiency of shipping and the prevention of pollution by ships. The IMO recently returned to its newly refurbished Headquarters building on the Albert Embankment and, as part of a series of events to mark the occasion, invited the children from the Year 2 Ebury class of St. Barnabas' Church of England Primary School, in nearby Westminster, to submit their artwork in a competition to depict "shipping in the future". Twenty-three children and their teacher, Kirsty Shardlow, accompanied by the School's Headteacher, Ann Townshend, came to the IMO building on Thursday, June 19, where the winner and two runners-up received special prizes. The winners were:
First prize: Jayden Martin, aged six, for his picture entitled "Rocket Boat"
Second prize: Sarah Al-Sammak, aged seven, for her picture entitled "Disney"
Third prize: Ayesha Weekes, aged seven, for her picture entitled "Maria".


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, June 20, 2008

New wind cargo equipment
heading through Port of Longview

LONGVIEW — In what promises to be another strong year in the wind cargo industry, the Port of Longview welcomed Acciona wind cargo to their growing operations. The first shipment of Acciona cargo arrived in Longview on the M/V BELUGA FINESSE in May 2008. DSV Air & Sea Inc.’s Project Cargo Division in Chicago, Illinois, coordinated the shipment into Longview. Unique to standard wind cargo handling, Acciona hubs and nacelles arrived adjoined. The Port of Longview assembled a team of local contractors to separate the two components for transportation to the project site in Montana. The Port of Longview is awaiting delivery of their new Liebherr mobile harbor crane in July of this year.


Repair work forces changes
at Chittenden Locks in Ballard

SEATTLE — Vessel operators should be prepared to transit through the large lock at the Chittenden Locks in Ballard this summer because of mechanical problems with the small lock, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, The pintle bearings that support the four gates of the small lock are deteriorating at a rapid rate. To reduce wear on the pintle bearings, the Corps is reducing use of the small lock. This modified operation is intended to reduce the likelihood of complete failure of the gates. "The soonest we can have new pintle bearings fabricated is October," said Locks project manager Marian Valentine. "The potential for further damage to the gates is increased if we continue to average 240 lockings per week." The small lock will continue to be used for emergency vessels, and for other commercial vessels at the discretion of the lockmaster. The locks are still being operated "on demand" 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most trips through the locks will experience little, or no, impact. All vessels should carry two lines at least 50 feet in length in order to tie up to the wall of the large lock during all tides.


US rail freight traffic
on negative side during week

WASHINGTON, DC — Both carload and intermodal freight were off on U.S. railroads during the week ended June 7 in comparison with the comparable week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight in the week totaled 323,985 cars, down 2.1 percent from last year. Volume was up 0.2 percent in the West but down 5.2 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 236,384 trailers or containers, down 1.1 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was up 1.5 percent while container traffic dropped 1.3 percent. This is the fifth consecutive week trailer volume was above year-ago levels. Total volume was estimated at 33.6 billion ton-miles, virtually the same as during the 23rd week of 2007. Six of 19 carload commodities registered gains from a year ago with nonmetallic minerals up 8.1 percent, food and food products up 6.3 percent and coal up 2.5 percent... Among commodities reporting declines were metallic ores, 19.4 percent; motor vehicles and equipment, 18.6 percent; and lumber and wood products, 16.5 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 23 weeks of 2008 totaled 7,480,560 carloads, up 0.8 percent from 2007; 5,074,370 trailers or containers, down 3.0 percent; and total volume of an estimated 773.7 billion ton-miles, up 2.1 percent from last year.


Shara Aranoff named chairman
of International Trade Commission

WASHINGTON, DC — President George W. Bush has designated Shara L. Aranoff, a Democrat of Maryland, as Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC or Commission) for the term June 17, 2008, through June 16, 2010. Chairman Aranoff was nominated to the Commission by President George W. Bush on April 27, 2005, for the term ending December 16, 2012. Her nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 29, 2005, and she was sworn in as a member of the Commission on September 6, 2005. President Bush designated her Vice Chairman of the ITC for the term June 17, 2006, through June 16, 2008. Prior to her appointment, Chairman Aranoff was Senior International Trade Counsel on the Democratic staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, where she was responsible for legislative and policy issues on international trade and investment, including the Trade Act of 2002; negotiations involving the World Trade Organization, the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and numerous free trade agreements; trade remedy laws; Trade Adjustment Assistance; and trade-related environment and labor issues. The ITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that provides trade expertise to both the legislative and executive branches of government, determines the impact of imports on U.S. industries, and directs actions against certain unfair trade practices, such as patent, trademark, and copyright infringement.


Coast Guard Commander retiring
from Air Station Port Angeles

PORT ANGELES — Coast Guard Group /Air Station Port Angeles will hold a retirement ceremony for Commander Keith Russell, the Executive Officer, today, at 10 a.m., inside the Aviation Engineering Hangar. From 2006 to current Commander Russell has served as the deputy group commander at Group/Air Station Port Angeles. Commander Russell has earned accolades and awards during his outstanding career including two United States Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Global War Terror Service Medal, three Coast Guard Unit Commendation Awards, two Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations, four Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendations, the Commandant's Letter of Commendation, two National Defense Service Medals, two Humanitarian Service Medals, a Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, a Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, a Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, a Department of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award, and a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, June 19, 2008

Port of Vancouver harbor crane
makes short work of heavy lifts

VANCOUVER, USA — Thanks to the largest mobile harbor crane in North America, another heavy-lift project has been completed at the Port of Vancouver USA. Crews of workers at the port worked through the night to discharge four reels of cable, each weighing 90 metric tons, and another weighing 84 metric tons. On Wednesday morning, those reels were loaded to rail, for delivery to Whistler, B.C., with departure from the port scheduled for mid-afternoon Wednesday. The cable will be used in the construction of a record-breaking sized ski lift – the Peak 2 Peak Gondola – which will connect the peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The project is expected to be completed in time for the 2010 Winter Games, hosted by Vancouver, B.C. Each of the 90-ton reels of cable was the largest cargo lifted, to-date, with the port’s mobile harbor crane, which was put into service in 2006. The crane is one of the key reasons why the cargo was delivered to Southwest Washington. The crane is capable of handling up to 140 metric tons, which is the equivalent of two space shuttles.


Foss Maritime vessels
earn CSA safety award

SEATTLE — Foss Maritime Company’s commitment to safety was underscored earlier this month when a top maritime organization recognized 18 of its vessels for outstanding safety records. The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) presented the Foss vessels with Jones F. Devlin Awards at the Annual Safety Awards Luncheon in Houston, Texas. Jones F. Devlin Awards are awarded to self-propelled merchant vessels that have operated for two full years or more without a crewmember losing a full turn at watch because of an occupational injury. Altogether, the winning Foss ships have achieved the equivalent total of 82 years without a lost-time injury. Foss Devlin Award winning vessels honored by the CSA (and the number of years the ships have been injury free) were: AMERICA (three years); ANNA FOSS(four years); ARROW 2 (seven years); BETSY L (two years); CAMPBELL FOSS (two years); CARIBE ALLIANCE (four years); DOROTHY L. SYLVESTER (eight years); DREW FOSS (two years); HOWARD OLSEN (two years); JIM MOORE (nine years); NOYDENA (three years); PACIFIC QUEEN (two years); PACIFIC VIKING (two years); PEGGY FOSS (two years); PHILLIP W (four years); POINT FERMIN (nine years); POINT VINCENTE (nine years); SAM FOSS (eight years).


Coast Guard to commission
new cutter SEA DEVIL

SEATTLE — The newest addition to the Coast Guard fleet will be commissioned during a ceremony at Naval Base Kitsap-Keyport, Wash., Friday, June 20, at 10 a.m. The crew of the SEA DEVIL will be assigned to the Coast Guard's Marine Force Protection Unit (MFPU) in Bangor, Wash. The SEA DEVIL will be commanded by Lt j.g. Alanna G. Kaltsas of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. Rear Admiral John P. Currier, Commander, Thirteenth Coast Guard District, will be the commissioning officer and Anne Symonds is the cutter's sponsor. The mission of the MFPU is to enforce protective zones for Naval vessels. The 87-foot Marine Protector Class cutter has a crew of 10 and a maximum speed of more than 25 knots. The crew of the SEA DEVIL will be used to augment the marine force protection assets in Puget Sound.


Customs officers nab fugitive
at Washington border crossing

LYNDEN, WA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers apprehended a 64-year-old Kamloops, British Columbia man wanted in Utah for failure to register as a sex offender when he attempted to enter the United States through the Lynden port of entry on June 13. Officers arrested Ross Hannant when a name check revealed that he was the subject of a National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) felony warrant. Mr. Hannant, a citizen of Australia, was at one time a resident alien living in Utah and was sought because he failed to register as a sex offender as required by state law. This apprehension is the 60th NCIC arrest in Washington State on the U.S./Canadian border by CBP officers since Jan 1. NCIC is a centralized automated data base designed to share information among law enforcement agencies including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses. CBP officers on the U.S./Canadian border have made previous arrests of individuals wanted for homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, fraud, larceny and military desertion.


MarAd partners with Great American
to provide onboard training for cadets

KINGS POINT, NY — Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton and Gunther Keitel, executive vice president of Great American Lines, Inc., have signed an agreement for cadets from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and state maritime academies to take their training voyages on Great American Lines ships. Maritime cadets must have sailing time on working vessels in order to qualify as licensed mariners. There is currently a worldwide shortage of licensed mariners, and U.S. maritime academies have geared up to train more students. The agreement was signed on graduation day at Kings Point. Mr. Keitel and Mr. Connaughton are both graduates of the academy.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Port of Seattle taps Huey
as procurement office director

SEATTLE — Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani has named Nora Huey as director of the Central Procurement Office. Mr. Yoshitani created the CPO as part of the newly formed Capital Development Division. As Director of Central Procurement, Ms. Huey will oversee all procurement for the port, including construction contracting and professional and personal service agreements. The CPO will also be responsible for implementing the changes included in HB 3274, legislation which clarifies some procurement authority for ports in Washington State. Ms. Huey has many years of experience in procurement, managing professional services agreements and contract administration. Most recently, she worked for King County, where she managed public works procurement. An attorney licensed to practice in several states, including Washington, Ms. Huey worked for many years for the King County Prosecutor’s Office, specializing in procurement and contracting issues. Prior to joining King County, Ms. Huey worked for the U.S. General Services Administration as house counsel, focusing on procurement, contract administration and contract resolution. Ms. Huey’s first day at the Port will be June 30th.


Port of Vancouver, USA earns
AAPA communications awards

VANCOUVER, USA — The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has again recognized the Port of Vancouver, USA for its work in communication within the industry and within its community. The Port of Vancouver USA has been honored with an Award of Excellence for its electronic holiday card from 2007, and an Honorable Mention for its community newsletter, “Community Re:Port,” as a result of the 2008 AAPA Communications Awards Competition. Awards will be formally presented at the AAPA National Conference September 24, in Anchorage, Alaska. The Port of Vancouver has had good results in the AAPA Communications Awards Competition over recent years. In 2006 the port was given an Honorable Mention award for its overall communications campaign, and followed that up in 2007 with an Award of Merit for its community advertising campaign. With its award in 2007, Vancouver was one of just two ports nationally to be recognized for their advertising campaigns.


ILWU/PMA report progress
in labor contract negotiations

SAN FRANCISCO — The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) have issued the following statement regarding their negotiations on a new waterfront labor contract: In the weeks since our last update, the parties have continued to meet regularly, and have reached a tentative agreement on health care benefits. While the pace and tone of the talks have been productive, important issues remain, with work left to be done. Our negotiating committees will continue exchanging and modifying proposals. Both sides are committed to resolving outstanding issues at the table and to keep West Coast Ports running smoothly. The current waterfront contract covers 26,000 ILWU-represented longshore workers at 29 west coast ports in California, Oregon and Washington. The PMA represents cargo carriers, terminal operators and stevedores operating on the west coast.


Mitsui vessel named
top ship for 2007

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced that the MOL-operated iron ore carrier BRASIL MARU was selected as the Ship of The Year for 2007 by The Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers. The selection committee noted that the BRASIL MARU is a pioneering vessel in reducing iron ore transport cost which will have a great affect on steel production. Adoption of ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT) welding technologies increases resistance to metal fatigue. In addition, 2008 marks the centennial anniversary of Japanese emigration to Brazil, and the vessel is the third generation to carry the BRASIL MARU name, following two cargo and passenger liners.


Port of Tacoma schedules
Small Business Vendor Fair

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma is partnering with the Northwest Minority Business Council to host a Small Business Vendor Fair in Tacoma on Thursday, June 19. To be held at the Port of Tacoma Administration Building (One Sitcum Plaza), the Vendor Fair begins at 5 p.m. and concludes at 8 p.m. The program includes an overview of the Port's development and business opportunities, including detailed information on the following:
Port construction contracts;
Professional services; Personal services; and
Purchased goods and services.
This event is free, however pre-registration was required by June 12.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, June 16, 2008

Matson plans to raise
number of fuel surcharges

OAKLAND — With fuel related costs reaching historical highs, Matson Navigation Company has announced that it is raising its fuel surcharge for its Hawaii service by 4.5 percentage points, from 33.75 to 38.25 percent, and its Guam/CNMI and Micronesia services by six percentage points, from 33.75 to 39.75 percent, both effective July 13, 2008. This is the first adjustment Matson has made to its fuel surcharge since April 6, 2008. While Matson has traditionally applied the same percentage fuel surcharge to all of its Pacific service, it is implementing a new program that recognizes that there are greater fuel requirements in serving the more geographically remote regions of Guam and Micronesia.


Highway modifications begin
for Deltaport third berth project

VANCOUVER, BC — Port Metro Vancouver and the Ministry of Transportation (MoT) have announced that Highway 17 improvements are now underway in Delta, as part of the traffic mitigation activities for the Deltaport Third Berth Project. The $3.2 million improvement project, funded by Port Metro Vancouver and implemented by MoT, consists of: Improvements to the Highway 17 northbound off-ramp that leads onto Highway 99 southbound; Extension of the northbound HOV lane on Highway 17 south of Ladner Trunk Road; Signal modifications at Highway 17 and Ladner Trunk Road; and, Improvements to the left turning lanes from Ladner Trunk Road eastbound onto Highway 17 northbound. The Deltaport Third Berth Project will add a third berth to the existing two berth terminal at the Deltaport container terminal, located at Roberts Bank in Delta, BC.


Horizon Lines introduces
new environmental program

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced a wide-ranging corporate environmental initiative called Horizon Green. Environmental stewardship is a fundamental tenet at Horizon Lines, and the company has launched Horizon Green to better understand and measure freight transportation’s impact on the environment, and to develop programs that incorporate increased environmental sensitivity and mitigation into Horizon’s core operations. Within the Horizon Green initiative, Horizon Lines is addressing four key areas. Marine Environment, Emissions, Sustainability and Carbon Offsets.


Electric Boat nets Navy job
to modify nuclear submarines

GROTON, CT — The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $29.7 million contract modification for nuclear-submarine work. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Under the terms of the contract modification, Electric Boat will provide planning yard, engineering and technical support for nuclear submarines. Electric Boat will also provide design services to support the installation of configuration changes on submarines as well as the materials required for major alterations. Initially awarded in March 2004, the contract could be worth more than $1.1 billion over five years if all options are exercised and funded.


Washington State Ferries
schedules public workshops

OLYMPIA — The public is invited to help set the course for the ferry system’s long-range planning at a series of public workshops. WSDOT Ferries Division is hosting a series of nine public workshops in conjunction with quarterly Ferry Advisory Committees (FAC) meetings. The ferry system has a large network of FACs that provide input on ferry service and operational issues. The FAC members are appointed by county council with the exception of Vashon Island which is appointed by a local community council. The June FAC workshops will give the public an opportunity to exchange ideas and information regarding operational and pricing strategies. The information gathered at these workshops will help inform the development of the long-range plan for the ferry system. The format of the meetings will begin with a presentation followed by facilitated work groups. The meetings will be held from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. with the exception of Friday Harbor, which will be 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. The meeting schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, June 17, Whidbey Island, Freeland Hall (1515 Shoreview Drive, Freeland)
Wednesday, June 18, Port Townsend, Fort Worden Commons (200 Battery Way, Port Townsend)
Thursday, June 19, Anacortes, Fidalgo Senior Center (1701 22nd Street, Anacortes)
Monday, June 23, Bainbridge Island, Bainbridge Commons (402 Brien Drive, Bainbridge Is)
Tuesday, June 24, Kingston, Kingston Yacht Club (25915 Washington Blvd, Kingston)
Wednesday, June 25, Vashon, McMurray Middle School (9329 SW Cemetery Rd, Vashon Island)
Thursday, June 26, San Juan Islands, Mullis Senior Center (589 Nash Street, Friday Harbor)
Monday, June 30, Bremerton, Norm Dicks Government Center (345 6th Street, Suite 100, Bremerton)
Tuesday, July 1, Southworth, Long Lake Bob Oke Community Center (5448 Long Lake Road SE, Port Orchard)


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, June 13, 2008

Port of Olympia Commissioners
Ok $14.9 million in new GO bonds

OLYMPIA — To help fund projects related to redevelopment of the East Bay District, continued environmental cleanup at the Cascade Pole site, dock repair work at Swantown Marina, and dredging the port’s cargo berths, the Port of Olympia has issued $14.9 million in General Obligation (G.O.) bonds. In addition, the port’s bond rating was upgraded from “A2” to “A1” by Moody's Investors Service. Chief among the projects earmarked for funds is construction of roads, utilities and other infrastructure, as well as environmental clean-up of the 14-acre mixed use East Bay District in downtown Olympia. In addition, the port plans on constructing the final cap of the Cascade Pole remediation site at the tip of the Port Peninsula. Once completed, the cap will provide access to the waterfront trail that rings East Bay and be used for parking to support Swantown Marina. Six existing docks at Swantown Marina will be overhauled to assure public safety and extend their useful life. Lastly, work will begin on maintenance dredging of the port’s berthing area to provide safe access for cargo vessels and begin cleanup of contamination of Budd Inlet.


Port of Portland Oks lease
for Corps' dredges at Terminal 2

PORTLAND — Port of Portland Commissioners have approved a five-year lease agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for space at the northwest end of marine Terminal 2 where two dredges will be stationed. In return, the port will receive lease revenue and reimbursement for infrastructure enhancements, while keeping the vessels based in the Columbia/Willamette River system. Located just outside of downtown Portland on the Willamette River, the facility will provide mooring space for two federal hopper dredges, the ESSAYONS and the YAQUINA, that are used for navigation channel maintenance at west coast ports from San Diego to Grays Harbor. The vessels are currently based a few miles downstream from Terminal 2 at the US Government Moorings facility on St. Helens Road. The Corps’ land-based ship repair and maintenance facility operations will remain at US Government Moorings. The lease involves 3.92 acres of dock and yard area, crew parking and exclusive use rights for two berths in the area where the new Sauvie Island Bridge was constructed last year. There are options to extend the lease for 10 additional one year terms.


US rail freight traffic
sees gains, losses

WASHINGTON, DC — Carload freight was up but intermodal volume was down on U.S. railroads during May in comparison with May 2007, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carloads of freight originated on U.S. railroads rose to 1,315,354 in May 2008, a 0.5 percent (7,061 carloads) increase compared to last year. U.S. railroads also originated 901,380 intermodal units in May 2008, a decline of 0.9 percent (8,577 trailers and containers) from May 2007. Nine of the 19 major commodity categories tracked by the AAR saw U.S. carload increases in May 2008 compared to May 2007. Commodities showing carload gains in May 2008 included coal (up 14,321 carloads, or 2.6 percent, to 563,601 carloads), grain (up 12,973 carloads, or 16.9 percent, to 89,522 carloads), and chemicals (up 6,256 carloads, or 5.2 percent, to 126,662 carloads). Commodities showing carload decreases in May 2008 included motor vehicles and equipment (down 16,162 carloads, or 19.1 percent, to 68,254 carloads); coke (down 6,759 carloads, or 31.1 percent, to 14,965 carloads); and crushed stone, sand, and gravel (down 5,091 carloads, or 5.7 percent, to 83,855 carloads). For the first five months of 2008, total U.S. rail carloads were up 68,700 carloads (1.0 percent) to 7,156,575 carloads, with the biggest gains again coming in coal (up 127,347 carloads, or 4.2 percent), grain (up 82,568 carloads, or 18.0 percent), and chemicals (up 21,177 carloads, or 3.2 percent). U.S. intermodal traffic, which consists of trailers and containers on flat cars and is not included in carload figures, was down 152,844 trailers and containers (3.1 percent) in the first five months of 2008 to 4,837,986 units. Total volume for the first five months of 2008 was estimated at 740.1 billion ton-miles, up 2.2 percent from the same period last year.


WalMart names Evergreen Line
International Ocean Carrier of the Year

TAIPEI — Evergreen Line has announced it has been selected by WalMart Stores Inc. as International Ocean Carrier of the Year for 2007-2008. The award is presented every year by the nation's leading retailer for service excellence in ocean shipping. The award was presented to Jay Buckley, executive vice president, Business, of Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corp., the U.S. agent for Evergreen Line, at WalMart's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. In accepting the award, Mr. Buckley acknowledged the dedicated teamwork of its associates in delivering shipments from point of loading in Asia to release in North America, even during peak season, with consistent coordination and reliable performance. Evergreen relied on its integrated global information technology system to support WalMart's logistics operations, using electronic data interchange (EDI) to provide shipment status updates throughout the shipping process.


APL vessel earns honors
for rescue of family at sea

NEW YORK — The Coast Guard has honored the master and crew of an APL containership for rescuing a family of four - including children ages 5 and 18 months - from a stricken yacht floundering in 15-foot Atlantic swells 1,700 miles off the U.S. East Coast the morning of June 9. Capt. Parvez Guard received a shipboard commendation shortly after berthing the 906-foot APL JAPAN - renamed the HYUNDAI Japan while on long-term charter - at New York Container Terminal and releasing his passengers for a return to their native Germany. "They were quite shaken up, but they were fine," said Capt. Guard, a 28-year veteran of APL. The four were en route from Antigua in the West Indies to the Azores – a distance of about 2,500 miles - in their newly purchased 40-foot yacht, the DALLY ON. Caught in a nighttime gale June 8, the boat lost its rudder and mast and was trapped in heavy seas without the ability to maneuver. At about 3:30 a.m. June 9, the APL vessel received a distress call from the DALLY ON, then about 10 nautical miles away. Capt. Guard mustered his entire crew to prepare for emergency operations and notified the stricken sailboat that help was on the way. Little more than an hour after first radio contact, Capt. Guard navigated his containership alongside the DALLY ONn. It took three tries, but the APL crew was finally able to lash the yacht to the stern of their vessel.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, June 12, 2008

Port of Portland becomes
Climate Registry founding reporter

PORTLAND — As part of its commitment to promoting clean air and reducing impacts to global climate change, the Port of Portland has signed on as a Founding Reporter of The Climate Registry. The Climate Registry is a non-profit organization established to measure and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) using a common, accurate and transparent reporting standard. Thirty nine U.S. states, eight Canadian provinces, three Native American tribes, six Mexican states and the District of Columbia are the founders of the organization. As a founding reporter of The Climate Registry, the port has voluntarily committed to measure, independently verify, and publicly report its GHG emissions on an annual basis utilizing The Climate Registry General Reporting Protocol. The protocol is based on the internationally recognized GHG measurement standards of the World Resources Institute and World Business Council on Sustainability.


Freight Transportation index
holds steady during April

WASHINGTON, DC — The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) was unchanged in April from its March level following the largest monthly decline since August 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports. Since an increase in January that was the largest in two years, the freight index has failed to advance for three consecutive months. The index was unchanged in February and April with a decline in March. At 109.4 in April, the freight TSI was up 1.3 percent since its recent low of 108.0 in September but down 3.3 percent from its peak of 113.1 reached in November 2005. The 0.9 percent increase in the freight index since December marked the second consecutive year the index increased in the first four months. The freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by the for-hire freight transportation industries. The index consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.


RFID technology eyed for
new Blaine border crossing

BLAINE — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced plans for construction at the four Whatcom County ports of entry. The construction, which entails deployment of Radio Frequency Identification technology, will help speed travel and further enhance border security. These technology enhancements will be incorporated into the ongoing construction of the new port facility at the Blaine Peace Arch crossing. The RFID deployment is part of a national construction initiative at 39 major entry points (354 total traffic lanes) along the U.S borders with Canada and Mexico over the coming months.


Hanjin Shipping to launch
new Malta/Adriatic feeder service

SEOUL — Hanjin Shipping has announced the launch of the new MAF (Malta-Adriatic Feeder) service effective from June 19th, 2008. The new MAF is a dedicated feeder service in which one 1,000TEU class vessel is deployed connecting Malta, Koper and Venice on weekly basis. Hanjin Shipping reveals that Malta will be added in the current MAP (Mediterranean-Asia-America Pendulum) and MEX (Mediterranean Express) services to connect with the new MAF. With these services, the company will continue to expand its service in the Adriatic Sea regions.


Coast Guard Barque EAGLE
arriving in Astoria today

PACIFIC OCEAN — The only square-rigged sailing vessel presently active in the U.S. fleet is scheduled to sail into Astoria, Ore., today at approximately 10 a.m. and will depart Monday, June 16, at approximately 2 p.m. The Coast Guard Cutter Barque EAGLE will be open for free public tours Thursday 2 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. The Coast Guard Cutter Barque EAGLE, also known as America's Tall Ship, will arrive in Astoria after being underway for over two months since departing homeport in New London, Conn. EAGLE's crew has spent the past 33 days training more than 130 Coast Guard Academy cadets and Naval Academy midshipmen. The EAGLE has served as a floating classroom to future Coast Guard officers since 1946 offering fundamental leadership, teamwork and seamanship skills.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Port of Bellingham Commission
eyes new redevelopment proposal

BELLINGHAM — For the past two months, Port of Bellingham staff and consultants have worked to develop more information about details of the redevelopment of more than 200 acres of downtown Bellingham waterfront. Now, the Port of Bellingham's Board of Commissioners met and received an update and a formal redevelopment proposal that could be used as a preferred alternative in the environmental analysis for this 20 to 30 year project. In April, the commission directed port staff to work with waterfront consultants and with city project partners to find answers to questions that were raised during public comment and agency review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement in 2007. These questions primarily were about development density, road and trail alignment, phasing of the development and establishing a sustainable development strategy. The port has brought forward a Proposal that can be used as a clear set of recommendations to define the elements needed for a preferred alternative. This 106-page proposal, which is available on the port's website (http://www.portofbellingham.com) includes new analysis and recommendations in all of those areas as well as in additional detailed research and information. One section includes updated project costs, based on new engineering work. This proposal will be presented to the Waterfront Advisory Group at 6 p.m. today in the Harbor Center Conference Room, 1801 Roeder Avenue. Meetings will be rebroadcast on the city's BTV10 cable station. If this Proposal moves forward as the Preferred Alternative, it will be studied further in the draft Environmental Impact Statement and a new public comment period on the plan will occur later this summer.


Oregon governor slams FERC
for LNG facility decision

SALEM — The following is Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski's statement on the final EIS for the Bradwood Landing LNG facility: "We will be looking at this report closely and will use all legal options available to us.
“The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) decision to move this project forward merely represents more of the same. A failure to vet publicly the substantial changes in the proposed project is FERC's failure to do its job.
"FERC is irresponsibly considering this project only from the supply-side of the marketplace. By ignoring how best to meet Oregon's expected increase in demand for natural gas, FERC is foregoing the public's best interest, both economically and environmentally."


Grand Alliance adding vessel
to lower emissions in EU service

TOKYO — The Grand Alliance (GA) has announced the implementation of a ninth vessel (6,200 TEUs) to its Japan-North Europe service (EU1). The addition completes an environment-friendly program aimed at lowering emissions that has been implemented on the Grand Alliance North Europe-Far East services. By adding additional vessels, these services can operate at ecospeeds that will reduce emissions by 20-30 percent. The four GA partner lines have made substantial investments for the additional ships, which have been phased into their Europe-Asia loops. The port coverage of the EU1 service remains unchanged. The Grand Alliance, formed in 1998, is an integrated consortium in global container shipping. Members include Hapag-Lloyd (Germany), MISC Berhad (Malaysia), NYK (Japan), and OOCL (Hong Kong).


Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
names new LNG vessel

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has held a naming ceremony for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier called the Energy Navigator ENERGY NAVIGATOR at the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Sakaide Shipyard. Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. President Mitsunori Torihara named the new vessel. MOL and Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. (wholly owned by Tokyo Gas) co-own the ENERGY NAVIGATOR, with MOL holding a 30 percent share and Tokyo LNG Tanker 70 percent. After its completion at the end of this month, the vessel will transport LNG from Malaysia, Australia, and Sakhalin to supply Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Toho Gas Co., Ltd., and Shizuoka Gas Co., Ltd.


Puget Sound pleasure boaters
warned to follow new CBP rules

SEATTLE — The 2008 boating season has arrived and U.S. Customs and Border Protection would like to remind boaters of the reporting requirements for private boat operators arriving in the United States from Canada. New travel documentation requirements are now in effect for private boaters, including U.S. and Canadian citizens, arriving in Puget Sound from Canada. Pleasure boaters arriving in the U.S. must report to CBP immediately upon arrival. Boaters must physically report to a designated CBP office, unless enrolled in a Registered Traveler Program that allows arrival reporting by phone. Boaters are strongly encouraged to apply for participation under one of the Registered Traveler Programs to expedite clearance after arrival. Participation in any of the Registered Traveler Programs does not preclude the requirement for a physical report upon request by CBP.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, June 9, 2008

FERC releases final EIS
for Bradwood Landing LNG site

PORTLAND — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a positive final Environmental Impact Statement (fEIS) for the proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal near Astoria and its associated pipeline; stating that: “We conclude that construction and operation of the Bradwood Landing Project would have limited adverse environmental impacts. However, that implementation of NorthernStar’s proposed mitigation measures, and additional measures we recommend, would substantially reduce the environmental impact of the project.” - Bradwood Landing final Environmental Impact Statement, page ES-9 FERC staff prepared the EIS to fulfill the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The purpose of the document is to inform the public, other permitting agencies and FERC Commissioners about the potential environmental impacts of proposed projects and their alternatives. With FERC’s action, Bradwood Landing becomes the first and only proposed LNG terminal on the U.S. West Coast to have received a final Environmental Impact Statement. Neither of the two other LNG projects proposed in Oregon has yet to receive their draft Environmental Impact Statement.


Port Tracker report predicts
container traffic growth in October

WASHINGTON, DC — The nation’s continuing economic slowdown will keep cargo traffic at major retail container ports below last year’s levels through this summer and early fall, but month-to-month numbers are climbing and ports should see a return to year-over-year growth by Halloween, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Global Insight. U.S. ports surveyed handled 1.26 million Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEU) of container traffic in April, the most recent month for which actual numbers are available. That’s up 8.9 percent from March – which registered the lowest volume in two years – but down 4.7 percent from April 2007. One TEU is one 20-foot container or its equivalent. May was estimated at 1.3 million TEU, down 5.7 percent from a year ago, and June is forecast at 1.34 million TEU, down 8.1 percent. July is forecast at 1.4 million TEU, down 2.8 percent; August at 1.46 million TEU, down 0.3 percent; and September at 1.43 million TEU, down 3.1 percent. October is forecast at 1.48 million TEU, a 2.7 percent increase that would represent the first year-to-year rise since July 2007, when 1.44 million TEU were handled compared with 1.4 million in July 2006.


Pending sale of Pier 48
announced by Port of Seattle

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle has announced the pending sale of Pier 48, located adjacent to Colman Dock on the Alaskan Way waterfront, to the Washington State Department of Transportation. The port commission will consider the sale on June 10, 2008 at its regularly scheduled meeting. Property to be sold includes the pier structure and submerged and upland properties. Sale price is $11 million. WSDOT will use the Pier 48 uplands for construction staging and parking during replacement of the south end of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. In the future, WSDOT plans to use the Pier 48 property as part of improvements to operations of the Colman Dock ferry terminal.


Port of Bremerton honored
for new Bremerton Marina

BREMERTON — The new Bremerton Marina, officially opened with a grand celebration on May 31, 2008, has already received regional awards. In May of 2008, the port received two awards; the first was an Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award from the local chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the second was a Project Achievement Award presented by the Construction Management Association of America, Northwest Chapter. The Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award was given in recognition of the Bremerton Floating Wave Attenuator. It is a 1,440 foot-long floating concrete wave attenuator installed to expand and upgrade the Port of Bremerton’s Marina in downtown Bremerton. The 24.5-foot wide solid floating structure not only attenuates wind waves and ferry wakes but also serves as a public park, which allows non-boaters convenient and safe access to the waters of Sinclair Inlet. The Northwest Chapter, Construction Management Association of America’s Project Achievement Award was presented to the Port of Bremerton, as the project owner and URS Corporation, as the construction manager, for the Bremerton Marina expansion project. Cited for outstanding performance of construction management practices, the award recognized the professional performance of the management team for the construction of the unique breakwater and the on-site construction of the marina.


Horizon Lines taps Wegrzyn
as new Puerto Rico manager

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has named Jacob M. Wegrzyn senior vice president and general manager of its Puerto Rico services division. The position reports to John V. Keenan, president and chief operating officer of Horizon Lines, LLC. Mr. Wegrzyn will join the company effective June 23, 2008. Mr. Wegrzyn will have primary responsibility for operational, sales and strategic activities related to the Puerto Rico market. He joins Horizon Lines with over 18 years experience in the transportation and distribution industry in Puerto Rico. Most recently he served as vice president, Puerto Rico and Caribbean Service, for New Penn Motor Express, domiciled in Bo Amelia, Puerto Rico. He has lived on the island of Puerto Rico for more than 30 years and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in New Haven, CT.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, June 6, 2008

Corps names Steven Miles
commander of Portland District

PORTLAND — Col. Steven Miles has become the district commander of the Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He assumes command from Col. Thomas O’Donovan, who was selected to command the Afghanistan Engineer District in Kabul. The Portland District is responsible for the Corps’ water resource activities in western Oregon and southwestern Washington and has one of the Corps’ most comprehensive and diversified civil works programs. Emphasis is placed on environmental protection and restoration, fish and wildlife protection and enhancement, hydropower production, navigation, flood damage reduction, recreation and operation of the Corps’ center of expertise for hydropower and pump station engineering. The Portland District also provides support for the Global War on Terror. Prior to this assignment, Col. Miles served as commander, Northwestern Division, from November 2007 to May 2008 and as deputy commander, Northwestern Division, from July to November 2007. Earlier assignments included deployment to Fallujah, Iraq, with the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as the area engineer in direct support of the Marine Expeditionary Force, executing stability and reconstruction operations in western Iraq (Al Anbar Province), 2005-2006.


Port of Olympia Commission
moving meetings to Comfort Inn

OLYMPIA — The regularly scheduled June 9 and June 23 Port of Olympia Commission meetings will be held at the Comfort Inn, Evergreen Room, 1620 74th Avenue SW, in Tumwater. The meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. The June 9 meeting agenda is available at http://www.portolympia.com/uploads/June_9_2008_Commission_Meeting_Packet.pdf . For additional information, please contact Jeri Sevier at 360-528-8003 or email jeris@portolympia.com.


Corps closing Chittenden Locks
to build salmon exclusion structure

SEATTLE — Both the large and small locks at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard will be closed to all marine traffic beginning at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10. The closure will allow construction crews and dive teams to install an interim Adult Salmon Exclusion Structure at the entrance to the salt water return system located on the floor of the ship canal, adjacent to the large lock wall. Emplacing this interim structure will prevent salmon access to the return system and improve the viability of the various salmon runs which use the fish ladder to return upstream to their spawning grounds. Since 2004 some returning salmon, including the threatened Chinook, have become trapped, or entrained, in the system responsible for returning salt water to the Puget Sound side of the dam. The mortality rate of passing salmon due to entrainment has been increasing, though the reasons for this are unknown. Last August, for example, 120 adult Chinook were found entrained in the diffuser well of which half had died or were injured. The Corps has consulted and partnered with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to ensure the screening device is in place in time to meet this year`s salmon returns. The structure is expected to be in place for three to five years, allowing for selection and design of a permanent solution to the entrainment. The Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the locks, expects to have both locks back in normal service by 7 p.m. Tuesday evening after providing a 12-hour construction window.


US rail freight traffic
drops during week

WASHINGTON, DC — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads edged lower during the week ended May 24 in comparison with the comparable week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight in the week totaled 330,208 cars, down 1.7 percent from last year. Volume was down 0.7 percent in the West and 2.8 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 233,549 trailers or containers, down 0.9 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was up 0.6 percent while container traffic dropped 1.3 percent. Total volume was estimated at 34.0 billion ton-miles, down 1.2 percent from the 21st week of 2007. Six of 19 carload commodities registered gains from a year ago with grain climbing 12.7 percent, metallic ores jumping 38.3 percent and waste and scrap materials rising 11.6 percent. Among commodities reporting declines were motor vehicles and equipment, 23.2 percent, lumber and wood products, 12.7 percent, and nonmetallic minerals, 14.2 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 21 weeks of 2008 totaled 6,839,694 carloads, up 1.1 percent from 2007; 4,633,948 trailers or containers, down 3.2 percent; and total volume of an estimated 707.4 billion ton-miles, up 2.3 percent from last year.


MarAd eyes plan to send
last Liberty Ship to Greece

WASHINGTON, DC — Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with representatives of the Government of Greece to pursue an agreement to transfer the Liberty ship Arthur M. Huddell to the Greek government for use as a museum. The World War II-era Huddell is the last Liberty ship in the Maritime Administration’s fleet. It is currently moored in the James River Reserve Fleet site at Fort Eustis, Virginia. American shipyards built 2,751 Liberty ships during World War II, in the largest shipbuilding effort in history. Liberty ships crewed by merchant mariners carried troops and military cargo all over the world. The building and sailing of the Liberty ships, and their successors, the Victory Ships, were overseen by the U.S. Maritime Commission and the War Shipping Agency, both predecessor agencies of today’s Maritime Administration.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, June 5, 2008

Port of Vancouver Commissioners
postpone eminent domain decision

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners voted to postpone its decision on action toward authorizing eminent domain as a way to gain control of Martin Island at a meeting held late last month. In its 2-1 vote, commissioners felt there were questions that still needed to be answered and more information to be gathered, and hoped that another month would provide the opportunity for that data to be collected. In addition, the full commission expressed hopes that the negotiations between the Colf family and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would result in an agreement between the two parties without the last resort of eminent domain. The Columbia River Channel Improvement Project is well underway, with more than 50 percent of the project complete, and taking action to gain ownership of Martin Island to compensate for the habitat changes that occur due to the project is critical to the continuation of the project. The purchase of mitigation land on the Washington side of the river is still to be complete, so the use of eminent domain is an option that is required by Federal regulations to complete the project. Most of the project is being paid for by the Federal government, while the remainder is paid through a local match.


Bradwood Landing delivers
biological assessment for LNG site

PORTLAND — Bradwood Landing LLC has submitted its biological assessment for its proposed liquefied natural gas import terminal near Astoria to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The biological assessment will be used by FERC, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) to create a biological opinion which will encompass the final environmental plan for the Bradwood terminal and determine that the project is consistent with federal environmental goals. The biological assessment is a disclosure document prepared to address information necessary for formal consultation between a federal agency (FERC and/or a project applicant, in this case Bradwood Landing) and NMFS and USFWS (the “Services”). The 3,700 page biological assessment includes Bradwood’s voluntary Salmon Enhancement Initiative (SEI), which at $59 million, represents the largest private commitment to improve watershed health on the Lower Columbia River. Together with the biological assessment, Bradwood submitted its environmental compensatory mitigation plan to FERC. The mitigation plan is a key part of the biological assessment, and will used by state and federal agencies to determine compliance with mitigation standards.


SSA Chief Executive Officer
inducted in Maritime Hall of Fame

SEATTLE — Jon Hemingway, SSA Marine chief executive officer, was among the marine industry leaders honored at the 15th International Maritime Hall of Fame awards ceremony, held at the United Nations on May 14. The Hall of Fame was established in 1993 by the Board of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey to honor maritime visionaries. In addition to Mr. Hemingway, the 2008 award recipients include Adolf Adrion, CEO, Hapag-Lloyd AG; James A. Capo, chairman/CEO, United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd.; Dr. C.C. Chen, chairman, Wan Hai Lines, Ltd.; Axel C. Eitzen, CEO, Camillo Eitzen and Co. ASA and Reinhard Lange, deputy CEO, Kuehne and Nagel International AG. Port of Seattle CEO, Tay Yoshitani, presented Hemingway’s award. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Hemingway focused on the importance of the people he has worked with and how this, and the careful anticipation of customers’ needs, has guided the company’s business decisions.


NASSCO lays keel
for new product carrier

SAN DIEGO — General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has held a keel-laying ceremony for the second ship of its new series of product carriers (PC). The ship is being built for U.S. Shipping Partners and is scheduled to be delivered in the third quarter of 2009. NASSCO began construction of the ship in January. It will be 600 feet long and have a cargo capacity of 331,000 barrels. U.S. Shipping Partners previously announced that the ship will be named PELICAN STATE, the state nickname of Louisiana. The ship will be used in coastal trade, carrying petroleum and chemical products.


Great Wall Airlines
to begin Seattle flights

SEATTLE — Shanghai-based air cargo carrier, Great Wall Airlines, will be making its inaugural stop at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport this weekend as the beginning of new service connecting Seattle to the fastest growing cargo market in the world. Great Wall will begin regular service to Shanghai three times a week and the Port of Seattle could realize an increase in their international cargo tonnage by five to ten percent or more. The service not only allows freight to be brought in but will also help deliver local goods to China, such as Washington cherries, agricultural products and other commodities. Great Wall Airlines chose Seattle as their first North American route stop due to consultation with their top 10 customers. When polled, Great Wall customers asked for Seattle to be the west coast port stop in a route also connected to Chicago. Specifically, the route will run from Shanghai to Seoul to Seattle and then Chicago. The outbound route will reverse from Chicago - Seattle - Seoul - Shanghai. Great Wall will be flying one of Boeing's largest freighters, a Boeing 747-400F capable of transporting more than 110 tons of cargo.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Port of Seattle financial statements
receive clean audit report for 2007

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle has received a clean audit report on its 2007 financial statements from independent auditor Moss Adams LLP as well as the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Award for its 2008 budget document. The scope and scrutiny of the recent Moss Adams audit was expanded to assess vulnerability to fraud in all of the port’s contracting procedures, including Small Works contracts, change orders, consulting contracts, and management information systems. Moss Adams reported that the port’s internal controls are sufficient to prevent fraud throughout the organization, finding no “material weakness” in the port’s processes. The results of the audit were included in the port’s recently completed Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The port also received high praise recently from the Government Finance Officers Association. The port’s 2008 budget document received the association’s Distinguished Budget Award, given in recognition of “the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.” The port’s budget document was evaluated against nationally recognized criteria judging its usefulness and clarity as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device.


Peregrine falcon chicks
call Port of Olympia home

OLYMPIA — Three Peregrine falcon chicks – two females and one male – have hatched at the Port of Olympia and appear to be thriving. This is the sixth year a pair of peregrine falcons and their offspring have nested atop the port’s 175-foot high gantry crane. Falcon experts on contract with the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife, were at the port in May to band the chicks’ legs for easier identification. The chicks were born in April and usually begin to fly when they are about 45 days old. In 2004, the port and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife installed plywood nesting boxes on the two marine terminal cranes. Falcons have nested on the southernmost crane every year since, hatching live young four of the last five years. The adult birds are one of three known pairs in Thurston County. While encouraged by the chicks’ progress, experts caution that there is a high mortality rate for young falcons during their first year.


Marcon breaking records
with tank barge sales

COUPEVILLE, WA — Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington has announced the sales of two more large single-hull ocean tank barges to private, foreign buyers, making 2008 already a record year for tank barge sales. The single-hull, clean tank barge ETHAN MATTHEW (ex-NEWARK, ex-NEW YORK) was sold by Blake Marine Group. ETHAN MATTHEW was originally built in 1970 by Gulfport Shipbuilding in Port Arthur, Texas for Moran Towing as the NEW YORK. Same Buyers also purchased the single-hull, coiled, black-oil barge HMC 17000 (ex-FLOR, ex-FLORIDA) from sellers Hannah Marine Corp. The barge was built for Moran Towing in 1980 by Todd Shipyard in Houston, Texas. The barges are scheduled to be reactivated and repositioned overseas by new owners in the near future. Marcon acted as sole broker in both sales. To-date in 2008 Marcon International, Inc. has sold six single-hull ocean or ex-ocean tank barges totaling almost one million barrels capacity. Sales of ten additional vessels and barges are expected to conclude within the next 60 days.


Foss Maritime wins honors
for GREEN DOLPHIN hybrid tug

WASHINGTON, DC — Foss Maritime has won the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Technology Award for development of its low emission GREEN DOLPHIN hybrid tug, the first time a maritime operating company has ever received the federal government’s prestigious honor. Foss Maritime President and CEO Gary Faber and other top company officials accepted the coveted award in a ceremony May 28 at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The GREEN DOLPHIN hybrid tug is the world’s first true hybrid. It reduces nitrogen oxide, particulate emissions, sulpher dioxide and carbon emissions and will exceed the EPA’s Tier 2 emissions requirement for marine engines. The hybrid tug is being built in collaboration with the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and is scheduled to begin operation in southern California in Fall 2008.


Port of Astoria open house
will present director candidates

ASTORIA — The Port of Astoria is holding an Open House where visitors can meet and greet five of the finalists for the port's executive director position. The event is scheduled for Friday, June 6, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Kern Room at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1792 Marine Drive in Astoria. Hors d’oeuvres will be served and a no-host bar will be available. There will be comment cards and a box to drop them into at the reception. If you have questions, call Rita Fahrney, administrative services manager at 503-325-4521.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, June 2, 2008

Port of Tacoma co-hosting
Small Business Vendor Fair

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma has partnered with the Northwest Minority Business Council to host a Small Business Vendor Fair in Tacoma on Thursday, June 19. To be held at the Port of Tacoma Administration Building (One Sitcum Plaza, Tacoma, WA 98421), the Vendor Fair begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 and concludes at 8 p.m. The program includes an overview of the port's development and business opportunities, including detailed information on the following:
Port construction contracts;
Professional services; Personal services; and
Purchased goods and services.
This event is free, however pre-registration is required by June 12. Northwest Minority Business Council members may register at www.nmbc.biz. All other interested businesses or individuals should register by contacting Charles Aycock at 253-722-5800, charles@williamfactory.com.


Port of Portland dredge tender
christened W.E. IVANOFF

PORTLAND — On Sunday, June 1, friends, family and former coworkers of the late William “Bill” E. Ivanoff gathered for the christening of the W. E. IVANOFF, a new dredge tender named in his honor. A well-known and highly-regarded member of the Navigation Department, Mr. Ivanoff was a lever man on the Dredge OREGON and occasionally served as captain. Dredge tenders are versatile and powerful tugboats that are critical to successful river dredging operations like the ongoing Columbia River Channel Improvement project and routine maintenance dredging. The vessels are used to tow and position heavy sections of pipe, set anchors, reposition the dredge, and deliver crews and equipment to and from the dredge. The port’s new 55-foot, 1,500 horsepower dredge tender replaces the 41-year-old DON. The W. E. IVANOFF was designed in Seattle by Jensen Maritime Consultants and built in Portland by Diversified Marine. Port of Portland Commissioners originally approved a $2.4 million contract to construct the vessel in 2005, and those funds will be reimbursed by the Army Corps of Engineers.


Corps looking for input
on plans for jetty rock

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking comments on a draft Environmental Assessment for procuring and delivering rock for future capping of the Tillamook north jetty. The proposal is to procure and deliver rock to a storage area just north of the Tillamook north jetty. The stone will be used to cap the north jetty when funding becomes available. The capping is necessary to prevent further deterioration and subsequent loss of the jetty head. The north jetty has lost an estimated 84 feet of length since 2007. Continued deterioration of the jetty head could destabilize the navigation project at Tillamook. A supplement to the Major Maintenance Study Environmental Assessment from 2004 was just completed and addresses a change in the proposed delivery method, from barging to trucking the jetty stone. The draft EA is available for public review and comment on the Corps’ Environmental Resources Branch Web site at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/pm/e/en_plan_assess.asp.


DHL to work with UPS
on US express service

BONN — Deutsche Post World Net has announced a plan to restructure its DHL U.S. Express business by working with UPS for airlift capacity and reducing costs in its ground infrastructure. Under the plan, DHL and UPS have agreed to develop a contract whereby UPS will provide air uplift for DHL Express U.S. domestic and international shipments within North America. In addition, DHL will align its U.S. Express infrastructure to existing shipment volumes by redesigning its ground linehaul network to better match capacity with customer requirements. The impact on service levels will be minimal with less than four percent of shipments affected.


Matson Integrated Logistics
becomes SmartWay partner

CONCORD, CA — Matson Integrated Logistics (MIL) has joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership, a voluntary collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. MIL has also earned the EPA’s highest score for fuel efficiency and environmental performance. Though MIL is a non-asset logistics provider, the company qualified for the program because it moves 70 percent of its freight volume with SmartWay rail and truck carriers. In addition, the majority of that volume was moved by intermodal rail, with all of the rail carriers utilized being SmartWay partners.