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November, 2011

NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Bellingham aviation director
retiring following 29 years at post

BELLINGHAM — After 29 years of service, Port of Bellingham Aviation Director Art Choat is retiring at the end of the month. Airport Manager Daniel Zenk is being promoted to Aviation Director, effective December 1. Mr. Choat, who joined the port in 1982 as harbor superintendent at Squalicum Harbor, worked in a variety of port management roles in the marinas, strategic projects and the Bellingham International Airport. During his tenure, Mr. Choat oversaw numerous large capital projects including the expansion and redevelopment of the entire Blaine Harbor, expansion and redevelopment of portions of Squalicum Harbor, construction of a new airport fire station, the complete reconstruction and paving of the airport runway and the multi-year expansion of the airport commercial terminal. Mr. Zenk was hired as airport manager in 2006. In this role, he has taken the lead in managing the Airport Master Plan Update, which is underway. He also has been a leader in the Commercial Terminal Expansion, which also is underway, as well as numerous public parking lot expansions. Mr. Zenk worked with Mr. Choat and port engineers on the Airport Runway and Taxiway Rehabilitation Project last year. Mr. Zenk has 19 years of airport management experience. He came to Bellingham after working as the airport operations supervisor at Oakland International Airport in California. Before that, Mr. Zenk worked as the airport operations manager at the Hayward Executive Airport, also in California.


New post-Panamax cranes
arrive at Port of Seattle terminal

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle reports that the first three of six new ZPMC cranes arrived the evening of November 28, onboard the ZHEN HUA 9. The cranes were delivered to SSA at the port's Terminal 18. These super post-Panamax cranes will allow port facilities to handle the largest container ships in the world. The next three cranes are expected in the middle of 2012.


Over ninety Crowley vessels
honored with CSA awards

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation's continued focus on environmental preservation and protection was recently recognized by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) in Washington, D.C., with certificates of environmental achievement for 92 vessels that are owned and/or operated by Crowley businesses. The awards ceremony recognized companies with vessels that had achieved a record of two or more years of no recordable environmental incidents. Crowley companies, including Crowley Liner Services, Crowley Marine Services, Crowley Petroleum Services, Crowley Puerto Rico Services, Crowley Technical Management Services, Marine Transport Lines and Marine Transport Management, far surpassed this benchmark with a combined total of 975 years of environmental excellence among its recognized vessels. In total, 1,181 ships and 71 companies were honored. Crowley owns or operates 47 of the 241 vessels that have logged more than 10 years each of environmental excellence. Each year the awards are open to all owners and operators of vessels that operate on oceans or inland waterways.


VT Halter Marine nets deal
to build offshore supply vessels

PASCAGOULA, MS — Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. has announced a contract award for the design and construction of eight large Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs) to VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine), a subsidiary of VT Systems, Inc. This contract award is for eight firm vessels with options to build additional vessels. The Super 320 Class OSVs will be constructed at VTHM’s Moss Point Marine facility in Escatawpa, Mississippi and at the Halter Moss Point facility in Moss Point, Mississippi. The vessels are designed to support U.S. domestic and worldwide offshore oil and gas exploration and production. This new VTHM Super 320 design is based on a larger version of the HOS CORAL, a dynamically positioned OSV built by VTHM’s Moss Point Marine facility which Hornbeck has successfully operated since its delivery in 2009. Engineering work has begun and full production efforts will get underway in early 2012 with delivery of the first vessel planned for October 2013.


Cafe @ Marina now open
at Port of Everett Waterfront Center

EVERETT — The Port of Everett has announced Cafe @ Marina on the Waterfront is now open at the port’s Waterfront Center. Tenant improvements created a 759 square foot café in Waterfront Center, located just across the lobby from Scuttlebutt’s restaurant. In September 2011, the Port of Everett Commission authorized a five year lease, with a five year option for the new café. The cafe, which will employ six people, will offer coffee, smoothies, fresh sandwiches and more. For their grand opening, Cafe @ Marina is offering drink specials now through December 31, 2011. Their hours are Monday thru Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cafe is closed Sundays.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Port of Coos Bay CEO
announces plans to leave post

COOS BAY — Oregon International Port of Coos Bay Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Bishop has announced his resignation effective Dec. 26, 2011. Mr. Bishop is resigning to pursue an opportunity outside of the port industry. He began his employment with the port on Jan. 5, 2005. The CEO is credited with guiding several projects, including the purchase of the Coos Bay rail line after its sudden closure in September 2007. Under Mr. Bishop’s management, the port partnered with local, state and federal officials to win U.S. Surface Transportation Board approval to buy the line in 2009. In the ensuing two years, the port and its partners have raised more than $25 million for the rail line’s rehabilitation. The line re-opened in October 2011. Mr. Bishop also oversaw purchase and rehabilitation of the Charleston Ice Dock, completing the project in 2011 and restoring service for the 160-boat locally based and visiting commercial fishing fleet. In the coming month, the Coos Bay Port Commission and staff will discuss the path forward to selecting a CEO.


Port of Grays Harbor sees rise
in automobile handling business

ABERDEEN, WA — The Port of Grays Harbor reports it has processed and shipped more than 30,000 automobiles through October of this year, a one-third increase over all of 2010. A partnership with Pasha Automotive Service and Chrysler is resulting in increased shipments through Grays Harbor to serve the high demand in China and other Pacific Rim markets. The auto export activity is one component of the developing omni-terminal at the Port of Grays Harbor. Partnering with The Pasha Group, an international transportation logistics company handling all types of cargoes, Grays Harbor has emerged as a leading export port for autos, over-high and over wide equipment and other Ro Ro cargoes. What makes Grays Harbor unique is the direct rail service to the marine complex, ample uplands for auto and equipment storage and warehousing facilities for processing of the automobiles. The port is served by both Class 1 railroads, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific. This combination has resulted in more than 85 new jobs for this rural Washington community, from the auto processors, to the longshore workers loading the vessels, to the pilots, tugs, rail and port operators directly involved with vessel handling. Local job creation does not stop at the waterfront. This year Grays Harbor undertook the largest construction project in recent times with the addition of more than 37,000 feet of rail to the marine terminal complex. With the award of more than $18 million in construction contracts to the low bidder, Rognlin’s, Inc, the project has also created local construction jobs. Rognlin’s is headquartered in Aberdeen.


Horizon Lines reaches settlement
with Puerto Rico lawsuit opt outs

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced that it has entered into a settlement agreement with all of the remaining significant shippers who opted out of the Puerto Rico direct purchaser antitrust class action settlement. Horizon Lines agreed to settle with these shippers at a total cost to the company of $13.75 million in exchange for full release of all antitrust claims. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Horizon Lines will make a payment of $5.75 million within 10 business days of the November 23, 2011, effective date, a payment of $4.0 million by June 30, 2012, and a final payment of $4.0 million by December 24, 2012. The agreement effectively resolves claims related to class action lawsuits that were filed against Horizon Lines in 2008 on behalf of customers who purchased domestic ocean shipping services from the company and other ocean carriers in the Puerto Rico tradelane between May 2002 and April 2008. Horizon Lines entered into a settlement agreement with the class in June 2009, which received final court approval in September 2011. Some shippers opted out of the class settlement, and Horizon has previously announced settlement with a number of them. This settlement resolves claims of all the remaining significant opt outs.


Trade between NAFTA partners
up during month of September

WASHINGTON, DC — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, was 13.8 percent higher in September 2011 than in September 2010, totaling $77.7 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico, the United States’ North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, in September 2011 rose 35.7 percent in two years from September 2009 and 8.3 percent in three years from September 2008. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in September increased by 22.8 percent when compared to September 2006, and also increased by 83.0 percent when compared to September 2001, a period of 10 years. Imports in September were up 71.3 percent since September 2001, while exports were up 99.0 percent. Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones, and other. In September, 85.6 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved via land, 9.8 percent moved by vessel, and 4.5 percent moved by air. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico decreased 3.3 percent in September 2011 from August 2011. U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade both increased compared to September 2010 with U.S.-Canada reaching $46.1 billion, a 14.7 percent increase, and U.S.-Mexico reaching $31.6 billion, a 12.5 percent increase.


Coast Guard/National Guard units
earn achievement awards

ASTORIA — Coast Guard Sector Columbia River members will be awarded Army Achievement Medals and members of the Oregon National Guard 102nd Civil Support Team (CST) will be awarded Coast Guard Achievement Medals during a ceremony at Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, tomorrow, at 10 a.m. The medals are being awarded to honor the Coast Guard and Army National Guard partnership during the offshore boarding of the vessel PAN PAC SPIRIT Apr. 8, 2011. The freight vessel PAN PAC SPIRIT transited through waters in the vicinity of Fukushima, Japan. The vessel passed radiation screening and was cleared to enter port. The collaborative efforts of Station Cape Disappointment, Wash., Air Station Astoria, Ore., Marine Safety Unit Portland, and Oregon National Guard 102nd CST provided a skilled and thorough risk assessment to help ensure the health and safety of the populace within the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port Zone.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, November 28, 2011

Korean ship captain receives
IMO bravery honor for 2011

LONDON — Captain Seog Hae-gyun of the Republic of Korea, master of the chemical tanker SAMHO JEWELRY, has been presented with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea 2011, for his decisive, brave and courageous actions to protect his ship and crew during a vicious pirate attack in the Indian Ocean, which left him with serious and long-lasting injuries. When the SAMHO JEWELRY was boarded by pirates, in January 2011, the crew took cover in the designated citadel but the pirates broke in, detaining them on the bridge. Over two days, Captain Seog steered the ship on a zig-zag course, so that the pirates would not realize that the vessel was actually heading away from, instead of towards, Somali waters. He contaminated the fuel so the engines would not work normally, pretended the steering gear was malfunctioning and slowed the ship’s speed from 14 knots to six, to keep the vessel out of Somali waters for as long as possible, thus maximizing the potential for units of the Republic of Korea Navy to attempt a rescue. However, the pirates became suspicious that some of Captain Seog’s actions were intended to outwit them and they brutally assaulted him, causing serious fractures to his legs and shoulders. While all this was happening, the pirates ordered him to communicate information about the incident to his shipping company in English, via satellite. Captain Seog surreptitiously inserted information in Korean about the true situation – information that proved vital for the Navy of his country to plan, and execute, a rescue operation. On January 21, the Republic of Korea Navy destroyer CHOI YOUNG launched a rescue operation, which they named “Dawn of the Gulf of Aden”. By 06.30 on that day, the attack team had gained full control of the bridge. During this time, Captain Seog, despite his injuries, managed to send out an urgent message via VHF, warning the boarding party that there were three pirates at the steering wheel. The already-injured Captain Seog survived being shot four times, including twice in the abdomen, by pirates firing in revenge. Having received emergency treatment from the Special Assault Commando, he was transported by means of an inflatable craft and a helicopter to the Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Oman. Meanwhile, the Republic of Korea naval forces involved in the assault continued operations on the ship, and all 21 crew members eventually were freed. In all, eight pirates were killed and five captured. From the Omani hospital, Captain Seog was transferred to a hospital in the Republic of Korea, where he underwent major surgery. It was nearly a month before he recovered full consciousness.


Evergreen vessel rescues
sailor from sinking cargo ship

TAIPEI — The officers and crew of Evergreen Line's 1,164-TEU containership UNI-ASPIRE successfully rescued a Korean seafarer in the South China Sea just south of Hong Kong on November 22. UNI-ASPIRE received an emergency call from Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (HKMRCC) at 6 a.m. requesting assistance in the rescue operation while the containership was on route from Taichung to Laem Chabang. The search for missing crewmembers was launched in response to a distress call from the sinking BRIGHT RUBY. UNI-ASPIRE responded and successfully rescued the chief officer of the distressed cargo ship at about 10 am. Lee Sang Hun, the Korean seafarer, received good care on board UNI-ASPIRE as the ship continued its voyage to Laem Chabang. The Korean Consulate in Thailand then took over care of Mr. Lee and arranged to send him home. It has been reported that six crewmembers remain missing and 15 were rescued from the 1987- built BRIGHT RUBY. Other ships that managed to rescue seamen in the operation included the Hong Kong-registered JIN GUANG LING (rescuing 10 seamen), the Greek-owned COMMON SPIRIT (rescuing two seamen), the Liberian-flagged CAP NORTE (rescuing one seaman) and Singaporean MAERSK CUNENE (rescuing one seaman).


NASSCO launches 13th
T-AKE ammunition ship

SAN DIEGO — General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics has christened the U.S. Navy's newest supply ship, USNS MEDGAR EVERS (T-AKE 13). Named in honor of the African American civil rights leader from Mississippi, the USNS MEDGAR EVERS is the 13th ship of a class of 14 dry cargo/ammunition ships designed and built by NASSCO. USNS Medgar Evers is the 13th ship of the Lewis and Clark (T-AKE) Class of dry cargo ammunition ships General Dynamics NASSCO is building for the U.S. Navy. NASSCO began constructing USNS MEDGAR EVERS in April 2010. Following its at-sea testing phase, the ship will be delivered to the Navy in the second quarter of 2012. USNS MEDGAR EVERS will mark the 13th T-AKE ship that NASSCO has delivered to the Navy since 2006.


NYK ship management company
nets official ClassNK certification

TOKYO — NYK-Fil Ship Management Inc. (NYK-Fil), an NYK Group company, has obtained certification from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) as an institution that meets the requirements of regulation 1.4 (recruitment and placement) of the International Labor Organization’s Maritime Labor Convention 2006 (MLC 2006). Regulation 1.4 of MLC 2006 mandates that each member that operates a public seafarer recruitment and placement service shall ensure that the service is operated in an orderly manner that protects and promotes seafarers’ employment rights as provided in the convention. ClassNK’s certification officially recognizes that the services offered by NYK-Fil fulfill this obligation. This is the first certification that ClassNK has issued in the manning-business sector.


FESCO inks funding deal
to upgrade infrastructure

VLADIVOSTOK — FESCO and EBRD have signed a US$100 million loan agreement to support the group’s infrastructure investments. The new seven-year facility is provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to finance FESCO’s strategic investment program aimed at further boosting the group’s infrastructure and container logistics capacity. The use of loan proceeds will include investments into the development and retrofitting of Vladivostok Commercial Sea Port (VCSP) in order to improve its operational efficiency and throughput, focusing on high value added and cleaner types of cargo, with the emphasis on containers.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, November 25, 2011

Foss Maritime vessels honored
for environmental achievements

WASHINGTON, DC — Sixty vessels owned by the Seattle-based Foss Maritime Company are being recognized by a major maritime organization for their standout environmental records. The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) announced the awards honoring Foss' environmental achievements Thursday, November 17 in Washington, D.C. U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Brian Salerno, Deputy Commandant for Operations, participated in the awards ceremony and congratulated the industry's safety and environmental record. A list of the vessels that received the 2011 Environmental Achievement Award is posted on CSA's website www.knowships.org. Click on "Press Releases".


Port of Coos Bay holding
sale of surplus property

COOS BAY — The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay is offering surplus property for sale through a sealed bid process. Sealed bids are due by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at the Charleston Marina, 63534 Kingfisher Road. Property for sale includes vehicles and a mobile home (minimum $100 bid), reclaimed lumber, dock and building materials/equipment, and boat parts. For a complete auction list, go to www.portofcoosbay.com. Items will be awarded to the highest bidder. All items will be sold as-is with no warranty and may be viewed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. December 5-10 by contacting the Marina, 888-2548. Purchasers will be required to remove items within five working days.


International Maritime Organization
releases list of 2012-13 council members

LONDON — The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has elected the following states to be members of its council for the 2012-2013 biennium:
• Category (a) 10 states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services: China,
Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States.
• Category (b) 10 states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: Argentina, Bangladesh,
Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden.
• Category (c) 20 states not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime
transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major
geographic areas of the world: Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia,
Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand,
Turkey.
The council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the assembly, for supervising the work
of the organization. Between sessions of the assembly, the council performs all the functions of the
assembly, except that of making recommendations to governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.


Rail freight traffic count
posts gains during week

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported gains in weekly rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 298,465 carloads for the week ending Nov. 5, 2011, up 3.4 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 239,180 trailers and containers, up 3.5 percent compared with the same week last year. Fifteen of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2010, including: metallic ores, up 23.2 percent; nonmetallic minerals, up 23 percent, and metals and products, up 19.9 percent. The groups showing a decrease in weekly traffic included: farm products excluding grain down 17.8 percent; grain, down 11.4 percent, and primary forest products, down 10.5 percent.


NYK takes delivery
of new bulk vessel

TOKYO — On November 22, SUIGO, a new 174,000 DWT class bulk carrier built by Namura Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., was delivered to NYK. At the naming and delivery ceremony held at the Imari Shipyard & Works of Namura Shipbuilding, Katsuyoshi Iwata, managing executive officer of Sumitomo Metals Industries Ltd., and Hidenori Hono, an NYK representative director and senior managing corporate officer, joined a number of others in attendance to celebrate the maiden voyage of the vessel for western Australia. The vessel will be chartered exclusively to Sumitomo Metals over 15 years to transport iron ore and coal mainly in Pacific waters.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Longview Port Commissioners
cut 2012 tax levy by 45 percent

LONGVIEW — The Port of Longview Board of Commissioners has unanimously voted to reduce the port’s tax levy by 45 percent in 2012. On track for a fourth outstanding operating revenue year, commissioners want to reduce the port’s reliance on community tax collections and work toward zero tax collections in the near future. For the past several years the port has seen tremendous growth in operating revenue, creating operating fund reserves that can now support capital projects and equipment purchases previously made with tax collection funds. Historically the Port of Longview tax collections have been dedicated to capital projects and acquisitions, which are long-term investments to improve the overall marketability of the port to attract business. Port taxes are also committed to repaying outstanding General Obligation bond debt, which is the governmental equivalent to a loan. Based on the port district’s assessed valuation, the port’s 2012 maximum allowable collection is $3,163,592. At a recent meeting, commissioners voted to reduce the levy by half of the allowable amount, eliminating $1,591,862 and dedicating the remaining $1,571,730 to the payment of annual G.O. bond debt. Capital improvements and purchases will be made from the Port’s operating fund reserves. Tax collections are based on the overall assessed valuation of the port district, which includes homes in Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, Toutle, Silverlake and a portion of Ryderwood. In 2011 the port collected $0.39 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value, but with the reduction, collections will go down to $0.22 cents per $1,000. Based on the district’s valuation, the port will collect $ 1,289,772 less than it did in 2011. For example, in 2011 the owner of a $150,000 home paid $59 in port taxes. In 2012, that same homeowner will pay $33 toward the port’s collection, a 45 percent savings. With the impending start-up of the new export grain terminal at the Port of Longvies, revenue projections may allow the port to entirely eliminate the port’s tax collection in the near future.


Seattle Port Board passes
budget for 2012, finance plan

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle Commission has passed its 2012 Budget and Draft Plan of Finance, which invests in business operations, and generating and sustaining family-wage jobs. The budget also plans for the port’s future obligations in crucial transportation infrastructure projects like Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project and the South Park Bridge. Other priorities include preparation for significant environmental cleanup efforts around the Duwamish River. Under this budget, the port forecasts a slight increase in operating revenues, driven in part by increased air traffic at Sea-Tac Airport and an expected 11 percent increase in cruise passengers visiting Seattle. Other budget highlights include:
• Over $391 million will be spent in capital projects that improve port facilities, generate near-term jobs, and maintain the port’s competitiveness.
• The port’s successful clean air program will continue in 2012, providing incentives to shippers who use cleaner fuels and investing in newer equipment that is more environmentally-friendly.
• The agency’s tax levy will be reduced to $73 million. Levy dollars are invested in capital projects for the real estate division; facilities that support jobs, such as Fishermen’s Terminal; environmental programs; and transportation infrastructure.
• As planned, the 2012 Draft Plan of Finance includes more information about how the port will fund its investment in the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program. Per the agreement with WSDOT, the port has already invested $19 million in projects complementary to the program, and remaining funds will be provided in the later years of the project – 2016 - 2019. By 2016, the port expects to have set aside $55 million toward that commitment in cash reserves, and will issue general obligation bonds for the remainder of the investment.


Matson plans to increase
Hawaii rates, handling charge

OAKLAND — Matson has announced that it will raise its rates for the company’s Hawaii service by $175 per westbound container and $85 per eastbound container, effective January 1, 2012. The increase will be filed with the Surface Transportation Board. In addition, Matson will raise its terminal handling charge by $50 per westbound container and $25 per eastbound container, also effective January 1, 2012. Matson estimates that the combined increase of both the rate adjustment and terminal handling charge will result in shipping costs rising by an average of 5.6 percent. Historically, Matson has announced average percentage increases based solely on the rate increase, excluding terminal handling increases. In the interest of greater transparency, the company has decided to combine both numbers for the average percent increase. Matson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. of Honolulu.


ATA praises DOT decision
to ban cellphone use by truckers

ARLINGTON, VA — American Trucking Associations has announced their support for the final rule issued by the Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to ban the use of handheld cellphones by commercial truck and bus drivers. “ATA has been vocal in its support of Transportation Secretary LaHood's quest to combat distracted driving and this is another appropriate step toward achieving that goal,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. “Studies have shown that actions like texting and dialing a phone can greatly increase crash risk, so by taking steps to curb these behaviors hold great promise to improve highway safety. ATA's progressive safety agenda includes support for bans on texting and using handheld cellphones for all drivers. While the federal government cannot enact such bans for drivers of passenger vehicles, ATA urges all states to follow the lead of DOT and FMCSA and take steps to ban these dangerous activities for all drivers,” Mr. Graves said.


Hewlett-Packard inks deal
to supply cloud for Maersk Line

PALO ALTO, CA — Hewlett-Packard Denmark has announced Maersk Line has signed a $150 million-plus infrastructure services agreement that will support the shipper’s global growth strategy. Under the five-year agreement, HP will help Maersk Line become an Instant-On Enterprise by using HP’s cloud-enabled data centers and HP Workplace Services to optimize its technology infrastructure. HP will create a private cloud computing environment for distributed and local applications using HP Cloud Computing Solutions. In addition, HP will take over the Service Desk function at Maersk Line and deliver Workplace Services to maintain the company’s computing devices, such as desktop and notebook PCs, for almost 38,000 users in more than 100 countries. As part of the agreement, HP will offer employment to all Maersk Line staff within these areas.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Weather conditions force closure
of Columbia River Bar entrance

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Columbia River, in Astoria, issued the closure of the Columbia River, Ore., bar entrance due to hazardous conditions at approximately 9 p.m., Monday. The bar closure applies to all vessels and any request to transit the bars prior to reopening must be approved by the COTP, Sector Columbia River. Mariners may contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM Channel 16 or Sector Columbia River by telephone at (503) 861-6211 for further information or to request crossing. The Coast Guard will re-evaluate the bar closure on an ongoing basis and will re-open the waterway as soon as the offshore weather improves. The bar is anticipated to re-open by 8 a.m., Wednesday, based on current weather predictions. The Coast Guard understands the effects these closures have on commerce and will make every effort to re-open these waterways as soon as they are considered safe for navigation.


Port of Skagit continues string
of clean state audit reports

BURLINGTON, WA — The Washingtion State Auditor's Office has given the Port of Skagit a clean bill of health for its operations during fiscal year 2010, the port's seventeenth consecutive year of clean audits. The auditor's Office issued no recommendations and no findings in its report. The port's annual audits examine financial information and compliance with state, federal and local laws. The Port of Skagit owns and operates three key facilities: the Skagit Regional Airport, the Bayview Business Park and the La Conner Marina. Combined, these three facilities are home to more than 80 businesses that employ in excess of 1,000 people.


ATA truck tonnage index
up during month of October

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 0.5 percent in October after rising a revised 1.5 percent in September 2011. September’s increase was slightly less than the 1.6 percent gain ATA reported on October 25, 2011. The latest gain put the SA index at 116.3 (2000=100) in October, up from the September level of 115.8. The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 118.5 in October, which was 0.8 percent below the previous month. Compared with October 2010, SA tonnage was up 5.7 percent. In September, the tonnage index was 5.8 percent above a year earlier. Further, October’s tonnage reading was 4.4 percent below the index’s all-time high in January 2005. ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 10th day of the month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.


Hapag-Lloyd to begin
Med to US West Coast calls

HAMBURG — Hapag Lloyd has announced that effective January 2012, the carrier will offer weekly sailings from the Mediterranean to the US West Coast and Pacific Northwest. Schedule and vessel details will be announced in due course.


Maritime Commerce Club shopping event
set for Saturday, December 3 in Portland

PORTLAND — The Portland Maritime Commerce Club's 23rd Annual Children's Shopping Spree is scheduled for Saturday, December 3, at the K Mart store located at 12350 N.E. Sandy Blvd. from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Help by donating your time or providing a sponsorship for the event. The club is seeking volunteers to shop with a child, wrap gifts, provide check out services and ride the bus. For more information, visit: http://www.pdxmex.com/media/Maritime_Commerce_Club/Spree_Volunteer_-_Sponsorship_reg-flyer.pdf


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, November 21, 2011

Port of Tacoma handles
largest Genie lift shipment

TACOMA — The largest single shipment of Genie® lifts to move through the Port of Tacoma is scheduled to arrive Friday in Panama. More than 75 Genie lifts left the port's Terminal 7 on the Sitcum Waterway last week on the TARAGO, a vessel operated by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, for delivery to international markets. The Genie lifts exported through the port were built at the Terex Aerial Work Platforms plants located in Redmond and Moses Lake, Wash. From the TARAGO's destination in Manzanillo, Panama, the equipment will ship to customers in Belgium, Argentina and Australia. The Genie brand was founded in 1966 in Seattle, when Bud Bushnell bought the manufacturing rights to a material lift that operated on compressed air. Today, Genie is a brand of products manufactured by the Terex Aerial Work Platforms business segment of Terex Corporation. Overall, the port has seen a 60 percent increase in breakbulk cargo in 2011, which includes Genie lifts and a wide range of industrial, agricultural and construction equipment.


Pacific Maritime Association
eyeing reefer box safety situation

SAN FRANCISCO — In regard to safeguards for handling refrigerated containers originating in or traveling through all ports in Vietnam, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) reports that in recent months, at ports located in other parts of the world, four refrigerated containers ruptured, resulting in three mechanics being killed. North American-based shipping industry officials, in conjunction with governmental agencies including the United States Coast Guard, have conducted a comprehensive review to determine the source of the problem and isolate and repair at-risk containers. All indications point to maintenance work conducted on refrigerated units processed at the Port of Kat Lai in Vietnam. As a precaution, all refrigerated containers that were either transported through or originated in any port in Vietnam are being identified upon arrival at West Coast ports in the United States and those that have been worked on in Kat Lai isolated for special handling. The PMA is working with ILWU locals along the coast on agreements that protect workers while keeping the ports operating. Already, an agreement at the nation's largest port complex in Southern California is in place, and the PMA continues to work with locals at other ports, including Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma.


FESCO Transportation Group
reports nine month numbers

VLADIVOSTOK — FESCO Transportation Group has announced its operational results for nine months of 2011, which continue to demonstrate year-on-year growth across virtually all container-related businesses of the group, while showing relatively flat or sometimes negative operational performance in other types of cargo. Volume of international sea container shipping increased by 28.2 percent, amounting to 282,359 TEUs, compared to nine months of 2010. Domestic container trade showed a decline of 6.9 percent YoY with the total of 45,830 TEUs. Intermodal volumes demonstrated growth of 52.5 percent, totaling to 52,269 TEUs. Reefer services grew by 57.4 percent, reaching 90,521 TEUs of refrigerated cargo. Rail container volumes also continued to grow, reaching 185,788 TEUs, or 34.5 percent up from nine months 2010. Vladivostok Port total container handling volumes reached 314,369 TEUs, which is 27.94 percent higher than last year. Railway turnover of industrial goods remained virtually at the level of last year, with 25.9 bln. ton-kilometers, or 0.9 percent decrease. Total loading of non-container cargo on rail reached 19.24 mln tons, or 5.6 percent higher than last year. Breakbulk cargo volumes in Vladivostok port amounted to 2,189,471 tons, declining by 35 percent year-on-year, following the ongoing re-focusing of Vladivostok port towards containers and passenger cars. The latter demonstrated the growth of 19 percent year-on-year, reaching 66,551 units.


Hapag-Lloyd expanding service
covering Guatemala, Caribbean

HAMBURG — Hapag-Lloyd has announced service improvements in its Guatemala operations. Starting December 5, 2011 with JUPITER (voyage 1148SB), the carrier will restart regular Puerto Quetzal southbound calls with its Mexico Panama Service (MXP) which will provide a weekly connection from Asia, USWC and Mexico. It will also provide direct access to and from West Coast of South America (Buenaventura, Callao, San Antonio and Lirquen). Also, the Gulf Caribbean Service will call Santo Tomas De Castilla and Puerto Cortes on alternate weeks, starting with SYDNEY EXPRESS (voyage 1148) ETA Santo Tomas De Castilla on December 4, 2011. In conjunction with other existing service networks, Hapag-Lloyd will continue to offer a weekly service from Santo Tomas De Castillo and Puerto Cortes. The revised GCS rotation will be as follows: Houston • Altamira • Veracruz • Santo Tomas De Castilla / Puerto Cortes (alternate fortnightly call) • Puerto Limon • Manzanillo PA • Cartagena • Caucedo • San Juan • Houston. The carrier has also announced that previous restrictions related to the import or export of containers with prefixes HLXU or CPSU are no longer in place.


Port of Bellingham opens
annual Gingerbread House contest

BELLINGHAM — Now in its sixteenth year, the Port of Bellingham's Gingerbread House Contest encourages both the young and the young at heart to embrace their creativity through edible sculpture. The contest is free, and open to bakers of all ages and abilities. Many entrants to the edible structure contest choose to donate their entries to a silent auction for the local Mount Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross.
• Entry form deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 5 p.m.
• Entry forms and rules are available at www.portofbellingham.com/gingerbreadcontest
• Edible structure delivery is Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Deliver to second floor,
Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Ave., Bellingham.
• After-event pickup starts at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, and continues through 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7.
All the contest entries will be on display at the 21st Annual Holiday Port Festival at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal December 2-4. The free, family-friendly event will feature performances by local bands, choirs and dance groups, free horse-drawn wagon and fire truck rides, kids’ art activities, Santa, and of course, the gingerbread house display. This year, the festival will host the fourth annual food drive for the Bellingham Food Bank. More information about the festival, including the event schedule, is available at - www.portofbellingham.com/holidayport


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, November 18, 2011

Seattle Coast Guard base
to host service academy info night

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard will host a Service Academy Information Night at the Coast Guard Base Seattle Gym at Pier 36 on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. People attending will learn how to qualify for an appointment to the prestigious service academies, where they can earn a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as an officer in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, or Air Force. Students, parents and educators will have the opportunity to meet with Cadets, Midshipmen and admissions representatives from the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.; United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.; United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y.; and United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. All attendees must show a government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, military) to enter the Coast Guard Base.


Diana Shipping to purchase
Panamax dry bulk vessel

ATHENS — Diana Shipping Inc., a global shipping company specializing in the ownership and operation of dry bulk vessels, has announced that it has agreed to purchase from an unaffiliated third party the MV VATHY, a 2010 built Panamax dry bulk carrier of 81,297 dwt, for a price of US$32.25 million. The vessel, to be renamed LETO, is expected to be delivered to the company by the sellers during the first quarter of 2012.


US rail freight traffic
up during month of October

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported gains in October 2011 rail traffic compared with the same month last year, with U.S. railroads originating 1,215,627 carloads, up 1.7 percent, and 975,566 trailers and containers, up 3.6 percent. October 2011 saw the highest weekly carload average of any month since October 2008, as well as the highest weekly intermodal average since October 2006. AAR also reported gains in traffic for the week ending Oct. 29, 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 307,900 carloads, up 5.2 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 243,774 trailers and containers, up 46 percent compared with the same week last year.


Marcon brokers sale
of ocean flat deck barge

COUPEVILLE, WA — The 10,000dwt, Vanuatu flagged ocean flat deck barge DRC/BLAKE 1 (ex- EIDE BARGE 35, PACIFIC HORIZON, MB-100, SLB-1 and SLB-2) was sold to private South American buyers, marking the second time that Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington has sold this heavily-built unit. Marcon previously sold the barge from Horizon Offshore of Houston, Texas to Eide Marine Services of Norway in 2004. DRC/BLAKE 1 dimensions are 100m x 30m x 7.5m' depth and the barge has a 10 tonnes per square meter uniform deck load. The barge is classed by Lloyds, LR +100 A1 Pontoon. DRC/BLAKE 1 was converted in 1996 by longitudinally joining two existing barges which had been originally built in 1982/3 by Scott Lithgow, Ltd. in Glasgow, Scotland. The original 328' x 45.9' barges SLB-1 and SLB-2 were specially built for load-out of heavy deck units for mating to semi-submersibles. Each pontoon segment was ballastable and fitted with a pump room located forward with two 350m3/h ballast pumps. The DRC/BLAKE 1 will be repositioned to South America by its new owners. Marcon was sole broker involved in this transaction. Marcon International Inc. has brokered 35 sales and charters to-date in 2011. Several additional sales are pending and expected to close shortly.


Boeing announces order
for 230 planes for Lion Air

BALI, Indonesia — Boeing and Jakarta-based Lion Air have announced a commitment for the airline to order 201 737 MAXs and 29 Next-Generation 737-900 ERs (extended range). The agreement also includes purchase rights for an additional 150 airplanes. With 230 airplanes at a list price of $21.7 billion, this deal when finalized will be the largest commercial airplane order ever in Boeing's history by both dollar volume and total number of airplanes. Boeing and Lion Air are working to finalize details of the agreement, at which time it will be a firm order posted on the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website. Lion Air will also acquire purchase rights for an additional 150 airplanes valued at more than $14 billion if exercised at list prices. President Barack Obama witnessed the announcement at a ceremony Nov. 17 at the East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, November 17, 2011

BTS releases annual update
of North American transport stats

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS). a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, has released the seventh annual update of the North American Transportation Statistics (NATS) online database. A product of the North American Transportation Statistics Interchange established in 1991, the NATS online database provides three-country comparative information on transportation activity and its impact. The database covers the following subject areas: demographics, transportation, the economy, transportation safety, transportation's impact on energy and the environment, domestic and international freight activity, domestic and international passenger travel, transportation infrastructure, and vehicles. The NATS online database includes data on U.S. trade and transportation with Canada and Mexico. In 2010, goods valued at more than $918 billion crossed the U.S. border in trade with Canada and Mexico, 24.9 percent more than in 2009. Although the value of trade in 2010 was lower than the value of trade in 2008, it was higher than the value of trade in 2007. Data in the NATS online database show the importance of the various modes of transportation involved in the movement of goods between Canada, Mexico and the United States. Road carried 61 percent of the total freight valued at $557 billion in 2010. Rail carried 14 percent, followed by maritime with nine percent, pipeline with seven percent, and air with five percent. Among all modes, road had the largest increase in shipment value, $102 billion, from 2009 to 2010. The value of freight shipment for both road and air modes reached their highest level since 2005 (NATS online database, Table 6-1c). Data in the NATS online database also show America's top gateways for trade with Canada and Mexico. In 2010, Laredo, TX was the top road gateway with $99.0 billion in international road shipments passing through that gateway. Three new maritime indicators on the number of water ports and facilities and top handling ports by tonnage and TEUs for each country were added to the NATS online database this year. These new indicators were developed in response to the need for harmonized data to support maritime transportation decision-making at national and trilateral levels. With text available in English, French, and Spanish, the NATS online database can be found at http://nats.sct.gob.mx/. Additionally, the NATS incorporates technical and methodological footnotes to provide users with interpretation and analysis.


Coast Guard Vice Admiral
relieves cutter captain of command

ALAMEDA, CA — The Coast Guard's Pacific Area Commander, Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, recommended Wednesday that Capt. Anthony R. Gentilella be permanently relieved of command of the Coast Guard Cutter MORGENTHAU, citing a loss of confidence in his ability to command. "Coast Guard commanding officers are held to the highest standards in keeping with our core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty. An important element of doing this requires a commanding officer to promote open communications." said Brown. "While my decision was not predicated by a single act, Capt. Gentilella failed to uphold our standards by not maintaining a command climate that supported safe and effective operations." Capt. Mathew Bliven assumed temporary command of MORGENTHAU. Capt. Gentilella has been reassigned to Coast Guard District Eleven staff pending the administrative process that will determine if his relief will be permanent. MORGENTHAU, homeported in Alameda, California is a 378-foot Hamilton class high-endurance cutter commissioned in March of 1969.


Trucking association executive
calls for further look at rule changes

ARLINGTON, VA — American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves, in a letter to Cass Sunstein, administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget, questioned whether “legitimate reason” exists to change the current hours-of-service rules. In the letter, dated November 15, Mr. Graves points to recently unearthed data about the trucking industry’s safety performance, as well as the underlying science used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Department of Transportation to alter the 34-hour restart provision of the rules. “This data, in terms of both numbers and rates, is overwhelmingly positive, is a clear indication how well trucking is performing while operating under the current HOS rules, and further demonstrates FMCSA has no evidence of a safety problem with the current rules,” Mr. Graves said of the recently discovered 2009 Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts, which showed historic low levels of truck crashes. Mr. Graves asked OMB to review the data “as you decide whether FMCSA and DOT have any legitimate reason to issue a new rule with significant public policy changes.” The letter also draws Administrator Sunstein’s attention to the “findings” and “recommendations” used by FMCSA and DOT to craft their proposed changes to the 34-hour restart. Those findings come from a single study that the researchers themselves said was not enough to answer all the questions surrounding the rule’s effect on safety. “An objective read makes clear that this single study is insufficient to justify a policy change,” Mr. Graves said, comparing the need for more research to the Obama administration’s recent decision to delay approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline in lieu of further study. “Critical highway safety policy decisions by our government deserve no less scrutiny and understanding by government policymakers and the public than environmental and energy decisions,” Mr. Graves said.


Panama Maritime Chamber
opens doors to shipowners

PANAMA CITY — For the first time in its history, the Panama Maritime Chamber (PMC) has opened its membership to international shipowners with vessels registered in Panama – making it the equivalent of a Panamanian Shipowners’ Association. Jose Digeronimo, chairman of the Panama Maritime Chamber said, “There are over 9,000 vessels registered under the Panama flag, and our aim is to involve and help shipowners with representation, information, education, networking, trade missions and most important, lobbying on their behalf”.


K Line adding service
covering West India

TOKYO — Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) is enhancing its West India service with the introduction of a new Kwangyang/Kaohsiung - West India Express (FIX) service starting November 30, 2011 from Kwangyang as a slot operator. By introducing this new service, “K” Line will be able to provide direct service from Kwangyang and Kaohsiung to Nhava Sheva and Karachi. “K” Line presently also operates two other weekly services (called INDFEX-1 and CIX-2) calling at Xingang, Qingdao, Pusan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong and West India.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Port of Port Angeles seeking
applications for commissioner

PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles is accepting applications to fill a vacancy for District #1 (East end) on the port commission. The port commission consists of three elected commissioners from three districts within Clallam County. This position will complete the remaining two years of a six year term that will be vacant on January 1, 2012. A vacant position is appointed by the two remaining commissioners until the next general port election (2013) in accordance with the RCW provisions. The commission, like a City Council, is the port district’s policy making and regulatory body responsible for making the policy decisions of the district in both internal and external matters and providing for their implementation. The port's mission is to be the primary leader in economic development in Clallam County by marketing and developing properties and facilities for the long-term benefit of our stakeholders while fulfilling the port's environmental stewardship role. To apply, submit a letter of interest, resume and an application. Applications may be obtained from the Port Administration Building (338 West 1st Street Port Angeles, WA 98362) or on the port's website under the employment section. Application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2, 2011.


Longtime Portland Airport director
announces plans to leave post

PORTLAND — Steve Schreiber is leaving the Port of Portland after nearly 31 years, culminating in service as the port’s aviation director, overseeing Portland International Airport (PDX), and the port’s general aviation airports in Hillsboro and Troutdale. Mr. Schreiber served many port management positions during his career, involving him in virtually the complete reconstruction of PDX and a billion dollars in airport improvements. His dedication to customer service helped PDX win four of five recent annual polls in Conde Nast Traveler magazine for best U.S. airport. Mr. Schreiber became the port’s aviation director in 2000 before serving as the port’s CFO and director of operations services from 2004 until 2009, when he returned to head the aviation division. He was hired by the port in 1981 to establish an internal audit department, which is still in place today. During his career, he also served as aviation business manager, aviation finance manager, and senior manager of aviation finance. Before the port, Mr. Schreiber was senior auditor for the accounting firm, Touche Ross & Co. (now Deloitte).


Congressmen pleased with House vote
on Cummings-Landry amendment

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, has joined Rep. Jeff Landry (R, LA-03), vice chairman of the Coast Guard Subcommittee, in applauding their colleagues in the House of Representatives who approved the Cummings-Landry amendment to the Coast Guard reauthorization bill that passed the House on Tuesday. The amendment will increase government transparency surrounding the issuance of waivers allowing non-Jones Act-qualified vessels to carry cargo between U.S. ports. It is nearly identical to the American Mariners Job Protection Act (H.R. 3202), a bill with bipartisan support that was introduced by Reps. Landry and Cummings earlier this year. Under current law, when the head of the agency responsible for the administration of the Jones Act believes it necessary to waive the Act’s requirements in the interest of national defense, the agency must request the Maritime Administration to assess whether Jones Act-qualified vessels are available to carry the cargo under consideration. The Cummings-Landry amendment will require the Maritime Administration to include in such assessments information on the actions that could be taken to enable Jones Act-qualified vessels to carry the cargo for which the Jones Act waiver is sought. The Maritime Administration would also be required to publish its determinations on its website. Further, the amendment would require notification to be provided to Congress when a waiver is requested or issued.


WL Ross & Co. sells
Greenbrier common stock shares

PORTLAND — The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. has reported that affiliates of WL Ross & Co. LLC (WL Ross) sold 1,482,341 shares of Greenbrier common stock. The shares sold were acquired by the cashless net exercise of warrants for purchase of Greenbrier common stock. WL Ross and its investment funds continue to own warrants to purchase 1,154,672 shares of Greenbrier common stock. The warrants were issued in 2009 in connection with a term loan to Greenbrier that was repaid in June 2011. Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., chairman of WL Ross & Co, and his partner, Wendy Teramoto, will continue to serve on Greenbrier's board of directors.


Holiday on the Bay event
set for December 3, in Everett

EVERETT — The Port of Everett invites the public to the Holiday on the Bay celebration, Saturday, December 3, along the Everett waterfront. Bundle up the family and come to Waterfront Center, 1205 Craftsman Way from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Build a gingerbread house and watch the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Local schools will also hold a holiday music program. Later will be the tree lighting, lighted boat parade and a visit from Santa. Be sure to bring toys to support the Christmas House toy drive.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Crowley nets ADEC funding
to continue Ocean Ranger program

ANCHORAGE — The State of Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) has announced that it has awarded a contract to Crowley Maritime Corporation to continue administering the State of Alaska's Ocean Ranger Program, effective November 2011. The contract directs Crowley to recruit, hire, train and organize the logistics of placing Ocean Rangers on board cruise ships each season to act as independent observers and to assure compliance with federal and state environmental health, sanitation and safety requirements. Potential non-compliant observations are reported to ADEC for corrective action. Ocean Rangers are required as part of a law adopted by the citizens of Alaska in a 2006 ballot measure. Crowley and ADEC have worked together since 2008 to build the program into what it is today, and ADEC relies on Crowley to implement the program and develop the Ocean Ranger training, guidebook, manuals, reports and more. Today Crowley recruits, deploys and schedules the rangers, supplying them with all necessary communication tools and outfitting needs for on-board reporting, as well as providing travel, IT and payroll support.


Expanded website online
for Port of Seattle browsers

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle has launched a new website, with more intuitive navigation that makes accessing information about Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, cargo and cruise facilities, Fishermen’s Terminal and other Port of Seattle areas of interest faster and easier than ever with a better overall web experience. The website features up-to-the-minute flight information, a new photo gallery, easy-to-use drop-down menus, plus slide shows and videos for faster at-a-glance communication. Tabular sections and a powerful search feature put most information and documents just a click away, for greater transparency to community groups and business partners. Special sections also cover the port’s extensive environmental programs, properties for lease, and construction activities. Keeping in mind many users browse with smart phones and mobile internet devices, Port of Seattle developers optimized for iPhones, iPads and Droids, which constitute the majority of mobile devices accessing the port’s website.


Horizon Lines changing
Board of Directors makeup

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced it will expand its Board of Directors to 11 members from eight, effective November 25, 2011. In conjunction with the expansion, seven new directors will be appointed and four of the existing eight directors will retire. The board changes and expansion are as follows.
* Jeffrey A. Brodsky, Kurt M. Cellar, Carol B. Hallett, James LaChance, Steven L. Rubin, Martin Tuchman and
David N. Weinstein will join the board as independent directors.
* The new directors will join Board Chairman Alex J. Mandl, William J. Flynn, Bobby J. Griffin and Stephen
H. Fraser, who remains interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Lines
* Board members James G. Cameron, Vern Clark U.S.N. (Ret.), Norman Y. Mineta and Thomas P. Storrs will
retire.
The seven new board members were nominated by the existing Board of Directors in consultation with certain of the company's note holders, who funded the comprehensive $652.8 million refinancing on October 5, 2011. The expanded board will be comprised of four Class I directors, four Class II directors and three Class III directors. The terms of Class I, II and III directors expire at the company's annual meeting of stockholders in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.


Requests for TIGER grants
far exceed funding limits

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that the overwhelming demand for TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants has once again far surpassed the available funding. Applications for TIGER III grants totaled $14.1 billion, far exceeding the $527 million set aside for the program. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) received 828 applications from all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. Earlier this month, President Obama directed DOT to expedite application review and award the TIGER III grants by the end of 2011 – months ahead of schedule. This is the third round of TIGER grants that will be competitively awarded to the most deserving projects across the country. In 2009 and 2010, the Department received a total of 2,400 applications requesting $76 billion, greatly exceeding the $2.1 billion available in TIGER I and TIGER II grants. In the previous two rounds the TIGER program awarded construction and planning grants to 126 freight, highway, transit, port and bicycle/pedestrian projects in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.


Halterm Container Terminal
switching to Tideworks TOS

SEATTLE — Tideworks Technology®, Inc., a provider of full-service terminal management and planning software solutions, has announced that Halterm Container Terminal Limited has selected Tideworks Technology’s comprehensive suite of terminal operating system (TOS) solutions for implementation at its facility in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Tideworks’ TOS, which will replace Halterm’s current system, is scheduled to go live in 2012. Halterm opened the first container terminal in Halifax more than 40 years ago and continues to be one of the largest in Canada with an annual throughput capacity of 700,000 TEUs. Recently Halterm sought to replace its legacy TOS, which had been in operation for a number of years.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, November 14, 2011

TSA member carriers
set to begin rate increase

OAKLAND — Asia-U.S. container shipping lines have agreed on the urgent need to reset steadily falling freight rate levels in the trade during the past quarter. Member carriers in the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) said they plan to individually raise all-in freight rates and charges by a minimum of US$400 per 40-foot container, effective January 1, 2012, as an interim step prior to rolling out the Agreement’s customary annual service contracting guidelines. The recommended increases apply to all shipments moving under individual carrier tariffs, as well as service contract cargo in all commodity segments where volume commitments have been met and/or contract provisions permit. TSA lines indicated that, rather than adopting a single formal guideline increase, they will pursue various approaches to interim cost recovery and revenue restoration, whether in the form of across-the-board general rate increases, peak season surcharges or other mechanisms, depending on each carrier’s unique situation. In all cases, they said, the objective is to meet expected cargo demand growth and begin reversing 2011 revenue losses resulting from slower than expected demand, ongoing market uncertainty and the impact of short-term concessionary rates bleeding into 12-month 2011 service contracts. TSA executive administrator Brian M. Conrad emphasized that interim cost recovery and revenue restoration efforts are separate from TSA’s customary annual recommended revenue recovery program in connection with May 2012 contracts, which will be finalized and announced around yearend 2011 or at the beginning of 2012. In addition, he indicated that some lines, on an individual basis, will be pursuing further opportunities for restoring particularly hard- hit rates prior to January 1. TSA is a research and discussion forum of major container shipping lines serving the trade from Asia to ports and inland points in the U.S.


IMO study predicts
greenhouse gas reductions

LONDON — An International Maritime Organization (IMO)-commissioned study into the impact of mandatory energy efficiency measures for international shipping shows that implementation of the measures will lead to significant reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, specifically reductions of carbon dioxide (CO2), resulting from enhanced fuel efficiency. The study found that, by 2020, an average of 151.5 million tonnes of annual CO2 reductions are estimated from the introduction of the measures, a figure that by 2030, will increase to an average of 330 million tonnes annually. CO2 reduction measures will result in a significant reduction in fuel consumption, leading to a significant saving in fuel costs to the shipping industry. The study, Assessment of IMO mandated energy efficiency measures for international shipping, was launched on November 14, ahead of the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held in Durban, South Africa, from November 28 to December 9, 2011.


Port association backing
transportation legislation

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) supports a number of the provisions included in legislation marked up by the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. S.1813—Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century or MAP-21— would fund highway programs at $85.3 billion over two years, contains no project earmarks, adds mechanisms for performance measurements, accelerates project delivery and streamlines the environmental review process. The bipartisan bill focuses on many elements included in of AAPA’s Surface Transportation Authorization platform and directly addresses freight policy at the state and federal levels. MAP-21 would consolidate state apportioned formula funding into six core program areas, one of which is a National Freight Program. The National Freight Program includes a National Freight Strategy with performance targets for states and includes the ability for states to obligate up to 10 percent of their freight apportionment to maritime and rail projects.


Naming ceremony held
for two new LNG vessels

TOKYO — On November 1, a naming ceremony was held at the Geoje Island shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Samsung) in Korea for two LNG vessels being built for joint owners NYK LNG (Atlantic) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of NYK; Mitsui & Co. Ltd.; and Teekay Corporation. The vessels have been chartered by Angola LNG Supply Services and will ship the LNG produced by Angola LNG Ltd. Arnalda Vandunem of Sonangol, the Angolan national company, named one vessel LOBITO, and the other vessel was named CUBAL by Filomena Oliveira of Sonagás, the natural gas subsidiary of Sonangol. The ceremonial rope holding the vessels in place was then cut by the two women. LOBITO and CUBAL are jointly owned by NYK LNG (Atlantic) (33 percent), Mitsui (34 percent), and Teekay (33 percent). LOBITO was completed on October 31, and CUBAL will be by January 12, 2012. The vessels are the third and forth of four sister vessels, following the first two sisters, SOYO and MALANJE, which were completed in August and September. These four vessels will be used for shipments of LNG from Angola to the global market under 20-year time charters.


Off-duty Coast Guardsman
saves girl from drowning in Columbia

ASTORIA — Search and Rescue is perhaps the most well known of all the Coast Guard missions. The idea of the rescue itself, the direct, firsthand lifesaving opportunity, is the reason many Coast Guardsmen sign up. These individuals crave a chance to rise to the occasion; to be in a position to save a life. While this desire is the driving force behind many successful Coast Guard rescues, it is something that exists independent of the agency's service, within their men and women. Nothing demonstrates this driving force better than the recent off-duty actions of Petty Officer 2nd Class Leon Doniphan, a food service specialist (FS) aboard Cutter ALERT, homeported in Astoria. On the evening of Sept. 10, 2011, Petty Officer Doniphan bravely, and without hesitation, swam to the aid of a young girl in immediate danger of drowning in the Columbia River. His actions most likely saved her life. Though Petty Officer Doniphan’s job in the Coast Guard does not routinely put him in life or death situations, his desire to step up and put himself on the line is why he joined, and a big part of who he is. He remains adamant that it was his obligation to enter the water that September day.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, November 11, 2011

Commerce Dept. report finds
exports up during September

WASHINGTON, DC — The September 2011 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that U.S. exports of goods and services in September 2011 increased 1.4 percent from August 2011 to a record $180.4 billion. This month’s exports of goods ($129.3 billion) were the highest on record, with record exports in both industrial supplies and materials ($44.4 billion) and consumer goods ($15.4 billion). U.S. imports of goods and services also increased by 0.3 percent to reach $223.5 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to improve by 4.0 percent to reach $43.1 billion in September 2011. U.S. goods and services exports in the first nine months of 2011 are up 15.8 percent to $1,567 billion from the $1,353 billion in exports in first nine months of 2010. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, small- and medium-sized businesses (firms with fewer than 500 employees) steadily raised their share of overall U.S. goods exports from 27 percent in 2002 to 33 percent in 2009–a six percentage point increase over seven years.


US rail freight traffic
rolls to both sides of ledger

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported mixed results for weekly rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 301,864 carloads for the week ending Oct. 22, 2011, down 0.5 percent compared with the same week last year Intermodal volume for the week totaled 245,404 trailers and containers, up 4.2 percent compared with the same week last year. Ten of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2010, including: nonmetallic minerals, up 22.4 percent; iron and steel scrap, up 20.9 percent, and metals and products, up 19.2 percent. The groups showing a decrease in weekly traffic included: grain, down 25.6 percent, and coke, down 11.5 percent.


Customs set to begin
simplified air cargo pilot

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced plans to conduct a Simplified Entry Pilot as part of the Simplified Processes trade initiative. The air cargo pilot, scheduled to begin at the end of December, will be open to the trade community. The Simplified Entry Pilot was created in coordination with representatives from the National Retail Federation, National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, American Association of Exporters and Importers, Intelligent Transportation Society of America, and Business Alliance for Customs Modernization to streamline the entry process. During the pilot, the filer will enter a Simplified Entry consisting of 13 data elements and 3 optional data elements, instead of the 27 currently required. CBP encourages importers and brokers to participate in the pilot. Participants must have an ACE Portal Account and hold a Tier 2 status or higher in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. To be considered for the pilot, applicants can submit an email to cbpsimplifiedprocess@dhs.gov with the subject line “Simplified Entry Participant Request” within five days of the federal register notice publication. CBP is planning similar pilots in the ocean and rail environments in early to mid-2012.


Central Oregon Truck Company
selects Redmond for headquarters

SALEM — Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber has applauded Central Oregon Truck Company's decision to build a new corporate headquarters in Redmond, Oregon and retain 125 jobs in central Oregon. The governor's Central Oregon Regional Solutions Team worked with the company, the City of Redmond and Economic Development of Central Oregon to identify a suitable site and accelerate public infrastructure improvements to accommodate the facility. The Central Oregon Truck Company (COTC) is headquartered in Prineville,Oregon with a truck terminal and training facility in Terrebonne, Oregon. COTC hauls freight throughout the United States and Canada, employing 218 people, including 175 truck drivers and 43 support staff. The average COTC employee salary and benefit package is $58,530, which is approximately 150 percent above the central Oregon average. The company has been seeking a single site to consolidate their operation either in Oregon or another state. Economic Development Central Oregon identified the Redmond site in and the need for public improvements to make it feasible for a trucking facility.


OOCL honored with
top ship operator award

HONG KONG — OOCL has announced that the carrier has been awarded the ‘Ship Operator of the Year’ at the Lloyd’s List Awards, Asia 2011 presentation ceremony held on October 26, 2011 in Hong Kong. In the selection criteria, companies were judged on their performance over the past year in terms of their business development, safety, efficiency, reliability and profitability. By taking this award, OOCL is recognized for having excelled in all these areas to achieve high operational efficiency as well as earning the trust of customers and industry peers for its superior products and quality services.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Port of Longview discussing
comprehensive scheme updates

LONGVIEW — The Port of Longview is updating its Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements (Comprehensive Scheme), a planning document that lays out opportunities for future port investment, operation and development for the benefit of the port district. The revised Comprehensive Scheme incorporates findings of the recently completed Port Master Plan Report adopted by the Longview Port Commission in June 2011. The Comprehensive Scheme, as required by the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 53.20.010, includes an inventory of assets, proposed uses of the assets, an implementation plan depicted in the form of District Maps, a 2012 Capital Investment Plan, and a list of potential future port projects. There will be several opportunities for public input throughout the Comprehensive Scheme planning process, beginning with the first meeting scheduled for November 18th. A full schedule of meetings, planning documents for comment and directions on how to submit comments can all be found at http://www.portoflongview.com/AboutThePort/ComprehensiveScheme.aspx


Braemar finds connection
between ship size, fuel costs

ISTANBUL — Container ship operators are ordering ever larger vessels even in the face of a weak freight and time charter environment during 2011, says Braemar Seascope. This may appear to be counter-intuitive. In fact, it reinforces a trend that is at least five years old. Containership operators cannot control freight rates, especially in a post-liner conference competitive environment. They can however control the unit cost of shipping each TEU through economy of scale. Ordering ever larger containerships is a direct consequence of this cost management. During the recent Containerization International's Mediterranean Freight Conference held in Istanbul, Braemar Seascope Research Manager Mark Williams highlighted the strong correlation between the price of bunker fuel oil - the largest single cost per TEU movement - and the average size of containerships ordered over the past 10 years. The strength of the relationship is confirmed by the fall in bunker prices and average TEU capacity of newbuildings ordered in 2009, though of course the ships ordered in 2009 will likely be delivering into a higher bunker price environment in 2012 and later. If bunker prices continue to rise, there will eventually come a point at which naval architects will find it harder to build bigger ships. The Malaccamax concept appears to be the maximum size for Asia-Europe trades and port operators will find it harder to continually upgrade facilities. The new eco-designs for containerships will become ever more important in liner companies' cost management strategies.


Coast Guard slates town hall meet
to discuss spill/disaster response

ASTORIA — The Coast Guard and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are hosting a town hall meeting at Oregon Coast Community College in Newport, Ore., Monday at 6:30 p.m., to help familiarize Newport area residents with available resources and capabilities during responses to significant spills and natural disasters. The public is invited to receive an overview of geographic response plans for the Oregon mid-coast region and information on how they can get involved. Representatives from Lincoln County, Ore., will discuss their roles in disaster response.


AAPA schedules workshop
covering shifting trade routes

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The fifth annual American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) Shifting International Trade Routes workshop in Tampa, Fla., Jan. 19-20, 2012, will examine the effect of the world economic outlook on investment decisions and cargo movements in relation to international trade. The 1½-day program, cosponsored by the U.S. Maritime Administration and hosted by the Tampa Port Authority, will survey evolving hemispheric and global considerations affecting all the players in the goods movement supply chain. Specific workshop sessions will assess the international economic outlook and shifts in global trade; present the views of cargo owners, ocean carriers, ports, terminal operators, warehouse and distribution centers, and rail interests on trade; give an update on the planned expansion of the Panama Canal; and provide international perspectives on shifting trade routes in the Western Hemisphere. More information about AAPA’s Shifting International Trade Routes workshop is available at www.aapa-ports.org (click on the “Programs & Events” tab) or by calling AAPA’s Ed O’Connell at (703) 684-5700


Crowley Maritime transports
giant wind turbine blades

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group recently shipped six oversized wind turbine blades from Port Everglades, Fla., to Limon, Costa Rica. The blades, which weighed two-and-a-half tons each and were 72 feet long, were lifted on board the Crowley ship STADT EMDEN, using gantry cranes, slings and hooks, and transported to Costa Rica in time to meet the shipper's tight deadline. With a project solutions team, including project management professionals, engineers, naval architects and logistics experts, and specialized equipment such as ships, tugboats, flat-deck barges and jack-up barges, Crowley is uniquely suited to serve the renewable energy companies with their projects.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Port of Port Angeles taps McAleer
as Marketing and Property manager

PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles has announced the hiring of a new Marketing and Property Manager, Colleen McAleer. Ms. McAleer brings over ten years of real estate industry and proactive marketing knowledge to the port with a focus on growing Clallam County. Ms. McAleer has a Bachelor’s degree from the Florida Institute of Technology and is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). Additionally, she is a military veteran having served 10 years in the US Army. The Marketing and Property Manager position was actively advertised on the port's website along with local newspapers and in the port community. Fifty five applications were received and five candidates were selected for interviews. Ms. McAleer will start with the port in late November 2011. The port’s marketing goal is to put the Port of Port Angeles on the map as the port which fosters economic growth in the state and region. This will be achieved by collaborating with port tenants, local agencies and stakeholders to address their growth needs while proactively seeking businesses and resources to fulfill those needs. The end result will create more jobs in Clallam County which is the core of the port’s Strategic Plan. Ms. McAleer has been hired to replace Pat Deja who is moving on to pursue his own consulting ventures.


Port Metro Vancouver
sees boost in cruise numbers

VANCOUVER, BC — Port Metro Vancouver reports it has concluded a successful 2011 Vancouver-Alaska cruise season, posting a 15 percent increase in passengers over 2010. Between May and October 2011, the port welcomed 663,425 passengers on 27 different vessels over 199 cruise ship calls. New in 2011, Disney Cruise Lines’ DISNEY WONDER and Oceania Cruises’ REGATTA both homeported in Vancouver during their inaugural seasons in the Alaska market. Vancouver also welcomed the return of Crystal Cruises, as the CRYSTAL SYMPHONY made 10 port calls in Vancouver. The 2011 season also marked the second full year of operations of the award-winning shore power installation at Canada Place, the first of its kind in Canada. Shore power-equipped cruise ships can plug in and shut off their engines while docked to reduce air emissions. During the cruise season, 35 vessels connected to the port’s shore power facilities, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,318 tonnes. Through the port’s EcoAction Program, four cruise lines have earned Port Metro Vancouver’s Blue Circle Award, a recognition reserved for only the highest emissions-reduction achievements by marine carriers that call on the port. The cruise line recipients include Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises. During the 2012 Vancouver-Alaska cruise season, Port Metro Vancouver expects to host approximately 670,000 passengers on 191 ship calls, including Princess Cruise Line’s SAPPHIRE PRINCESS, which will return to homeport in Vancouver for 2012.


BTS freight transport index
up during month of September

WASHINGTON, DC — The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 0.9 percent in September from August, reaching the highest level since July 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI). BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the level of freight shipments, measured by the Freight TSI, rose 4.2 percent in the last four months to reach the new level. The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments by mode of transportation in ton-miles, which are then combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight. Shipments in September 2011 (109.6 on the index) were at the highest level since July 2008 (109.9). July 2008 was followed by six straight months of decline. After dipping to a recent low in April 2009 (94.3), freight shipments increased in 20 of the last 28 months. Shipments rose 16.2 percent over the last 29 months starting from April 2009 after declining 15.5 percent from February 2008 to April 2009. For the first nine months of 2011, freight shipments measured by the index were up 2.5 percent.


Carriers start joint service
calling East Asia/India

TAIPEI — Evergreen Line, NYK Line and Hanjin Shipping have commenced a new service linking East Asia and India, to be called "India China Service" or ICS. All three carriers said the new string is launched in response to the growing demand in this trade. ICS inaugurated service on October 29 from Pusan. The weekly loop then calls Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Singapore, Nhava Sheva, Pipavav, Colombo, Singapore, Hong Kong and Pusan. The joint service employs five ships of approximately 2,500 TEU - 2,800 TEU. NYK Line deploys three vessels while Evergreen Line and Hanjin Shipping contribute one vessel each.


Port of Seattle program
helps veterans enter workforce

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle Commission has adopted a motion honoring military veterans and the sacrifices they and their families have made in serving the country. The port reports it is fortunate to have many veterans and reservists on staff, and has benefited from the skills and commitment they bring to the organization. "I grew up in a military family and I know first-hand the service and sacrifice of our soldiers, sailors, and airmen and their families," said Commissioner Tom Albro. "The words 'thank you' don't suffice." Veterans transitioning to civilian employment often face a difficult road and face a higher unemployment rate than the general population. The port is working to change that in King County with a program called the Veterans Fellowship Program. Veterans Fellows work at the port for six months, gaining civilian work experience as well as interviewing skills and resume assistance. On Friday, the port will welcome the eighth class of fellows at a Veterans Day ceremony. Port CEO Tay Yoshitani, himself a veteran, has been working with executives at companies across the region, encouraging them to adopt similar programs.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Northwest Ports earn award
for environmental achievement

TACOMA — The ports of Tacoma, Seattle and Metro Vancouver, B.C., will be honored this week with the Environmental Achievement Award from the Pacific Northwest International Section of the Air and Waste Management Association. The association’s award recognizes the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy for innovative techniques that reduce or prevent air pollution or waste. The Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy is the first and only three-port and international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas and diesel emissions from maritime operations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Canada, the Washington Department of Ecology and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency have partnered with the ports in this effort. Since adopting the goals in 2008, the ports have shown significant progress in producing cleaner air for the communities that surround their harbors. The Pacific Northwest International Section of the Air and Waste Management Association provides programs and activities by environmental professionals for environmental professionals from industry, government and the consulting, research, academic and legal communities in the United States, Pacific Northwest and Western Canada.


Ports thank FMC chairman
for starting diverted cargo inquiry

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle, along with the five other major West Coast ports, has sent a letter thanking Richard Lidinsky, chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission. Chairman Lidinsky recently launched an inquiry into how much cargo bound for U.S. markets is being diverted to Canadian and Mexican ports to avoid paying the Harbor Maintenance Tax. Cargo sent through non-U.S. ports can be sent by rail or trucks to U.S. markets in the Midwest; sending cargo this way avoids a fee of up to $200 per container. “Through our own policy, we’ve tilted the playing field against ourselves,” said Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani. “By leveling that field, we can protect the nearly 300,000 jobs generated by ports on the West Coast and the revenues that our communities need for economic recovery.” Funds collected through the Harbor Maintenance Tax pay for maintenance dredging in federal waterways across the United States. Members of the Canadian port industry use this loophole to recruit shippers, noting that goods coming through their ports can avoid the fee while still reaching lucrative US markets.


Port Tracker report predicts
slowing of container imports

WASHINGTON, DC — With most holiday season merchandise already on its way to store shelves, import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports has started to decline for the fall, and November is forecast at 1.9 percent below the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.33 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units in September, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was up 0.4 percent from August and made September the busiest month of the year as retailers rushed to stock stores for the holidays, but was down 0.6 percent from September 2010. One TEU is one 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent. October was estimated at 1.32 million TEU, down 2.3 percent from a year ago, while November is forecast at 1.21 million TEU, down 1.9 percent from last year, and December is forecast at 1.11 million TEU, down 3.3 percent. After the holidays, January 2012 is forecast at 1.1 million TEU, down 8.7 percent from January 2011; February, traditionally the slowest month of the year, should have only at 996,816 TEU, down 9.4 percent, and March is expected to see 1.08 million TEU, down 0.6 percent. The total for 2011 is forecast at 14.76 million TEU, just slightly above the 2010 total of 14.75 million TEU.


Crowley Maritime adding to
refrigerated container fleet

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group is enhancing its growing equipment fleet of more than 45,000 modern units with the acquisition of 222 new 40-foot, high cube refrigerated containers (reefers) and 133 under-slung power generator sets (gensets). The reefers, which will be used in all of the company's liner services, were delivered in Santo Tomas, Guatemala, last week in preparation for the peak perishables shipping season in Central America. That season runs from November through May each year and includes a large volume of melon shipments. The newly acquired reefers, which have a capacity of 2,398 cubic feet, have been outfitted with new, lighter Star Cool Integrated refrigerator units that are designed to reduce CO2 emissions and are enhanced with software that helps monitor and adjust them to ensure they're operating at peak performance. Since 2003, Crowley has invested close to $240 million to modernize its equipment fleet by nearly 24,000 units. Most recently, in October of this year, Crowley added 400 53-foot (102" wide) containers and 375 53-foot chassis to meet the needs of customers in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.


Marcon International brokers sale
of world's largest hover barge

COUPEVILLE, WA — Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington has announced the sale of the unfinished, newbuilding hover barge MONTY by builder Sundial Marine Construction & Repair of Troutdale, Oregon. to private buyers. This unique hover or air cushion barge (ACB) was designed to hover about 5' above the surface while carrying about 450 tons of deck cargo on a clear deck of abt. 9,000ft2. The barge was being built for Vancouver-based Redfern Resources, Ltd. of British Columbia, Canada to transport cargoes of supplies in and ore concentrates out to/from a multi-metal gold, zinc, copper and lead mine on the Tulsequah River in Canada, 40 miles northeast of Juneau, Alaska. With no roads in the area, the Tulsequah Chief Mine could only be reached from Alaska via the Taku River. The MONTY, reportedly the world's largest hover barge, was designed to be capable of operating year-round over shallow water, ice and land, while being towed by a vessel during ice-free conditions in the summer and amphibious tractors such as Amphitracs or Rolligons with large, soft, low-pressure rubber tires over the ice and crossing open leads during the winter. From Juneau, Redfern intended to barge the ore to the Skagway Ore Terminal where it would be loaded on ships bound for smelters in Asia. The mining company declared bankruptcy in March 2010 and the barge was not completed. New owners plan to eventually finish the MONTY as a hover barge and commission the vessel into their service. Marcon had been appointed as exclusive broker by the Supreme Court of British Columbia appointed receivers.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, November 7, 2011

Vancouver, USA Port Board
to discuss proposed 2012 budget

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners will meet tomorrow, to attend to five action items, including the proposed approval of the port's 2012 budget. Open session will begin at 9:30 a.m., in the Commission Room at the port's administrative office, located at 3103 NW Lower River Road, Vancouver. A public hearing on the port's proposed $84,658,374 budget for 2012 will be held as part of Tuesday's meeting. The commissioners also will consider a proposed one percent increase in the port's regular property tax levy, as part of the budget process. The increase would mean that a port district property owner with a home valued at $250,000 would pay an additional $1.98 annually in property taxes to the port. Once collected, the port's property tax levy is used only for capital improvements, such as the port's purchase of the former Alcoa-Evergreen property; the repayment of bond debt; and environmental clean-up efforts. Day-to-day operations, such as port employee salaries, are paid out of port-generated operating revenue. Commissioners Brian Wolfe, Nancy Baker and Jerry Oliver adopted the port's preliminary budget on October 25, as the first step in the public process of establishing the organization's 2012 budget. On October 26, the three commissioners discussed the budget in detail with port staff at a half-day workshop, which was open to the public. Other action items for the November 8 meeting include amending the port's Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements and Industrial Development to allow the demolition of five buildings located within the port; authorizing the acquisition of property from the BNSF Railway Company for the West Vancouver Freight Access rail project; and recognition of retiring Identity Clark County executive director Ginger Metcalf for her considerable contributions to the county's economic wellbeing. The regular meeting will be televised live on CVTV (Cable Channel 21) beginning at 9:30 a.m. It also will be streaming live on www.cvtv.org and will be archived later in the day on the same website for future viewing.


Foss Maritime taps Wolff
as new engineering director

SEATTLE — Experienced maritime executive Douglas Wolff has joined Foss Maritime as the company's director of Engineering. Mr. Wolff brings 35 years of naval architecture and project management experience to Foss, including a combined 17 years at MARCO Seattle and Halter Marine. He most recently served at the Elliott Bay Design Group as the vice president of Operations, and before that as chief naval architect. A professional engineer, Mr. Wolff is registered in five states including Washington and Oregon. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and has published numerous technical papers.


Ports of Long Beach/LA
to discontinue Clean Truck Fee

LONG BEACH — Beginning January 1, 2012 both the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach will no longer be assessing a Clean Truck Fee on trucks with an engine year of 2006 and older. Trucks with an engine year of 2006 and older will be banned from port marine terminals. The PortCheck web site (www.pierpass-tmf.org)will remain open in January 2012 for payment of billed and accrued Clean Truck Fees prior to January 1, 2011. PortCheck will be refunding Clean Truck Fees that were deposited in accounts but not spent. Customers should check their accounts and request their deposit refund no later than January 15, 2012. Deposit refunds that are not requested by January 15, 2012 may be forfeited as unclaimed deposits. Customers with questions may contact the PortCheck Customer Service Center at 1-877-863-3310 for assistance.


Horizon Lines reports loss
for third fiscal quarter 2011

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has reported financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended September 25, 2011. Financial results are being presented on a continuing operations basis, excluding discontinued logistics operations. On a GAAP basis, the third-quarter net loss from continuing operations totaled $126.5 million, or $4.09 per diluted share, on revenue from continuing operations of $321.9 million. On an adjusted basis, the company recorded a third-quarter net loss from continuing operations of $5.6 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, after excluding charges totaling $120.9 million, after tax, or $3.91 per share. The pre-tax charges include a $117.5 million goodwill impairment charge, as well as a $2.2 million impairment of the carrier's Guam cranes, which have been classified as held for sale. The pre-tax charges also include $0.7 million for antitrust-related legal fees, $0.3 million of non-cash interest accretion related to a legal settlement, $0.1 million for employee severance, and a tax expense impact of $0.1 million. In 2010, Horizon Lines reported third-quarter net income from continuing operations of $8.2 million, or $0.­­26 per diluted share, on revenue of $297.6 million. On an adjusted basis, net income from continuing operations totaled $11.4 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, after excluding impairment charges, antitrust-related legal expenses, costs for early retirement of certain union employees, and tax adjustments totaling $3.2 million, or $0.11 per share.


Boeing marks delivery
of Atlas Air 747-8 Freighter

EVERETT — Last week, Boeing celebrated the delivery flight of the first 747-8 Freighter for Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. The delivery is the first of nine 747-8 Freighters Atlas Air has on order. Atlas Air's 49 percent subsidiary, Global Supply Systems (GSS), will operate the new freighter for British Airways World Cargo through a five-year wet-lease agreement. As part of the lease agreement for three 747-8 Freighters with GSS, British Airways World Cargo will utilize the airplanes on long-haul routes to cargo hubs in Asia, Africa, India and the United States.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, November 4, 2011

Port of Vancouver, USA schedules
annual Commissioner Forum

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA reports it will hold its annual Commissioner Forum to discuss a variety of port-related topics, including new business occurring at the port and the associated job creation, on Tuesday, November 15, at 2 p.m. in the Commission Room at the port's administrative building, located at 3101 NW Lower River Road, Vancouver. The public is welcome. During the forum, the port's three commissioners, Brian Wolfe, Nancy Baker and Jerry Oliver, as well as executive director Larry Paulson, will hold a public discussion to answer questions posed by local community members. The specific questions and comments that will serve as the basis of the discussion were gathered from the public during a number of events at local community centers and coffee houses, neighborhood meetings, and through a port-sponsored survey. Job creation and the economy, port development, transportation projects and environmental sustainability are among the issues raised by the public that will be covered at this year's event. Several community leaders also will join in the discussion, including Tony Flagg, VP of Development at United Grain Corporation, Helen Devery, VP of Berger/Abam and Eric LaBrandt, president of the Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association. Community members can add their voices to the conversation by attending the event on November 15, or by taking a quick survey at www.portvanusa.com/community/port-talk-coffee-commissioners Comments also can be e-mailed to the port at info@portvanusa.com. The forum is open to the public with live coverage on Clark/Vancouver Television (CVTV) channels 21 and 23. The program will also be repeated, and a viewing schedule will be available at CVTV's website www.co.clark.wa.us.


DOT earmarks $7.9 million
for new rail station in Tukwila

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has awarded $7.9 million for the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to construct a new station in Tukwila, WA, replacing the current, temporary wooden structure and creating enhanced intermodal and parking facilities. The improvements will provide enhanced access to the Amtrak Cascades and ST Sounder services, with dedicated long term parking, improved pedestrian and bus connections, and passenger amenities including platforms and shelters. Amtrak’s Cascades Service, which operates between Eugene, OR to Vancouver, BC, is one of the railroad’s fastest growing routes.


Rail freight traffic count
rolls to up/down week

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported mixed results for weekly rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 303,363 carloads for the week ending Oct. 15, 2011, which is flat compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 244,389 trailers and containers, up three percent compared with the same week last year. Eleven of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable week in 2010, including: metallic ores, up 28.1 percent; metals and products, up 18 percent, and petroleum products, up 17.2 percent. The groups showing a decrease in weekly traffic included: grain, down 14.8 percent, and waste and nonferrous scrap, down 9.5 percent.


Boeing taps Dewey Houck
as information services VP

ARLINGTON, VA — The Boeing Company has named Dewey Houck vice president and general manager of the company's Information Solutions organization. He was formerly vice president of the Intelligence Systems Group within Information Solutions. Mr. Houck will report to Roger Krone, president of the Network & Space Systems division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS). He will be responsible for directing BDS' cybersecurity, physical security and information services programs, with the goal of increasing productivity and mission success for government and commercial customers. In his previous role as vice president of the Intelligence Systems Group, Mr. Houck was responsible for the horizontal integration of the Intelligence Community through deployment of information sharing technologies and the development of information management components for more effective intelligence planning and analysis. Mr. Houck joined the company in 2000 when Boeing acquired Autometric Inc., where he was vice president of Technology Development.


Three transport industry VIPs
earn 2011 AOTOS Awards

NEW YORK — The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2011 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) were presented to James L. Henry, chairman and president of the Transportation Institute; General Duncan J. McNabb, USAF, former commander, U.S. Transportation Command; and Robert D. Somerville, chairman of ABS (formerly the American Bureau of Shipping). Mr. Henry has played a significant role in virtually every major initiative in United States maritime policy since he assumed the presidency of the Transportation Institute in 1987 and became its chairman in 1990. He played a particularly key role in protecting the Jones Act when it came under attack in the mid-1990s. He is also chairman of the National Defense Transportation Association's Military Sealift Committee and chairman of the United States Maritime Coalition. General McNabb is former commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), the single manager for global air, land and sea transportation and the world's largest shipper for the Department of Defense. He has held command and staff positions at squadron, group, wing, and major command and Department of Defense levels and has more than 20 awards, recognitions and achievements. Serving as Director of ABS Group of Companies, Inc., Mr. Somerville's maritime career includes 40 years with ABS in various capacities. Prior to joining ABS in 1970, he served as a seagoing engineer and gained shipyard experience at Newport News, at the time the largest shipbuilder in the world.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, November 3, 2011

Greenbrier breaks revenue record
during fiscal fourth quarter

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — The Greenbrier Companies has reported results for its fiscal fourth quarter. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 were a record $442.7 million, up from $178.8 million in the prior year's fourth quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $39.1 million, or 8.8 percent of revenue, compared to $15.5 million, or 8.7 percent of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2010. Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier ("net earnings") for the quarter were $12.6 million, or $.42 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $7.7 million, or $.33 per diluted share, in the prior year's fourth quarter. Results for the quarter include a loss on extinguishment of debt of $5.7 million pre-tax, $3.4 million after-tax, for costs associated with the repayment in full of a $72 million term loan. Excluding these charges, net earnings were $16.0 million, or $.52 per diluted share. Net earnings for the prior year's fourth quarter included earnings of $11.9 million, both pre- and net of tax, or $.50 per diluted share, related to a special non-cash item for the release of the liability related to the 2008 deconsolidation of the company's former subsidiary, TrentonWorks. Excluding this item, net loss for the prior year's fourth quarter was $4.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share. New railcar deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2011 were a record 4,000 units, compared to 700 units in the fourth quarter of 2010. Total new railcar deliveries were 9,400 units in fiscal 2011, compared to 2,500 units in fiscal 2010. New railcar orders for 5,300 units were received during the quarter; orders for 19,500 units were received during the full fiscal year. Greenbrier's new railcar manufacturing backlog as of August 31, 2011 was 15,400 units with an estimated value of $1.23 billion, compared to 13,600 units with a value of $1.05 billion as of May 31, 2011, and 5,300 units valued at $420 million as of August 31, 2010.


APL taking new measures
to ensure safety of reefer boxes

SINGAPORE — Global container shipping line APL has declared its refrigerated container fleet safe and announced new precautions to prevent equipment mishaps. The declaration followed reports this week from competitors that at least four of their refrigerated containers exploded during 2011. APL said the measures include:
• Ensuring that refrigerant used in all its reefer containers meets the specifications of equipment manufacturers;
• Grounding approximately 100 refrigerated boxes for detailed inspection; and
• Placing new restrictions on where the containers can undergo refrigerant system repair.
APL operates more than 50,000 refrigerated containers. The carrier said there have been no explosions or other catastrophic malfunctions in its fleet. According to reports, at least two other shipping lines have reported refrigerated container explosions this year. One report identified contaminated refrigerant gas as a probable cause. Accounts traced the faulty containers to specific repair vendors in Vietnam where all had undergone maintenance. APL said it does not use those vendors and added that it has a strict monitoring program to ensure compliance with safe-handling procedures and the use of authorized refrigerants. As a precaution, APL said it is restricting refrigeration system repair work to a smaller number of certified providers. It is taking out of service all 103 boxes that underwent refrigeration system repairs in Vietnam during 2011. APL said it will continue to conduct pre-trip inspections of refrigerated containers. Inspections include plugging in refrigerated units before dispatching to customers. The boxes are monitored during that time to ensure safe operation.


Tacoma financial incentives program
aims to take older trucks out of service

TACOMA — A new voluntary program in the Tacoma Tideflats offers truck owners a financial incentive to purchase newer, lower-emission trucks to improve regional air quality and meet the standards of the Port of Tacoma's Clean Truck Program. The Tacoma Truck Scrappage and Replacements for Air in Puget Sound (Tacoma ScRAPS) program targets heavy-duty trucks with pre-1994 model year engines that operate in the Tacoma area. The program is operated through a partnership between the City of Tacoma and Cascade Sierra Solutions. Eligible truck owners receive a $30,000 incentive when they scrap their pre-1994 truck and purchase one with a model year 2007 or newer engine. Truck owners who scrap a pre-1994 truck and purchase one with model year 1994 to 2006 engines will receive a $5,000 incentive. Truck owners interested in learning if they qualify for the program should call 253-617-3201 or visit the Tacoma ScRAPS office at 2002 Stewart St. in Tacoma between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Tacoma ScRAPS program is funded through a $2.5 million federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) grant, with $400,000 in matching funds from the Washington State Department of Ecology's Air Quality Program.


Cathay Pacific Airways
receives new Boeing freighter

EVERETT — Boeing has delivered a 747-8 Freighter to Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways, making it the second freight operator worldwide to take delivery of Boeing's newest freighter. With this new addition to its fleet, Cathay Pacific also becomes the first carrier in Asia Pacific to operate the 747-8. The new airplane is the first of 10 747-8 Freighters Cathay Pacific has on order with Boeing. The 747-8 Freighters are expected to progressively replace the 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) in the Cathay Pacific Cargo fleet. Cathay Pacific currently operates six 747-400 Freighters, six 747-400ER Freighters and eight 747-400BCFs. Eight customers have ordered a total of 75 747-8 Freighters.


Mileage rewards scheme online
at Portland International Airport

PORTLAND — Portland International Airport (PDX) travelers can now earn airlines miles not only by flying in and out of PDX, but also by parking, shopping and dining at the airport. PDX joins more than 160 airports nationwide to offer airport users access to the Thanks Again Rewards Program which enables airport customers to automatically earn airline miles when they park, shop or dine at PDX using a registered debit or credit card. Those who register with Thanks Again will earn miles based on registered card purchases at PDX and more than 25,000 businesses and airports nationwide. Airport travelers and visitors paying with a registered card will earn one mile for every dollar spent in both parking and concessions. Customers can also earn Bonus Miles—between 500 and 25,000—for meeting certain spending thresholds in a 90-day period. To participate, visit flypdx.com for free enrollment and register up to five debit or credit cards and use the
registered card(s) to park, shop or dine at PDX and earn miles—potentially double or triple miles, or more, if one of the registered cards already earns reward program miles. Participants need to be an existing member of a rewards/mileage program to enroll in and accrue miles with Thanks Again. As an added enrollment incentive: PDX will award three 20,000-mile bonus prizes to one winner who registers their card(s) during each of November 2011, December 2011 and January 2012.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Extension of WUT wharf
celebrated at Port of Tacoma

TACOMA — Officials from Hyundai Merchant Marine, Port of Tacoma, Washington United Terminals (WUT) and several guests Tuesday celebrated the completion of a $32-million extension of the WUT wharf on the Blair Waterway. Speeches and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting marked the official opening of the new wharf. The construction project added 600 feet to the terminal’s existing 2,000-foot berth to support two “super post-Panamax” container cranes the terminal added in January 2009. The 273-foot-high cranes can serve a ship 24 containers wide, making them among the world’s largest. Built by Shanghai-based ZPMC, the cranes joined four others at WUT with an 18-container-wide reach. The project began in December 2009 when Port of Tacoma Commissioners approved the contract with Seattle-based Manson Construction to extend the wharf. Subcontractors on the project included Amaya Electric, Concrete Technology, Hayward Baker, Rhine Demolition, Scarsella Brothers, Skyline Steel and Tucci & Sons. All of these subcontractors are based in Pierce County. Other companies involved in the project included Berger-ABAM, who did the engineering design and GeoEngineers, who did the geotechnical design. Construction work for the project through August totaled more than 55,000 labor hours. The payroll for project construction work during that same time period is estimated at about $4 million.


Washington State Ferries
orders new 144-car vessel

SEATTLE — The Washington Department of Transportation (WDOT) reports that construction will begin early next year on a new 144-car ferry. The WDOT Ferries Division has signed a contract change order with Vigor Industrial and its US Fab shipbuilding division to begin construction. “This has been a momentous week for Washington state and our ferry system,” said Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire. “We have just taken delivery of the last of three new 64-car ferries, the KENNEWICK, and now we begin construction on a new 144-car ferry – an important action that helps ensure we have modern vessels to continue giving our passengers safe and reliable service.” Work on this first vessel will create an estimated 200 family-wage jobs at Vigor and 350 jobs at subcontractors, vendors and other shipyards in the region. The new ferry is scheduled to take about 27 months to complete. Cost of construction is $115 million and the total cost of the vessel is $147 million, which includes owner-furnished equipment, construction management and contingencies. The design of the ferry is based on the 130-car Issaquah class, which has proven to be the most versatile vessel in the state fleet. Benefits of the new 144-car ferry include increased passenger comfort, improved safety systems, better access for customers with disabilities and reduced operating costs. WSF has a contract with Vigor for design and construction of up to three 144-car ferries, but it is contingent on available funding.g, crew training and sea trials. WSF plans to place the KENNEWICK into service in mid-January on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route.


Maritime Administration releases
US-flag vessel competitiveness report

WASHINGTON, DC — The Maritime Administration has released a report examining the factors that significantly impact the competitiveness of U.S.-flag vessels in international transportation markets. Developed from two studies, the report compares U.S. and foreign-flag operating costs, examines impediments to the U.S.-flag registry, and provides industry recommendations for addressing these impediments. The report is available online at: http://www.marad.dot.gov/library_landing_page/maritime_publications/Library_Publications.htm


Crowley Maritime to christen
new articulated tug-barge

NEW ORLEANS — Crowley Maritime Corporation will christen its largest and fastest articulated tug-barge (ATB), the LEGACY/750-1 tomorrow in New Orleans. The 16,000-horsepower tug LEGACY and Barge 750-1, capable of carrying 330,000 barrels of petroleum products, is almost as long (674 feet) as New Orleans' tallest building (One Shell Square) is high (697 feet). Crowley will operate the LEGACY/750-1 in the Jones Act U.S. coastwise trade for Marathon Petroleum and will regularly load cargo in Garyville, La., 40 miles upriver from New Orleans. The 750-1 was built nearby at the VT Halter Marine shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.


NYK celebrates naming
of new 250,000 dwt ore carrier

TOKYO — On October 28, WUGANG INNOVATION, a new 250,000 DWT class ore carrier built by Namura Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. was delivered to NYK. This is the second building of a 250,000 DWT class ore carrier, referred to as a WOZMAX ore carrier, which is built to carry the maximum loading capacity allowed at ports in Western Australia, an area that has design limitations on the load draft of ships transporting ore. At the naming and delivery ceremony, Zhu Jiangyue, chief procurement officer, Wuhan Iron & Steel (Group) Corp. (WISCO), and general manager, International Economic & Trading Corp., and Hidenori Hono, an NYK representative director and senior managing corporate officer, joined a number of others in attendance to celebrate the maiden voyage of the vessel. The vessel will be chartered exclusively to WISCO over 20 years to transport iron ore mainly from Australia and Africa to China. This is the first contract that NYK currently has with WISCO.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Trade between NAFTA partners
jumps during month of August

WASHINGTON, DC — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, was 18.3 percent higher in August 2011 than in August 2010, totaling $80.4 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. This was the second time on record that U.S.–NAFTA trade by land modes exceeded $80 billion in one month – the first time was in March 2011. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico, the United States’ North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, in August 2011 rose 48.2 percent in two years from August 2009 and 11.3 percent in three years from August 2008. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in August increased by 21.2 percent when compared to August 2006, and also increased by 70.6 percent when compared to August 2001, a period of 10 years. Imports in August were up 59.7 percent since August 2001, while exports were up 84.8 percent. Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones, and other. In August, 86.0 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved via land, 9.6 percent moved by vessel, and 4.4 percent moved by air. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico increased 11.1 percent in August 2011 from July 2011. U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade both increased compared to August 2010 with U.S.-Canada reaching $47.5 billion, a 19.1 percent increase, and U.S.-Mexico reaching $32.9 billion, a 17.2 percent increase.


New Washington State ferry
delivered ahead of schedule

SEATTLE — Yesterday, Vigor Industrial and its U.S. Fab shipbuilding division delivered the third of three new Washington state ferries, the 64-car KENNEWICK, three months ahead of schedule. The Kwa-di Tabil class ferry construction supported more than 360 family-wage jobs during the past two years at Seattle’s Harbor Island shipyard, which Vigor acquired with its purchase of Todd Pacific Shipyards. The Kennewick project also supported hundreds of other jobs at up to 30 subcontractors in the region. The KENNEWICK was delivered from Vigor’s Everett shipyard to WSF’s Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility. WSF crews will work on final outfitting until mid-November, when the KENNEWICK will move to a commercial shipyard for installation of additional rub rails on the sides of the vessel. The rub rails protect the ferry when it lands and were also installed on the KENNEWICK’s sister ships CHETZEMOKA and SALISH. The KENNEWICK will return to Eagle Harbor in December, where WSF maintenance crews will complete final outfitting, crew training and sea trials. WSF plans to place the KENNEWICK into service in mid-January on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route.


Boeing Chief Financial Officer
announces retirement plans

CHICAGO — Boeing Executive Vice President, Corporate President and Chief Financial Officer James Bell has announced plans to retire from the company, effective April 1, 2012. Greg Smith, 45, corporate controller and finance vice president, has been elected by Boeing's board of directors to succeed Mr. Bell as executive vice president and chief financial officer effective Feb. 1, 2012; the two will work together over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition. Diana Sands, 46, vice president of investor relations and financial planning and analysis, has been appointed corporate controller, also effective Feb. 1, 2012. Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney said Mr. Bell will leave a legacy of leadership in a career marked by exemplary personal and professional accomplishment. Mr. Bell, 63, has served as CFO since 2003 and was appointed corporate president in 2008. He served as the company's interim CEO for several months in 2005, immediately preceding Mr. McNerney.


Evergreen Line making changes
to intra-Asia service offerings

TAIPEI — Evergreen Line has announced it will realign its fleet deployment and launch new services in the intra-Asia waterborne trade, effective November 2011. Two new service loops will replace the existing Japan - Taiwan - South China Sea (JTS) service. The new South China Sea - Hong Kong (SCH) loop will serve the southern leg of JTS service while the northern leg will be covered by the carrier's existing service network. One ship released from JTS's reshuffle will be deployed in its new Taiwan - China - Indonesia (TCI) service, which is jointly operated and dubbed as TPI service by Wan Hai Lines. The fleets and rotations of the new services are listed as follows: SCH weekly service: one C-type vessel (1,038TEU). Rotation: Hong Kong, Haiphong, Zhanjiang, Hong Kong. TCI weekly service: one P-type vessel (1,618TEU) by Evergreen with two other ships by Wan Hai. Rotation: Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shekou, Jakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, Taipei.


Mitsui joining Osaka Gas
to build pair of LNG carriers

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced that MOL and Osaka Gas International Transport Inc. (OGIT), subsidiary of Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., have agreed on a plan to co-own two new LNG carriers. The agreement also includes a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (MHI) to build the new vessels, which will be co-owned by MOL and OGIT. At the same time, MOL and Osaka Gas have entered into a long-term LNG transport contract. The new vessels are slated for launch in 2014 and 2015. MOL will manage and operate the ships, which will sail under a 20-year contract with Osaka Gas.