Port of Vancouver, USA
unveils new Centennial website

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA reports it has launched a Centennial website in an effort to share the port's history with the local community in an informative and interactive environment. Founded on April 6, 1912, the port has served as a global gateway for the past century – creating jobs and economic growth through leadership, stewardship, and partnership in marine and industrial development. The website, themed “A Century of Possibilities,” was created in addition to the port’s current website, highlighting the port’s first 100 years. Because strong connection with the local community is a key element of the port’s early and continued success, the website’s primary focus is on user-friendly interactivity with the people who have supported the port since its origin.
As part of the year-long celebration, the site invites visitors to share their personal stories and photographs of the port by clicking the “Send us your port memory” icon. These documents may be displayed on the website’s front page, with the hope of generating widespread discussion. Over the next 12 months, the Centennial website aims to immerse visitors in the port’s various milestones, and to think about tomorrow while honoring the past, present, and the future. Community members can visit the site and add their voices to the discussion by going to www.portvanusa.com/centennial, or by going to www.portvanusa.com and clicking on the Centennial website icon on the front page. Comments can also be emailed to the port at info@portvanusa.com.

Back to top

Sea-Tac Airport sets new
passenger mark during 2011

SEATTLE — A record 32.8 million passengers passed through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in 2011, a four percent increase from 2010. Included in that number were nearly three million international passengers, the most ever in the airport’s history. The total 2011 passenger figure of 32,819,796 beat the previous record set in 2008, and far exceeded the one percent increase the port had forecasted for the year. The port’s seaport cargo facilities also had a strong 2011, handling just over two million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) – the second consecutive year that more than two million containers passed through the harbor.

Back to top

AAPA taps Florida Congressman
as top port person of the year

ALEXANDRIA, VA — U.S. Congressman John Mica (R-FL) will be honored on March 20 as the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) “Port Person of the Year” during the association’s 100th anniversary Spring Conference event, March 19-20, at The Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel. AAPA selected Rep. Mica to receive its most prestigious annual award based on his leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, six transportation subcommittees (several of which are crucial to America’s seaports), and his staunch support of maritime and port infrastructure policy and investment priorities. Nominated last fall for “Port Person of the Year” by both the Port of Jacksonville and the Port of New Orleans, AAPA’s Executive Committee approved Rep. Mica’s nomination at its Jan. 18 meeting in Tampa. AAPA anticipates more than 200 legislators, governmental staff members and port industry leaders and staff will take part in the two-day conference. Additionally, AAPA will hold its Centennial Celebration Dinner the evening of March 19 for more than 600 invited guests.

Back to top

	TRANSPORTATION COMPANY SHIP ASSIST INLAND AND OCEAN TOWING/GRAIN BARGING
	Serving the Maritime Industry Since 1880 Office: 503/228/8850 24 hr. Dispatch: 503/228/8847 Portland, Oregon

US rail traffic count
drops during week

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported a decrease in weekly rail traffic for the week ending January 7, 2012, with U.S. railroads originating 274,862 carloads, down 3.7 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 193,812 trailers and containers, down 9.3 percent compared with the same week last year. Five of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2011, with metallic ores, up 29.2 percent, having the greatest gain. The groups showing a decrease in weekly traffic included: grain, down 20 percent; farm products excluding grain, down 18.5 percent, and iron and steel scrap, down 17 percent.

Back to top

Inchcape Shipping Service
warns of Belgian port closures

CHAFFORD HUNDRED, UK — Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), a global maritime services provider, advises that a nationwide strike in Belgium on January 30, 2012 will close all ports in the country, with knock-on effects likely during the whole week. ISS anticipates that dockers, pilots, tugboats and locks operators will be involved, and that roadblocks with strike pickets will occupy all access roads to the ports. The company reports it has been unofficially informed that terminals will close from 06:00hrs on 01/30/2012 to 06:00hrs on 01/31/2012. Patrick Van Huffelen, general manager, ISS Port Services, said: “We advise shipowners and operators not to attempt to deliver any cargoes to Belgian ports on Monday, and we are warning that further disruption to schedules may continue into the week. Our offices will be running with a skeleton staff on Monday, however we will continue to offer advice and support to our clients on port congestion, the welfare of crews should they become stranded in port, and other related issues.”

Back to top

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: E-mail your thoughts and comments to the Editor about news and issues for publication in the newspaper. Give us your name, company and phone number. Phone number is not for publication. Just click this e-mail : dsnews@europa.com