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October, 2011

NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 31, 2011

Coast Guard detains vessel
for failing safety/security inspection

PORTLAND — Coast Guard Sector Columbia River has detained a foreign freight vessel for failure to comply with international and domestic regulations regarding safety, security, and environmental protection. Early last week, while preparing to cross the Columbia River Bar, the 734-foot Egyptian cargo ship EDFU experienced a significant reduction in propulsion power. The vessel’s crew conducted an emergency anchoring operation until assist tugs could arrive on scene. Over the ensuing hours, the Coast Guard worked with the Columbia River Bar Pilots Association and local area response tugs to bring the vessel safely to berth in the Port of Astoria. Shortly thereafter, Coast Guard inspectors from Marine Safety Unit Portland attended the ship in the Port of Astoria to investigate the loss of propulsion and ensure the vessel’s compliance with other safety and security regulations. While onboard, the inspectors discovered numerous deficiencies including cracked and deteriorated firefighting piping which prevented the ship’s crew from being able to respond to a fire aboard the ship. Furthermore, the vessel failed a critical security inspection and was not in compliance with its Security Plan. Capt. Bruce Jones, Commanding Officer of Sector Columbia River and Coast Guard captain of the port, issued an order detaining EDFU until all safety and security measures were corrected. The ship has since come into full compliance with all security measures and has made substantial progress towards fully repairing the firefighting piping system and its associated components.


NOL Group reports loss
for third quarter of 2011

SINGAPORE — Global container shipping and logistics services provider NOL Group today announced a net loss of US$91 million for the third quarter of 2011 compared to a profit of US$282 million in the same period last year. The Group said its APL Logistics business reported higher revenue and a nine percent year-to-date gain in Core EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes). The container shipping business incurred losses in line with an industry-wide trend. NOL reported third quarter 2011 revenue of US$2.2 billion, down nine percent from a year ago. It announced a Core EBIT loss for the period of US$72 million. Through three quarters of 2011, NOL has a net loss of US$158 million.


Panama Canal continues
MOU with Port of Miami

PANAMA CITY — Administrator and CEO of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), Alberto Alemán Zubieta, and Port of Miami Director, Bill Johnson, have renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote trade opportunities and share best customer practices. The Port of Miami is the largest container port in Florida with a $17 billion annual economic impact on the region, providing direct and indirect employment for over 180,000 jobs. With its strategic position as the closest major U.S. port to the Panama Canal, the Port of Miami will be the first port of call for the Post-Panamax vessels that will begin navigating the expanded canal in 2014. The canal’s expansion is on schedule as it recently began permanent concrete work on the new set of locks. This $5.25 billion project will expand the waterway with deeper and wider entrances at the Atlantic and Pacific channels in addition to creating a third set of locks that will allow the transit of longer and wider ships.


VT Halter Marine dedicates
new vessel for Egyptian Navy

PASCAGOULA, MS — VT Halter Marine, Inc. has held a dedication ceremony for the first of four Fast Missile Craft (FMC) built for the Egyptian Navy at its Pascagoula shipyard. The keel for this first FMC was authenticated on April 7, 2010. The vessel, S. EZZAT, was named after Admiral Soliman Ezzat, Commander in Chief of the Egyptian Navy from 1953 to 1967. Admiral Soliman Ezzat is known as the founder of the modern Egyptian Navy. The FMC is designed to perform coastal patrol, surveillance, interdiction, surface strike and naval battle group support. The vessels will allow the Republic of Egypt to maintain security of its coastal regions for both itself and friendly countries, while denying access to the areas by any potential adversaries.


New artworks on display
at Portland International Airport

PORTLAND — Portland International Airport is featuring three new art exhibits that express motion, repetition and Native American culture. Now on display, a Native American art collection located in the lobby connecting concourses D and E, showcases original prints from Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts. Artists on display include Rick Bartlow, James Lavadour and Lillian Pitt. Two sculptures and an acrylic painting by Native American artist Susana Santos are also included in this showcase. The entire collection provides a unique visual interpretation of Native American society in the Pacific Northwest. This exhibit is on display through the end of May 2012. Canvasses by James Dupree are on display along Concourse B, and illustrate a sense of motion and velocity to greet travelers entering and exiting the terminal. The bright colors and floating shapes demonstrate a combination of texture, color and composition. This artwork is on display through June 2012. Coming in November along Concourse A, specially designed artwork by Brenda Mallory features organic fabric pieces stretching 24-feet high and spanning the length of the wall. Ms. Mallory explores duplication and repetition in her work and draws her inspiration from regional plant material. This site-specific artwork is on display for one year. The PDX art program is designed to showcase the dynamic cultural life in the Pacific Northwest and showcase Northwest expression through ongoing relationships with regional artists, arts organizations, museums and educational institutions.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 28, 2011

Port of Bellingham issues
draft strategic budget for 2012

BELLINGHAM — Creating new jobs, working with businesses and moving forward on essential projects are the focus of the Port of Bellingham’s Draft 2012 Strategic Budget. About $32 million in capital projects on the Bellingham Waterfront and at the Bellingham International Airport are proposed in the 2012 budget. These job-creating projects include the second phase of airport terminal construction, valued at $28 million as well as completion of the $8.4 million Squalicum Harbor Gate 3 dredging and construction project. About $7.1 million will be spent on environmental cleanup actions at the former Georgia Pacific Site and in the Whatcom Waterway. The Port of Bellingham’s Draft 2012 Strategic Budget was published and is available on the port website www.portofbellingham.com and, in limited copies, on CDs, at the port Administrative Office, 1801 Roeder Avenue, Bellingham. There will be a public hearing on the proposed budget at the port commission’s Nov. 1 and Nov. 8 meetings, which begin at 3 p.m. at the Harbor Center Conference Room, 1801 Roeder Avenue, Bellingham.


Coast Guard keeping watch
over disabled container ship

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology report they are monitoring a partially disabled container ship near Vancouver Island, B.C. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound reported the 678-foot container ship HORIZON TACOMA was making way toward Anchorage, yesterday, when it lost propulsion approximately 11 miles west of Vancouver Island. The vessel anchored 11 miles offshore and effected temporary repairs, and headed to Puget Sound, Washington. The tugs GARTH FOSS from Port Angeles, and JEFFREY FOSS from Neah Bay, Wash., provided assistance into Puget Sound. Coast Guard vessel inspectors and investigators from Sector Puget Sound will board the HORIZON TACOMA to determine the cause of the loss of propulsion.


US rail freight traffic count
edges up during week

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported a gain in weekly rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 302,500 carloads for the week ending October 8, 2011, up 2.1 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 241,999 trailers and containers, up 2.4 percent compared with the same week last year. Eleven of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable week in 2010, including: petroleum products, up 28.3 percent; non-metallic minerals, up 19.6 percent; and motor vehicles and equipment, up 11.1 percent. Groups showing a decrease in weekly traffic included: farm products excluding grain, down 14.6 percent; and waste and nonferrous scrap, down 11.5 percent.


K Line celebrates launch
of new Kamsarmax bulk vessel

TOKYO — Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" Line) has announced the launching of ZEN-NOH GRAIN MAGNOLIA, an 82,000 DWT-type Kamsarmax bulk carrier at the Fukuyama Tsuneishi Shipyard of Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Japan on October 26, 2011. The vessel will be involved in long-term service carrying grain to “K” Line’s customer National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations (JA Group). The vessel's name is connected with the state flower of Louisiana where Zen-Noh Grain Corporation’s grain shipment elevator is located and where the newbuild is scheduled to make periodic calls in the future.


Coast Guard nabs semi-submersible
carrying drugs in Western Caribbean

MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter MOHAWK, a medium-endurance cutter homeported in Key West, Fla., interdicted a drug smuggling, self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) vessel, commonly referred to as a drug sub, in the Western Caribbean Sea, Sept. 30, 2011. The total interdiction is approximately seven tons and valued at nearly $180 million wholesale. The crew of the MOHAWK stopped two SPSS vessels in 13 days. Used regularly to transport illegal narcotics in the Eastern Pacific, this interdiction is only the third Coast Guard interdiction of an SPSS in the Caribbean. The Coast Guard’s first interdiction of a drug smuggling, SPSS vessel in the Western Caribbean Sea happened July 13. The crew of a maritime patrol aircraft deployed in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South operations in the Caribbean spotted a suspicious vessel and notified the MOHAWK crew of the location. The MOHAWK-based Coast Guard helicopter crew and pursuit boatcrew interdicted the SPSS and detained its crew. The SPSS sank during the interdiction along with the contraband. The crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter CYPRESS, a sea-going buoy tender, homeported in Mobile, Ala., commenced searching for the sunken SPSS Oct. 17. Coast Guard crews and the FBI Laboratory's Technical Dive Team, located at Quantico, Va., conducted multiple search patterns. The SPSS was located by the dive crew, Oct. 19. Built in the jungles and remote areas of South America, the typical SPSS is less than 100 feet in length, with four to five crewmembers and carries up to 10 metric tons of illicit cargo for distances up to 5,000 miles. Drug traffickers design SPSS vessels to be difficult to spot and rapidly sink when they detect law enforcement, thereby making contraband recovery difficult.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 27, 2011

Upgraded stormwater collection system
tested at Portland International Airport

PORTLAND — Following two years of construction, testing is now underway on the newly expanded Portland International Airport deicing stormwater collection system. Aircraft and airfield deicing is conducted to ensure flight safety when the weather is cold, and the deicing system captures deicing runoff that mixes with stormwater. The expanded system increases the existing storage capacity for concentrated and dilute runoff, and allows treatment of a portion of the runoff prior to discharge to the Columbia River or the sanitary sewer system in compliance with permit requirements. The system captures stormwater runoff containing dilute concentrations of deicing materials on the western airfield, increasing the area monitored and collected to nearly 2,000 acres. The expansion includes a new 3-million gallon concentrated runoff storage tank, two 6.5-million gallon dilute runoff storage tanks, and three pump stations. Also included is a new treatment facility, more than six miles of underground piping, and an outfall to the Columbia River. The treatment facility, using an anaerobic fluidized bed biological reactor, will break down deicing material in stormwater. The treatment plant will operate during the 2011-2012 winter. All system components are scheduled to fully operate in compliance with permit requirements by April 30, 2012, the Port of Portland’s compliance date with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.


New pub & grill opens doors
at Seattle Fishermen's Terminal

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle welcomes its newest tenant, the Highliner Pub & Grill, to its property at Fishermen’s Terminal. The business was previously known as the Highliner Tavern, but acquired new ownership over the summer with a new coat of paint, significant interior and kitchen upgrades, and a new menu. The new pub and grill opened last Friday and has been seeing a steady stream of customers since. The menu, featuring standard pub fare along with fresh fish specialties, was put together with the supervision of Jason McClure, executive chef of Sazerac restaurant. It also features six flat screen TVs and 15 beers on tap. The Port of Seattle’s Fishermen’s Terminal is home to the North Pacific fishing fleet, and contributes to over 5,600 local jobs, and over $800 million in business revenue. Fishermen’s Terminal is a “Clean Marina” and EnviroStar Washington certified marina, earning the highest 5-star rating for preventing pollution and reducing hazardous waste.


Industry executives testify
at House transportation hearing

WASHINGTON, DC — At an Oct. 26 hearing of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, AAPA Chairman of the Board Jerry Bridges, who also serves as executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, testified on the economic importance of seaports. Subtitled “Is the United States Prepared for 21st Century Trade Realities?”, the hearing focused exclusively on the economic contributions of U.S. seaports and the need for adequate federal investments in both land and waterside infrastructure in and around those facilities. In addition to Mr. Bridges' testimony reflecting the overall U.S. port industry, the chief executives of three other U.S. port authorities testified on behalf of their respective ports: Omar Benjamin, Port of Oakland; William Friedman, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority; and Paul Anderson, Jacksonville Port Authority. Other witnesses included Jo Ellen Darcy, assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works; Christopher Koch, president and CEO of the World Shipping Council; and Peter Peyton, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Marine Clerks Association. All testimony is available on the Committee website: http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=1425


NYK subsidiary charters
pair of new shuttle tankers

TOKYO — Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS, of which NYK has a 50 percent share, has signed a time-charter party with Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi S.p.A (ENI), an Italian multinational oil and gas company. The contract is for two shuttle tankers for a maximum 10-year period starting from summer 2013. Two new 123,000 DWT Suezmax tankers, which are being built at Hyundai Heavy Industries and will each be equipped with a dynamic-positioning system, will be used for the contract to transport North Sea crude oil ashore. The contract is the first between ENI and KNOT for shuttle tankers, and at the same time, is the first long-term time-charter shuttle-tanker contract for ENI. A shuttle tanker, lso called a “floating pipeline,” loads crude oil from floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) units in deepwater fields while maintaining a certain distance in the ocean, and then transports the oil to crude-oil storage units or petroleum storage stations on land.


Genesee & Wyoming VP
earns AAR environmental honor

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has awarded the 2011 Professional Environmental Excellence Award to Genesee & Wyoming (GWI) Vice President for Motive Power David Powell. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., Mr. Powell has 19 years of environmental experience all within the rail industry. The award, the first ever awarded to an employee of a short line and regional railroad, was presented at the annual Railroad Environmental Conference at University of Illinois, Urbana. After joining GWI in 2003, Mr. Powell immediately focused his attention on making improvements in the locomotive area that would reap benefits on the environmental front. Mr. Powell created an Environmental Team consisting of someone from each of the regions and brought in industry experts to heighten awareness and increase training. He also set up field environmental assessments at operational locations where deficiencies were found and quickly rectified. Mr. Powell also set in motion the process by which GWI acquired its first GenSet locomotives and developed a program where Standard Environmental Procedures have been identified across areas that have the potential to impact the environment. He was also the force behind GWI’s entry into the EPA SmartWay Program in 2007 and the successful completion of the 4-year goals identified in the company’s SmartWay plan.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 26, 2011

New study finds job growth
related to Port of Vancouver, USA

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA has announced that overall job numbers tied to port activities increased over the past five years despite the struggling economy. According to a recently completed economic impact study, job growth linked to an increase in the port's marine business made up for a decrease in jobs associated with the port's industrial tenants and customers. Total number of jobs directly generated by port marine and industrial activities in 2010 was 2,337; a gain over 2,268 direct jobs in 2005. Marine cargo growth in exported wheat, scrap metal and mineral exports, combined with increased wind energy imports, added 290 direct jobs related to the port's marine business. More reflective of the recession, the industrial side of port operations lost 221 direct jobs. Approximately every five years, the port commissions an economic impact study to measure its economic influence in Clark County and the Pacific Northwest. Last conducted in 2006, and now again in 2011, the studies assist port commissioners and executives in planning the port's future. The economic analysis is also a key component in the port's integrated decision making process when evaluating cargo mix and prospective tenants. Information is presented on port-related jobs, salaries, business revenues and tax generation, all aimed at helping the port measure its success in delivering economic benefit to the local and regional economy. The study was conducted by Martin Associates. The firm is based in Pennsylvania and conducts similar studies for major ports through the U.S. and Canada. Copies of the report can be found on the port's website at www.portvanusa.com.


Matson ready to serve customers
hit by Horizon Lines Guam service exit

OAKLAND — In response to Horizon Lines’ announcement that it will be discontinuing its Guam service effective November 10, Matson assured customers that it has the vessel capacity and necessary equipment to handle the additional volume and maintain existing levels of service without requiring any new fleet deployments. Matson’s U.S.-flag ships currently provide weekly service to Guam and have available capacity to absorb the increased demand. Matson reports it has begun mobilizing its sales and operations teams on the U.S. Mainland and in Guam to meet the challenges faced by the businesses impacted by the upcoming change in service. The company will focus on ensuring that the transition is as smooth as possible and that all service issues are addressed. Matson provides ocean transportation services to Hawaii, Guam, China and Micronesia, as well as logistics services through its subsidiary, Matson Logistics. Matson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. of Honolulu.


ATA truck tonnage index
climbs during month of September

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 1.6 percent in September after falling a revised 0.5 percent in August 2011. August’s decrease was more than the 0.2 percent drop ATA reported on September 27, 2011. The latest gain put the SA index at 115.8 (2000=100) in September, up from the August level of 114. The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 119.5 in September, which was 3.1 percent below the previous month. Compared with September 2010, SA tonnage was up 59 percent. In August, the tonnage index was 4.9 percent above a year earlier. Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 67.2 percent of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled nine billion tons of freight in 2010. Motor carriers collected $563.4 billion, or 81.2 percent6 of total revenue earned by all transport modes. 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.


Port of Tacoma inks disaster MOU
with Sister Port in Kitakyushu

TACOMA — During the Tacoma-Kitakyushu 10th Sister Ports Conference Oct. 24 in Tacoma, officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that calls for the two ports to exchange information about disaster prevention and preparedness, and environmental issues. The agreement was signed during ceremonies held at The Fabulich Center after a series of presentations and discussions by both ports on recent developments and issues. The Japanese delegation included port officials as well as more than 25 private sector business leaders from Kitakyushu's warehouse, distribution and logistics sectors. Following the business meeting and signing ceremony, the group toured Port of Tacoma facilities, a cold storage warehouse and distribution center, and the industrial rain gardens on a Tacoma terminal.


EVA Air transports
pair of rare Red-Crowned Cranes

TAIPEI — A pair of endangered Red-Crowned Cranes EVA Air carried on a special flight are now safe and sound in their new home at the Taipei City Zoo. Chosen to be the official carrier, EVA flew the two rare birds named Big and Kika from the Kushiro City Zoo in Hokkaido, Japan to Taiwan on Sept. 14, 2011. By making every effort to ensure the comfort and well-being of its precious passengers, EVA has once again successfully transported an imperiled species. Among the rarest cranes in the world, the tall, thin elegant birds are especially prized in Chinese and Japanese cultures for various symbolic representations of happiness, health, longevity, faithful love and immortality. In addition to rearranging its schedule, EVA substituted a Boeing 747-400 combi for the passenger aircraft it usually operates on its Hokkaido route, enabling conservation experts and veterinarians to pass between the cranes’ specially outfitted cargo space and the passenger cabin throughout the flight.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Horizon Lines announces plans
to end Trans-Pacific container service

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced it will discontinue its Five Star Express (FSX) trans-Pacific container shipping service between the U.S. West Coast, Guam and China. Horizon is implementing an orderly transition plan, beginning October 31, 2011, and will work aggressively to mitigate any supply chain disruptions for its customers. Discontinuation of the FSX Guam and China services will have no impact on the company's domestic ocean services in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico. The last voyage of the FSX service from China is scheduled to depart Shanghai on November 2, 2011. Horizon Lines also will suspend ocean services to Guam and surrounding islands effective with the last sailing from the U.S. West Coast on November 10, 2011. The company expects to cease all operations related to the FSX service during the fourth quarter and does not expect to have significant continuing involvement in the operations after the termination. Therefore, the company will classify the FSX service as discontinued operations and as a result, expects to record a pretax restructuring charge of between $105 million and $110 million in fiscal fourth quarter 2011. The charge includes estimated costs to return excess rolling stock equipment, facility closures, severance, and vessel charter expense, net of estimated sub-charter income. Losses associated with the FSX service produced a negative adjusted EBITDA impact of approximately $43.7 million for the nine months ended September 25, 2011, with additional losses expected through the end of the year. Following their last voyages, the five Hunter-Class D-8 vessels operating in the FSX service are currently planned to be laid up, after dry-docking of the remaining four vessels. The vessels are leased from Ship Finance International Limited through 2018 to 2019. Horizon Lines is exploring sub-chartering the vessels and other solutions to partially mitigate ongoing charter expense and maintenance costs.


VIPs celebrate first project
at Grays Harbor business incubator

ABERDEEN, WA — The strength of partnering was evident Tuesday, October 19, 2011, when the Port of Grays Harbor was joined by local business leaders and state officials to dedicate the first project of the Grays Harbor Innovation Partnership, the Coastal Innovation Zone – a research, development and business incubator. The remodeled office space and adjoining warehouse area is designed to foster innovation - whether it is development, testing and commercializing new product concepts or providing support and resources for new businesses. A highlight of the dedication ceremony was the opening of the Coastal Innovation Zone’s first business incubator tenant, Wishkah River Distillery. Owner Sue Watts explained how the facility’s unique focus on fostering start-up businesses allowed her to enter into a flexible lease agreement for her space, giving her time to focus her efforts and capital on purchasing her equipment, product development and testing. She now has her first product available for sale and is entering the stage of hiring employees and opening her doors. Ms. Watts provided tours of the distillery and tastings of her first products. Public partners of the Grays Harbor Innovation Partnership Zone include the Port of Grays Harbor, Satsop Business Park, Grays Harbor College, the Regional Education and Training Center at Satsop and the Grays Harbor Economic Development Council.


Port of Tacoma slates meetings
to discuss 2012 business plans

TACOMA — Port of Tacoma commissioners have scheduled two public meetings to consider the port’s 2012 budget, business forecast, finance plan and tax levy. The first budget meeting on Oct. 27 will include an in-depth look at business forecasts, capital building plans, the tax levy and the 2011 budget. Commissioners will invite public comment at this meeting. Community members are encouraged to attend this meeting to hear how the port’s budget is formed and to provide input before the budget is adopted at the Nov. 17 meeting. More budget information and materials will be available by Thursday’s meeting on the port’s website at www.portoftacoma.com/budget. Hard copies of the presentation also will be available at the meeting. The final meeting Nov. 17 is a special public hearing to formally adopt the 2012 statutory budget, tax levy and authorization to bank excess tax levy capacity. Both meetings will be held in Room 104 of the Fabulich Center, at 3600 Port of Tacoma Rd. in Tacoma. The public is encouraged to attend. Meetings also are streamed live from the port’s website at www.portoftacoma.com/webstreaming and are later broadcast on Click! and Comcast throughout Pierce County.


NYK cruise ship honored
with three Travel Weekly awards

TOKYO — Crystal Cruises of the NYK Group has been awarded three Travel Weekly magazine Magellan Awards for this year’s redesign of its largest ship, CRYSTAL SERENITY. Given for top design in the luxury cruise ship category, CRYSTAL SERENITY earned Gold Awards for both its Penthouses and Non-Suite Staterooms, and a Silver Award for Overall Ship. The accolades honor the highest standards of excellence in a broad range of travel industry segments. Winners are determined by a panel of industry luminaries and will be profiled in Travel Weekly’s October 31 issue. With additional 2011 awards such as Travel and Leisure magazine’s “World’s Best Large-Ship Cruise Line” for the 16th consecutive year, Crystal has earned more “World’s Best” awards than any other cruise line, resort, or hotel in history.


Coast Guard Auxiliary unit
plans Garibaldi haunted house

ASTORIA — The Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and Garibaldi, Ore., Fire Department will host a haunted house, for charity, at Old Coast Guard House, 1200 Garibaldi Ave., in Garibaldi, from 6-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Admission is two cans of non-perishable food items. All proceeds will go to the Oregon Food Bank. The haunted house will feature several scary floors and one family friendly floor for children.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 24, 2011

Port of Bellingham seeks comment
on Airport Master Plan development

BELLINGHAM — This year the Port of Bellingham is beginning the development of an Airport Master Plan for Bellingham International Airport. This comprehensive planning effort, which is required by the Federal Aviation Administration, will take about a year to complete and will include analysis of current and future airport activities. The port will study the airport facilities, property and surrounding area. They also will consider different future growth projections and the possible improvements needed to accommodate them. On Oct. 27 from noon to 2 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. community members are invited to an Airport Master Plan Open House at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Avenue, in Fairhaven. The public is welcome to come to either open house where they will find information about the airport and this planning effort. Community comments will be welcome at these open houses and port staff will be available to answer questions and take suggestions. The planning effort is just beginning and more community meetings will occur during the process. Information about the Airport Master Plan can be found on the port’s website at www.portofbellingham.com/BLImasterplan. The website also has public comment opportunities.


Port of Seattle coping with
Alaskan Way Viaduct closures

SEATTLE — As crews from the Washington Department of Transportation demolish a portion of the elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct, the Port of Seattle is working with the shippers, terminal operators, truck drivers and business owners that keep Seattle’s harbor open for business and send Washington goods to markets everywhere. During the closure, the port will work continuously with partner agencies to ease congestion around the harbor, and uniformed officers will be at key intersections to facilitate the flow of traffic. In addition, the southbound portion of the port’s East Marginal Way Grade Separation Project has opened, providing access to southbound SR-99 from both southbound East Marginal Way and eastbound lower Spokane Street. A traffic signal has also been installed at the intersection of lower Spokane Street and East Marginal Way.


Two new members selected
for Vancouver Fraser port board

VANCOUVER, BC — Denis Lebel, Canadian minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, in conjunction with the nominating committee, has appointed Tim Chapman and Paul Landry to the board of directors of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for three year terms, effective September 29, 2011. The Board of Directors for Port Metro Vancouver is composed of 11 members: one federal appointee; one BC provincial appointee; one appointee for the prairie provinces Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; one municipal appointee; and, seven port user appointees. The responsibility of the Port Metro Vancouver Board of Directors is to exercise oversight of the activities of Port Metro Vancouver.


Letter of Interest period extended
for Newport Port Commission post

NEWPORT, OR — The period for accepting letters of interest to fill a vacancy in Position No. 1 on the Port of Newport Commission has been extended to October 31, 2011. Commissioner Ginny Goblirsch has announced her resignation effective October 7, 2011. Interested persons should mail or hand deliver a letter of interest no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2011 to the Port office at 600 SE Bay Boulevard, Newport, OR 97365. To be eligible, applicants must be a registered voter and reside with in the Port District boundaries.


DHS taps BSI Group
for port cargo screening aid

RESTON, VA — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has awarded a contract to BSI Group's Supply Chain Solutions business unit for the creation of a protocol to aid the screening of cargo at U.S. ports. BSI will work with DHS S&T-sponsored engineers in a project designed to integrate data from new detection systems, along with BSI's proprietary intelligence on cargo disruption and anti-Western terrorism, in order to better identify high-risk containers. BSI maintains one of the largest, continuously-updated, non-governmental proprietary databases, which includes comprehensive cargo disruption analysis in 200+ countries, cargo theft exposure, up-to-date country risk analysis, and terrorism threats to in-transit shipments. The detailed data is then leveraged to guide and prioritize resources to best address threats.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 21, 2011

Trio of northwest airports earn
environmental achievement honor

SEATTLE — Airports Council International-North America has honored Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, along with Portland and Spokane Airports, with the Environmental Achievement Award for Special/Innovative Projects for their work with the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest Program (SAFN). Together with their Steering Team partners – Boeing, Alaska Airlines, and Washington State University – and consulting facilitator Climate Solutions, these three airports convened more than 40 stakeholders and observers to assess the feasibility, challenges and opportunities of scaling up a commercially viable and sustainable renewable aviation fuels industry in the Northwest. The SAFN initiative takes place within a global network of seven similar stakeholder processes led by Boeing, which all support the broader aim of achieving carbon-neutral growth across the aviation industry beyond 2020. The SAFN results, published as a report on May 25, 2011, provide a “flight path” for scaling up this industry in the Northwest. The innovative SAFN approach and results are already being considered for adoption by stakeholders in other regions of North America. Since being established in 1997, the Environmental Achievement Awards contest has generated interest throughout the industry and has catalyzed numerous environmental programs at airports. The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest Program, comprised of the Port of Seattle, Port of Portland, and Spokane International Airport, won the Special/Innovative Projects Award.


Friends of Rocky Prairie drops
gravel mining permit appeal

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma has announced that a Thurston County group on Tuesday dropped its appeal of a gravel mining permit on a Maytown site formerly owned by the port. Friends of Rocky Prairie had appealed a Lewis County Superior Court decision in July that sided with the port and the property’s current owner, Maytown Sand & Gravel, LLC (MSG), about the finality of a gravel mining permit on the Thurston County property. Friends of Rocky Prairie also had appealed a Thurston County Board of Commissioners decision to grant an amendment to the permit’s conditions. A Thurston County Superior Court judge ruled last week that the group lacked standing to challenge the county’s land use decision. Within days of the Thurston County judge’s dismissal of its appeal, Friends of Rocky Prairie dropped its challenge in the Court of Appeals to the overall validity of the gravel mining permit.


Bill Graves nets new contract
as trucking association president

ARLINGTON, VA — American Trucking Associations announced earlier this week at their annual Management Conference and Exhibition it had reached an agreement on a new three-year contract with association President and CEO Bill Graves. After serving two terms as governor of Kansas, Mr. Graves start with ATA in 2003. In his time with ATA, the association has been a voice on highway safety, including support for an 18-point safety agenda, electronic logging, the current hours-of-service rules and limits on the speed of commercial vehicles. Since 2003, ATA has also undertaken a campaign designed to promote the trucking’s role in environmental stewardship by reducing the industry’s fuel use and carbon footprint. In addition, ATA has been a leader under Mr. Graves on the issue of highway finance, sounding the alarm on the perils of increased tolling and public-private partnerships while encouraging policymakers to enhance more efficient, traditional funding sources.


U.S. rail freight traffic
posts gains during September

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported gains for September rail traffic compared with the same month last year, with U.S. railroads originating 1,195,671 carloads, up 1.1 percent, and 949,606 trailers and containers, up 2.3 percent. Through the third quarter of 2011, U.S carloads are at 87 percent of the levels they were at this point in 2006, the highest year on record for U.S. rail traffic. Intermodal volume in the first nine months of 2011 is 96 percent of what it was in the peak year of 2006. In September 2011, 13 of the 20 carload commodity categories saw increases on U.S. railroads compared with September 2010. The largest gains were: coal, up 6,356 carloads or 1.2 percent; primary metal products, up 5,272 carloads or 14.4 percent, and motor vehicles and parts, up 4,445 carloads or 8.2 percent. In percentage terms, the biggest increase in U.S. carloads in September was in petroleum and petroleum products, up 16.1 percent. Compared with September 2010, grain carloads in September 2011 were down 16,849 carloads or 18.2 percent, continuing a three month-long slide. In addition, AAR reports gains in weekly rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 312,170 carloads for the week ending Oct. 1, 2011, up 4.7 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 250,864 trailers and containers, up 4.4 percent compared with the same week last year. This week’s U.S. carload volume is highest since Week 45 of 2008, and the intermodal volume is the highest since Week 39 of 2007.


Oregon State University
to continue as NOAA partner

WASHINGTON, DC — NOAA has selected Oregon State University (OSU) to continue a federal/academic research partnership that extends NOAA’s ability to study marine resources in the Pacific Northwest. The award means that NOAA will continue funding the Cooperative Institute for Marine Resource Studies (CIMRS), which was established at Oregon State in 1982, for at least five and up to 10 more years. Following a competitive application process, NOAA chose Oregon State to continue to administer the CIMRS partnership which focuses on marine resources such as hydrothermal vents, seafloor volcanoes, marine mammals, and marine ecosystems. Research will also seek to improving protection and restoration of these marine resources.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 20, 2011

Port of Bellingham director
making changes at senior staff level

BELLINGHAM — Port of Bellingham Executive Director Charlie Sheldon has announced a re-organization of port senior staff to better focus the organization toward business development, greater job creation, and a more balanced staff workload. The changes include promoting port Chief Financial Officer Rob Fix to the newly created position of Deputy Director/Chief Financial Officer. In addition to serving as the second-in-command at the port, Mr. Fix will be charged with overseeing port finances, economic development, informational services and real estate administration. Mr. Fix worked for many years in the private sector in the hotel and hospitality industry and he has been at the Port of Bellingham since 2009. While at the port, Mr. Fix has been engaged in overseeing port finances and also has been a key leader in the economic development efforts that port has undertaken with other entities in Whatcom County. Mr. Sheldon has created a new position, Director of Business Development, and moved Real Estate Director Lydia Bennett into that role. In addition to her realtor license, Ms. Bennett has achieved distinction and developed national connections through her role as a national instructor for Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Institute. Communications Manager Carolyn Casey has been promoted to director, External Affairs. This new position will include communications, media relations, supporting Mr. Sheldon and the commissioners in government relations, providing support for port-wide strategic planning, support and supervision of corporate events and the port’s meeting and event rentals operations. Mr. Sheldon also announced that Human Resources Manager Elizabeth Monahan’s title is now Human Resources director. Ms. Monahan will take on additional administrative management responsibilities and oversight of emergency management and safety programs in addition to her human resources and labor relations duties.


Ocean Research College Academy
to open at new Port of Everett location

EVERETT — The Port of Everett has partnered with Everett Community College (EvCC) to site its Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) program in the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Center. ORCA, an early college program for high school juniors and seniors at Everett Community College, provides students with field experience in marine science. The port established a partnership with the ocean academy when an underwater monitoring station, owned and operated by the Department of Ecology, was installed at the port’s Mount Baker Terminal. Tenant improvements are underway, and the first class at Waterfront Center is expected to start in January 2012. For more information on the ORCA program, please visit http://www.everettcc.edu/programs/mathsci/orca/


Panama President takes part
in filling of new canal access channel

PANAMA CITY — Yesterday, Panama President Ricardo Martinelli witnessed a new milestone at the canal expansion with the filling of a segment of the new access channel that will allow the transit of Post-panamax vessels between the new locks and the Culebra Cut. Panama Canal Authority Board of Directors Chairman and Canal Affairs Minister Rómulo Roux and Panama Canal Authority Administrator Alberto Alemán Zubieta accompanied President Martinelli as he activated the valves to fill up this new channel which is located under the Centennial Bridge, the closest area to the Culebra Cut. The entrance to the new channel is 1.6 kilometers long, 218 meters wide and 9.14 meters above sea level It will take approximately three days to fill the area up to 12.5 meters of water and to reach the elevation of 21.64 feet above sea level, using 1.4 million cubic meters of water from Gatun Lake. The rest of the new access channel is 6.1 kilometers long, and will be filled during 2013, once the 2.3-kilometer dam that separates this to the current channel is completed. On August 16, 2010, the Panama Canal Authority awarded the Belgian company Jan De Nul nv, a contract for $545 million for the dry excavation and dredging of 3.8 million cubic meters of material in this area. To date, the expansion program shows a 30 percent advance on its different components such as dredging, dry excavation, design and construction of the new Locks. The Panama Canal has awarded contracts for more than $4.2 billion generating 19,000 direct jobs.


Horizon Lines common stock
headed to new trading marketplace

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced that its common stock will begin trading on the OTCQB Marketplace, effective today. OTC Markets Group Inc. operates the world's largest electronic marketplace for broker-dealers to trade unlisted stocks, including the OTCQB Marketplace. Investors will be able to view the Real Time Level II stock quote, which provides detailed quote information by market maker, for Horizon Lines at http://www.otcmarkets.com under the ticker symbol HRZL. The transition to the OTCQB Marketplace comes after the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) announced that trading of the common stock of Horizon Lines will be suspended prior to the market opening on October 20, 2011. The stock is being suspended because it did not maintain an average market capitalization of at least $15 million over a consecutive 30-trading-day period, as required by NYSE continued listing standards. Horizon Lines is appealing the NYSE's determination. The company has been advised by the NYSE that additional action to pursue delisting of the stock will not be undertaken until the appeal is completed. In the meantime, the company's stock will trade on the OTCQB Marketplace under the new HRZL stock symbol.


Crowley Maritime taps Ken Black
as product logistics/engineering boss

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corp. has announced that it has named Ken Black director of product logistics and engineering. He will continue to be based in Jacksonville and report to Steve Collar, senior vice president and general manager, logistics. In this new position, Mr. Black has oversight for Crowley's product logistics team, which develops a wide array of logistics solutions for customers, in addition to managing pricing and vendor relations. He will maintain his previous responsibilities for the company's supply chain operations, including the design, development and implementation of custom supply chain solutions for customers and overseeing the day-to-day operational aspects of the U.S. distribution and U.S.-to-Puerto Rico less-than-containerload (LCL) services. Mr. Black now also manages Crowley's Greg Smith, manager, product logistics. Mr. Black joined Crowley in 2001 as a logistics analyst. From 2003 to 2008, he held a variety of roles, including operations manager and business process manager. Most recently, in 2009, Mr. Black was named director of supply chain operations.He has more than 15 years of logistics experience with the United States Marine Corps. and other industry-leading companies.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Suspicious bags force evacuation
of sections of Bellingham Airport

BELLINGHAM — The Bellingham Airport re-opened and passengers returned to the terminal yesterday evening as the Bellingham Police Department’s Bomb Squad determined that two items of suspicious luggage posed no threat. Areas of the Bellingham Airport terminal were evacuated yesterday morning, after two pieces of suspicious luggage were found at a TSA screening checkpoint. As a precaution, law enforcement was called and portions of the airport were evacuated. The Bellingham Police Department’s Bomb Squad arrived on site and evaluated the package using the Bomb Squad’s robotic device. Representatives from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, TSA officials and the FBI were also on the scene. Two departures were delayed, an Alaska Air flight bound for Seattle and an Allegiant Air flight destined for Las Vegas. Two people, a man and a woman who are believed to the owners of the luggage, were questioned by authorities.


Olympia Port Commission meeting
to discuss draft budget/CSHI for 2012

OLYMPIA — Port of Olympia Finance Director Kevin Ferguson will present the Draft 2012 Operating Budget and Capital Investment Plan and the updated Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements (CSHI) to the Olympia Port Commission at their regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 24, at 5:30 PM. The meeting will occur at Rainier City Hall, 102 Rochester St., Rainier, in keeping with the Commission’s effort to make it easier for citizens who live throughout Thurston County to attend Commission meetings. The documents will be posted the following day on the port website www.portolympia.com. The commission invites citizens to attend the public hearing on the Draft 2012 Operating Budget and Capital Investment Plan at the regular Commission meeting on Monday, Nov. 14, 5:30 PM, at the LOTT Clean Water Alliance Board Room, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Citizens are advised that the commission will hear information and potentially discuss the operating budget at two public meetings in addition to the public hearing; these are Monday, Oct. 24, in Rainier and Mon., Nov. 28, at LOTT in Olympia. Starting in late September through the Nov. 28 regular meeting, the commission will have held six meetings open to the public for the review and discussion of the port’s 2012 Operating Budget. Passage of the budget is anticipated for the regular commission meeting on Mon., Nov. 28, 5:30 PM, at the LOTT Board Room.


Café @ Marina to open
at Waterfront Center in Everett

EVERETT — At the end of October, Café @ Marina will open at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Center located at 1205 Craftsman Way. Tenant improvements are underway to create a 759 square-foot café in Waterfront Center, located just across the lobby from Scuttlebutt’s restaurant. In September, the Port of Everett Commission authorized a five year lease, with a five year option for the new café. The café, which will employ six people, will offer coffee, smoothies, fresh sandwiches and more.


Port Tracker report predicts
gains in import cargo numbers

WASHINGTON, DC — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 2.6 percent in October over the same month last year and should reach its highest level of the year as retailers stock up for the holiday season, 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 1.32 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units in August, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was the same as July, but down seven percent from August 2010. The August figures followed year-over-year declines of five percent in June and four percent in July, but the statistics were skewed because of higher-than-normal numbers in 2010 when fears of shortages in shipping capacity caused many retailers to bring holiday merchandise into the country earlier than usual. Global Port Tracker counts only the number of cargo containers imported, not the value of their contents, so cargo volume does not directly correlate with retail sales. Actual retail sales were up during the summer, and NRF is forecasting 2.8 percent growth in holiday sales this November and December over last year, for a total of $465.6 billion. Year-over-year cargo growth resumed but was weak in September, which was estimated at 1.37 million TEU, up 2.7 percent from last year. October is forecast at 1.39 million TEU, up 2.6 percent from last year, and is expected to regain its historical position as the busiest month of the year after last year’s usual patterns shifted the peak to August. November is forecast at 1.28 million TEU, up four percent from last year, and December is forecast at 1.18 million TEU, up 2.7 percent. January 2012 is forecast at 1.16 million TEU, down 3.6 percent from January 2011, and February, traditionally the slowest month of the year, is forecast at 1.1 million TEU, down 3.8 percent. The total for 2011 is forecast at 15 million TEU, up 1.8 percent from 2010. Imports during 2010 totaled 14.7 million TEU, a 16 percent increase over unusually low numbers in 2009. Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by the consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast.


American Trucking Associations
taps England as new chairman

GRAPEVINE, TX — Before adjourning their annual meeting, the Board of Directors of American Trucking Associations elected Dan England, chairman of C.R. England Inc., Salt Lake City, as the trucking federation’s 67th chairman. “I’m honored to have been chosen by my peers in this great industry to represent America’s motor carriers, drivers, independent contractors and employees,” Mr. England said. “The last few years have been difficult for our industry and our nation, but I’m confident that regardless of our challenges, trucking and ATA will continue to lead the country toward economic recovery. Mr. England said that despite the industry’s diversity, the challenges facing trucking were so great that fleets needed to stay united to overcome them. Mr. England takes over for Barbara Windsor, president and CEO of Hahn Transportation Inc., New Market, Md.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Port of Seattle cruise season
surpasses expectations

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle reports its 2011 cruise season finished stronger than expected, with ten homeported vessels and nine ports of call making up the 196 ship calls at the Port of Seattle. A total of 885,949 revenue passengers moved through the port’s two cruise terminals, maintaining the consistently high volumes demonstrated over the past five years while solidifying Seattle as a port of origin for Alaska-bound cruises. The local cruise industry is estimated to have generated $425 million in business revenue, $18.9 million in state and local taxes and 4,447 jobs in 2011. Those numbers are expected to increase with the addition of Disney Cruise Line home-porting in Seattle for the 2012 cruise season, which will feature the Disney Wonder, scheduled for 15 voyages to the Alaska market. The southeast of Alaska continues to be a very popular destination for the cruise vacation experience. Ships sailing from Seattle continue to be full, averaging 109 percent of passenger capacity, which is a result of having multiple guests sharing a cabin- a real value for families cruising together. Cruise lines that called Seattle this year included Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity cruises all offering their own unique cruise experience. The Port of Seattle’s projection for 2012 cruise season sets the expectation of 880,918 cruise passengers with 201 scheduled cruise ship dockings.


Trucking association economist
sees no clear picture for industry

GRAPEVINE, TX — American Trucking Associations’ Chief Economist Bob Costello has said that the outlook for trucking was muddled at best, with the industry facing softening demand and rising costs, but said capacity should continue to remain tight. “Right now, freight demand is moving sideways, rather than falling off a cliff like it did in 2008,” Mr. Costello said during the All Eyes on the Economy panel, presented by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems. “That indicates to me that we might just skirt by another recession.” In general, Mr. Costello said large fleets were seeing stronger volumes than smaller ones, likely because of their relationships to larger shippers. “No one is doing great, but it feels like larger companies and shippers are outperforming small businesses right now,” he said. In addition, Mr. Costello said that cost pressures on fleets were “significant,” with the inflation rate for items like fuel, equipment and driver wages exceeding the inflation rate for the broader economy. Despite higher costs, Mr. Costello said that truck and equipment manufacturers should continue to see solid sales figures “because there’s a significant amount of pent-up demand for new trucks to renew aging fleets.”


UK P&I Club announces
rate increase for February

LONDON — The UK P&I Club reports that the premium rating of all members will be increased by three percent from February 20, 2012. This was agreed by the UK Club’s Directors at their meeting in Athens on October 17. This decision was taken in response to continuing underlying claims inflation. Although the frequency of claims had reduced significantly in 2009, 2010 and 2011, the average cost per claim has continued to increase over this period. As of August 20, the UK Club’s total capital stood at $486 million, an $8 million improvement on the position since 20th February 2011 ($478 million). Investment return for the half year to August 20, was $14.5 million, equivalent to a 1.8 percent return. The club reduced portfolio risk in September reducing equities to nine percent of the portfolio and increasing fixed interest holdings to 72 percent. Ninety-nine percent of all bonds invested in by the club are A grade or better. The club is expecting to see its combined ratio below 100 percent for the current year.


Customs giving advanced notice
of move to ACE processing system

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc. are encouraging international traders to begin moving their import business process to CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment. ACE is the commercial trade processing system being developed by CBP to facilitate legitimate trade and strengthen border security. In early 2012, CBP plans to announce via Federal Register Notice the decommissioning of the Automated Manifest System for rail and sea shipments. AMS for rail and sea shipments will be the first piece of the CBP legacy trade processing system to be decommissioned. This move to ACE is currently anticipated for July 2012, or six months after the announcement. Brokers interested in participating and filing their transactions in ACE should contact their CBP client representative.


Parsons Brinckerhoff taps Bryan
as Boston office principal consultant

BOSTON — Joseph Bryan has been named a principal consultant in the Boston office of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global infrastructure strategic consulting, planning, engineering and program/construction management organization. In his new position, Mr. Bryan will lead the firm’s Freight and Logistics Service Area in the Americas, focusing on freight transportation and logistics policy, planning and management. Mr. Bryan has more than 30 years of experience, with a broad background in freight operations and markets. He has been a contributor to the development of public and public-private freight planning in the U.S., working at the state and national levels. He has aided metropolitan planning organizations to research and characterize the patterns, distribution systems, operating requirements, and future needs of goods and services movement in their regions, and to prepare responsive strategies.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 17, 2011

New study provides roadmap
for Tacoma Tideflats funding options

TACOMA — State and local transportation departments have a new tool to prioritize and seek funding for road and rail improvements in the Tacoma Tideflats area. The Tideflats Area Transportation Study came to two conclusions. First, investments in the corridor will not improve without completing State Route 167. Second, the study identifies projects that would augment a completed SR 167 to improve traffic further. The study brought together a diverse set of stakeholders, including the Port of Tacoma, Washington State Department of Transportation, Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, City of Fife, City of Tacoma, Marine View Ventures (an entity of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians), Pierce County and SSA Marine to produce a coordinated transportation plan. The study covers the port industrial area, downtown Tacoma, the City of Fife, as well as portions of unincorporated Pierce County and Puyallup Indian Reservation. The recommended package of transportation improvements was selected to better serve truck freight traffic in the area and sustain growth over the next 20 years. It does not include the completion of SR 167, which previous studies already identified as essential by 2030 to prevent the transportation system’s failure. The study’s projects instead identify smaller projects that could ease localized pinch points now and enhance the overall system after SR 167 is finally complete. See the full report at www.portoftacoma.com/tats. Altogether, the study’s recommended projects and the unfunded portion of supporting projects assumed to be built by 2030 total between $579 million and $679 million, not including the completion of SR 167.


Everett Port Board adopts
new district boundaries

EVERETT — On October 11, 2011, the Everett Port Commission adopted its new Port Commission District boundaries based on the 2010 U.S. Census report. Each decade, the U.S. Government conducts a census of the nation's population. Following the census, district boundaries change to reflect the current population of counties, cities, and other jurisdictions that have internal governing districts. The most notable change is that each district now touches one of the waterfront communities. In the previous district structure, District 3 did not include a waterfront community. The new boundaries also follow the voting precinct lines, and include the location of the current district representative. The port held a public hearing and accepted public comment on two alternatives, however, no comments were submitted.


International Chamber of Shipping
provides flag state information

BEDFORDSHIRE, UK — A balance has to be struck between the commercial advantages of shipowners' selecting a particular flag state and the need to discourage the use of flags that do not meet their international obligations, warns the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). Speaking at the 14th Russian Register Seminar on Quality Shipping in St Petersburg, Simon Bennett, ICS Director of External Relations, said: "Shipping is one of the safest and most environmentally friendly modes of transport, yet several high profile casualties have prompted questions from politicians and the media about the performance of flag states. There is understandable concern about shipping companies' use of flags that may not comply fully with international regulations." However, he stressed that distinctions between open registers and so-called national or traditional maritime flags are unhelpful. "The industry's Flag State Performance Table suggests that open registers such as the Bahamas, Liberia and the Marshal Islands enjoy the same very high standards of performance and responsibility as flags such as Denmark or the United Kingdom," he said. ICS has previously developed Shipping Industry Guidelines on Flag State Performance, to accompany its annual Flag State Performance Table. The guidelines outline what a responsible shipowner should expect from a responsible flag state, including ratification and implementation of core maritime conventions. The guidelines are intended to encourage shipowners to examine whether a flag state has sufficient substance before using it and to encourage ship owners and operators to put pressure on their flag administrations to effect any necessary improvements.


APL names Wong Siew Loong
North Asia regional president

SINGAPORE — APL, the world’s seventh largest container shipping line, has announced the appointment of Wong Siew Loong as Regional President of its North Asia business. Mr. Wong will be responsible for APL’s commercial activities in Greater China, Japan and Korea. He will be based in Shanghai and will report directly to APL President Kenneth Glenn. Mr. Wong has held positions in Strategic Planning and Investor Relations since he joined APL. He was managing director of APL’s Taiwan office for three years before taking on his current role as vice president of the Asia Europe Trade in 2008.


Crowley Maritime combines
customs brokerage services

MIAMI — Crowley Maritime Corp. has announced that it has streamlined the customs brokerage services of Crowley and its subsidiary Customized Brokers Inc. Both teams will now operate together from a joint office in Miami under the direction of Customized Brokers' Nelly Yunta, vice president. Customized Brokers, established in 1989, is Crowley's Customs brokerage company in Miami, Fla. From this single office, Customized Brokers and Crowley's logistics team will continue to offer their traditional services. Customized Brokers has a specialty in handling perishable and refrigerated products, such as produce. As a result of these changes, Chris Bustamante, manager, customs compliance and consulting, will now report to Ms. Yunta and will continue to reside in Miami.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 14, 2011

BTS freight transport index
reports rise in numbers for August

WASHINGTON, DC — The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 0.4 percent in August from July, 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 2.9 percent in the last three 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 August 2011 (108.7 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 19 of the last 28 months. Shipments rose 15.3 percent over the last 29 months starting from April 2009 after declining 15.6 percent from February 2008 to April 2009. For the first eight months of 2011, freight shipments measured by the index were up 1.6 percent.


Standard & Poor's gives 'A-' rating
to Port of Everett revenue bonds

EVERETT — Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its ‘A-‘ underlying rating on the Port of Everett’s revenue bonds. According to the September 2011 report, the Port of Everett’s ‘strong financial position, with solid debt service coverage’ has allowed the rating service to reaffirm the port’s high rating. Standard & Poor’s is known to investors worldwide as a leader of financial- market intelligence. As a result of this rating, the port earned a lower interest rate on its bonds, with an average rate of 4.35 percent. The savings, like mortgaging a home, will be realized over the life of the loan. The port uses revenue bonds to invest in capital projects. Over the next five years, the port is planning to invest approximately $230 million into its facilities for capital improvement projects. The list of projects ranges from international trade projects, property developments, marina improvements and public access enhancements.


US rail freight numbers
roll to positive side for week

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported gains for weekly rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 305,133 carloads for the week ending September 24, 2011, up 1.1 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 248,402 trailers and containers, up 3 percent compared with the same week last year. This weekly intermodal volume is the highest since Week 39 of 2007. Thirteen of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable week in 2010, including: metallic ores, up 21 percent; petroleum products, up 16.1 percent, and metals and products, up 16 percent. Groups showing a decrease in weekly traffic included: grain, down 21.4 percent, and waste and nonferrous scrap, down 15.5 percent.


Port of Camas-Washougal
hosting site development meeting

WASHOUGAL, WA — The Port of Camas-Washougal has announced it will host the first public meeting to hear public input and listen to suggestions from community members about public access and site development of the land area between 2nd Street and 6th Street, south of Highway 14 in Washougal. The public meeting, moderated by the environmental contractor Maul, Foster and Alongi, will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at the Camas-Washougal Municipal Courthouse at 89 'C' Street in Washougal. The purpose of the meeting will be to introduce the strategic planning effort, site constraints and facilitate a community conversation on vision for future use. The facilitated workshop format will ask attendees to voice their opinions, share their priorities and fill out comment cards. The port has also created a project page on the port website: http://portcw.com/index.php/projects/ to update citizens as more information is known about the site revitalization.


Port of Vancouver, USA
welcomes maiden voyage vessel

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA welcomed the M/V QUEEN ASIA, commanded by Capt. Alfredo Coste Jr. on the vessel's maiden voyage to the United States on October 6, 2011. Capt. Coste and his 18-member crew were welcomed to Vancouver by John Lindgren, production manager for United Grain Corp.; Jason Eeds and Rocky Richards, vessel agents for Transmarine Navigation, Mike Hanley, superintendent for Jones Stevedoring Company and port representatives Mike Schiller, Mark Newell, Tim Henkle, John Won and Debbie Taylor. The QUEEN ASIA was built in Imabari, Japan and launched Aug. 4, 2011. The vessel is 556 feet in length and has a deadweight capacity of 28,425 metric tons. The crew for the vessel’s first visit to the Port of Vancouver USA were from the Philippines. The vessel is owned by Royal Yuyo Shipping S.A. and operated by TS Maritime Corp. Transmarine Navigation is the agent for the vessel. The QUEEN ASIA sailed from Imabari, Japan and loaded over 26,712 metric tons of grain while in port. The QUEEN ASIA departed the port on October 7 and will discharge the grain near Tokyo, Japan.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 13, 2011

Port of Portland Commission
Oks industrial land purchase

PORTLAND — Port of Portland commissioners have voted to acquire 222 acres in Gresham from LSI Logic Corp. for $26.5 million. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the purchase of the available industrial land earmarked for a future business park. Working with the City of Gresham, the port will master plan, develop and market the site to its highest potential to attract investment by traded sector companies that sell products and services globally. The LSI property is the only site in the region consisting of more than 100 acres that sits zoned and ready for development. At completion, the park will generate an estimated 2,768 direct jobs. The property surrounds the existing ON Semiconductor campus and will include nine lots on 172 developable industrial acres. The balance of the property is a mix of land zoned commercial, mixed use and residential. The site is adjacent to industrial, commercial and residential properties, and is well served by transportation arterials on all four sides. At the nearby Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park, port officials recently announced the start of second phase construction. The park is already home to the new FedEx Ground regional distribution hub – a $129 million, 441,000 square foot facility that supports approximately 800 jobs on a 78-acre lot. Once fully completed, the three phase, multiyear development is expected to yield an estimated 3,500 new jobs, $141 million in personal income and $46 million in state and local taxes.


Sea-Tac Airport marks arrival
of Cargolux 747-8 freighter

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle joined long-time air cargo customer Cargolux to celebrate yesterday's arrival and debut cargo loading of the first Boeing 747-8 Freighter at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. "We appreciate the commitment by Cargolux to this region's freight hauling capacity by placing this historic aircraft into service right here at Sea-Tac," said Mark Reis, managing director of Sea-Tac Airport. Cargolux is one of Sea-Tac's longest serving cargo carriers who began in 1983. Servicing the world through their home base in Luxembourg, Cargolux is one of two main deck freighter services out of Sea-Tac to Europe. In 2010, Cargolux shipped 8,796 metric tons of cargo through Sea-Tac. The Boeing 747-8 Freighter is the new high-capacity 747. The plane is 250 feet, two inches long, which is 18 feet and four inches longer than the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides customers with 16 percent more revenue cargo volume compared to its predecessor. That translates to four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets. The Port of Seattle Fire Department honored the inaugural arrival with a traditional water salute over the top of the aircraft.


Port of Everett supports
newly passed free trade deals

EVERETT — "The Port of Everett wants to thank Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) for his leadership in supporting the passage of the Free Trade Agreements with Columbia, Panama and South Korea today (Oct 12). Passage of these free trade agreements are directly tied to increasing American jobs and increasing exports by reducing tariffs and other restrictions that hinder the movement of goods from one country to another. South Korea is one of the port's main trading partners. The passage of this free trade agreement will allow us to increase trade with South Korea. Lifting tariffs will help provide additional opportunities for aerospace sales, directly benefiting the Port of Everett." -- Port of Everett Executive Director John Mohr.


Commerce Department report finds
US exports drop during August

WASHINGTON, DC — The August 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 August 2011 decreased 0.1 percent from July 2011 to $177.6 billion. This month’s exports of petroleum products ($10.3 billion) were the highest on record. This month’s exports of services ($50.9 billion) were also the highest on record leading the U.S. trade surplus in services to reach a record $15.8 billion in August. U.S. imports of goods and services also decreased $111 million to reach $223.2 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to remain flat at $45.6 billion in August 2011. U.S. goods and services exports in the first eight months of 2011 are up 15.8 percent to $1.4 trillion from the $1.2 trillion in exports in first eight months of 2010.


Corps closing Ballard locks
for routine maintenance

SEATTLE — The U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers' Seattle District has announced the llarge lock at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard will be closed to all marine traffic from 8 p.m. on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. – until 5 p.m. Nov. 22 for routine maintenance. The small lock will still be available for vessels less than 115 feet in length and 26 feet in width throughout the large lock maintenance period. For the week preceding the large lock closure, Nov. 1-8, and for one to two weeks after, only the west (lower) chamber will be available for lockages. The chamber is 325 feet in length and 80 feet in width. This allows crews to pull the east end gates of the large lock for replacement of the pintle bearings and for inspection, cleaning and repair of the gates for the first time in 20 years. For current information about activities at the Locks, visit the Locks’ Web site at http://go.usa.gov/3sV.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Seattle Port Commissioners
stand against Initiative 1125

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle Commission has voted unanimously to oppose Initiative 1125, a ballot measure that would make significant changes in state law and according to the commission, make future transportation projects difficult to fund. The initiative would place tolling power in the hands of the Washington State Legislature, rather than the non-partisan Washington State Transportation Commission that currently holds the authority. “Tens of thousands of jobs across the state are generated by port activities, and they depend on a transportation system that moves goods and people efficiently,” said Commission President Bill Bryant. "We are in a global fight to keep those jobs here and I-1125 could tilt the playing field against us.” According to State Treasurer Jim McIntire, passing the initiative would result in higher bond costs and higher costs for the taxpayers. Subjecting toll-setting to the political process in the legislature would make project funding uncertain – and bond markets have demonstrated recently how uncertainty leads to delays and higher costs to fund transportation investments.


Agencies keeping track
of stranded cargo vessel

SEATTLE — The U.S. Coast Guard and Wash. Dept. of Ecology are monitoring a 728 foot bulk carrier that lost propulsion nine miles west of Cape Disappointment, Tuesday. The motor vessel EDFU has anchored and is holding its position in 17 mph winds and 13 foot seas. The Coast Guard has offered assistance and is waiting for the EDFU crew to assess what repairs will entail. A Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter crew out of Coast Guard Air Station Astoria conducted an over flight Tuesday evening to assess the situation. EDFU's destination was Kalama, Wash., and the vessel is not carrying any cargo. The cause of the propulsion failure is not know at this time.


WTSA member carriers
finish freight rate assessment

OAKLAND — Transpacific container lines have completed their sector-by-sector assessment of freight rates from the U.S. to Asia, and have confirmed their intent to implement guidelines calling for increases aimed at recovering costs and restoring rates for key moving commodities to sustainable levels. Most increases are planned to take effect November 1, 2011. Chief executives of the 10 major carrier members in the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) have signed off on a final schedule of recommended rate adjustments, and have indicated their intent to adjust the rates for the following commodities: Wastepaper, Metal scrap, Plastic scrap, Hay, Hides, Forest products, Protein cargo (refrigerated beef, pork and poultry), Agri-products (peas, beans, lentils, grains, soybeans and related products), Chemicals, Clay, Cotton, Freight all kinds (FAK) cargo and Refrigerated “NOS” cargo (miscellaneous dairy products, baked goods, prepared foods). “Rate erosion over time has been dramatic for many of the highest-volume cargoes moving in the U.S.-Asia trade,” explained WTSA executive administrator Brian M. Conrad. “After various postponements of these increases, lines could not wait any longer and they want to avoid any confusion in the marketplace – they intend to apply the recommended increases and reverse the downward trend in freight rates, beginning November 1.” WTSA is a voluntary discussion and research forum of 10 major ocean and intermodal container shipping lines serving the trade from ports and inland points in the U.S. to destinations throughout Asia.


Panama Canal announces
excavation project completion

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority has announced the completion of phase three of the dry excavation project in the construction of the Pacific Access Channel (PAC). The Pacific Access Channel will connect the third set of locks with the Culebra Cut and Gatun Lake. The third phase of the PAC – costing $36.6 million including design, contractors and management – consisted of excavating 8.2 million cubic meters of materials, cleaning 190 hectares of munitions and explosives of consideration (MECs) and leveling Paraíso Hill from 46 meters to 27.5 meters above sea level. This dry excavation project was completed within budget, on time and in compliance with strict environmental, safety, hygiene and quality standards. To date, three of the four dry excavation projects, which will result in a 6.1-kilometer channel, have been completed for Postpanamax vessels to transit once the canal expansion is completed. The canal’s expansion is on schedule, following the recent commencement of the permanent concrete work for the new locks. The $5.25 billion project includes the construction of a new set of locks that will double canal capacity and allow the transit of longer and wider ships.


Port Metro Vancouver volunteers
work to improve Mission Possible

VANCOUVER, BC — Employees from Port Metro Vancouver volunteered yesterday at Mission Possible, a non-profit organization in the Downtown Eastside that focuses on finding meaningful work for people challenged by homelessness and poverty. Port Metro Vancouver volunteers spent the afternoon doing various jobs including: moving offices to a new location, painting Mission Possible’s interior / exterior, and helping in a general neighbourhood cleanup. Port Metro Vancouver has partnered with Mission Possible in many ways from funding a vehicle needed to pick up donations, to funding the remodeling of new offices on Princess Avenue. Most significantly, Mission Possible is one of the beneficiaries of the annual Port Gala, organized by Port Metro Vancouver with four port terminal operators, which has raised nearly one million dollars.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Grounded dry-cargo barge
refloated in Rosario Strait

SEATTLE — The dry-cargo barge, ST. ELIAS, which ran aground five miles southwest of Anacortes, Wash., in Rosario Strait, Monday, refloated free of Belle Rock at 3 p.m. The ST. ELIAS was towed into the middle of the channel and is sitting at its normal drift marks. Sector Puget Sound and Washington Dept. of Ecology are working with response tugs to transport the ST. ELIAS to a location in the vicinity of Shannon Point were further dive assessment will occur. After reviewing the assessment and further visual inspections, the Coast Guard, in conjunction with all parties involved, will work the next phase of the vessel transit to Indian Island. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound was notified at 5:45 a.m., that the 322-foot barge ST. ELIAS was being towed south through Rosario Strait by the 101-foot tug HENRY BRUSCO when it ran aground at approximately 5:20 a.m. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, conducted a morning over flight and Station Bellingham, conducted an on-site review, and both reported no signs of pollution. As an environmental precaution, containment doom was deployed around the vessel. U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, from Anacortes, along with a Sector Puget Sound inspector, conducted a safety assessment on board the ST. ELIAS, due to the fact that some of the containers on board housed explosive ordnances. The ordnance was determined to be secure and stable. As an additional safety precaution, a 2,000-yard safety zone was established in the area around Belle Rock. Once the vessel was refloated, the safety zone was lifted and Rosario Strait opened to all traffic.


Hamburg Sud christens
new 7,100 TEU container ship

HAMBURG — On Monday, October 10, 2011, the container ship SANTA ROSA of the shipping company Hamburg Süd was christened in Buenos Aires (Argentina) in the presence of 250 customers and guests from politics and business. The sponsor of the SANTA ROSA was Sabine Vespermann, wife of Dr Arnt Vespermann, member of the Executive Board of Hamburg Süd. The SANTA ROSA is the sixth newbuilding in a series of ten identical container ships which each have a slot capacity of 7,100 TEU and are fitted with 1,600 reefer container plugs apiece. All ten ships of this series are to be delivered by summer 2012. Since its delivery at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. (DSME) in Korea in July 2011, the SANTA ROSA has been operating in Hambug Süd’s service between Asis and South Africa/South America East Coast (New Good Hope Express). The SANTA ROSA is named after the Argentinian town in the province of La Pampa.


2011 Connie Award going to
past Sea-Land Services president

NEWARK — The Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII) will present the 2011 Connie Award to Robert Kenneth (Ken) Johns, former president of Sea-Land Service Inc. for his significant influence in containerization in worldwide trade and transportation. The Connie Awards luncheon will be held Monday, December 5, at The Newark (NJ) Club. A Lifetime Achievement Award will also be presented to Stanley Sher, a maritime attorney in Washington D.C., who has participated in virtually every major legislative initiative and judicial proceeding affecting the regulatory and competition laws governing international shipping in recent history. Mr. Johns served as Sea-Land's president and chief operating officer from 1979-87. Under Mr. Johns' leadership, Sea-Land prospered as one of the world's largest, most innovative and successful transportation companies. He joined Sea-Land in 1957 when it was a then-newly organized company in Mobile, Alabama, founded by Malcom McLean. Mr. Johns worked his way through various levels of company management relocating from Mobile to Tampa to Jacksonville to New Orleans and ultimately to New Jersey. The Lifetime Achievement Award is tendered to those who have not been operationally involved in transportation but have made contributions in support businesses. Mr. Sher is a founding partner of Sher & Blackwell, which joined Cozen O'Connor in 2010. Mr. Sher represents international ocean carriers as well as other companies before federal agencies, the courts, and Congress. Before founding Sher & Blackwell in 1991, Mr. Sher spent 30 years in private law practice in Washington, D.C.


Boeing opens Beijing office
to serve China's aviation industry

BEIJING — Boeing reports it has opened a new service center in Beijing to provide enhanced product support to China's growing commercial aviation industry. The new Boeing China Service Center comprises pilots and experts in flight operations, spare parts and maintenance engineering who are dedicated full-time to serving airlines in China. With Beijing-based experts who are fluent in Chinese and knowledgeable about customers' concerns and issues, the team will enhance Boeing's day-to-day support of more than 800 Boeing airplanes currently in service in China. The Boeing China Service Center also will work closely with the Boeing engineering teams in Seattle and Long Beach, Calif., on unique customer requirements and to develop products and services to further the reliability, efficiency and safety of the Chinese commercial airline fleet.


Crowley Maritime executive joins
Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame

SAN JUAN — Crowley Maritime Corporation's Ruben Montañez, senior account executive, Puerto Rico and Caribbean services, and former basketball player on the Bayamon Vaqueros (the Bayamon Cowboys), was inducted in the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame, along with nine retired athletes during the 50th annual induction ceremony in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Sunday. Mr. Montañez, who was also inducted in the Bayamon Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, played the positions of guard and forward on the Puerto Rico professional basketball team, based in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, from 1968 to 1983. During his 15-year sports career, Mr. Montañez won Rookie of the Year along with seven championships. Mr. Montañez helped his team win a championship one last time in 1983. Soon after, he retired from the sport, but would reunite with his former teammate and future colleague Charlie Dominguez off the court. Mr. Montañez joined Crowley as a sales manager in 1989 after Mr. Dominguez, who is now vice president of national accounts and has served Crowley for 28 years, inspired him to do so. The Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame is a sectarian, apolitical and non-profit organization headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which has inducted 632 athletes since it was founded by Bob Leith in 1958.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 10, 2011

Coast Guard warns mariners
of sunken barge in Columbia River

ASTORIA — The Coast Guard reports it responded to a sunken derelict barge on the Columbia River near Lyle, Wash., Saturday. Sector Columbia River, received several reports, Friday, stating that BARGE 202, a 90-foot derelict vessel, was no longer visible at its anchorage near mile 176. Sector Columbia River immediately issued a Safety Marine Information Broadcast to notify local mariners that the barge was either adrift or submerged and posed a potential hazard to navigation. Sector Columbia River launched MH- 60 Jayhawk helicopter crews Friday and Saturday to visually confirm the location of BARGE 202, though both attempts were unsuccessful. A 17-foot response boat crew from Coast Guard Cutter BLUEBELL, homeported in Portland, confirmed that the barge sank where it was anchored by conducting soundings in the vicinity of its last reported anchorage near mile 176. The Coast Guard is in the process of ensuring the barge will remain anchored and marking the sunken vessel with buoys. Mariners transiting the Columbia River near mile 176 are urged to use caution. The vessel had been previously inspected by the Coast Guard and poses no pollution threat. BARGE 202 broke away from its mooring three miles downriver from The Dalles Dam and drifted about five miles before grounding near mile 184 on July 10, 2011. The Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers decided to anchor the barge in its current location to minimize its threat as a navigational hazard.


Abnormal journal bearing wear
removes WSF ferry from service

OLYMPIA — Washington State Ferries (WSF) reports the ferry YAKIMA has been removed from service after maintenance crews discovered signs of abnormal wear on the journal bearing, which supports the propulsion shaft. Ferry riders in the San Juan Islands should expect delays through the weekend and next week with the 144-car ferry out of service. Washington State Ferries is moving vessels to maintain service on the route. The available vessels have less capacity and are slower than the YAKIMA and will not be able to keep the regular schedule. The 34-car Hiyu has replaced the 87-car EVERGREEN STATE as
the inter-island vessel. The EVERGREEN STATE will then serve as one of the three vessels that sails between Anacortes and the islands. WSF crews need to determine the extent of the damage to the YAKIMA to estimate the length of repair time. Crews will remove the journal bearing and inspect the problem. A subcontractor will repair a new bearing and WSF crews will install it.


AAR responds to formation
of rail labor emergency board

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads has issued the following statement from AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger in response to President Obama’s appointment of a Presidential Emergency Board to arbitrate national rail labor negotiations. “The nation’s freight railroads are pleased the President has appointed a Presidential Emergency Board, preventing a potential national rail strike at a time when America’s already fragile economic recovery can least afford it. We are hopeful the parties will swiftly reach an agreement, particularly given that 30 percent of the nation’s rail labor workforce has already reached a highly generous pattern agreement with the railroads. Now is not the time, given so many Americans already are out of work, to undermine freight rail’s vital role in the nation’s economic recovery, or the industry’s efforts to hire as many as 15,000 people this year.”


Ethiopian Airlines places order
for four Boeing 777 Freighters

EVERETT — Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines have announced an order for four Boeing 777 Freighters, making Ethiopian Airlines the first African carrier to order the twin-engine freighter. The order is valued at approximately $1.1 billion at list prices. The 777 Freighter can fly 4,900 nautical miles (9,070 kilometers) with a full payload of 225,200 pounds (102 metric tons). Ethiopian Airlines currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 737, 757, 767 and 777 airplanes in passenger service and a 757, MD11 and 747 in cargo operations.


NYK plans to expand
maritime academy facilities

TOKYO — NYK has announced the planned expansion of the NYK-TDG Maritime Academy’s (NTMA) facilities and the construction of crew training facilities adjacent to the academy. The construction will be completed in 2013, allowing NYK to further expand and develop education and training for Filipino senior officers. NYK and TDG opened NTMA in 2007, prior to the establishment of any similar facility by any other shipping company, for the purpose of education for high-quality seafarers.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 7, 2011

FMC looking into reasons
for US-bound cargo making detour

WASHINGTON, DC — During its Oct. 5 meeting, the Federal Maritime Commission voted unanimously to begin a Notice of Inquiry into disparities that may be causing U.S.-bound cargo to be driven to Canadian and Mexican ports. In response to written requests from U.S. Senators and a bipartisan group of eight U.S. Representatives from Washington State and California, the commission voted to commence a Notice of Inquiry, which will seek public comment and information to inform the Commission’s study of the U.S. Harbor Maintenance Tax and other disparities that may be driving U.S.-bound cargo from U.S. ports. Chairman Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr. stated: "Canadian and Mexican ports are free to compete with U.S. ports for U.S. cargo. But they should do so on a playing field that is not artificially tilted by governments’ policies. So the primary question is: are we handicapping our own ports in international competition?" The commission will be seeking voluntary and full input on the issue from government, industry, and the public — both in the United States and Canada.


APL holds anti-terrorism drill
at Seattle marine terminal

SEATTLE — APL and law enforcement officials including the FBI this week successfully tested anti-terrorism capabilities at the shipping line’s Seattle marine terminal. It was the seventh full-scale security exercise conducted by the global container carrier in the past six years. The day-long drill involved 200 people with representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, port police and fire department. All helped evaluate APL’s collaboration with the public sector in combating threats to the supply chain. APL invited competing terminal operators as observers. The event was based on a live simulation. It began with a warning to the FBI about a suspicious device aboard a vessel in port. APL summoned federal investigators and local public safety officials who took charge of the exercise. This was the second full-day security exercise conducted by APL in Seattle since 2006. Others have been held in Singapore; Yokohama; Los Angeles; Oakland, California; and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.


Weekly rail freight count
sees both sides of ledger

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported mixed results in weekly rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 299,914 carloads for the week ending September 17, 2011, down 1.4 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 242,250 trailers and containers, up 0.9 percent compared with the same week last year. This weekly volume is the highest since Week 40 of 2008. Eleven of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable week in 2010, including: petroleum products, up 19.2 percent; lumber and wood products, up 14.8 percent, and metals and products, up 12.8 percent. Groups showing a decrease in weekly traffic included: grain, down 17.6 percent; primary forest products, down 12.5 percent, and nonmetallic minerals, down 10.1 percent.


Change of command set for
Everett Coast Guard unit

SEATTLE — A change of command ceremony is scheduled to be held for Port Security Unit 313, a Coast Guard Reserve expeditionary unit, at Naval Station Everett, Wash., Saturday, October 8, 2011. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Daniel W. Clark will assume the responsibilities of PSU 313 commanding officer from Cmdr. James B. Andrews. PSU 313 returned from their latest deployment under Cmdr. Andrew’s command on Aug, 13, 2011. While deployed to the Middle East, they conducted more than 100 high value asset escorts across the Persian Gulf which ensured the safe passage of more than 3,000 pieces of mission essential equipment into and out of the theater of operations. They also worked jointly with U.S., British and Iraqi forces to maintain 24-hour security and provide 150 personal security details for coalition forces.


Customized Brokers taps Ryan
as perishables logistics specialist

MIAMI — Customized Brokers, the Miami-based customs brokerage specializing in the clearance of fresh produce into the United States, has named Christopher Ryan as perishables logistics specialist for the Northeast. He is based in Pennsauken, N.J., and reports to Customized Brokers General Manager Nelly Yunta. In this position, Mr. Ryan is responsible for business development, customer service, and maintaining relationships with terminals, government agencies and industry associations in the Northeast, including those in Delaware, Pennsylvania and parts of New York. Prior to joining Customized Brokers, Mr. Ryan served as a sales and marketing representative for a logistics company in Gloucester, N.J., where he gained experience in both the terminal and brokerage side of the industry, selling warehousing, project cargo, perishables and other services. Customized Brokers Inc., is a Crowley Maritime Corp. subsidiary.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 6, 2011

South runway now reopened
at Portland International Airport

PORTLAND — The Port of Portland reports the south runway at Portland International Airport has reopened, following the complete reconstruction of the 11,000-foot runway. Flights are now beginning to return to routine paths near the airport. The work was the third and final phase of a three-year runway improvement program. This phase completely reconstructed the south runway, which was worn by years of aircraft use. In 2009, the port rehabilitated the north runway, and in 2010, extended the north runway from the former 8,000 feet to 9,825 feet. The longer north runway was then able to accommodate larger aircraft departures this year while the south runway was closed for reconstruction, keeping the airport fully operational. The south runway was constructed in 1951, and extended by 2,200 feet to its current size in 1974. While it has seen both routine maintenance and rehabilitation over the years, the wear and tear of aircraft landings deteriorated pavement joints and subsurface base, and called for complete reconstruction. The mammoth project removed the old asphalt runway and constructed a new 19-inch deep concrete runway surface over a 4-inch deep asphalt base. The south runway used an estimated 180,000 square yards of concrete—enough to pave a two-lane road for about 26 miles.


New Washington State ferry
set for testing in Puget Sound

SEATTLE — Builder Vigor Shipyards plans to start testing the ferry KENNEWICK this week in Puget Sound before delivering it to Washington State Ferries. The first two days of sea trials are scheduled for today and tomorrow. The vessel will leave from and return to Everett Shipyard each day. Vigor will test the new ferry's operational systems in preparation for demonstrating the vessel to WSF and the U.S. Coast Guard the following week (Oct. 12-14). WSF is tentatively scheduled to accept delivery of the vessel from Vigor by the end of the month. WSF plans to put the KENNEWICK into service in January 2012; the exact date depends on the progress of several weeks of post-delivery sea trials and crew familiarization. The KENNEWICK will serve the Port Townsend/Coupeville route while the SALISH goes into standby status, so that WSF can operate the KENNEWICK during
ts warranty period.


Bellingham Port Commission
Oks lease with Leap Frog

BELLINGHAM — The San Juan Islands will seem a little closer this spring when Leap Frog Water Taxi begins operating at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The Port of Bellingham’s Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a lease and operating agreement with Leap Frog owner Bill McGown. He plans to open his office space at the Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven later this fall and will begin operating the water taxi service in spring. Leap Frog plans to service the outer islands in the San Juans, as well as islands that have no ferry service. The company also will offer custom trips and charter. Earlier this year Leap Frog purchased a 32-foot aluminum passenger vessel built by Bellingham’s All American Marine and had final outfitting work done by the Seaview Boatyard in Fairhaven. Port commissioners praised the local economic impact Leap Frog has had, even before starting its service. The two-year lease approved by commissioners includes a 240-foot ticketing office and dock space at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. At the Fairhaven terminal, Leap Frog joins San Juan Cruises, which offers seasonal whale watching trips and cruises to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, and the Schooner ZODIAC. The terminal was built to serve the Alaska Marine Highway System’s ferry, which relocated from Seattle more than 20 years ago and offers weekly trips from Bellingham to Alaskan destinations.


AAPA names Delaware senator
U.S. Port Person of the Year

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) will be honored in Wilmington, Del., on Oct. 7 as the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) “U.S. Port Person of the Year” at a special luncheon given by the Port of Wilmington Maritime Society. AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle will present the award in recognition of Sen. Carper’s many contributions toward improving the nation’s transportation infrastructure, including its deep-draft navigation channels. The award also credits Sen. Carper for his work on enhancing U.S. port security and reducing harmful diesel emissions at seaports and other transportation facilities. AAPA’s Port Person of the Year award is presented to honor an individual or individuals whose outstanding work or service has made a significant contribution to public port authorities and/or maritime commerce in the Western Hemisphere. Nominees may be recognized for positive contributions with international impact or for benefits to ports within a country or region.


Panama Canal Authority
places order for 14 new tugs

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority awarded Astilleros Armon S.A., a ship building and repairing company based in Spain, a $158.3 million contract to acquire 14 new tugs to increase the current fleet to meet the projected growth of transits on the waterway. The contract was awarded to the company offering the best value proposal. The tender was opened to wider competition with the participation of 20 companies from countries in South America, Europe and Asia. The contract involves the construction, testing and staggered delivery of 14 tractor-type tugs of 70 tons, the first of which will be received within 600 days of being awarded. The tugs will assist larger vessels transiting the canal current and expand transit operations, anchoring and other maneuvers in the waterway. The Panama Canal currently has a fleet of 36 tugs to assist more than 14,000 transits every year. The new canal will operate with tugboats to assist the transit of ships, unlike the exiting canal which uses locomotives.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Washington DOC authorizes
Innovation Partnership Zones

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Commerce has designated three new Innovation Partnership Zones (IPZs) and reauthorized nine others to help spur regional economic growth through key sectors such as manufacturing, global health and technology.
New IPZ Designations:
• Interactive Media and Digital Arts IPZ (King County)
• King County Financial Services Collaborative (King County)
• Urban Clean Water Technology Zone (Pierce County)
Re-Designations:
IPZs are designated for four-year terms. The following IPZs designated in 2007 retained their status:
• Aerospace Convergence Zone (Snohomish County)
• Port of Bellingham Waterfront Innovation Zone (Whatcom County)
• Bothell Biomedical Manufacturing IPZ (King County)
• Grays Harbor IPZ (Grays Harbor County)
• North Olympic Peninsula IPZ (Clallam County)
• South Lake Union Global Health IPZ (King County)
• Spokane University District IPZ (Spokane County)
• Tri-Cities Research District (Benton County)
• Walla Walla Valley IPZ (Walla Walla County)
The Innovation Partnership Zones program was created in 2007 by Washington Governor Gregoire and the Washington State Legislature. Its goal is to stimulate the growth of industry clusters and build regional economies. IPZs empower regions to form partnerships between research entities, private sector partners, and workforce training to collaborate and develop commercially viable technologies.


Jensen Maritime taps Babcock
as business development manager

SEATTLE — Jensen Maritime, a Crowley Maritime Corporation company, has appointed Dan Babcock as manager of business development, reporting to Johan Sperling, vice president of Jensen. In this position, Mr. Babcock is responsible for business development in support of the organization's growth strategies. Camilla Oding, who was recently appointed marketing analyst, reports to Mr. Babcock. Both work out of the company's headquarters in Seattle. Mr. Babcock brings 15 years of experience from a diverse background in operations management, product development and service engineering in support of the marine, railroad and aerospace industries. He spent three years as a service engineer in the marine industry, participating in vessel construction and commissioning at shipyards around the world. As a marine product manager, Mr. Babcock worked on marine hybrid propulsion solutions. He also brings experience in developing business partnerships and merger and acquisition strategies. His vessel experience ranges from escort tugs to offshore support vessels to ferries.


Evergreen Line changing
intra-Asia fleet deployment

TAIPEI — Evergreen Line reports it will realign its fleet deployment and launch new services in the intra-Asia seaborne trade, effective from mid-October 2011. The existing Hua Bei - Hong Kong - Indonesia service (HBI) will be reorganized into two feeder loops. The new Hua Bei - Hong Kong service (HBH) and the Tanjung Pelepas - Indonesia service (PIS) will fully cover the scope of the HBI string. In addition, Evergreen Line will join Cheng Lie's China - Philippines - Indonesia service (CN1) with deployment of one vessel. This joint service adds another sailing of Qingdao - Hong Kong connection and extends the service link to Central China and the Philippines.


Yang Ling Line launches
new 6,600 TEU container ship

KEELUNG — YM MILESTONE, a 6,600 TEU full-container vessel built for Yang Ming Line by CSBC CORP., TAIWAN, was delivered and named at a ceremony held at CSBC Kaohsiung Shipyard on Sep 29, 2011. The ceremony was presided over by Dr. Frank Lu, chairman of Yang Ming Line, and Tang Tay-Ping, chairperson of CSBC CORP., TAIWAN. Chen Hsieh Hong-mei, wife of CHEN Jiann-Yeu, the administrative deputy minister of Ministry of Transportation and Communications, was invited to sponsor the new ship. YM MILESTONE will be put in service on Oct 16, 2011 to run along with two other new 6,600-TEU containerships, YM MUTUALITY and YM MOBILITY, which were also launched in 2011.


Panama Canal begins
2011 cruise season

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal cruise-line season officially starts today, Wednesday, October 5, and runs through the middle of next year. More than 200 transits of these passenger vessels are expected. The transit of Princess Cruises ISLAND PRINCESS will mark the beginning of the season, traveling for 14 days from Los Angeles, California, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At least 205 transits are expected this season. Among the major companies that are considering Panama and the Canal experience as a destination are Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Washington international trade council
praises President for backing FTAs

SEATTLE — Commending the White House for transmitting to Congress the pending Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) President Eric Schinfeld stated the following: “Yesterday’s action by the White House is an exciting step in the process to finally pass these trade agreements that are so vital to Washington state’s continued economic recovery. South Korea is Washington’s fourth largest export customer, with total exports reaching $2.8 billion in 2010. Colombia and Panama represent important, fast-growing markets for our state, with a combined value of close to $400 million in exports last year; this amount represents an increase of 180% over 2009. The swift passage of these free trade agreements will mean jobs and increased revenues for a wide range of Washington state-based companies. On behalf of WCIT’s members, I would like to thank the Washington Congressional delegation, which has been consistently supportive of strong international trade policies, for their leadership in getting us to this point. Our state’s senators and representatives recognize that Washington is the most trade-dependent state in the country -– with one in three jobs tied to trade -– and that these long-delayed agreements are essential to increased jobs and opportunity for Washington’s businesses and residents. WCIT’s members–farmers, manufacturers, service providers, researchers, educators, non-profit organizations and individuals–have prioritized the passage of these FTAs as both good trade policy and a major benefit to Washington’s economy. We urge that these three trade agreements be approved by Congress without further delay.”


Federal grant dollars
earmarked for Oregon exports

SALEM — Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber has announced the approval of a $375,000 federal grant designed to help Oregon companies sell their products to overseas customers. The State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program grant is a pilot initiative of the U.S. Small Business Administration and will be administered by Business Oregon. Business Oregon’s Global Strategies team currently offers technical assistance and planning support as well as financial grants up to $2,500 through the Oregon Trade Promotion Program (OTPP) that help Oregon companies market their products and meet new customers and distributors at international trade shows. The STEP program, launched in March, aligns with President Obama's National Export Initiative. The President's initiative calls for doubling U.S. exports in five years – and in so doing, supporting two million jobs. The program provides federal funding for 65 to 75 percent of program costs, with states supplying the remainder. Business Oregon’s current budgeted dollars for export assistance cover the state match. The funding will support Oregon companies’ participation in international trade shows and trade missions through the administration of individual export development grants of up to $5,000. Small businesses seeking to participate in the STEP program should contact Amanda Lowthian at Business Oregon at 503.229.5483, amanda.lowthian@state.or.us.


NYK-TDG Maritime Academy
graduates first class of students

TOKYO — The NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA) held its first graduation ceremony on September 16, for the first 116 students enrolled at the academy. NTMA is jointly run by NYK and business partner Transnational Diversified Group (TDG). The students completed three years of academic study and one year of training on board NYK vessels. At the nationwide Maritime School Assessment Program (MSAP) examination held for students attending merchant vessel seamanship schools in the Philippines, most of the NTMA students were at the top of the class in academic performance. NTMA students are now taking the ship officer examination and all the examinees so far have acquired seafarer certificates of competency. After obtaining the certificate, each seafarer will begin a career as a third officer or third engineer on an NYK ship.


Boeing predicts 7,530 new planes
for North American air carriers

MONTREAL — Boeing forecasts that air carriers in North America will take delivery of 7,530 new airplanes over the next 20 years at a market value of $760 billion. Taking retirements of airplanes into account, the North America fleet will grow from 6,610 airplanes today to about 9,330 airplanes by 2030. Demand in the United States and Canada will focus primarily on single-aisle jetliners. This is driven by the need to replace aging airplanes with new, more fuel-efficient airplanes. For the purposes of the Boeing forecast, the North America market consists of the U.S. and Canada. Mexico is included in the forecast for Latin America. Boeing forecasts single-aisle airplanes will grow to 73 percent of the total North America fleet by 2030. A majority of this increased growth in the single-aisle category is related to traffic traveling to and from economically dynamic regions in Central and South America. Long-haul international traffic will continue to grow at an average annual rate of approximately 4.5 percent. Large airplanes (747-size and larger) will not see significant demand in North America, with only about 50 airplanes, or one percent of the total investment.


Maersk Line to absorb
Safmarine management functions

COPENHAGE — Safmarine has announced the intention to integrate its internal support and management functions into those of its sister company Maersk Line. While the Safmarine headquarters will close, the brand will be kept in the Maersk Liner Business portfolio. Safmarine currently operates alongside Maersk Line as a fully independent shipowner and shipping line serving Africa, the Middle East and India. This move will reduce core costs of running two businesses. The multi-purpose vessel business of Safmarine will be unaffected by the integration and continue to be developed from its base in Antwerp.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 3, 2011

Panama Canal sets new
tonnage mark during 2011

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal set another mark in its history books as it reached a new tonnage record during fiscal year 2011 which concluded at midnight of September 30. Preliminary figures showed that the Panama Canal closed Fiscal Year 2011 with 322.1 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS). This figure represents a 7.1 percent increase compared to the 300.8 million tons registered last year, and also surpasses the previous 2007 record of 312.9 million tons by 2.9 percent. The Panama Canal´s fiscal year runs between October 1 and September 30.


Crowley Maritime adding
400 new high-cube containers

JACKSONVILLE, FL — To serve customers shipping cargo between the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico, Crowley Maritime Corporation has acquired 400 53-foot (102' wide) dry high-cube containers and 375 53-foot chassis, adding to the company's equipment fleet of more than 45,000 modern units. The containers, which have a capacity of 3,931 cubic feet and 42,660 pounds, were delivered in Jacksonville last week. The new containers exceed all new and amended ISO standards for freight container door security applications. A combination of security enhancements and upgrades deters and prevents unauthorized access to containers and loaded cargo. Over the years, Crowley has converted most of its enclosed-equipment fleet to containers, which offer structural durability and safety for cargo and the flexibility to be accommodated in both Lift-On/Lift-Off (Lo/Lo) and Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro/Ro) services when paired with a chassis. Since 2003, Crowley has invested close to $240 million dollars to modernize its equipment fleet by nearly 24,000 units. Most recently, in April of this year, Crowley added 250 45' (102 wide) containers and 250 40' (96 wide) high-cube containers to its equipment fleet in order to better serve the growing needs of its customers in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and throughout Central America.


Top ships selling
M/V CYCLADES

ATHENS — TOP Ships Inc., an international maritime shipping company that provides transportation services for crude oil, petroleum products, and dry bulk commodities, has announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell the M/V CYCLADES, a 75,681 dwt drybulk vessel built in 2000. The vessel is expected to be delivered to its new owners by early November 2011. The sale of the M/V CYCLADES will result in a book loss of approximately $40 million.


Coast Guard sets contract
for Ediz Hook erosion project

SEATTLE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a contract to Bruch & Bruch Construction, Inc., for $626,000 to conduct routine erosion protection work at Ediz Hook at Port Angeles, Wash. Work is expected to begin in November and conclude by February 2012. Beach nourishment material will be placed along the face of the revetment at two stockpile locations. The nourishment material, consisting of about 50,000 tons of 3- to 12- inch rounded gravel and cobble from an existing upland gravel pit, will be brought to the stockpile areas by 20-cubic yard end-dump trucks. The nourishment area is approximately 5,200 feet long. The waterward face of the stockpile won’t be graded; instead, it would be allowed to reach a natural angle of repose. However, a small bulldozer may be used to spread material laterally along the top of stockpiles to allow for dump truck access. The purpose of the Ediz Hook erosion control work is to protect the sand spit from erosion, thereby maintaining protection of Port Angeles Harbor and the small boat basin from direct wave action, and preserving access to a U.S. Coast Guard station located at the tip of the spit.


Chuck Jones art on display
at Portland International Airport

PORTLAND — The works of Northwest legendary cartoon artist, and world-renowned anima-producer at Warner Bros., Chuck Jones, are now on display at Portland International Airport. Born in Spokane, Washington, Mr. Jones’ career spanned the history of animated films, beginning at Warner Bros. and continuing his work at MGM before establishing his own Chuck Jones Enterprises in 1963. Greeting the traveler’s eye, Mr. Jones’ exhibit highlights more than 60 years of cartoon and animation history. Mr. Jones was a prolific artist whose work has been exhibited at galleries and museums worldwide. He has directed more than 300 animated films, won three Oscars in his career, and received the Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 1996. The work is part of the rotating art exhibits program at PDX and is on loan from the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity through October 2012.