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May, 2008

NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, May 30, 2008

WTSA member carreirs
dealing with equipment woes

OAKLAND — Container shipping lines in the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) say they are working closely with U.S. exporters to address continuing space and equipment shortages to Asia. But sorting out the complex operational and cost factors behind those shortages has left both carriers and shippers with difficult challenges. A weak dollar and robust Asian demand for agricultural products, industrial raw materials, machinery, and other commodities, led to westbound cargo growth of nearly 17 percent in 2007, with a further 12-13 percent growth forecast over 2008-09. Other factors have also fueled the explosion in containerized export cargo. For example, earlier this year, commodity demand in Asia and rising grain prices pushed up bulk vessel charter rates to historic levels, causing shippers to shift more U.S. grain exports from bulk ships to containers. While eastbound traffic grew by less than one percent in 2007, the volume of loaded containers shipped from Asia was still more than twice that of loaded container volume for return U.S. exports. That imbalance means transpacific carriers must continue to scale their fleets, routing and schedules for the higher-volume Asia-U.S. “headhaul” segment, and the current soft inbound market does not justify adding new capacity, particularly given record fuel and other fixed operating costs.


Trade between NAFTA partners
rises during month of March

WASHINGTON, DC — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, Canada and Mexico, was 1.5 percent higher in March 2008 than in March 2007, reaching $70.8 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 2.0 percent in March from February. 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. About 90 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in March was up 43.4 percent compared to March 2003, and up 73.5 percent compared to March 1998, a period of 10 years. Imports in March were up 85.9 percent compared to March 1998, while exports were up 59.6 percent. Data for exports to Canada by pipeline in March 2008 were unavailable at the time of this release. These exports amounted to $222 million in March 2007 and $273 million in February 2008, less than one percent of U.S.-Canada trade in those months.


Port of Bremerton celebrating
Grand Opening of new marina

BREMERTON — The Port of Bremerton has announced the Grand Opening of its newest marina located on the Bremerton waterfront. The new Bremerton Marina will be officially premiered to the public at a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Saturday, May 31 at 6:00 p.m. featuring the Navy Band Northwest and Congressman Norm Dicks as the keynote speaker. Food and refreshments will be provided along with a cake cutting event for 1,000 guests on the breakwater following the brief program. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. With over 300 slips available for permanent and visiting boats, the marina compliments the Port Orchard Marina only two miles away across the inlet. The marina features a 1,400 foot long by 25 foot wide breakwater, uniquely designed by Art Anderson Associates of Bremerton and constructed by McClure & Sins, Inc., to mitigate the ferry wake that has deterred visits to the older 47 slip marina that was constructed in 1992. With the 700 foot public dock providing access from the Bremerton boardwalk to the breakwater, the marina provides over 2,000 feet of public access to Puget Sound. The public dock and breakwater is open to the public from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day.


US rail freight traffic
rolls to up/down total for week

WASHINGTON, DC — Gains in loadings of grain, coal and chemicals helped U.S. railroads show a small increase in total volume as measured in ton-miles during the week ended May 17 in comparison with the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Total volume for the week was estimated at 34.1 billion ton-miles, up 1.2 percent from the comparable week last year. Carload freight totaled 331,199 cars, down 0.1 percent from last year. Volume was up 3.6 percent in the West but down 4.7 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 233,824 trailers or containers, off 1.1 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was up 3.5 percent, while container volume declined by 2.2 percent. Seven of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains from last year, with grain up 21.3 percent, coal gaining 2.8 percent, and chemicals rising 4.0 percent. On the down side, motor vehicles and equipment fell 18.7 percent, lumber and wood products dropped 16.6 percent and primary forest products were off 11.4 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 20 weeks of 2008 totaled 6,509,486 carloads, up 1.2 percent from 2007; 4,400,399 trailers or containers, down 3.3 percent; and total volume of an estimated 673.4 billion ton-miles, up 2.5 percent from last year.


Coast Guard Auxiliary opens
Port Ludlow communications center

SEATTLE — Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 41, which provides volunteer civilian support to the Coast Guard in the Port Ludlow area, has established a new maritime Emergency Communications Center (ECC) co-located with Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue and Jefferson County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES). The new facility contains radio equipment to provide communication services for the Coast Guard and the Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center, in collaboration with the Port Ludlow Preparedness Council. It is used in routine and emergency Coast Guard operations and in overall disaster preparedness for the citizens of Port Ludlow and Jefferson County. Since operations began at the new communication center earlier this year, the Coast Guard Auxiliary has used the facility for normal and emergency operations, including monitoring of Coast Guard marine radio channels, weekly emergency radio network drills, Auxiliary boat crew and communication training, man overboard drills, and supporting the Coast Guard in search and rescue. The new facility replaces a previous arrangement in which the Auxiliary's communications were operated from a trailer.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, May 29, 2008

Horizon Lines employees
take leave in wake of investigation

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced that it has placed six employees involved in the Puerto Rico trade lane on administrative leave as a result of management's review of issues raised by the Department of Justice investigation of pricing practices of certain domestic ocean carriers. Two of the six employees have subsequently submitted their resignation to the Company. The Company continues to fully cooperate with the Department of Justice in its investigation.


Vancouver, USA port board
Oks purchase of new crane

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners has voted unanimously to authorize staff to purchase a second mobile harbor crane. After the commission’s vote, the port’s Executive Director Larry Paulson is authorized to work with the port’s marine and operations department in putting together a request for proposals, and begin the process of purchasing the new crane. Specifications of the new crane are expected to be similar to those of the Liebherr mobile harbor crane that the port bought in 2006. That crane is the largest mobile harbor crane in North America. Since 2006, the Port of Vancouver has become globally recognized as a wind power and project cargo port for regional, national and international projects. As a result of the port’s success in attracting additional wind and project cargos, a second mobile harbor crane is needed to ensure the port can meet its commitments to current and future customers. In 2005, the port handled the import of 83 complete wind turbines, which created roughly 13,000 hours of Longshore work at the port. In 2007, the port handled 305 complete wind turbines and 120 additional tower sections, which created more than 72,000 hours of Longshore work.


Bradwood Landing LLC
responds to call for new dEIS

PORTLAND — In a letter filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Bradwood Landing, LLC affirmed the accuracy of its application filing and called on the agency to reject Oregon’s request for a supplemental draft environmental impact statement (dEIS) for the proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas import terminal. A final EIS is expected to be issued in the near future. The state had alleged that the project description for the terminal had significantly changed. Also, as part of its submission to FERC, NorthernStar included a rebuttal to the Oregon Department of Energy’s May 7 report on natural gas and LNG. Bradwood’s detailed response summarized the benefits of LNG and provided updated information on natural gas markets.


Roadwork project begins
near Portland International Airport

PORTLAND — The Port of Portland reports that Airport Road Work began May 27. Workers have begun resurfacing a portion of Northeast Airport Way near
Portland International Airport. The improvements will take place on the first quarter mile of traffic lanes exiting the airport terminal building. Work will require narrowing the roadway to one lane between midnight and 9 a.m. through approximately June 10. Motorists are encouraged to drive cautiously, adhere to posted speed limits, and watch for flaggers and directional signs. Motorcyclists should exercise extra caution because of a rough roadway surface at times. Other roadway improvements planned later this year include the completion of a third traffic lane in each direction on Airport Way between Northeast 82nd Avenue and the terminal building. Roadway improvements are driven by record air travel. Last year, PDX served an all-time record of more than 14.6 million travelers.


Seventh graders join goats
in Port of Everett cleanup project

EVERETT — More than 140 7th graders, teachers and parents will be helping out at the Port of Everett’s Union Slough Wetlands Restoration site tomorrow, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. learning about habitat restoration, removing invasive plants and meeting the weed-eating goats also visiting the site. The 7th grade students are from College Park Middle School in Edmonds and are helping out on Union Slough as part of a dual-species day of restoration to save our Sound. The students will be assisted by a herd of 60 goats from the Rent-a-Ruminant LLC program. The goats are used to remove the invasive species on the site, such as Scotch Broom and blackberry bushes, by feeding on the weeds. The goats arrived at Union Slough on Friday, May 23, and will be on the site for approximately eight days. Union Slough is located right off Interstate-5, so the goats may be present from the highway just north of Everett. The Port of Everett and People for Puget Sound have been working together for more than a year to recruit and train skilled volunteers to assist with monitoring the restoration of the port’s Union Slough and Jetty Island sites. People for Puget Sound is a volunteer organization that works with partners to protect and restore Washington’s inland sea.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

James McMahan takes helm
of World Trade Center Tacoma

TACOMA — James McMahan, of Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs office, will take the leadership helm at the World Trade Center Tacoma (WTC Tacoma). Members of WTC Tacoma's Executive Committee and Board of Directors conducted a statewide search, after six months of reviewing the organization's strategic plan. McMahan replaces Andreas Udbye, who left the post to pursue other community-based endeavors. WTC Tacoma has remained a vital community resource for Tacoma and Pierce County. Offering trade research services to rising leaders of imports and exports, providing educational events to the community, and conducting acclaimed training programs about importing and exporting, WTC Tacoma is Tacoma-Pierce County's leading source for information about international trade.


WTSA member carriers
going after bunker surcharges

OAKLAND — Member shipping lines in the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) have stepped up efforts to reach their 2008 goal of achieving full, floating bunker fuel surcharges across the board. As previously announced, WTSA lines will raise their bunker surcharges, effective July 1, 2008, to $600 per 40-foot container (FEU), or the full formula level in effect at the time, whichever is lower. As of October 1, surcharge levels for all tariff and contract cargo will be increased to the full, floating bunker surcharge in effect at that time, and will then be adjusted monthly to float with fuel price fluctuations under the WTSA calculation formula.


EPA survey vessel
making stop in Portland

SEATTLE — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Ocean Survey Vessel, the OSV BOLD, will make its first northwest appearance in Portland, beginning May 29th. EPA's 224-foot research flagship will be docked at Tom McCall Waterfront Park and will be open to the public. Free public tours will be conducted May 29th – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and May 30 and 31st – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The OSV BOLD came straight from Arcata, California where it completed seafloor monitoring at the Humbolt Bay Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site. The OSV BOLD is equipped with state-of-the art sampling, mapping, and analysis equipment including side scan sonar, underwater video, water sampling instruments, and sediment sampling devices, which scientists use in various monitoring activities. The vessel is a converted U.S. Navy T-AGOS class vessel and is 224 feet long and 43 feet wide. EPA acquired the OSC BOLD on March 31, 2004. The ship and its crew collect water quality and sediment samples, fish, and other organisms in the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.


Bottom falls out of
Western lumber production

PORTLAND — In the midst of one of the worst declines in housing construction in modern times, Western mills will face difficult lumber markets in 2008 before seeing signs of recovery in 2009, according to a new forecast issued by Western Wood Products Association. The lumber trade association said housing starts should to reach just 968,000 in 2008, less than half the total from three years ago and the worst year for new construction since World War II. Single-family starts will be off 60 percent from 2005 totals. With more than 40 percent of lumber used annually in new home construction, lumber demand is expected to decline to 45.3 billion board feet this year. Demand for lumber has fallen by some 19 billion board feet compared to 2005 totals – a volume equivalent to what was produced by sawmills in the West that entire year.


Coast Guard cutter MIDGETT
returns to homeport in Seattle

SEATTLE — The 378-foot Coast Guard cutter MIDGETT, based in Seattle, has returned home after a three-month patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. One of the major objectives for this patrol was for the MIDGETT crew to intercept "go-fast" drug smuggling vessels, which carry illegal narcotics ultimately destined for the United States or provide fuel and logistics for other smuggling vessels. The MIDGETT crew intercepted four go-fast vessels this patrol, including one late-night intercept that MIDGETT's commanding officer, Capt. Lance Bardo, referred to as, "one in a million, literally." From this one vessel, the crew recovered 27 bales of cocaine, a total weight of 1,350 pounds, worth approximately $18 million. During the patrol, the crew conducted eight law enforcement boardings, one of which involved a small fishing vessel with 98 migrants embarked. At the time of the boarding, the vessel was severely overcrowded and was taking on water. MIDGETT crewmembers brought all 98 of the migrants on board the cutter, and transferred them safely to their nation's Coast Guard. Over the course of the patrol, the crew traveled more than 17,000 miles. Beginning in Seattle, the ship steamed as far south as the equator, stopping for port calls in Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and San Diego.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, May 23, 2008

Port of Tacoma schedules
terminal development meeting

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma has scheduled a public meeting May 29 to gather input as it begins considering potential environmental impacts of redeveloping terminals, roads and rail on a Tacoma Tideflats peninsula. The meeting is part of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) public review process for the redevelopment project. Redevelopment plans on the Blair-Hylebos Peninsula include:
- Relocating the Totem Ocean Trailer Express marine terminal
- Building a new container terminal for NYK Line
- Widening a section of the Blair Waterway
- Lengthening a wharf at Washington United Terminal
- Improving road and rail infrastructure
The May 29 meeting is set for 4:30 to 7 p.m. in Room 104 of The Fabulich Center, 3600 Port of Tacoma Road in Tacoma. Staff from the port’s Sustainable Development department will be available in an open house format to discuss various aspects of the project. Project managers are scheduled to deliver a short presentation at 6 p.m.


TSA member carriers
inking new service contracts

OAKLAND — Transpacific container lines have taken a step forward in the current round of service contract negotiations with U.S. importers. Foremost among these is restoration of floating bunker fuel surcharges that are adjusted monthly over the contract term to reflect world fuel price fluctuations, and an increase in the dollar amount of published fuel surcharges that will actually be collected in contracts. Member shipping lines in the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) are reporting that an average 70 percent of new contracts have been concluded relative to May 2007. Well over 90 percent of signed contracts for the coming year contain provisions for a floating bunker surcharge, as well as significant increases in the portion of the full, published surcharge level collected.


US rail freight traffic
sees gains during week

WASHINGTON, DC — Sharp increases in loadings of coal, grain, and metallic ores were largely responsible for an overall increase in freight traffic on U.S. railroads during the week ended May 10, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight in the week ended May 10 totaled 337,103 cars, up 5.0 percent from last year. Volume was up 10.0 percent in the West but down 1.0 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 229,969 trailers or containers, off 1.1 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was up 4.0 percent, while container volume declined by 2.4 percent. Total volume was estimated at 34.9 billion ton-miles, up 6.4 percent from the 19th week of 2007. Eight of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains from last year, with grain up 18.2 percent, coal gaining 11.9 percent, and metallic ores rising 27.8 percent. On the down side, motor vehicles and equipment fell 20.0 percent, lumber and wood products dropped 12.0 percent and primary forest products were off 7.8 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 19 weeks of 2008 totaled 6,178,324 carloads, up 1.3 percent from 2007; 4,166,575 trailers or containers, down 3.4 percent; and total volume of an estimated 639.3 billion ton-miles, up 2.5 percent from last year.


Truck tonnage index
falls during April

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index declined 1.1 percent in April 2008. March’s tonnage reading, meanwhile, fell 1.7 percent instead of the previously reported 3.2 percent drop. The seasonally adjusted tonnage index equaled 114.0 (2000 = 100) in April. The not seasonally adjusted index increased 1.5 percent to 116.9 from 115.1 in March. The seasonally adjusted index was 2.0 percent higher compared with April 2007, marking the sixth consecutive year-over-year increase. The year-over-year reading in March was revised from a 0.1 percent contraction to a 1.5 percent gain.


Port of Seattle police chief
new sheriffs association president

SEATTLE — On May 21, Port of Seattle Police Chief Colleen Wilson was sworn into office as incoming president of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) at a WASPC conference in Yakima. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire was the featured speaker at the event, at which Chief Wilson became the first female association president. Chief Wilson joined the Port of Seattle as Chief of Police in August 2007. During her tenure, she has worked to strengthen the department and increase its visibility within its airport and seaport communities. The Port of Seattle has 107 commissioned police officers, with a number of special teams, including explosive detection K-9s, bomb disposal unit, boat and dive teams, bicycle teams, and more. The department also participates in several multi-agency programs with Drug Enforcement Agency, FBI Anti-Terrorist Task Force and assigns members to the Valley Special Response Team


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, May 22, 2008

By the President of the United States
A Proclamation

On National Maritime Day, America honors our highly skilled mariners who sail the high seas, support those on the front lines of the war on terror, and promote commerce around the world.

Since 1775, the United States Merchant Marine has served our country, helping America become a great maritime power. During the Second World War, courageous mariners were among those who suffered greatly -- hundreds of ships were lost to enemy action, and many mariners made the ultimate sacrifice. We pay tribute to these heroes who answered the call to serve when our Nation needed them most. Today, our merchant mariners continue to protect our homeland, including by supporting our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In times of peace and war, these brave patriots help keep our Nation safe and strengthen our economy. By transporting American goods across the oceans, merchant mariners facilitate commerce and advance trade. These Americans honor the noble traditions of seafarers and enrich our country's maritime heritage.

In recognition of the importance of the U.S. Merchant Marine, the Congress, by joint resolution approved on May 20, 1933, as amended, has designated May 22 of each year as "National Maritime Day," and has authorized and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its appropriate observance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2008, as National Maritime Day. I call upon the people of the United States to mark this observance by honoring the service of merchant mariners and by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes and in their communities. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on that day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.


Capo, Garvey named winners
of 2008 AOTOS awards

NEW YORK — The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2008 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards will be presented to James A. Capo, chairman & CEO of U.S. Maritime Alliance, Ltd., and Michael D. Garvey, a founding partner and past chairman of Saltchuk Resources, Inc. A Special AOTOS Award will be presented to General Norton A. Schwartz, Commander of the United States Transportation Command. The maritime industry honors will be awarded at a gala industry dinner and dance to be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, New York City, on November 7, 2008. John Bowers, chairman of the USS AOTOS Committee and president emeritus of the International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO, made the announcement today, on Maritime Day.


US freight railroads
move more with less fuel

WASHINGTON, DC — In 2007, major freight railroads in the United States moved a ton of freight an average of 436 miles on each gallon of fuel. This represents a 3.1 percent improvement over 2006 and an 85.5 percent improvement since 1980. "That's the equivalent of moving a ton of freight all the way from Baltimore to Boston on just a single gallon of diesel fuel," said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. He noted that thanks to railroads' fuel efficiency gains, since 1980 freight railroads have reduced fuel consumption by 48 billion gallons and carbon dioxide emissions by 538 million tons. Mr. Hamberger pointed out that railroads are three or more times more fuel efficient than trucks, adding: “In fact, if just 10 percent of the freight currently moving by truck went instead by rail, the nation could save one billion gallons of fuel per year." Moving more freight by rail does more than just reduce fuel consumption and pollution, he said. It also reduces highway congestion. "A single intermodal train can take 280 trucks off the highways. And because the average size of a truck is equal to almost four automobiles, that's the same amount of space that 1,100 automobiles would occupy."


Norfolk Southern adding
new Uni-Level freight cars

NORFOLK, VA — Norfolk Southern Corporation has put into service the first of the new Uni-Level railcars supplied by TTX Company. Last week, Norfolk Southern loaded the first 13 of 55 Uni-Level cars received from TTX, officially launching the railroad's Uni-Level service network. The fully enclosed Uni-Level railcar is designed to provide economical rail transportation of large motorized vehicles, including Class 5-8 trucks and recreational vehicles. Transporting these types of vehicles in a Uni-Level car helps ensure that the vehicles will arrive at their distributors in factory-quality condition and will not require re-work, as is typically the case with over-the-road transportation. Prototypes of the Uni-Level railcar have been tested successfully in the marketplace over the past three years. The initial Uni-Level service network will be concentrated on local NS service lanes, with later expansion into Mexico, Canada, and the West Coast.


MarAd inks contract
for SAVANNAH layberth

WASHINGTON, DC — The Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration has announced that a $588,380 per year contract has been awarded to the Canton Marine Terminals of Baltimore for layberthing of the National Historic Landmark vessel N.S. SAVANNAH. Layberthing is long-term accommodation for a ship at a wharf or pier. The contract with Canton Marine Terminals has four six-month option periods. Those option periods include an escalation in payment. The SAVANNAH, the world’s first nuclear-powered commercial ship, and the only one built in the United States, was moored at the BAE Norfolk Ship Repair facility in Norfolk, Va. The Maritime Administration transferred the ship to Baltimore on May 8, 2008. All nuclear fuel was removed from the SAVANNAH more than 30 years ago.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Panama Canal Autority
releases second quarter metrics

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) released second quarter (Q2) operational metrics for fiscal year (FY) 2008. Total Canal transits and tonnage dropped slightly in Q2, but transits of passenger and dry bulk segments increased significantly. These metrics are based on operations from January through March 2008, the second quarter of the ACP's 2008 fiscal year, and are compared with Q2 of FY 2007. Total Canal transits decreased two percent during Q2 – from 4,053 to 3,971 transits. Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tonnage also dropped 2.6 percent – from 80.4 million PC/UMS tons to 78.4 million PC/UMS tons. Passenger transits increased 34.8 percent – from 92 to 124 transits – while dry bulk transits rose 6.7 percent, from 586 to 625 transits and dry bulk cargo tonnage increased 10.4 percent, from 12.3 to 13.5 million PC/UMS tons.


Port of Olympia's Swantown
earns Clean Marina Washington nod

OLYMPIA — Swantown Marina & Boatworks, owned and operated by the Port of Olympia, has been awarded a Clean Marina Washington certification by the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. The Clean Marina Program is a partnership between the State Departments of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Northwest Marine Trade Association, Washington Sea Grant, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and the EnviroStar Cooperative. Awarded to less than 10 percent of the marinas in the state, this certification demonstrates and recognizes the port’s commitment to the adherence to meet strict environmental standards in its operation of Swantown Marina and Boatworks. This award came after three inspections over the last year and continued adherence and improvements to facilities to meet strict standards for certification.


Cutter POLAR SEA
returns to Seattle homeport

SEATTLE — U.S. Coast Guard Cutter POLAR SEA, homeported in Seattle, has returned from a two-month, multi-mission patrol in Alaskan waters. In the Gulf of Alaska, POLAR SEA conducted the first Living Marine Resource fisheries boarding by a Coast Guard icebreaker. These boardings of fishing vessels ensured compliance with federal laws pertaining to safety at sea and fisheries resource protection. The ship proceeded to the Bering Sea to support National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists studying four species of ice seals: ribbon, ring, bearded and spotted.


Boeing celebrates debut
of new 777 Freighter

EVERETT — Today, the Boeing Company debuted the new 777 Freighter. Employees, suppliers, airline customers and community officials celebrated the twin-engine cargo airplane during two debut events. With a maximum takeoff weight of 766,000 pounds (347,450 kilograms), the 777 Freighter will have a revenue payload capability of 226,000 pounds (103 metric tons). The 777 Freighter will be capable of flying 4,885 nautical miles (9,045 km) with a full payload and general cargo market densities, making it the world's longest-range twin-engine freighter. To date, Boeing has secured 78 firm orders from 11 customers for the 777 Freighter, which accounts for more than 20 percent of the 777 program's backlog. The customer base includes launch customer Air France; China Southern Airlines; Deucalion, which will lease to AeroLogic; Emirates; FedEx; GECAS; Guggenheim Aviation Partners; Korea Air; LAN Airlines; Oak Hill; and Qatar Airways.


Matson Navigation wins
top GM supplier honor

OAKLAND — Matson Navigation Company received the General Motors 2007 Supplier of the Year award for its significant contributions to GM’s global product and performance achievements. The 16th annual award – themed the “Best of the Best” – was given during ceremonies held recently in Jacksonville, Florida. Matson’s President and CEO James Andrasick accepted the award on behalf of the company. The GM Supplier of the Year award began as a global program in 1992. Winners are selected by a global team of executives from purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and logistics who base their decisions on supplier performance in quality, service, technology and price. This year, General Motors honored 92 suppliers for their outstanding performance throughout 2007.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, May 19, 2008

Port of Bellingham marina
earns environmental honor

BELLINGHAM — The Port of Bellingham's Squalicum Harbor has received the highest possible rating from the regional EnviroStar program that is dedicated to pollution prevention. EnviroStar emphasized that earning a five star rating as well as earning a Clean Marina Leadership Award meant that Squalicum Harbor developed a strong program for its own operations and provided leadership through innovative techniques and educational efforts on its website, news letters and marina signage. Sewage pumpout facilities developed at Squalicum Harbor now are being used as a model by other marinas. As part of the certification effort, Squalicum Harbor staff increased signage for oil spill notification, enhanced educational information at its Oil Waste Collection facilities that allow oil recycling and improved some of its best management practices. The harbor also was noted for its well-run waste collection and recycling facilities, its comprehensive environmental oversight of tenants and customers and its oil spill response training. The Port of Bellingham's other marina, Blaine Harbor, earned a five star EnviroStar rating in 2005. In Whatcom County the EnviroStars program is administered by Whatcom County's Solid Waste Division.


Homeland Security Department
sets new round of grants for 2008

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced more than $844 million in grant awards as part of its Infrastructure Protection Activities (IPA) grant program. Grant awards will strengthen security at ports and enhance transit, trucking and intercity bus systems. Funds provided will be used to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. "With this year’s funding, the department will have provided roughly $3 billion in grants for securing the nation’s critical infrastructure and transportation systems," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "As capabilities mature, we’re encouraging state and local governments and the private sector to prioritize IED prevention and protection, communications capabilities, information sharing, and regionally based security cooperation." Fiscal Year 2008 IPA awards represent a 29 percent increase from last year.


Coast Guard training vessel
to visit Astoria in June

ASTORIA — The Coast Guard Cutter EAGLE will be in Astoria and open for public tours from June 12 until June 16. This is EAGLE 's first visit to Astoria since 1999, and a unique opportunity to climb aboard an extremely unique Tall Ship. Public tours are tentatively scheduled as follows:
Thursday June 12: 2 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday June 13: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday June 14: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday June 15: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The USCGC EAGLE (WIX-327) is a 295' barque used as a training cutter for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. It is the only active commissioned sailing vessel in American government service. The EAGLE is the seventh U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ship to bear the name in a line dating back to 1792. Each summer, EAGLE conducts cruises with cadets from the United States Coast Guard Academy and candidates from the Officer Candidate School for periods ranging from a week to two months. These cruises fulfill multiple roles; the primary mission is training the cadets and officer candidates, but the ship also performs a public relations role. Often, EAGLE makes calls at foreign ports as a goodwill ambassador.


CKYH Alliance carriers
changing Asia/US services

TOKYO — CKYH Alliance (Coscon, “K” LINE, Yang Ming, Hanjin Shipping) carriers have announced service modifications on PSW2, PSW4, PSW5 and Y-PNW by adjusting routings and port call combinations on Trans-Pacific loops. Also they will link current K-PNW to AES-2 in order to make pendulum operation which covers North America, Asia and North Europe. With this modification, CKYH Alliance aims to not only streamline the CKYH TPS service alignment, but also to reduce CO2 emissions by optimum navigation speed. This is one of the action plans followed by the consensus of CKYH Summit Meeting held in Okinawa last month. Details of service structures are as follows, which will be launched effective end of June 2008:
PSW2 (to adjust from 5500TEU vessels to 4300TEU vessels):
Hong Kong – Yantian – Kaohsiung – Keelung – Los Angeles – Oakland – Keelung – Kaohsiung – Hong Kong
PSW4 (to combine with PSW5 by using 5500TEU vessels):
Shanghai – Ningbo – Qingdao – Los Angeles – Oakland – Kwangyang – Shanghai
Y-PNW (to adjust calling ports and focus on Taiwan and central China markets):
Kaohsiung – Shanghai – Ningbo – Pusan – Tacoma – Vancouver – Kaohsiung
K-PNW/AES2 (to link as Pendulum service by using 13x5500TEU vessels):
Kobe – Tokyo – Nagoya – Hong Kong – Singapore – Port Said – Rotterdam – Felixstowe – Le Havre – Port Said – Singapore – Hong Kong – Yantian – Xiamen – Nagoya – Tokyo – Tacoma – Vancouver – Portland – Kobe


Port of Haifa director
visiting Port of Portland

PORTLAND — During a special presentation to Port of Portland employees and stakeholders today, Yaron Klein will share some of his insight and experiences as security director at Haifa Port in Israel. In a whirlwind Portland visit, Mr. Klein will tour the marine terminal facilities, meet with port marine customers, and talk about maritime security issues. The rare visit was arranged by the Consulate General of Israel. Mr. Klein will have an opportunity to observe the results of the Port of Portland’s $4.5 million in security infrastructure upgrades made over the past two years. Putting things into perspective, Haifa Port has embarked on a $222 million shekel (roughly $70 million) security upgrade that will be completed in 2013. Haifa Port is Israel’s largest seaport with 22 million tons of goods passing through each year and more than 1,000 employees. Mr. Klein manages all of the port’s security and logistical systems, which includes International Ship and Port Facility Security code, cargo release, classification, entry license, and emergency structure.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, May 16, 2008

Matson Navigation honored
with Toyota logistics award

OAKLAND — Matson Navigation Company has been honored with two 2007 Toyota Logistics Excellence awards, one for Marine Quality and the other for Outstanding Achievement. The Quality Award recognizes Matson for meeting Toyota’s damage percentage requirements, as well as implementing a comprehensive damage prevention program that included a collaborative working relationship between both companies. The program involved Toyota and Matson developing a number of initiatives designed to ensure vehicles were transported as safely and securely as possible, with an overall focus on continuous improvement. The Outstanding Achievement Award honored Matson for its role in successfully providing sailing and delivery priorities for Toyota’s roll out program for its new “Tundra” model with auto dealers in Hawaii and Guam, in order to coincide with release dates on the U.S. Mainland. The project encompassed meeting requirements of rental car markets, inventory and distribution from West Coast facilities and initiating systems development with Toyota Logistics Systems to provide accurate advanced shipment notification.


Coast Guard icebreaker
returns to Seattle homeport

SEATTLE — The nation's largest icebreaker, the Coast Guard Cutter Healy, will return to its homeport here Saturday after two months in the Bering Sea for its first Arctic West Summer 2008 Deployment. During the deployment, the icebreaker traveled more than 8,000 nautical miles and conducted more than over 1,100 individual science evolutions in the course of completing two separate science missions. Healy will spend six weeks in Seattle conducting routine maintenance and training before departing on the second Arctic West Summer 2008 Deployment in late June.


Hanjin takes delivery
of two new container ships

SEOUL — Hanjin Shipping has announced the delivery of its two new 4,300TEU vessels. HANJIN NORFOLK and HANJIN PIRAEUS, christened at Samsung Heavy Industries in Geoje Island, are the second and the third in a series of the eight 4,300TEU container ships ordered back in 2005. Hanjin says that these new 4,300TEU vessels, equipped with the state-of-the art engines, consume less fuel than any other ships of the same class and can easily change speed according to operational situations. Meanwhile, HANJIN NORFOLK and HANJIN PIRAEUS will be deployed in the company’s AWE (All Water East Coast) Central service from June 3rd and 10th respectively.


US rail freight traffic
has up/down April

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. railroads reported mixed results in April, with carload freight up and intermodal traffic down, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. A total of 1,668,255 carloads of freight were originated during the month, up 14,883 carloads (0.9 percent) from April 2007. U.S. railroads also originated 1,117,511 intermodal units in April 2008, a decline of 24,323 trailers and containers (2.1 percent) from April 2007. Seven of the 19 major commodity categories tracked by the AAR saw U.S. carload increases in April 2008 compared to April 2007. Commodities showing carload gains in April 2008 included coal (up 36,530 carloads, or 5.3 percent, to 721,973 carloads), grain (up 21,333 carloads, or 20.6 percent, to 125,124 carloads), and chemicals (up 4,417 carloads, or 2.9 percent, to 158,060 carloads). Commodities showing carload decreases in April 2008 included motor vehicles and equipment (down 21,092 carloads, or 19.5 percent, to 87,326 carloads); coke (down 10,518 carloads, or 35.7 percent, to 18,976 carloads); and crushed stone, sand, and gravel (down 6,805 carloads, or 6.0 percent, to 106,347 carloads). For the first four months of 2008, total U.S. rail carloads were up 61,639 carloads (1.1 percent) to 5,841,221 carloads, with the biggest gains coming in coal (up 113,026 carloads, or 4.6 percent), grain (up 69,595 carloads, or 18.2 percent), and chemicals (up 14,921 carloads, or 2.7 percent). Strong export demand is a major reason for the growth in grain and coal carloadings so far in 2008. U.S. intermodal traffic, which consists of trailers and containers on flat cars and is not included in carload figures, was down 144,267 trailers and containers (3.5 percent) for the first four months of 2008 to 3,936,606 units. Total volume for the January-April period was estimated at 604.4 billion ton-miles, up 2.3 percent from 2007's first four months.


Recreational boating deaths
decline during 2007

WASHINGTON, DC — Deaths resulting from recreational boating accidents fell in 2007, according to figures released by the United States Coast Guard. The count dropped from 710 in 2006 to 688 in 2007, the lowest figure since 2004 and third lowest since the Coast Guard began collecting statistics specifically related to recreational boating. While fatalities decreased, other measures - including injuries, number of accidents, and property damage - rose significantly. Injuries rose from 3,474 in 2006 to 3,686 in 2007. Reported recreational boating accidents, which reached 4,967 in 2006, climbed to 5,223. Property damage, which was a record $43,670,424 in 2006 rose further to $53,288,858 last year.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, May 15, 2008

Port of Portland presents awards
for airport recycling efforts

PORTLAND — Environmental innovation earned Horizon Air, Delta Air Lines and Sandoval’s Fresh Mexican Grill awards of excellence from the Port of Portland. The Aviation Tenant Environmental Excellence Awards are presented each year by the port for exemplary environmental efforts by tenants at port-operated airports. Horizon Air and Delta Air Lines won for their programs that recycle waste generated during flights. Items recycled include newspapers, magazines, aluminum cans, plastic cups and plastic and glass bottles. Flight attendants collect the materials onboard aircraft, and then ground crews or cabin service providers deliver the materials to port recycling containers. Sandoval’s Fresh Mexican Grill won for being the first restaurant at PDX that offers compostable take-out food containers. Sandoval’s serves more than 3,000 meals each week in the containers. Sandoval’s also supports the PDX food waste diversion program and exercises wise purchasing decisions, which reduce the amount of waste that enters landfills.


Freight services index
falls during month of March

WASHINGTON, DC — The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 1.9 percent in March from its February level, the largest monthly decline since August 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports. Since dropping to a recent low in September, the freight index has increased sharply in October and January, with each rise followed by a sharp drop two months later. At 109.4 in March, the freight TSI was up 1.3 percent in the six months 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 0.5 percent increase in the freight index since December marked the second consecutive year the index increased in the first three 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.


NOL numbers skyrocket
during first quarter of 2008

SINGAPORE — Global container shipping, terminals and logistics group Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) has reported a net profit for the first quarter of 2008 (1Q08) of US$121 million, a rise of 183 percent over the same period of 2007 (1Q07). 1Q08 EBIT was US$137 million, up 114 percent on the prior year. Revenue rose year-on-year by 27 percent to US$2.41 billion. First quarter revenue from the APL Container Shipping business rose by 33 percent from 1Q07 to more than US$2 billion. 1Q08 EBIT of US$108 million was 286 percent better than 1Q07. The EBIT Margin in 1Q08 of 5.3 percent was up from 1.8 percent in the same period last year. Globally, APL carried a total of 662,900 FEU (forty-foot equivalent unit) in 1Q08, up 14 percent from the same period of last year. There was an eight percent industry-wide contraction of US West Coast volumes in the first quarter, while APL recorded a two percent fall. Overall, APL’s Transpacific volumes grew by 16 percent in 1Q08. This growth was due to increased backhaul volumes and to US East Coast cargoes rising as a proportion of total Transpacific liftings. Moreover, Intra-Asia continued to drive volumes with growth of 12 percent in 1Q08.


CKYH carriers bringing back
All Water East Coast service

SEOUL — CKYH Alliance (COSCON, K-Line, Yang Ming and Hanjin Shipping) has announced that it is resuming its AWE (All Water East Coast)-Central service effective from May 20, 2008. AWE-Central service, jointly operated by CKYH Alliance, will be deploying a total of eight 4,000TEU class vessels. It will be calling Xiamen, Yantian, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston and back to Xiamen. Along with the reintroduction of this service, CKYH Alliance reports it will continue to develop new services corresponding to market situations.


Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal
ready for business with upgrades

SEATTLE — Summer brings a whole new look for Port of Seattle’s Fishermen’s Terminal as the two-year, $22 million remodel comes to a close – on time and under budget. The a newly dredged inner harbor now sports brand new docks, finger piers at each moorage slip, plus upgraded utilities on the docks. Fishermen’s Terminal, historic home of the North Pacific fishing fleet, is located on the Ship Canal at the southwest corner of Ballard Bridge – adjacent to shops, restaurants, and all the services boat owners need to keep their vessels in good working order. With the completion of the remodel, the terminal’s inner harbor offers a wider variety of slip sizes for vessels up to 70’ feet in length, individual finger piers at each slip for easy loading and boarding, new lighting and upgraded shore power. The West Wall loading/work dock has been dredged to a new minimum 15’ draft to accommodate large commercial vessels. Daily, monthly, and year-round moorage is available for commercial vessels up to 250 feet. Summer recreational moorage is available from June to September, and slips are filling fast. Long-term recreational moorage may be available for recreational vessels as well. For more information, including rates and availability, boaters can call (206) 728-3395 or VHF 17.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Port of Everett opens
new Mount Baker Terminal

EVERETT — On May 2, after more than six years of planning, permitting, environmental mitigation and construction, the Port of Everett opened its new Mount Baker Terminal in south Everett. Mount Baker Terminal, formerly known as the rail/barge transfer facility, is designed to transport oversized cargo, such as large aerospace parts, that do not fit onto standard trucks or rail facilities to Paine Field Airport. The pier will primarily support local aerospace industries, including The Boeing Company, which expects to use the facility for its 747, 767 and 777 airplane programs. The facility may be used as a backup transportation method for the 787 Dreamliner.


Port of Seattle CEO
inks rail corridor agreement

SEATTLE — After a special Commission meeting granting him authority to do so, Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani signed an agreement May 12, with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, acquiring the 42-mile rail corridor located in King and Snohomish Counties. Mr. Yoshitani was joined by King County Executive Ron Sims in signing an interlocal agreement, granting King County an easement to develop a trail on 32 miles of the corridor. The port is acquiring the corridor from BNSF for $107 million. King County is contributing $2 million toward the purchase price, and is granted an easement for trail development on the southern segment of the corridor. The northern portion of the corridor will continue to be used for freight service.


Mitsui to build
53 new iron ore carriers

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced plans to construct 53 new iron ore carriers to meet rising demand for iron ore transport as the world economy continues to grow. The move is part of the growth strategies in the company's midterm management plan, MOL ADVANCE, focusing management resources on growing fields in ocean shipping.


APL expanding service
calling Vietnam/Taiwan/Singapore

SINGAPORE — APL has enhanced its service offering to and from the Vietnam market with the launch of a new feeder service between Vietnam, Taiwan and Singapore. The new service, which is called the Southern Vietnam Express service (SVX), will provide two more weekly departures from Ho Chi Minh City and complement APL’s three existing weekly feeder services from Vietnam. The SVX is jointly operated by APL and Hanjin, with each carrier deploying a 700 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) vessel. Port rotation is: Ho Chi Minh City, Kaohsiung, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City.


Scholarship renamed to honor
past CII President, Richard Simpson

HOLMDELL, NJ — The Containerization & Intermodal Institute has renamed its annual scholarship in honor of its former President and Chairman Richard A. Simpson. Mr. Simpson, who died in January, was a well-known leader in many facets of international transportation -especially during his quarter century at Crowley Maritime Corporation.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, May 12, 2008

Oregon governor receives report
on need for LNG facility in state

SALEM — Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has received a report from the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) that concludes that while Oregon will need increased supplies of natural gas to meet the state’s energy needs, the proposed natural gas pipelines from the Rocky Mountains will be able to meet that increased demand. The report also concludes that the proposed pipelines in the Rocky Mountains are more likely to provide less expensive natural gas and produce significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions than the three LNG facilities proposed in Oregon. The report is in response to the governor’s direction in a letter on February 14, 2008 which requested that ODOE conduct an analysis on the need for and costs, both financial and environmental, of an LNG facility in Oregon. The request came after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) made it clear it would not take the time to perform a natural gas needs assessment or take a comprehensive approach in its process to site energy projects.


Schnitzer's auto parts lines
earn honor for recycling efforts

PORTLAND — Across the nation, millions of end-of-life or damaged automobiles are recycled each year by auto dismantlers. A number of these vehicles contain mercury switches, which -- if left in place -- have the potential to release harmful mercury into the environment when the automobiles are processed into scrap metal. As recognition for the company's leadership in recycling and mercury switch removal, the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) recently named Schnitzer Steel's two auto parts businesses as "Recycler of the Year." The award will be formally presented during SMA's Annual Members Meeting in Washington, D.C. on May 20, 2008. Schnitzer annually recycles approximately 300,000 end-of-life vehicles through its Pick-n-Pull and GreenLeaf Auto Recyclers businesses, which are part of its Auto Parts Business. These businesses, which include 53 self-service and full-service auto parts stores across the United States and Canada, purchase vehicles and offer recycled auto parts to consumers and businesses.


Bureau of Reclamation
taps firms for fish projects

BOISE — The Bureau of Reclamation awarded two engineering contracts for architect-engineering services for fish habitat improvement projects in the Pacific Northwest Region. Anchor Environmental, L.L.C., Kirkland WA, and Jones & Stokes, Bellevue WA received the contract awards that range up to a $5 million each. The work will include assistance with planning, permitting, hydraulic engineering and modeling, and preparation of designs for fish passage and habitat improvement structures. The contracts, which were awarded on April 17, will primarily support the efforts of the Columbia/Snake River Salmon Recovery Office which coordinates fish habitat improvement projects for salmon and steelhead in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.


Genco buying three vessels
from Bocimar International

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has agreed to acquire three 2007-built drybulk vessels from Bocimar International N.V. and Delphis N.V., for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $257.0 million. The acquisition is subject to the completion of customary additional documentation and closing conditions. The three vessels, comprised of two Panamax vessels and one Supramax vessel, are expected to be delivered to Genco during the third and the fourth quarters of 2008. Upon completion of the acquisition, and including the four remaining Capesize vessels to be acquired from companies within the Metrostar Management Corporation group, Genco's fleet will consist of 35 drybulk vessels with a total carrying capacity of approximately 2,910,000 dwt and an average age of approximately 6.6 years.


Marcon acts as broker
in sale of Crowey tug

COUPEVILLE, WA — Crowley Maritime Services of Seattle sold their U.S. flag, twin screw tug SEA FLYER to West African interests. The 136' x 36.5' x 19.2' depth tug was built in 1968 by J.R. McDermott; Amelia, Louisiana. Tug was classed ABS +A1, Towing Service, +AMS. Unrestricted Service. The tug is powered by a pair of EMD 16-645E5 diesels developing a total of 5,750BHP at 900RPM to 5-blade 120" x 99" 5-blade stainless steel open props. Bollard pull is abt. 135,000lbs. ahead and abt. 95,000lbs. astern. Tug was lying idle in Lake Charles, Louisiana at the time of the sale. Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, WA acted as the sole broker in the sale and has sold over 80 vessels and barges to or from Crowley plus over a dozen tugs and barges to buyers over the years.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, May 9, 2008

Corps selects Cottonwood Island
as disposal site for dredge material

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin using Cottonwood Island for upland disposal of dredged material from the Columbia River this month, the agency announced. The upstream end of the island is currently being prepared as a disposal site for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project. Construction operations are scheduled to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from about May 9 through the end of June. About 500,000 cubic yards of material will be placed on the 62 most upstream acres of the 650-acre island. For safety reasons, the public is asked to stay out of the disposal site. The work will
include heavy equipment, construction of containment dikes and changes in the topography of the land. Cottonwood Island is near Kalama, Wash., at Columbia River Mile 70, just upstream of the Cowlitz River confluence. The land was acquired for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project by the port sponsors in Nov 2006 and will be used as an upland disposal site for the maintenance of the project over the next 50 years.


Northwest Airlines plans
Sea-Tac nonstop to Beijing

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle has welcomed an announcement from Northwest Airlines for the expansion of their trans-Pacific route network with new daily nonstop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Beijing, China. The start of new international daily non-stop service to Beijing is scheduled to begin March 1, 2009, giving Northwest four nonstop international routes from Sea-Tac including Amsterdam, London Heathrow, and Tokyo. China is the largest trading partner for the State of Washington, with two-way trade in excess of $30 billion annually and growing. Northwest Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world; together with its partners, the airline provides service to more than 1,000 cities in 160 countries on six continents. In the last 14 months, the Port of Seattle has announced five additional new nonstop routes - AeroMexico to Mexico City, Air France to Paris, Lufthansa to Frankfurt, Hainan Airlines to Beijing, and Northwest Airlines new nonstop to London. Sea-Tac Airport now has 14 nonstop flights to Asia and Europe.


US rail freight traffic
sees gain in carload count

WASHINGTON, DC — Sharp gains in loadings of coal and grain were large enough to offset drops in metallic ores, automotive traffic and lumber and produce a small gain in carload freight on the nation’s railroads during the week ended April 26, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight in the week ended April 26 totaled 335,865 cars, up 0.3 percent from last year. Volume was up 4.1 percent in the West but down 4.5 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 224,365 trailers or containers, down 4.4 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was off 2.5 percent while container traffic dropped 4.9 percent. Total volume was estimated at 34.7 billion ton-miles, up 1.8 percent from the 17th week of 2007. Six of 19 carload commodities registered gains from a year ago with grain climbing 20.1 and coal up 7.6 percent. Among commodities reporting declines were motor vehicles and equipment, 22.3 percent, lumber and wood products, 19.1 percent, and nonmetallic minerals, 12.8 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 17 weeks of 2008 totaled 5,505,571 carloads, up 1.0 percent from 2007; 3,711,547 trailers or containers, down 3.5 percent; and total volume of an estimated 569.6 billion ton-miles, up 2.2 percent from last year.


Coast Guard accepts delivery
of new Security Cutter BERTHOLF

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Coast Guard conducted preliminary acceptance (delivery) of its first National Security Cutter, BERTHOLF (WMSL 750), May 8, in Pascagoula, Miss. The delivery is a major milestone in BERTHOLF's transition to full operational status in the Coast Guard's fleet and represents preliminary acceptance of the cutter, as documented in the Material Inspection and Receiving Report (DD250). The DD250 formally documents inspection, delivery by the ship builder, and receipt by the government This marks first major multi-mission cutter to be built and delivered to the Coast Guard in more than 20 years. Following recommendations from the cutter's prospective commanding officer, Coast Guard technical authorities, the operational community, and acquisition professionals, the Coast Guard Agency Acquisition Executive, Vice Adm. Vivien Crea, gave the go-ahead for preliminary acceptance of BERTHOLF.


Wi-Fi service now available
at Anacortes ferry terminal

PASADENA, CA — Parsons and Washington State Ferries have announced the commencement of Wi-Fi services at the Anacortes ferry terminal. Service will be available to users both in the terminal and automobile holding areas. Parsons also recently revised Wi-Fi rates and plans to provide ferry users with a full range of service options. The new plans offer a single, two-hour session at $3.95; packages of five, ten, or twenty sessions can bring the two-hour session cost down to $1.50; and unlimited one-day or one-month plans provide further value options. Plans and service areas can be viewed at http://www.wsf-wifi.com/. In addition to the new Anacortes terminal service, Wi-Fi service is available aboard ferries on the Seattle/Bremerton, Seattle/Bainbridge, Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, Edmonds/Kingston, and the Mukilteo/Clinton routes. Full Wi-Fi service is also provided at the terminals and holding areas on these routes. Parsons operates Wi-Fi installations in 30 airports across the United States and Canada. Parsons also manages the world's largest railroad Wi-Fi system, providing service on VIA Rail Canada for more than 460 trains per week across a 14,000-kilometer network.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, May 8, 2008

Port of Everett opening
new Craftsmen District

EVERETT — Today, the Port of Everett, along with state, city and business leaders, celebrate the opening of the port’s new, state-of-the-art Craftsmen District. This event marks a significant milestone toward the completion of Port Gardner Wharf, as the port must have a reliable place to house its marina tenants prior to major construction beginning on the rest of the project. Port Gardner Wharf will consist of 660 residential units, office space, restaurants, marine sales, inns and recreational amenities. The Craftsmen District, located between 10th and 13th Street and West Marine View Drive in Everett, will cater to the port’s 2,300-slip marina by offering services and amenities that best serve the boating community. Clean Marina Washington certifies the port’s marina facilities as a ‘Clean Marina’. Further, the port will begin exploring options for the lease of the Marine Sales & Repair Center (MSRC) building located within the site. This will provide additional leasable space for other boat service businesses. Such businesses could include boat and yacht sales offices, kayak rentals, marine-based supplies, boat repair and restoration shops, sail makers, other marina shops and a work yard. Hoffman Construction, the port’s General Contractor/Construction Management (GC/CM) for the development, managed the construction of the $13 million Craftsmen District. The port is in the process of awarding a bid for a portion of the Phase 1 infrastructure work for the project, but Maritime Trust, the port’s private-sector developer, is still awaiting financing.


Summer growth expected
at US container ports

WASHINGTON, DC — Traffic at the nation’s major retail container ports will grow steadily this summer but will nonetheless remain at or below last year’s levels throughout the period because of the nation’s economic slowdown, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Global Insight. U.S. ports surveyed handled 1.16 million Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEU) of container traffic in March, the most recent month for which actual numbers are available. That’s down 4.8 percent from February – traditionally the slowest month of the year – and represented the lowest monthly volume since the 1.11 million TEU imported in February 2006. The number was down 8.5 percent from March 2007. April was estimated at 1.28 million TEU, down 3.2 percent from a year ago, and May is forecast at 1.31 million TEU, down 4.8 percent. June is forecast at 1.35 million TEU, down 7 percent, and July at 1.41 million TEU, down 2 percent. August is forecast at 1.46 million TEU, flat with last year’s August numbers. September is forecast at 1.48 million TEU, a 3 percent increase over last year. One TEU is one 20-foot container or its equivalent. All U.S. ports covered by Port Tracker – Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast – are rated “low” for congestion, the same as last month.


Greenbrier taps Baker
for executive positions

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — The Greenbrier Companies has announced the appointment of Martin Baker as senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Baker served as corporate vice president, general counsel and secretary, and compliance officer of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation since 1997. From 1991 to 1996, he worked at Altera Corporation and served as general counsel and secretary and prior to that was vice president and general counsel of Vitelic Corporation. After completing his undergraduate degree at Stanford University and receiving his law degree from UCLA, Mr. Baker practiced law at the Palo Alto office of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati and the San Francisco office of Graham & James.


Port Seattle selects developer
for business park project

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle has announced the selection of the developer for the Des Moines Creek Business Park project as Majestic Realty Co, a privately-held real estate development firm based in Southern California. The firm was chosen out of a field of 10 applicants to develop approximately 89 acres of property just south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with a combination of airport-related uses and a big-box anchor retail development. The Des Moines Creek Business Park development is located south of Sea-Tac Airport, bounded by South 208th Street on the north, 24th Avenue South on the east, South 216th Street on the south, and on the west by a portion of Des Moines Creek Park. Majestic Realty's initial development budget for the project is estimated at $90 million. The development will include a big-box retail center as well as flexible-use business park buildings able to accommodate airport-adjacent tenants that need the immediate proximity to Sea-Tac Airport for their business (such as freight, avionics manufacturers, air cargo company offices, etc.).


Astoria Coast Guard units
earn award for excellence

SAN FRANCISCO — U.S. Coast Guard Group/ Air Station Astoria was awarded the Coast Guard Foundation Pacific Area Admiral John B. Hayes Award on May 2, for rescue and support efforts during an unprecedented winter storm that devastated the Pacific Northwest region in December. With winds topping 130 knots, 14 inches of rain, and 35-foot seas, the air station helicopter crews rescued 136 people in 28 sorties, and boat crews braved rising flood waters to rescue 23 others in the storm that started early Dec. 2, 2007 and ended midday Dec. 4, 2007. The Aids to Navigation Team repaired damages to the navigational system immediately following the region's most persistent and violent storm on record - a storm for which the National Weather Service issued its first ever West Coast Hurricane Force Wind Warning. The Admiral John B. Hayes award, named after the sixteenth Commandant of the Coast Guard, is awarded to units who demonstrate unit excellence.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, May 7, 2008

New phase of Bellingham project
moves ahead with lease approvals

BELLINGHAM — Significant numbers of new permanent jobs are expected on Bellingham's waterfront as the second phase of the Bellwether on the BayTM project moves ahead following long-term land lease approvals by the Port of Bellingham's Board of Commissioners. Developer David Ebenal, managing member of Bellwether Gate, LLC, signed long-term capital leases with the port to design, construct, own and operate four mixed-use buildings with underground parking at this development alongside Squalicum Harbor. The agreement between the port and Bellwether Gate, LLC, calls for construction of the first building, located between Anthony's Restaurant and the Hearthfire Grill Restaurant, to begin by this September. This first building will be a mixed-use, four story building with underground parking and ten residential condominiums on the top floor. Bellwether Gate, LLC, already has its anchor tenant, international engineering firm, CH2M HILL. The Bellingham Port Commission has also approved the developer's sublease with CH2M HILL.


Port of Tacoma set to host
Northwest Intermodal Conference

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma will host and be principal sponsor of the second annual Northwest Intermodal Conference, to be held May 19-20 at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. The conference will bring industry experts from across North America in the fields of trade, research, economics, academia and transportation logistics to discuss intermodal business in the Pacific Northwest. Attendees will learn how shippers and service providers view the port system and the inter-connected distribution networks that move their cargo. And with the expectation that cargo volumes will continue to grow through Pacific Northwest ports, interactive sessions will discuss how rail service providers, ports and government are addressing the infrastructure challenge of moving greater cargo volumes more efficiently and productively. For more information about the Northwest Intermodal Conference or to register, visit the Northwest Intermodal Conference website or call 206-324-5644 ext. 222.


TOP Ships takes delivery
of drybulk vessel ASTRALE

ATHENS — TOP Ships Inc. has announced that it has taken delivery of the M/V ASTRALE, a 75,933 dwt Panamax drybulk vessel, built in 2000 in Japan. The
vessel has been financed with secured bank debt. The ASTRALE is the last drybulk vessel to be delivered under agreements entered into by the company in 2007, all of which were delivered between the fourth quarter 2007 and the second quarter 2008. The ASTRALE has entered into a time-charter employment for a period of one year at a gross rate of $72,000 per day.


APL adding new loops
serving Asia/Australia trades

SINGAPORE — APL is enhancing its service offering between Asia and Australia with the introduction of two new loops from May 2008. The northbound China Australia North (CAN) will offer direct coverage from Japan, Korea and Central China to Australia. The southbound China Australia South (CAS) will offer direct coverage from South China to Australian ports. The two loops are jointly offered by APL with Hamburg Sud, Hapag Lloyd and Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM).


Port of Olympia reminds public
that boating/chowder event cancelled

OLYMPIA — The Port of Olympia is posting a reminder that it will not be able to host the Swantown BoatSwap & Chowder Challenge event, originally scheduled for May 17, 2008, due to lack of adequate parking in the area. The port plans on holding the event in 2009 and appreciates the on-going support of the community, and event sponsors, vendors, and restaurants. For information, call the port at (360) 528-8000.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, May 5, 2008

Longview port board Oks
sale of wetland property

LONGVIEW — In a special meeting, Port of Longview Commissioners unanimously voted to sell wetland property for preservation. The port has agreed to sell a portion of its Willow Grove property to the Vancouver, Washington, based conservation group Columbia Land Trust (CLT) in a step toward becoming a ‘greener’ port. Originally purchased for industrial development, the port acquired 388 acres of Willow Grove wetlands property in three separate transactions (1959, 1965, 1974). Since purchasing the land, steepened mitigation requirements have deterred such development. To date, the property has only been used in the mitigation of industrial developments at the Port’s main property. CLT’s proposal calls to purchase 237 acres and transfer 75 port-mitigated acres for $355,500. Port of Longview will retain ownership of the remaining 76 acres for future mitigation needs and also have right of first refusal to mitigation credits derived from the 237 acres sold. The Longview Port Commission has directed staff to place funds from the sale into an account for future industrial property acquisitions.


Homeland Security Department
pushes back TWIC enrollment date

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced that the final compliance date for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program will be April 15, 2009, which reflects a realignment of the Sept. 25, 2008 compliance date set in the final rule. The seven month extension is a direct result of collaboration with port officials and industry, and realigns the enrollment period with the original intent of the TWIC final rule. TWIC was established in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the SAFE Port Act to serve as an identification program for all Coast Guard credentialed mariners and personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas within a port. The program is on track to complete enrollment for a substantial number of jurisdictions by the end of 2008, and several ports will be required to comply with TWIC regulations this year.


New lineup planned for
Tacoma Port Commission meetings

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma Commission has announced that starting in June, 2008 they will begin a schedule of two Commission Meetings per month, the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. Starting in June, Study Sessions will be presented during the General Business portion of the meeting held on the 3rd Thursday of each month. All previously scheduled Study Sessions on the 4th Thursday of the month, from June through December, are rescheduled to the 3rd Thursday of the month. The time and location will not change. Meeting Start Time: 12:00 Noon Meeting Location: The Fabulich Center, Room 104 3600 Port of Tacoma Road.


New commander named
for Coast Guard Portland sector

PORTLAND — Captain Frederick G. Myer has assumed command of Coast Guard Sector Portland. He relieved Commander Russ Proctor, who will resume his assignment as sector deputy commander. Steeped in formal military tradition, the Change of Command ceremony represents a transfer of total responsibility, authority and accountability from one officer to another, before an assembly of the command's crew, to communicate the continuity of command. As Sector Commander, Captain Myer assumes the responsibilities of Captain of the Port, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator, Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection and Federal On-Scene Coordinator. Captain Myer comes to Sector Portland from Sector Boston, where he served as the deputy sector commander. Prior to Sector Boston, his many tours included the Thirteenth District in Seattle, the Coast Guard Cutter STORIS in Kodiak, Alaska, the Marine Inspection Office in New York, Coast Guard Cutters RESOLUTE and ALERT in Astoria, Ore., Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and Group/ Air Station Port Angeles, Wash. Captain Myer is originally from Beverly, Mass. He graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1986 with a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Additionally, he has earned an MBA from Strayer University in Woodbridge, VA.


Port of Portland schedules
PDX noise committee meeting

PORTLAND — Members of the Portland International Airport Citizen Noise Advisory Committee will hear the status of the PDX Fly Quiet program May 8, and will discuss the potential for a Fly Quiet Subcommittee to help with program development and reporting. Jason Schwartz, Port of Portland noise management manager, will provide an update on the program and the role of the team hired to help the Port Noise Management Department finalize and implement the program. The 15-member committee meets from 6-8 p.m. at the airport, 7000 NE Airport Way, in the St. Helens conference room. Committee meetings are open to the public, and include time for public comment. The committee is the port’s official forum for working with the public on issues related to aircraft noise. Representatives come from across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. Eleven members are appointed by various city and county jurisdictions, and four representatives are appointed by the Port to help maintain geographic diversity on the committee. Technical assistance is provided by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Oregon Air National Guard. People with special needs attending the meeting are asked to contact the port for accommodations at 503-460-4073. PDX is wheelchair accessible and located just off the TriMet MAX light rail Red Line. Validated parking is also available.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, May 2, 2008

Longshore workers stay home
to protest war in Iraq

SAN FRANCISCO — The ILWU reports that more than 25,000 longshore workers at 29 west coast ports exercised their First Amendment rights yesterday by taking a day off work and calling for an end to the war in Iraq. “Longshore workers are standing-down on the job and standing up for America,” said ILWU International President Bob McEllrath. “We’re supporting the troops and telling politicians in Washington that it’s time to end the war in Iraq.” Mr. McEllrath says rank-and-file members made their own democratic decision in early February when Longshore Caucus delegates voted to take action on May 1. Employers were notified of the plan, but refused to accommodate the union’s request despite plenty of advance notice. The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) called the move a strike and pointed to orders from the independent Coast Arbitrator to "notify its Locals and members of its contractual obligation and direct all members to report to work as they normally do during the day shift on May 1, 2008." According to the PMA, the work-stoppage, illegal under the ILWU-Pacific Maritime Association contract, comes just two months prior to the expiration of the current labor agreement. The PMA says yesterday's action, which essentially shut down all major ports along the coast, culminates a series of events that began when ILWU members passed a resolution opposing the U.S. war in Iraq. After seeking permission under contract rules to stop work during the day shift on May 1st, ILWU leaders later retracted their request, and claimed that any decision not to work on May 1st would be made by individual workers.


National Navigation Company
pleads guilty to dumping sludge

SEATTLE — National Navigation Company (NNC), headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, entered pleas of guilty Tuesday to two felonies for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships in a failed attempt to conceal illegal discharges of oily sludge directly into the ocean. NNC was charged after Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency officials in Oregon discovered evidence of illegal discharges of oily sludge and oily bilge water, including falsified documents intended to conceal the illegal discharges from Coast Guard inspectors aboard the motor vessel WADI AL ARISH. Though the two felonies came out of port calls in the State of Washington, the pleas took place in the District of Oregon where similar prosecutions against NNC in both Louisiana and Oregon were combined with the Washington case. Under the terms of the plea agreement, NNC will pay a total monetary penalty of $7.25 million. Of this amount, $350,000 will be paid to the Puget Sound Marine Conservation Fund. The fund is administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for projects to restore and protect fragile marine habitats. All three cases arose out of the investigation of the NNC owned and managed vessel, WADI AL ARISH. The investigation began November 17, 2007. Further investigative efforts led investigators and prosecutors to discover evidence of similar violations on six other vessels in NNC's fleet. The pleas entered in Portland include one felony count in the Eastern District of Louisiana based on port calls there and twelve felony counts in the District of Oregon for port calls in Oregon.


US rail carload tally
posts gain during week

WASHINGTON, DC — Thanks to strong increases in loadings of coal and grain, carload freight was up on U.S. railroads during the week ended April 19 in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight in the week ended April 19 totaled 336,847 cars, up 1.5 percent from last year. Volume was up 2.5 percent in the West and 0.3 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 224,112 trailers or containers, off 3.2 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was down 2.4 percent, while container volume declined by 3.4 percent. Total volume was estimated at 34.9 billion ton-miles, up 3.3 percent from the 16th week of 2007. Nine of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains from last year, with grain up 17.4 percent, coal gaining 8.0 percent, and nonmetallic minerals rising 8.6 percent. On the down side, lumber and wood products fell 20.8 percent, motor vehicles declined 20.6 percent, and metallic ores were off 17.3 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 16 weeks of 2008 totaled 5,169,692 carloads, up 1.0 percent from 2007; 3,487,182 trailers or containers, down 3.5 percent; and total volume of an estimated 534.9 billion ton-miles, up 2.3 percent from last year.


Coast Guard officer guilty
of lying in bilge discharge case

WASHINGTON, DC — David G. Williams, a Chief Warrant Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard and the Main Propulsion Assistant for the Coast Guard Cutter RUSH, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Hawaii to one count of making a false statement. Chief Warrant Officer Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 8, 2007, for lying to investigators about his knowledge of the direct overboard discharge of bilge wastes through the ship's deep sink into the Honolulu Harbor. As the Main Propulsion Assistant, he oversaw the maintenance of the main diesel engines and other machinery in the engine room for the Coast Guard Cutter RUSH, a 378 ft. high endurance cutter stationed in Honolulu. According to the plea agreement, on or about March 8, 2006, Chief Warrant Officer Williams had knowledge of the direct discharge of bilge wastes into Honolulu Harbor. The Engineering Department personnel engaged in an unusual and abnormal operation and configuration of engine room equipment to pump bilge wastes from the aft bilge to the deep sink and overboard into Honolulu Harbor, thereby bypassing the "oily water separator" (OWS) system.


Port of Bremerton Commission
moving meeting to evening

PORT ORCHARD, WA — Beginning Tuesday, May 13, the Port of Bremerton will hold one of its two regular business meetings each month in the evening. In an effort to provide an evening time to better involve the citizens of the port district and other interested parties, the port’s board of commissioners approved changing the time of its first business meeting of the month to 7:00 p.m. (formerly held at 4:00 p.m.) on the second Tuesday of each month. The second business meeting, which includes a study session, will continue to be held at 10:00a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. All three commissioners, Cheryl Kincer, Bill Mahan, and Larry Stokes were united in their endorsement of holding evening meetings and extended an open invitation for the public to join them at their first evening meeting on May 13 in the terminal building conference room at Bremerton National Airport.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, May 1, 2008

New radio controlled bucket
going to work at Port Vancouver, USA

VANCOUVER, USA — A new piece of equipment will provide significant flexibility and efficiency to bulk cargo handling operations at the Port of Vancouver, USA. The new equpiment, a radio controlled clamshell-type bucket, arrived at the port on April 23. Built by Mack Manufacturing in Theodore, Ala., and trucked across country to the port, the new bucket can be used on any of the port’s major cranes – the Washington crane, the Liebherr and P&H mobile harbor cranes, and the Paceco gantry crane – which improves efficiency and flexibility of bulk commodity handling at the port. Before receiving the new Mack bucket, the only bucket the port had could only be used on the Washington crane located at the port's Terminal Two. With a capacity of 15 cubic yards, plans for use of the bucket include fertilizers, bentonite clay, and any future bulk commodities handled by the port. The new electric and hydraulic bucket can be used by a crane anywhere on any terminal at the port, and can be operated from ground level by radio control to open and close the jaws. The port paid $106,000 for the bucket.


Port of Bellingham wants comments
on Stormwater Management Program

BELLINGHAM — The Port of Bellingham has drafted a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) to meet requirements of the Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit. The permit requires local agencies with a population between 10,000 and 100,000 to develop, and update annually, a SWMP which addresses six required program elements that collectively result in significant reductions of pollutants discharged into waterbodies. The six program elements include Public Education and Outreach, Public Involvement and Participation, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Construction Site Run-Off Control, Post-Construction Run-Off Control, and Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping. The port's draft SWMP is available for public review and comment. The draft SWMP can be found on the port's website at www.portofbellingham.com under Latest News. To comment on the SWMP, please provide written comments by email to stormwater@portofbellingham.com or by regular
mail to:
Port of Bellingham
ATTN: Alan Birdsall
1801 Roeder Avenue
PO Box 1677
Bellingham, WA 98227
The Phase II Permit is a requirement of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act. The US Environmental Protection Agency has delegated authority in Washington State to the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE). The port was issued coverage under the Phase II Permit by DOE in May 2007, and program implementation requirements are phased through 2012.


NAFTA partners see gains
in transport numbers during February

WASHINGTON, DC — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, Canada and Mexico, was 16.3 percent higher in February 2008 than in February 2007, reaching $69.4 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 6.5 percent in February from January. 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. About 90 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in February was up 58.3 percent compared to February 2003, and up 89.5 percent compared to February 1998, a period of 10 years. Imports in February were up 104.8 percent compared to February 1998, while exports were up 72.5 percent.


First Boeing 777 Freighter
makes way onto flight line

SEATTLE — Progress continues on the first Boeing 777 Freighter as the company's newest cargo airplane was towed out of its factory in Everett and onto the flight line Tuesday night. Work will continue on the 777 Freighter to prepare for flight test this summer and to paint the airplane in the Boeing livery. According to Boeing, the 777 Freighter will fly farther and provide more capacity than any other twin-engine cargo airplane. Boeing will deliver the first 777 Freighter to its launch customer Air France in the fourth quarter of 2008. The 777 Freighter is based on the 777-200LR Worldliner passenger airplane and is built using the same production line as all other models of the 777. Eleven customers around the world have ordered 78 777 Freighters.


Horizon Lines take home
Mary Patten Valiant Ship Award

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has received the 2008 Mary Patten Valiant Ship Award from the Women's Propeller Club of the United States. Don Watters, Horizon Lines' director of operations for ocean transportation services, accepted the award on behalf of Captain Tom McDorr, the officers and crew of the HORIZON FALCON. The event was held on April 16th at the Oyster Point Yacht Club in San Francisco. The award recognized the courageous action and extraordinary seamanship of the HORIZON FALCON officers and crew in the rescue of two seamen from Panamanian-flagged ship HAI TONG No. 7 after it sank in typhoon-heavy seas 300 nautical miles northwest of Guam last July.