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August, 2010

NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Bellingham International Airport
set to close runway for repairs

BELLINGHAM — Bellingham International Airport operations will be focused on paving and repair after the final scheduled flight leaves and the runway is closed this evening. At precisely 11 p.m. Aug. 31, the Port of Bellingham will close its runway so that the runway and main taxiway can be rehabilitated and repaved. The runway is scheduled to re- open at 5 a.m. Sept. 22. During the runway closure, the airport will continue to serve helicopters and the Control Tower will remain operational.


Washington governor planning
trade mission to Vietnam, China

OLYMPIA — Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has announced she will be leading a delegation of nearly 80 business, agriculture and education leaders to China and Vietnam to help expand the state’s export markets, encourage investment in Washington state and promote Washington’s higher education system. Gov. Gregoire and the delegation, which also includes Department of Commerce Director Rogers Weed and Department of Agriculture Director Dan Newhouse, will leave Seattle on September 13th, and spend 11 days meeting with industry leaders in agriculture, aerospace, clean energy and education, promoting Washington products. The delegation will also share the advantages of doing business in our state at the Shanghai World Expo. This is Gov. Gregoire’s second trade mission to China. In 2005, the governor led a similar delegation to China and Japan, which resulted in more than $1 million in immediate new sales to customers in Japan and $6 million in new contracts with companies in China. The new business gained in 2005 was expected to bring $23 million in new sales for Washington companies in subsequent years. Gov. Gregoire has kicked-off an online journal that includes travel notes from the governor and the rest of the delegation as well as the itinerary. The site will also contain pictures from the trade mission. Gov. Gregoire is encouraging Washingtonians to follow along by following the link on her homepage: www.governor.wa.gov.


FMC collects civil penalties
from six compromise agreements

WASHINGTON, DC — The Federal Maritime Commission has executed six compromise agreements recovering a total of $218,750 in civil penalties. The agreements were reached with a vessel-operating common carrier and five ocean transportation intermediaries. The agreed penalties resulted from investigations conducted by the commission's Area Representatives in Houston, Los Angeles, New York, South Florida, and Washington, D.C. Staff attorneys with the commission's Bureau of Enforcement negotiated the compromise agreements. The parties settled and paid penalties, but did not admit to violations of the Shipping Act or the commission's regulations. "These penalties reflect the continued vigilance and hard work of the commission's Area Representatives and Bureau of Enforcement to protect the shipping public," stated Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr. Chairman Lidinsky also noted that two of the penalties followed allegations of misdescribing cargo. "The recent eleven-day fire on the CHARLOTTE MAERSK is a reminder that misdescription of cargo is not just unfair and deceptive – it poses a serious safety and security risk. The commission will act vigorously to detect and punish this threat to safety and the shipping public."


Trade between NAFTA partners
climbs during month of June

WASHINGTON, DC — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 37.6 percent higher in June 2010 than in June 2009, reaching $69.9 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in June 2010 remained 5.8 percent below the June 2008 level despite the 2009-2010 increase. North American surface freight value rose 4.6 percent in June 2010 from May 2010. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors. Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. In June, 86.6 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in June was up 17.5 percent compared to June 2005, and up 38.0 percent compared to June 2000, a period of 10 years. Imports in June were up 33.7 percent compared to June 2000, while exports were up 43.4 percent.


McAllister Towing and Transportation
joining Marine Response Alliance

NEW YORK — The directors of Marine Response Alliance LLC (MRA or Alliance) have announced the welcoming of McAllister Towing and Transportation Co., Inc., (McAllister) to the MRA as a full and equal member. McAllister is now united with the other MRA member companies--Crowley Marine Services, Inc. (Crowley), Marine Pollution Control Corporation (MPC), Titan Maritime LLC (Titan) and Marine Hazard Response (MHR) (a joint venture of Wild Well Control, Inc. and Williams Fire and Hazard Control, Inc.)--to provide OPA-90 Salvage and Marine Firefighting services to the maritime community. McAllister is one of the oldest and largest marine towing and transportation companies in the United States, operating a fleet of more than 70 tugboats and 12 barges along the entire East Coast from Portland, Maine, to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The corporate headquarters is located in New York City with additional staffed offices in Portland; Fall River, Mass.; Providence, R.I.; Staten Island, N.Y.; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Norfolk, Va.; Wilmington, N.C.; Georgetown, S.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Port Everglades, Fla.; and San Juan. In each port, McAllister is engaged in ship docking, general harbor towing, coastal towing, rescue towing and bulk transportation servicing more than 600 major steamship companies.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, August 30, 2010

Turkey joins list of signees
of new ship recycling rules

LONDON — The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reports that Turkey, one of the five major ship recycling nations in the world, has signed, subject to ratification, the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009. Ünal Çeviköz, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom and permanent representative of the Republic of Turkey to the IMO, signed the convention, on behalf of his country, at IMO Headquarters in London on August 26, 2010. The Hong Kong Convention, adopted at a diplomatic conference in May 2009, is aimed at ensuring that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment. The convention addresses all major issues surrounding ship recycling, including the fact that ships sold for scrapping may contain environmentally hazardous substances such as asbestos, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, ozone-depleting substances and others. It also addresses concerns raised about the working and environmental conditions at many of the world's ship recycling locations. To date, the Convention has been signed, subject to ratification or acceptance, by France, Italy, the Netherlands, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Turkey.


Coast Guard keeping eye on
sunken fishing vessel in Clallum Bay

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard is monitoring the salvage of the sunken fishing vessel NORTH PASS near Clallum Bay, Wash., Friday. The Coast Guard responded to the vessel when it was taking on water, Wednesday, at Slip Point near Clallum Bay with two people onboard. Both people were recovered and safely transported to nearby Olson’s Resort in Sekiu, Wash., by a Good Samaritan. Global Diving and Salvage attempted to raise the 95-year-old wooden fishing vessel with air bags until it was determined, when lifted, it was too unstable to tow to shore. In order to prevent the vessel from drifting into the straits and becoming a possible hazard to navigation the airbags were cut and the fishing vessel sank in approximately 150 to 200-feet of water 300 yards offshore. Global Diving and Salvage sealed the fuel tanks with a potential of 300 gallons of diesel in those tanks. There are no reports of a sheen. The Coast Guard has issued a Safety Marine Information Broadcast and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of the environment and the maritime public.


Maersk Line set to implement
fourth quarter rate increases

COPENHAGEN — As part of the rate restoration program announced at the end of 2009 on the Atlantic Trades, Maersk Line has confirmed the implementation of its General Rate Increases for Q4, 2010. This includes cargo moving in both directions between USA and Canada from/to North Europe, the Mediterranean and Black Sea. The increases announced for October 1 will be USD 250 per 20' Dry and USD 350 per 40' Dry and USD 500 per 40’ Reefer for cargo moving in both directions between USA from/to North Europe; USD 250 per 20' Dry and USD 350 per 40' Dry / Reefer for cargo moving between Canada from/to North Europe; and USD 200 per container for cargo moving in both directions between USA and Canada from/to the Mediterranean.


OOCL plans to start
freight rate increases

HONG KONG — OOCL is advising customers that they will apply a General Rate Increase on Trans-Atlantic services with effect from October 1, 2010. The General Rate Increase will apply westbound and eastbound and be applicable to all container types as follows; All cargo between Europe and the USA, Canada and Mexico -- USD 320 per 20’ container and USD 400 per 40’ container. The carrier is also implementing its revenue recovery program with effect from October 1, 2010. Freight rates for traffic from Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Indian Subcontinent and Middle East) to Australia, will be increased by USD 300 per TEU.


Lynden Transport named
top LTL carrier in annual survey

ANCHORAGE — For the fifth year in a row, shippers voted Lynden Transport the top LTL carrier for the Western Region in Logistics Management magazine's 27th annual Quest for Quality Awards. Lynden Air Freight/Lynden International earned a fourth place ranking among 10 freight forwarders. Lynden Transport has now received 14 annual Quest for Quality awards and Lynden International has placed in the top five for 11 consecutive years. Lynden Transport led the regional LTL pack overall with the highest rankings in the information technology, customer service and equipment and operations categories. Lynden Transport is best known for shipping to Alaska from the lower 48 states and Canada. Shippers grade carriers on customer service, on-time performance, value, equipment and operations and information technology during the previous year. This year, 5,426 logistics and supply chain decision-makers cast their votes on the basis of service quality.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, August 27, 2010

Oregon Goveror announces funds
for Coos Bay rail line improvements

COOS BAY — Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski traveled to American Bridge Manufacturing in Reedsport Aug. 25, to announce an award of $7.8 million from ConnectOregon III to the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay for rehabilitation of the Coos Bay rail line. “We are here today with the final piece of funding that will preserve and protect this asset,” Governor Kulongoski said. The announcement followed a vote by the Oregon Transportation Commission, approving the allocation at its meeting in Hermiston. The commission approves a final project list for ConnectOregon, after the Oregon Legislature authorizes funding based on the governor’s recommendation prior to each session.


Newport Port Commission eyes
International Terminal project progress

NEWPORT, OR — After reviewing the final rendering for the project, the Port of Newport Commission was updated on the progress of the International Terminal Renovation Project at its monthly meeting Tuesday, August 24, 2010. Amendments No. 3 and No. 4 to the agreement between the Port of Newport and Natt McDougall Company (NMC), the project’s construction manager/general contractor were presented to the board of commissioners by Senior project manager Frank Berg of DAY CPM Services. Amendment No. 3 includes the performance and material and payment bonds for Phase 1 construction; initial mobilization and support; early demolition of the port offices, warehouse and high timber dock; general condition items, supervision, management and support equipment from September 2010 through June 2011; the water treatment system for use after permits are attained; and the estimated cost of this work, contingency, insurance and fee for a total Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) is $1,513,052.31. The Total GMP of Amendment Nos. 1 through 3 is $3,725,475.04. Amendment No. 4 includes setting and driving the permanent bulkhead wall on the north, landward side of sunken ship Pasley using previously purchased sheet pile; a test pile program and monitoring of the Pasley; installation of a “wing wall” that will run northwest at the west end of the bulkhead wall; and the estimated cost of this work, contingency, insurance and fee for a Total GMP is $287,385.37. NMC’s GMP for Amendments Nos. 1 through 4 equals $4,012,860.41.


US rail freight traffic
hits high mark for year

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads reports that for the week ending July 31, 2010, U.S. railroads reported the highest traffic levels of 2010 for both carload and intermodal traffic. U.S. railroads originated 300,292 carloads for the week, up 9.4 percent compared with the same week in 2009, but down 10.6 percent from the same week in 2008. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Note that U.S. rail traffic fell sharply in fall 2008, when the financial crisis took hold. Intermodal traffic totaled 232,895 trailers and containers, up 20.2 percent from the same week in 2009, and up 0.9 percent compared with 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 21.9 percent and trailer volume rose 11.7 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume increased 9 percent and trailer volume dropped 28.9 percent. Eighteen of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009 with only waste and scrap, down 1.9 percent, posting a decline. Metallic ores, up 73 percent, and metals and products, up 35.2 percent, were the commodities posting the most significant increases. In comparison to 2008, all nineteen commodity groups posted declines.


New superintendent named
for US Merchant Marine Academy

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that Rear Admiral Philip H. Greene, Jr. will become the new Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. Admiral Greene holds a Merchant Marine Master’s license and is a 1978 Academy graduate. Rear Admiral Greene came to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy from the U.S. Navy, where he was most recently director of the Navy Irregular Warfare Office. There he developed and employed a global maritime preventive security strategy. Before that, Rear Admiral Greene served as commander of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, where he helped establish the first multinational Maritime Center of Excellence in East Africa. Rear Admiral Greene’s Navy service also includes a post as director of the Navy Europe/Africa Policy, Resources and Strategy in Naples, Italy where he formulated the Navy’s maritime security and safety strategy for the Gulf of Guinea. Previously, as Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Chairman of the Seamanship and Navigation Department at the United States Naval Academy, he shaped the mandatory professional mariner curriculum and instruction for 4,000 midshipmen.


Cal Maritime receives
giant ship's propeller

VALLEJO, CA — Cal Maritime has received and installed a massive 18-ton, 18-foot wide brass ship’s propeller which for many years was a landmark of San Francisco’s downtown business district. For several decades, the entrance to the San Francisco office building at 100 Spear Street has been graced by an eye-catching display…..a highly-polished brass ship propeller. This 18-ton piece of “commercial art” was a natural, as the building was home to many offices of ocean carriers serving the West Coast. With industry consolidation, the number of maritime-related offices in the building dwindled. The owners are preparing for a major remodeling to attract a new clientele and those plans called for removal of the propeller. They began looking for a new home for it and Cal Maritime was approached as a potential recipient. Because of its dimensions, the propeller had to be trucked to campus via the southern end of San Francisco Bay and then back north to Vallejo. The massive unit (donated by the 100 Spear Street Owners Corp. as an asset under advisory control of ING Clarion Partners) was moved into place by Sheedy Rigging of San Francisco and placed on a specially-reinforced pad adjacent to the Technology Center, making it visible to campus visitors arriving on Maritime Academy Drive. It will now become a permanent campus fixture and a distinctive symbol of our maritime roots.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, August 26, 2010

Change of command for
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound

SEATTLE — Sector Puget Sound held a ceremony marking the shift from Sector Seattle to Sector Puget Sound, immediately preceding a change of command ceremony here, Wednesday. The initiative commonly referred to as sectorization is part of a nationwide effort to consolidate the many responsibilities, missions and jurisdictions within the Coast Guard. The move is also aimed at increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of Coast Guard personnel and assets. Following the sectorization ceremony, Sector Puget Sound held a time honored change of command ceremony where Capt. Scott Ferguson relieved Capt. Scott Bornemann as commanding officer, Sector Puget Sound. Capt. Ferguson took over command of the recently restructured Sector Seattle, now known as Sector Puget Sound, which was established on July 30th, 2010 to better serve the Puget Sound's maritime community. This restructuring affects several Coast Guard units in Wash., by consolidating the many federal authorities that locally monitor maritime commerce, safety and security and placing them under the commander of Sector Puget Sound.


Carriers set to begin
new Asia/SAmerica service

SEOUL — China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL), Hanjin Shipping (HJS), CMA CGM S.A. (CMA CGM) and Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) have announced the joint launch of a new direct service from Asia to South America West Coast starting from the middle of September. Offering a direct and weekly sailing with 70 days round voyage, this new service will cover the trade lane linking Asia and South America West Coast including Manzanillo, Mexico. Also, ten vessels with loadable capacity of 2,350-2,550 TEU and 300 usable reefer plugs will be deployed in the service among which CSCL and HJS will provide four ships each, CMA CGM and HMM one each. The ALW (Asia-Latin America West Coast Express) Service rotation is: Shekou-Ningbo-Shanghai-Pusan-Manzanillo-Buenaventura- Guayaquil-Callao-Iquique-Valparaiso-SanVicente-Manzanillo-Pusan-Shekou.


Congressman congratulates
Coast Guard Academy for rankings

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, has congratulated the United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, CT, for being named one of the top institutions of higher learning by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes Magazine. “Last month, I was proud to help the Coast Guard Academy recognize its 100th anniversary,” said Congressman Cummings. “I am incredibly proud to see continued proof that they have not only had a wonderful history, but can look forward to a spectacular future. The Coast Guard Academy was awarded first place in the Baccalaureate Colleges (North) category in the 2011 edition of U.S. News and World Report's Best Colleges issue. The Academy earned a perfect overall score of 100, the highest among more than 300 colleges which were ranked.


Panama Canal Authority partners with
Tennessee-Tombigee Waterway

POINT CLEAR, AL — Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (TTW) Administrator Michael D. Tagert have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster economic growth, spur international trade and promote the “All-Water Route” (the route from Asia to the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts via the Panama Canal). During an official ceremony in Point Clear, Alabama, both parties affirmed their commitment to mutual growth and cooperation. Renewable after two years, the ACP-TTW agreement will allow for joint marketing ventures, information sharing and technological interchange. Based in Columbus, Mississippi, the TTW is a four-member interstate compact consisting of the States of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It serves 17 states, 14 river systems, and more than half the nation’s population. Opened to commercial traffic in January 1985, the TTW provides passage for as much as 1.2 billion ton-miles of commerce each year with an annual savings of nearly $100 million in transportation costs. The ACP-TTW agreement builds upon previously signed pacts between the ACP and the Alabama State Port Authority, as well as the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport. Now, two new states will be engaged in the Panamanian economic partnership.


Pair of Polish firms
net new railcar deals

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia — The railway operator in Bosnia's Republika Srpska, Zeljeznice RS, on Wednesday signed deals with two Polish companies - EKK Wagon and Rafamet - to supply 200 cargo railcars, as well as to revamp existing equipment and purchase new equipment. The RS government made the announcement. These projects will be funded by a 20 million euro ($26 million) loan agreement, which the Serb Republic and Poland signed in July, the RS government said in a statement. The new cargo railcars will be capable of travelling at a speed of up to 120 kilometers an hour and they will be able to carry as much as 22.5 tons per axle. The Republika Srpska government also said it has invested more than 160 million marka ($105 million/82 million euro) in the railways sector over the past four years, an investment that is about three times greater than in the previous four-year period. It plans to invest a further 500 million euro in the railways sector in the next three years.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The Greenbrier Companies
announces new railcar orders

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — The Greenbrier Companies has announced that it has received orders for over 1,000 new double-stack intermodal platforms, along with orders for over 700 new covered hopper cars. In addition, Greenbrier will re-engineer and modify approximately 1,100 existing double-stack platforms to 53' from smaller dimensions. The aggregate value of the new railcar orders and refurbishment work is approximately $130 million. The new double-stack railcar orders and refurbishment work will be carried out at the company's Gunderson and Greenbrier Rail Services facilities in calendar 2010 and 2011. The orders are from five separate customers, and are subject to final documentation, but are considered to be firm commitments. The customers, who were not disclosed, represent major railroad and leasing companies in North America.


ATA trucking index
posts gains during July

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 1.5 percent in July, although June’s reduction was revised from 1.4 percent to 1.6 percent. The latest improvement raised the SA index from 108.3 (2000=100) in June to 110 in July. The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 109.9 in July, down five percent from the previous month. Compared with July 2009, SA tonnage climbed 7.4 percent, which matched June’s increase and was the eighth consecutive year-over-year gain. Year-to-date, tonnage is up 6.7 percent compared with the same period in 2009.


New commander assigned to
Sector Columbia River

PORTLAND — Capt. Daniel L. LeBlanc took charge of Marine Safety Unit Portland during a ceremony Tuesday. Capt. LeBlanc relieved Captain Leonard Tumbarello who will assume the duties of deputy commander of Sector Columbia River in Astoria, which was formed along with Marine Safety Unit Portland by combining Sector Portland with Group/Air Station Astoria. Both newly formed units are aimed at increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of Coast Guard personnel and assets. "As Commanding Officer of the newly commissioned Marine Safety Unit Portland, my primary focus will be to maintain, and in many cases exceed, the traditional high level of customer service provided to the maritime industry stakeholders in the Portland area," said Capt. LeBlanc.


Genco Shipping & Trading
bring two new ships onboard

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has taken delivery of the GENCO BOURGOGNE, a 2010-built Supramax vessel, and the GENCO BAY, a 2010-built Handysize vessel. The GENCO BOURGOGNE is the ninth vessel to be delivered to the company under its agreement previously announced on June 25, 2010 to acquire 13 Supramax vessels from Setaf SAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bourbon SA. The GENCO BAY is the is the second of five vessels to be delivered to the company under its agreement previously announced on June 9, 2010 to acquire five Handysize vessels from companies within the Metrostar group of companies. The company also announced that it has reached an agreement to enter into a time charter for the GENCO BOURGOGNE with Setaf Saget SAS for 15 to 17.5 months at a rate of $19,900 per day, less a 3.75 percent third party brokerage commission. The time charter for the GENCO BOURGOGNE is expected to commence on or about August 26, 2010 and is subject to the completion of definitive documentation. The company has signed a novation agreement for GENCO BAY's current spot market-related time charter with Cargill International S.A. for an initial duration of 34.5 to 37.5 months and a minimum expiration of February 2013. The rate for the spot market-related time charter will have a floor of $8,500 and a ceiling of $13,500 daily with a 50 percent profit sharing arrangement to apply to any amount above the ceiling. The rate will be based on 115 percent of the average of the daily rates of the Baltic Handysize Index (''BHSI''), as reflected in daily reports. Hire will be paid every 15 days in advance net of a five percent third party brokerage commission.


Seanergy Maritime Holdings
sets HAMBURG MAX time charter

ATHENS — Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. has announced that the M/V HAMBURG MAX, a 1994 built, 72,338 dwt Panamax vessel, was entered into a two year time charter agreement with a profit sharing arrangement to a first class charterer. The vessel is chartered with a base rate of $21,500 per day and a ceiling of $25,500 per day, with a 50 percent profit sharing arrangement to apply to any amount in excess of the ceiling less a five percent brokerage commission. The spread between floor and ceiling will accrue 100 percent to Seanergy. The base used for the calculation of the rate will be the Baltic Panamax 4TC route. The vessel is expected to commence its new charter on or about September 2, 2010. Following this charter arrangement, the company has secured 95 percent of its operating days for 2010, 64 percent for 2011, 30 percent for 2012 and 19 percent for 2013 under period employment.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, August 24, 2010

New Washington ferry
cleared for crew training

SEATTLE — Changes to propulsion-control software have eliminated unwanted vibrations on the new, 64-vehicle CHETZEMOKA ferry, the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division reports. A new date for the CHETZEMOKA’s inaugural sailing between Port Townsend and Keystone has not yet been set, but may occur in October after a minimum of six weeks of crew training are completed.


Baltic Trading Limited receives
new Handysize vessel

NEW YORK — Baltic Trading Limited, a drybulk company focused on the spot charter market, has announced that it has taken delivery of the BALTIC COVE, a 2010-built Handysize vessel. The BALTIC COVE is the second of three vessels to be delivered to the company under Baltic Trading's agreement previously announced on June 9, 2010 to acquire three Handysize vessels from companies within the Metrostar group of companies. The company has signed a novation agreement for the vessel's current time charter with Cargill International S.A., for an initial duration of 45.5 to 50.5 months and a minimum expiration of February 2014. The rate for the spot market-related time charter will be based on 115 percent of the average of the daily rates of the Baltic Handysize Index (BHSI), as reflected in daily reports. Hire will be paid every 15 days in advance net of a 6.25 percent brokerage commission, which includes the 1.25 percent commission payable to Genco Shipping & Trading Limited. Baltic Trading will not be responsible for voyage expenses, including fuel.


Genco Shipping & Trading
adds GENCO PROVENCE to fleet

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has taken delivery of the GENCO PROVENCE, a 2004-built Supramax vessel. The GENCO PROVENCE is the eighth vessel to be delivered to the company under Genco's agreement previously announced on June 25, 2010 to acquire 13 Supramax vessels from Setaf SAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bourbon SA. The company also announced that it has reached an agreement to enter into a time charter for the GENCO PROVENCE with Setaf Saget SAS for 16 to 18.5 months at a rate of $20,250 per day, less a 3.75 percent third party brokerage commission. The time charter for the GENCO PROVENCE is expected to commence on or about August 24, 2010 and is subject to the completion of definitive documentation. The company used its available cash to pay the remaining balance of $26.55 million for the GENCO PROVENCE. On July 20, 2010, the company entered into its previously announced $253 million senior secured term loan facility and intends to use the credit facility to refund a total of $14.0 million associated with the purchase of this vessel to the company.


Panama Canal Authority named
top Central America organization

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has been recognized, for the second year in a row, as the leading organization among more than 300 companies in Central America and the Dominican Republic according to an annual study conducted by Summa magazine and the management consultancy firm Hay Group. The award presented this year to ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta evaluates companies on management practices, financial performance, operations, products and services, human resources, image and reputation, social responsibility and customer service. This year, the study evaluated companies from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. Results of the study were evaluated based on a survey administered to one thousand executives and owners of more than 300 local, regional and multinational companies headquartered in Central America and the Dominican Republic.


Boat Storage spots available
at Shilshole Bay Marina

SEATTLE — It may be hard to imagine winter in this weather, but it really is just around the corner. As temperatures drop, it’s time to consider putting your recreational vessel in storage. Fortunately, Shilshole Bay Marina has just the answer. Beginning September 1, boat owners are eligible to store their vessels in a fenced-in, secure area available through May 1 of next year. The low rate of $5.08/ft. per month including tax is offered, and boats on trailers up to 32 feet are welcome. An 18 foot minimum is required for month to month payment. E-mail or call Shilshole Bay Marina today for availability, at (206) 787-3006. Shilshole Bay Marina is a Port of Seattle property with around 1400 slips. It is also home to one of the largest live-aboard communities in the United States.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, August 23, 2010

Coast Guard creating
new Sector Columbia River

PORTLAND — The Coast Guard will see the birth of Sector Columbia River when Sector Portland combines with Group/Air Station Astoria during a ceremony in Astoria, today. The formation of Sector Columbia River is part of an initiative commonly referred to as "sectorization," part of a nationwide effort to consolidate the many responsibilities, missions and jurisdictions within the Coast Guard. The move is also aimed at increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of Coast Guard personnel and assets. "The merger of these two major Coast Guard commands is designed to help improve and streamline our operational command and control organization for our many missions allowing for better service to our customers throughout the entire Columbia River region and along the Oregon coast," said Captain Douglas Kaup, prospective Sector Columbia River Commanding Officer.


Deicing storage tanks
under construction at PDX

PORTLAND — The Port of Portland reports that people who travel along Northeast 33rd Avenue in Portland may have noticed some large structures taking shape at Portland International Airport (PDX). Part of a comprehensive effort to enhance the PDX Deicing System, these structures will help the port manage runoff from deicing activities during cold and wet winter weather. The most visible components are the two huge tanks, which consist of concrete and steel-walled panels wrapped in a combination of concrete, rebar, and braided cable designed to keep the tanks seismically sound. Each tank will hold 6.5 million gallons of stormwater and deicing runoff collected from around the airport to be managed through the PDX Deicing System. Immediately adjacent to the tanks is a new treatment facility that will use an anaerobic process to break down materials used to deice aircraft and runways. Construction of pump stations, storage tanks, and the treatment facility will continue through December 2010. New system components will be rigorously tested throughout the 2011 winter season in conjunction with the existing system at PDX, which has operated since 2003 to keep PDX open and operational during wintry weather.


APL delivers high reliability numbers
on on-time performance report

SINGAPORE — APL, the world’s fourth-largest container shipping line, is also one of the most reliable. That’s the conclusion from an on-time performance report issued to customers. The Singapore-based carrier said that in the five months from February to June, only two eastbound Transpacific vessels missed arrival windows in the U.S. And in both of those cases, heavy March fog in Asia kept them from sailing on time. The Quarterly Service Reliability Report was released in APL’s quarterly customer newsletter, “Global Horizons”. To view the online report, go to http://www.apladvantage.com/servicereliability. APL considers vessels on-time when they berth within four hours of scheduled arrival. Most publicly available vessel reliability data uses a more forgiving same-day arrival benchmark. That makes it easier to be “on-time” but weakens the reliability measure for shippers. APL measured on-time performance for all 99 of its 2010 eastbound Transpacific sailings through June. In addition to the two late March arrivals, four others missed their windows in January. Two of those were weather delays. Another was attributed to a New Year’s Day port holiday. The last was caused by vessel interference resulting in arrival seven hours after the scheduled window.


NYK adding new service
between New York, Antwerp

TOKYO — NYK has announced a new trans-Atlantic service, the Atlantic Express Shuttle (AES). Enhancingour Atlantic services to better meet the needs of our customers, this shuttle will featurea weekly service that calls one port each in North America and Europe. Exact transit time between the two ports, New York and Antwerp, will be nine days. The AES service will commence with a departure from Antwerp on September 14, followed by a departure from New York on September 25.


California Maritime Academy
rates high on national rankings

VALLEJO, CA — The California Maritime Academy has once again ranked high in the annual USNews & World Report and Forbes surveys of the nation’s undergraduate colleges and universities. The academy, a part of The California State University system, earned a fourth place ranking from USNews among Regional Colleges in the West, with the U.S. Air Force Academy taking the top spot in the category. Last year, Cal Maritime was ranked 5th. Forbes magazine’s 2010 rankings place the Academy at 284th among the nation’s colleges and universities based on the quality of its programs and student feedback on the quality of their educational experiences.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, August 20, 2010

Port of Seattle set to begin
Green Gateway Partners Awards

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle will present its first ever Green Gateway Partners Awards in November. The awards will recognize the comprehensive environmental achievements of the port’s cruise and containership operators. “Many of our customers have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to improving their environmental performance and we want to acknowledge them in a more formal way,” said Linda Styrk, managing director of the Seaport Division. “The awards recognize our cruise ship and containership operators’ efforts to reduce environmental impacts that go above and beyond regulatory requirements.”


Port of Tacoma settles
EPA paperwork dispute

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma has agreed to pay $137,000 to settle a dispute with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over paperwork related to the former Kaiser Aluminum smelter site. The dispute focused on a half-acre former waste-handling area cleaned up by Kaiser in 2002 before the port purchased the Tacoma Tideflats property. The port bought the shuttered aluminum smelter in early 2003 from Houston-based Kaiser. The sale included about 96 acres of land and related structures next to the Blair Waterway. During the past seven years the port has removed thousands of tons of waste from the site, demolished buildings and cleaned up significant portions of the property. During that time, the port recycled about 170 million pounds of materials from the property. About 80 of the 96 acres so far have been returned to Port-related use to generate jobs and income. Federal hazardous waste laws require private property owners to file financial assurance letters each year to demonstrate they have the means to complete their cleanup and monitoring responsibilities. In Washington, the state Department of Ecology administers this federal mandate. Since 2003, the port has worked cooperatively with Ecology to meet financial assurance requirements for the site. In 2008, the EPA began to pursue the port over missed paperwork deadlines. The port recognizes that EPA had a valid claim about missed paperwork deadlines and has agreed to settle the dispute for $137,000. While port officials remain disappointed the EPA pursued any penalties in the face of a demonstrated, long-standing commitment to clean up the community, they recognize that costs related to a legal fight could equal or exceed the settlement amount.


Rail freight traffic
holds own during week

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads reports that rail traffic continues to maintain a steady pace with U.S. railroads originating 286,854 carloads for the week ending July 24, 2010, up 4.7 percent compared with the same week in 2009, but down 13.5 percent from pre-recession levels in 2008. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 230,443 trailers and containers, up 19.2 percent from the same week a year ago and down only 2.1 percent compared with 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 21.1 percent and trailer volume rose 9.3 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume increased 6.4 percent and trailer volume dropped 33.4 percent. Fifteen of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009. Those groups posting the most significant gains were metallic ores, up 56.3 percent; metals and products, up 31.2 percent; motor vehicles and equipment, up 29 percent; and farm products excluding grain, up 25.8 percent. Farm products excluding grain, up 5.6 percent, was the only commodity group to post an increase over 2008 levels.


Evergreen Line adding
new Intra-Asia service

TEIPEI — In order to continuously provide an improved shipping network to customers, Evergreen Line will launch the new JVT service to the growing Intra-Asia trade. The service, which will be operated independently by Evergreen, will commence in mid-September. The carrier will deploy four 900-TEU capacity containerships with the following 28-day rotation: Nagoya - Toyko - Osaka - Kobe - Keelung - Kaohsiung - Hong Kong - Yantian - Ho Chih Min City - Bangkok - Laem Chabang - Hong Kong - Kaohsiung - Taichung - Taipei - Nagoya. The first weekly voyage will commence with the EVER APEX, which will depart Nagoya on September 15.


TITAN Salvage opening
new office in Australia

POMPANO BEACH, FL — TITAN Salvage continues to expand globally with the recent addition of a new salvage base and depot in Australia. The facility located in Cairns, Queensland is strategically located to respond to marine and environmental disasters threatening the Great Barrier Reef and other marine casualties throughout the Australasia and South West Pacific regions. As part of the expansion, TITAN has exclusively partnered with Perrott Salvage of Cairns, a locally based salvage operator, who will serve as TITAN's regional representative. Locally based resources, including a stockpile of specialist salvage equipment in Cairns, along with strategic partnerships with key Australia-based subcontractors and TITAN's established worldwide network of salvage resources will help expand the company's global reach. The new Australian company will operate under the name TITAN Maritime (Australia) Pty Ltd. TITAN also operates a fully staffed and equipped salvage facility in nearby Singapore.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, August 19, 2010

Foss Maritime Company
expanding hybrid tug fleet

SEATTLE — Foss Maritime Company, builder and operator of the world's first hybrid tugboat, will soon add another pioneering vessel to its Southern California fleet with the help of an air quality grant obtained by the Port of Long Beach. Building on the success of Foss' CAROLYN DOROTHY hybrid tug, which was launched into service at the Port of Long Beach in 2009, Foss will retrofit an existing tug with hybrid technology for service in San Pedro Bay, thanks to a $1 million grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to the Port. The project will be implemented through a partnership between Foss, the Port of Long Beach, and the Port of Los Angeles.


Pacific Northwest airports
earn environmental awards

WASHINGTON, DC — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Portland International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport have been selected as winners of Airports Council International – North America’s (ACI-NA) 2010 Environmental Achievement Awards. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s “Environmental Strategy Plan – A Vision for 2010 and Beyond” earned them the Environmental Management Award. Serving as a roadmap for achieving Seattle-Tacoma’s ecological conception, it provides a framework for annual planning, budgeting and accountability by identifying the measurable environmental outcomes that they would like to achieve by 2014. Since its completion in 2009, the Strategy Plan has provided the organization with a new and dramatically improved sense of focus for its environmental actions, and a blueprint for a more sustainable future. Seattle-Tacoma feels this plan is a linchpin for the success of its environmental program and can serve as a role model for other airports. Portland International Airport won this year’s Outreach, Education and Community Involvement Award with its Airport Futures project. Airport Futures was a collaborative process involving the Port of Portland, the City of Portland and the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan community to create a long-range (through 2035) master plan for Portland International Airport and a city land-use plan governing the airport and its environs. A three-year process, Airport Futures facilitated a public discussion about sustainable development that resulted in the identification of the community’s vision and values. The airport can now effectively integrate sustainability principles to its development plan in a manner that contributes to the long-term economic, environmental and social health of the region.


Pair of promotions announced
by Crowley Maritime Company

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley has announced the promotion of Eric Evans and Tony Otero each to the role of vice president, finance & planning, supporting several different business groups. In his new position Mr. Evans will support Crowley's technical services, petroleum services, Alaska petroleum distribution and marine contract services business groups. His responsibilities include accounting, contract administration, budgeting, forecasting, analysis, and strategic planning for these business units, which encompass more than $1 billion in annual revenues and locations on five continents. Mr. Evans started his career as an accountant at Crowley and has been promoted to positions of increasing responsibility, including manager of management reporting, manager of government services, and director of finance. His duties have included budgeting, forecasting, pricing, contract preparation and review, and various special projects. He served as accounting manager in 1991 in Saudi Arabia during Crowley's oil spill response effort after Desert Storm, and as administrative manager from 1997 to 1999 in Venezuela while Crowley was under contract with British Petroleum. He received the Thomas Crowley Award, the company's highest honor, in 2004. In his new role Mr. Otero will support Crowley's liner and logistics business units. He will be responsible for leading the finance and accounting functions and strategic business planning of the Latin America, Puerto Rico & Caribbean, and logistics business units. These business units account for over $700 million in revenue from operations throughout the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. Mr. Otero started his career as a senior accountant at Crowley in 1998 after working several years for the accounting firm, Deloitte & Touché. He has held several different positions of increasing responsibility with the company, including accounting manager and finance director.


Genco Shipping & Trading
adds new Supramax vessel

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has taken delivery of the GENCO AQUITAINE, a 2009-built Supramax vessel. The GENCO AQUITAINE is the seventh vessel to be delivered to the company under Genco's agreement previously announced on June 25, 2010 to acquire 13 Supramax vessels from Setaf SAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bourbon SA. The company has signed a novation agreement for GENCO AQUITAINE's current time charter with Samsun Logix Corporation at a rate of $20,000 per day, less a five percent third party brokerage commission, with a minimum expiration of March 2011 and a maximum expiration of May 2011. The charter includes a 50 percent hire-based profit sharing component on the difference between the rate mentioned above and the rate that the charterer has sub-chartered the vessel at for the remainder of the contract's life. The gross effective rate for the duration of this charter is approximately $21,250 per day. The company used its available cash to pay the remaining balance of $32.13 million for the GENCO AQUITAINE. On July 16, 2010, the company entered into a commitment letter for a $253 million senior secured term loan facility and, upon the closing of this credit facility, intends to use the credit facility to refund a total of $20.0 million associated with the purchase of this vessel to the company.


MOL vessels joining
low sulfer fuel program

TOKYO — The environment and public health in New York and New Jersey stand to benefit as a result of an announcement by Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) that it has voluntarily enrolled two of its vessels, the MOL ENDOWMENT and MOL EXPERIENCE, in the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Ocean Going Vessel Low Sulfur Fuel program. MOL is one of the first ocean carriers to enroll in the Low Sulfur Fuel program, and is the first of the Japanese carriers to do so. The program provides incentives to operators of ocean vessels to utilize low-sulfur fuel in their main propulsion and auxiliary engines instead of bunker fuel known as Intermediate Fuel Oil 380. Switching to low-sulfur fuels reduces emissions of fine particles as well as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and nitrous oxide and contributes to the improvement of the environment. Although MOL will incur an incremental cost as a result of using the more expensive Low Sulfur Marine Fuel instead of Intermediate Fuel Oil 380, the company determined the program is worth the investment.their spawning grounds. The design allows for the doors to be manually closed during migration and opened when the salmon are not migrating.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Port of Bellingham and partners
creating jobs for disabled persons

BELLINGHAM — An innovative partnership among the Port of Bellingham, Whatcom County, a group of private local businesses and a non-profit company will create new jobs for skill building and workforce development programs for persons with disabilities or other employability barriers who were laid off earlier in 2010. About 25 people working in a skill-building, sheltered workplace lost their jobs when their non-profit employer Current Industries went bankrupt several months ago. Since then, the port and the county have been working together -- along with local businesses who supplied projects to Current Industries - to secure a new sheltered workplace for these community members.


Panama Canal Authority
releases third quarter metrics

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has released third quarter (Q3) operational metrics for fiscal year 2010. In Q3, Canal Waters Time (CWT), the average time it takes a vessel to transit the canal (including waiting time for passage) for booked transits decreased. While total transits and net tonnage declined marginally, there was growth in some key segments. The metrics are based on operations from April through June 2010, the third quarter of the ACP's 2010 fiscal year, and are compared with Q3 of fiscal year 2009. Overall CWT increased 5.8 percent – to 21.12 hours from 19.96 hours. CWT for booked vessels, those ships holding reservations, experienced a decline in time – to 13.10 hours from 14.53 hours, or a 9.9 percent reduction. Total canal transits slightly declined 2.8 percent – to 3,476 transits from 3,576. Transits of supers, larger ships that require greater time and navigation skills to transit the canal, decreased 3.1 percent – to 1,758 transits from 1,815. With regard to key segments, general cargo and vehicle carrier transits increased, while transits of dry bulk, containers, refrigerated cargo (reefers), tankers and passenger vessels decreased. Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tonnage dropped 3.5 percent – to 71.08 million PC/UMS tons from 73.68 million PC/UMS tons. The official accident rate increased to 2.59 accidents per 1,000 transits from 1.96. An official accident is one in which a formal investigation is requested and conducted. Utilization of the booking system for the canal decreased 18.8 percent – to 43.21 percent utilization from 53.19 percent.


Marcon International
brokers deal for 92 barges

COUPEVILLE, WA — Ingram Barge Company has purchased 92 barges, including 17 tank barges with 10,000 barrel capacity, 62 jumbo covered hopper barges with fiber lift covers, and 13 jumbo open hopper barges from an affiliate of Ospraie Special Opportunities Fund, according to Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington, who acted as sole broker in the sale. All of the acquired barges were built between 2004 and 2008. Ingram's plans for the tank barges include deployment for use in a variety of liquid trades and plans for the hopper barges include deployment in the grain, utility, and various other dry cargo trades. Ingram Barge Company operates a fleet of more than 100 line haul towboats and over 4,000 barges to transport coal, aggregates, grain, fertilizer, ores, alloys, steel products and chemicals.


Pirates board, then leave
Seanergy Maritime vessel

ATHENS — Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. has announced that the MV BET FIGHTER, a 1992 built, 173,149 dwt Capesize vessel, was boarded by pirates off Singapore, on August 17, while en route to China. Currently the vessel is continuing with its voyage with no disruption. During this incident the pirates did not seize the vessel or any of its crew members and left of their own accord. Dale Ploughman, the company's chairman and chief executive officer, stated, "We are pleased that the crew members are safe and that there was no damage to the vessel. Unfortunately piracy is a real concern in some parts of the world and we are fortunate to escape without incident to the MV BET FIGHTER." Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp., the successor to Seanergy Maritime Corp., is a Marshall Islands corporation with its executive offices in Athens, Greece. The Company is engaged in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes through the ownership and operation of dry bulk carriers.


Large/small Ballard locks
return to operation

SEATTLE — Both the large and small locks at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard have been re-opened to all marine traffic. The Locks had been closed for approximately five hours Aug. 17. The closure allowed dive teams to inspect the salmon exclusion structure immediately upstream of the locks. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, which operates the locks, installed this interim structure to prevent salmon from being trapped in the saltwater return system. During the 2009 salmon migration, biologists only found one adult coho salmon in the return system. The structure prevents salmon access to the locks’ salt water return system and improves the viability of the salmon runs, which use the fish ladder to return upstream to their spawning grounds. The design allows for the doors to be manually closed during migration and opened when the salmon are not migrating.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Jensen Maritime designs
transform new push boat

SEATTLE — The Jensen Maritime-designed river push boat, the M/V STEPHENSON II, has been successfully delivered to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers for use in Gascondale, MO, in the Corps' Kansas City district. Jensen performed the functional design and production lofting of the ABS Classed, 58-foot, 770-horsepower boat, which will provide operational support for the district's operations and maintenance mission on the lower Missouri River as well as for general construction and mitigation projects. Patti Marine Enterprises Inc. (PME) of Pensacola, Fla., which built the vessel, hired Jensen to take the Corps' design for a smaller and narrower boat and create the functional design and production lofting. Lofting essentially involves taking a vessel design and creating a building kit for the shipyard, including assembly drawings and directions for the cutting machines. This process helps optimize building productivity and quality. Jensen worked closely with PME to ensure the vessel was successfully delivered on time. Seattle-based Jensen Maritime Consultants, Inc., is a Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering firm owned by Crowley Maritime Corporation.


NOL Group adding two ships
to new container vessel order

SINGAPORE — Global shipping and logistics company NOL Group has finalized an order to build two new 10,700-TEU (twenty-foot-equivalent unit) container ships for delivery in 2012. These two vessels are part of a 12-ship order valued at US$1.2 billion to be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., as announced on July 21 by NOL. The two organizations signed a contract to construct the 10,700-TEU vessels in a ceremony in Seoul. NOL said it is investing in new vessels to meet future growth needs and to replace vessels with charter agreements that will expire in the next few years.


Port Metro Vancouver
taps Ferris as security manager

VANCOUVER, BC — Port Metro Vancouver has announced the appointment of Wesley Ferris to the position of manager, security, effective August 16, 2010. As Manager, Security, Mr. Ferris will be responsible for providing assistance to the Director, Operations and Security to fulfill PMV’s responsibilities as described in the Marine Transportation Security Act and the International Ship & Port Facilities Security (ISPS) Code. He will also be responsible for the protection of corporate assets, the investigation, reporting and follow-up of related incidents. Mr. Ferris joins Port Metro Vancouver with extensive security, marine operations, occupational health & safety, and import logistics experience, which he gained while working for Canada Border Services Agency. Mr. Ferris has worked for CBSA for most of his working career and held a number of positions including chief marine operations, chief commercial operations, manager security services and manager airport logistics. Most recently, he was manager import logistics and marine security planning for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.


Genco Shipping & Trading
adds two vessels to fleet

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has taken delivery of the GENCO AUVERGNE, a 2009-built Supramax vessel, and the GENCO PICARDY, a 2005-built Supramax vessel. The GENCO AUVERGNE and the GENCO PICARDY are the fifth and sixth vessels, respectively, to be delivered to the company under Genco's agreement previously announced on June 25, 2010 to acquire 13 Supramax vessels from Setaf SAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bourbon SA. The company has reached an agreement to enter into a time charter for the GENCO AUVERGNE with Oldendorff Carriers GMBH and CO. KG for approximately 1.5 to 4 months at a rate of $22,000 per day, less a five percent third party brokerage commission. The time charter for the GENCO AUVERGNE is expected to commence on or about August 18, 2010 and is subject to the completion of definitive documentation. The company has signed a novation agreement for GENCO PICARDY's current time charter with Rizzo-Bottiglieri-de Carlini Armatori SPA at a rate of $17,100 per day, less a 6.25 percent third-party brokerage commission with a minimum expiration of November 2010, and a maximum expiration of January 2011.


Marcon International trading
making moves in Russian Far East

SEATTLE — Despite today's woeful economic climate, one of the most dynamic global markets is emerging in a most unlikely place: the Russian Far East. A key player in that region, Marcon International Trading, Inc., is actively and successfully engaged in the export of automobile parts, lubricants, diagnostic equipment and tires. Marcon's business plan addresses the region's growing demands by integrating a sophisticated logistical infrastructure with knowledgeable, service-center management teams that facilitate the timely distribution of U.S.-supplied automotive parts. To augment its extended U.S. marketing strategy, Marcon, stationed in Seattle since 2005, recently opened an additional office in New York.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, August 16, 2010

Maritime Administration backs
marine highway corridors program

WASHINGTON, DC — Just four months after unveiling the America’s Marine Highway Program, a new initiative to move more cargo on the water rather than on crowded highways, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced his selection of marine highway corridors and an initial eight projects and six initiatives along the corridors that will be eligible for federal assistance under the program. The Department’s Maritime Administration chose the projects and initiatives from 35 applications submitted by ports and local transportation agencies.


Everett Port Commission Oks
Waterfront Center lease with Scuttlebutt

EVERETT — On August 10, 2010, the Port of Everett Commission authorized staff to enter into a lease agreement with Scuttlebutt Brewing Company, and relocate its operations to the new Waterfront Center in the North Marina area. Port staff are working with Scuttlebutt to finalize the agreement, which includes 5,560 square feet on the first floor of the new mixed-use facility. Scuttlebutt will begin tenant improvements in February 2011, and is anticipated to open its doors in the early-spring. Scuttlebutt Brewing Company has operated at its current location near the port’s South Marina Promenade since 1996. With its relocation to the Waterfront Center, Scuttlebutt will expand its menu, hours of operation and services. The move will also provide for additional employment opportunities. Furthermore, the relocation of Scuttlebutt will accelerate the port’s ability to access that portion of its property. Vacating the building will allow the port to remove the existing structure, and respond to development interests of benefit to both the community and the port. Scuttlebutt will occupy 12 percent of the Waterfront Center’s leaseable space, bringing the facility to 21 percent pre-leased. In addition to Scuttlebutt Brewing Company, the port has secured four leases with five tenants, including L&M Marine, Marine Power Services, B&B Marine, Tom’s Marine Electrical and Port Gardner Yacht Brokerage. The port’s new Waterfront Center is the future home to marine-related retail, office and repair shops, complete with a state-of- the-art boatyard facility. The building will also house the port’s Administration offices, and the 3,000 square foot multi-purpose Room, the Blue Heron Room, for port commission meetings and use as an events venue.


Panama Canal celebrates
96 years of operations

PANAMA CITY — On August 15, the Panama Canal celebrated 96 years of safe, reliable and efficient service to global trade. The SS ANCON officially inaugurated the waterway on its first transit August 15, 1914. Today, the canal continues as a viable global transportation and logistics leader, connecting more than 144 different trade routes and uniting the world. As the historic $5.25 billion Expansion Program continues as planned, the Panama Canal Authority looks optimistically forward to the future and remains committed to providing top-notch service for years to come.


NOAA research vessel
rescues downed pilot

WASHINGTON, DC — While conducting mapping surveys west of Key West, Fla. the evening of August 14, the NOAA Ship THOMAS JEFFERSON heard a radio report from the U.S. Coast Guard that a small aircraft with one person aboard had crashed in the water about 30 miles away from the vessel. The crew of the THOMAS JEFFERSON immediately contacted the Coast Guard to advise they would help with the search and rescue operation and proceeded to steam toward the reported position. The crew, using sophisticated navigation equipment including the ship’s Doppler speed log and GPS positioning equipment, was able to estimate the ocean current and focus their search area around a location approximately two nautical miles south-southwest of the reported crash site. Shortly after 1:00 a.m. EDT, the ship’s crew heard cries for help off the port (left) side of vessel, immediately brought the ship to an emergency stop and deployed a rescue boat. The pilot was reported to be in fine shape, except for a cut lip, according to medical personnel from the Thomas Jefferson. He was transferred to a Coast Guard boat that was in the area for a return visit to Key West, where he was met by his anxious father, who had been waiting at the airport to pick him up when the news of the crash reached him.


Annual seafood festival
set for Charleston Marina

CHARLESTON, OR — The community of Charleston will celebrate its fishing village heritage and the bounty of the Pacific Ocean at the 21st Annual Charleston Seafood Festival on August 21-22. Charleston Volunteer Firefighters Association members will kick off each day with their traditional pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Seafood Festival activities are scheduled from 8 a.m. to dusk on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Charleston Marina. More than 50 arts, crafts and food vendors are expected to participate. In recent years, the festival has attracted Oregon and Northwest vendors and artisans, who specialize in hand-made woodwork, glass art and ceramics, photography, clothing and much more. The festival stage will feature live entertainment Saturday and Sunday, with music from country to jazz, along with other performances. Children can play in contests, at a trout fishing pond and on inflatable structures. And don’t forget the food. American Legion Bay Area Post 34 volunteers will serve albacore tuna meals from noon to 3 p.m. both days. Vendors and fish markets also will provide seafood snacks and treats, and there will be a beer and wine garden area. The U.S. Coast Guard facility will be open to visitors, who also are encouraged to explore the docks. Bay tours will be available. The Charleston Seafood Festival is sponsored by the Charleston Fire Department Volunteer Association and the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay (owner/operator of the Charleston Marina). Community volunteers from the Charleston Merchants Association, the Charleston Community Enhancement Corporation and the Charleston Visitor Information Center also help promote the event and coordinate the festivities.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, August 13, 2010

TPC LYTTELTON maiden voyage
celebrated at Schnitzer Steel in Portland

PORTLAND — An exchange of gifts took place on deck when the Maiden Voyage of the MV TPC LYTTELTON was celebrated August 2, while the 33,500 dwt vessel worked at the Schnitzer Steel facility in Portland. The new Large Handysize bulk carrier is owned by KP 10 International Ltd. of South Korea and operated by TCP Korea Co. Ltd. It was in Portland loading scrap bound for Korea. The TCP LYTTELTON was launched from Samjin Shipbuilding Industries Co. Ltd. on April 11, 2010 and went into service in June of this year. Wilhelmsen acted as local agents for the vessel.


Software changes may undo
ferry CHETZEMOKA vibration woes

SEATTLE — Officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division said that changes to software controlling the propeller system on the new CHETZEMOKA ferry may provide a temporary solution to vibration issues first discovered last month. Additional sea trials are scheduled for the middle of next week after representatives of the propulsion-control company write software exerting greater control over the engine “ramping,” which allows the bow propeller to slow the ship as it approaches the dock. The goal is to ramp up the propeller speed over a period of a few seconds longer, as opposed to a more sudden and quick thrust of power. If the sea trials show that the propulsion-system changes eliminate the vibrations and also meet the required standards for stopping distances, decisions will be made on when to schedule the inaugural launch of the 64-vehicle ferry between Port Townsend and Coupeville. The planned first sailing on Aug. 29 was postponed when excessive vibrations were discovered. The state continues to work with Todd Pacific Shipyards, builder of the vessel, as well as the vessel design firm and other marine experts to resolve the vibration issues before formally accepting delivery of the CHETZEMOKA.


Dreary economic picture hits
weekly rail freight traffic numbers

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads reports that rail traffic continues to reflect the sluggish economy with U.S. railroads originating 282,199 carloads for the week ending July 17, 2010, up 5.5 percent compared with the same week in 2009, but down 13.8 percent from pre-recession levels in 2008. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 227,661 trailers and containers, up 20.1 percent from the same week a year ago and down only 2.5 percent compared with 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 22.1 percent and trailer volume rose 10 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume increased 5.6 percent and trailer volume dropped 32.5 percent. Eleven of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009, with metallic ores, up 208.4 percent, posting the most significant gain. Three commodity groups posted an increase over 2008 levels including farm products, up 13.4 percent, and metallic ores, up 3.5 percent.


OOCL set to begin
new Antwerp/New York run

HONG KONG — OOCL has announced introduction of the new Atlantic Express Shuttle (AES) offering a weekly sprint service between Antwerp and New York. This Service will complement OOCL existing services and provide additional capacity to meet increased customer demand. Service will commence ex Antwerp on Tuesday, September 14, and ex New York on Saturday, September 25. Transit time will be nine days. Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) is one of the world's leading container transport and logistics service providers, with more than 280 offices in 55 countries.


Corps sets closure schedule
for large/small Ballard Locks

SEATTLE — Both the large and small locks at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard will be closed to all marine traffic from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Aug. 17. The closure will allow dive teams to inspect the salmon exclusion structure immediately upstream of the locks. The staff will make maximum efforts to complete the work as soon and as safely as possible. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, which operates the locks, installed this interim structure to prevent salmon from being trapped in the saltwater return system. During the 2009 salmon migration, biologists only found one adult coho salmon in the return system. Emergency vessels on an emergency call will have access to the locks during the closure. Boaters may call the lockmaster on duty at 206-783-7000 to verify that the locks are open.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, August 12, 2010

BHP Billiton eyes Port of Vancouver
for new potash export facility

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA has announced discussions are underway with BHP Billiton, the world’s largest diversified natural resources company, regarding the potential location of a potash export facility at the port’s Terminal 5. The port and BHP Billiton have reached preliminary agreement to proceed and are working to finalize terms and a lease agreement. The project would include handling, storage, dock and rail facilities for potash export from BHP Billiton’s first mine to be developed in Canada’s Saskatchewan Basin. Potash is a natural mineral fertilizer that improves crop yields. BHP Billiton has selected Terminal 5, together with rail proposals from Canadian Pacific Railway and BNSF Railway as the preferred option to export potash from its Jansen Project in Saskatchewan when that project goes into production. “Designing and developing an efficient, world-class port and logistics system is an important part of achieving our goal of building a successful low-cost potash business,” said Mark Young, BHP Billiton port and logistics manager. “The Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 5 location is an attractive site, which would be capable of handling the anticipated production from the Jansen development.” “To say we are pleased our port has been selected as the preferred option is an understatement,” said Larry Paulson, Port of Vancouver executive director. “The opportunity to work with BHP Billiton, recognized around the world as a company that respects the environment and the communities in which they operate, on a project that will add significantly to the port’s customer and revenue base is very exciting.” Strategic investments by the port in Terminal 5 will provide BHP Billiton with land for the company’s storage and dock facilities, and the port’s commitment to rail improvement demonstrated by its ongoing West Vancouver Freight Access project makes the site particularly appealing to this type of private sector investment. Once a final agreement has been reached, approval is required from BHP Billiton and the port’s board of commissioners.


Second quarter financial report
shows gains for Port of Seattle

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle reports it has seen revenue increases from its container, cruise, and grain businesses, according to its second quarter financial performance report. The report was presented to the Port of Seattle Commission, where each division provided financial data and background on revenue and expenditures. “The Port of Seattle is in sound financial shape,” said Port CEO Tay Yoshitani. “Our lines of business are showing a healthy increase over last year, and we will continue to be accountable and fiscally responsible with public funds.”
Highlights of the report include the following:
* Aviation Division revenues were $169.4 million, $4.0 million or 2.3 percent below budget.
* Seaport Division revenues were $45.2 million, $1.3 million or 3.0 percent favorable year-to-date primarily due to higher crane rent and grain volumes.
* Real Estate Division revenues were $14.9 million, $441K or 3.1 percent favorable to budget year-to-date. For the full year, Real Estate is forecasting revenue to be $149K above budget.
* Capital Development Division total expenses (including charges to capital projects) were $13.5 million, $3.6 million or 21.0 percent below budget mainly due to some unfilled staff positions and delay of some project spending.
* Corporate Professional and Technical Services performance for the first half of 2010 was $31.8 million, $4.6 million or 12.7 percent favorable compared to budget and $1.9 million or 0.62 percent higher than the same period a year ago.


Crowley Maritime launches
new articulated tug barge

PASCAGOULA, MS — Crowley Maritime Corporation has christened the ninth in a series of 10 new 185,000 barrel ATBs at the VT Halter Marine shipyard in Pascagoula. The Innovation and barge 650-9 will be chartered to Chevron, to safely transport petroleum products throughout the Gulf of Mexico. During the Tuesday morning ceremony, Joan Pennella, wife of Crowley Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President Bill Pennella, christened the 10,728-horsepower tug Innovation; while Lynn Brewer, wife of Burl Brewer, Chevron operations scheduler, christened 650-9. The newest ATB, designed by Crowley's vessel construction and naval architecture group and built by VT Halter Marine in Mississippi, will be operated by Crowley for Chevron under a time charter agreement. Crowley already has eight, 185,000-barrel and four 155,000 barrel ATBs in the Jones Act trade. Three larger 330,000 barrel ATBs are under construction and scheduled for delivery by the end of 2012.


Vigor Marine operation
up and running in Tacoma

PORTLAND — Vigor Marine LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vigor Industrial, has completed the asset purchase of Marine Industries Northwest, Inc. (MINI) in Tacoma. The transaction closed on August 9, 2010 and Vigor Marine officially began vessel repair and conversion operations the same day. Key points of contact for the company are General Manager Adam Beck and Ship Repair Manager Mark Donahue. Mr. Beck brings 24 years experience in the marine repair industry, in locations ranging from San Diego to Alaska. Mr. Donahue brings 31 years of management experience and strong customer relationships to the Vigor Marine team. "Vigor Marine is excited to add Mark Donahue and a Tacoma location to its Puget Sound operations," commented Chief Operating Officer Dave Whitcomb, "We believe our blended management team operating in this location will further strengthen vessel repair, conversion, and construction capabilities for customers in the region."


Free Port of Tacoma boat tours
scheduled during Maritime Fest

TACOMA — Get a ship-side view of some of the 43,000 local jobs related to Port of Tacoma activity on board a free guided boat tour Aug. 29 during the Tacoma Maritime Fest. Tours begin and end at 535 Dock St. in the heart of the festival at Thea’s Park. During the narrated tour, visitors will see ships and marine terminals up close, cruise under the world's largest container cranes, glimpse port-constructed wildlife habitat and learn about some of the other Tideflats-based businesses that boost our region’s economy. Boat tours are Sunday only. Departures are 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Arrive 30 minutes before departure. Tickets are first come, first served the day of the tours. Passengers with wheelchairs, walkers or mobility challenges should plan to take the 10 a.m. tour when the tide makes it easier to board. For directions and information about parking, see http://www.maritimefest.org/map-directions/. For more information about the boat tours, call (253) 597-7564.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Vancouver, USA port board
Oks land sale to Farwest Steel

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA has announced the sale of 20 acres of industrial land to Farwest Steel Corporation, one of the leading distributors, processors and fabricators of specialty steel products in the Northwest. The sale was approved unanimously by the port’s board of commissioner s at their regularly scheduled August 10 meeting. The $5,082,500 sale is expected to bring up to 225 industrial jobs to Clark County.


BTS freight transport index
posts gains during June

WASHINGTON, DC — The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.2 percent in June from its May level, rising after one monthly decline, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the Freight TSI has risen 4.7 percent over the last 13 months, starting in June 2009, after declining 15.3 percent in the previous 10 months beginning in August 2008. The index has increased in 10 of the last 13 months. Through the first six months of 2010, the index declined 1.6 percent. The decline resulted from a 3.1 percent decrease in March following an upward revision of February numbers and the 0.4 percent decrease in May coupled with increases in January, February, April and June. The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments 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. The June Freight TSI of 97.9 is a 4.7 percent increase from the recent low of 93.5 reached in May 2009. In May 2009, the index was at its lowest level since June 1997. The June Freight TSI is down 13.3 percent from its historic peak of 112.9 reached in May 2006. Although the index rose 4.1 percent from June 2009 to June 2010, it remains below the level of every other June since 1997 when it was 92.4. January 2010 was the first month since July 2008 in which the Freight TSI exceeded the level of the previous year. The index has exceeded the previous year's level every month since January but still remains below the level of recent earlier years. The freight index is down 11.8 percent in the five years from June 2005. The index is down 2.3 percent in the 10 years from June 2000.


Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
earns Toyota performance honor

WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ — Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), a global finished vehicle logistics firm, has received the “Toyota Logistics Services Award for Quality Service & Performance in 2009”. The award recognizes WWL’s vehicle processing operations for Toyota at its Baltimore, Maryland, facility, where it provides processing and terminal services for Toyota’s export vehicles. “WWL is excited to be honored as a preferred logistics provider to Toyota. To receive an endorsement for the hard work that our client relations and ground operations teams deliver day in and day out is truly touching for a company that prides ourselves on our dedication to the success of our customers,” says John Felitto, EVP and deputy head of Region Americas at Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics.


Genco Shipping & Trading
adds two vessels to fleet

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has taken delivery of the GENCO PYRENEES, a 2010-built Supramax vessel, and the GENCO NORMANDY, a 2007-built Supramax vessel. The GENCO PYRENEES and the GENCO NORMANDY are the third and fourth vessels, respectively, to be delivered to the company under Genco's agreement previously announced on June 25, 2010 to acquire 13 Supramax vessels from Setaf SAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bourbon SA. The GENCO PYRENEES is expected to be delivered to its charterer, Setaf Saget SAS, on or about August 12, 2010 to commence a time charter for 11 to 13.5 months at a rate of $19,000 per day, less a 3.75 percent third-party brokerage commission. The company has also reached an agreement to enter into a time charter for the GENCO NORMANDY with STX Pan Ocean UK for approximately 1.5 to 4 months at a rate of $20,000 per day, less a five percent third party brokerage commission. The time charter for the GENCO NORMANDY is expected to commence on or about August 12, 2010 and is subject to the completion of definitive documentation. The company used its available cash to pay the remaining balance of $32.13 million for the GENCO PYRENEES and $27.0 million for the GENCO NORMANDY. On July 16, 2010, the company entered into a commitment letter for a $253 million senior secured term loan facility and, upon the closing of this credit facility, intends to use the credit facility to refund a total of $38 million associated with the purchase of these vessels to the company.


Evans Delivery Company
presents annual scholarship

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, PA — Named in honor of the company founder, the Albert Evans Sr. Scholarship is awarded every year at the Evans Delivery agents gathering, held this year in New Orleans. The meeting was presided over by Chairman Albert L. Evans Jr., and the announcement of the winners was made by Samantha Bates, granddaughter of Mr. Evans Sr. The scholarships are made available to the high school age, college-bound children of Evans Delivery Company associates, with the selection based on a range of criteria in academics, extra-curricular activities including sports and clubs, volunteering, community activism and more. This year’s recipients are: Nadia Hajji, of Lexington, SC, part of the All Points family; Kellie Decker, daughter of Scott Decker, Evans dispatcher in Camp Hill, PA; Lauren Montgomery, daughter of Maurice Bennett with West Contract in Powder Springs, GA, and Laiken Mourovic of Villa Rica, GA. Laiken’s father is an owner/operator for Evans Delivery in Atlanta.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Newport Port Commission
hears status of NOAA project

NEWPORT — The Newport Port Commission was briefed on the progress of the NOAA Project at its monthly meeting July 27, 2010. Project manager Glenn Schnaidt of DAY CPM Services advised the commission that the project’s guaranteed maximum price (GMP) documents have been fully executed, that the project is on budget and that all insurance paperwork has been completed. Additionally, the upland construction is on schedule with the project approximately 15 percent completed. The upland portion of work is scheduled to be 10 percent complete by May 1, 2011 while the pier work is scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2011 in conformance with the lease agreement between the port and NOAA.


Port of Coos Bay names
new Chief Operating Officer

COOS BAY — The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay is hiring North Bend attorney David R. Koch to serve as its chief operating officer. Mr. Koch has practiced as an associate attorney since 2006 with North Bend-based Stebbins & Coffey, Attorneys at Law, where he handles legal issues for the port and several other public entities. The port reports it is increasingly tasked with complex land use, environmental and permitting processes. Mr. Koch’s move to the port will allow the agency to bring these specialized legal services in-house. With the impending start up of the Coos Bay Rail Link, he will oversee renegotiation of railroad easements and agreements. He will also advise and represent the port through state land use and permitting procedures. Prior to his tenure at Stebbins & Coffey, Mr. Koch provided legal counsel to Coos County from 2002-06. He also was an attorney-advisor with the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., serving in the general counsel’s Office for Environmental, Civil Rights and General Law. A graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law, Mr. Koch also has a master’s degree in environmental studies. The port anticipates Mr. Koch will start in the position within the next two to three months.


David Matsuda sworn in
as new Maritime Administrator

WASHINGTON, DC — David T. Matsuda has been sworn as the Maritime Administrator. He has been the acting maritime administrator since being appointed Deputy Maritime Administrator by President Obama on July 28, 2009. Mr. Matsuda served as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s acting assistant secretary for Transportation Policy from March 2009 until his appointment as Deputy. Prior to that, he spent seven years on Capitol Hill. While working in the U.S. Senate, Mr. Matsuda was engaged in the formulation and debate of most major Federal transportation legislation as senior counsel and primary transportation advisor to U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey. In 2002, Mr. Matsuda became a Georgetown University Government Affairs Institute Fellow serving on the staff of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. From 1998 to 2002, he worked as an attorney with the safety law division of the USDOT’s Federal Railroad Administration.


New logistics research center
set for development in Panama

ATLANTA — Under an agreement negotiated with the Panamanian government, the Supply Chain & Logistics Institute (SCL), a unit of Georgia Tech's Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, will establish and operate a Logistics Innovation and Research Center (PLIC) in Panama by the fall of this year. The center's activities will be built around three main areas: applied research, education and competitiveness. The center will gather data pertaining to logistics and trade, and develop analytics to facilitate showing the value and capabilities of Panama. This knowledge base will also drive educational programming in logistics for students and professionals. In addition, the center will facilitate stronger industry and infrastructure linkages, leading to new logistics services and jobs.


Trucking association names
Grand Champion driver for 2010

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Carl Krites, a Con-way Freight professional truck driver based in Wapakoneta, Ohio was named the 2010 National Truck Driving Grand Champion. Mr. Krites' driving skills and knowledge of transportation and truck safety information topped those of 415 other professional drivers from all across the United States in the National Truck Driving Championships, held in Columbus, Ohio. The 73rd annual "Super Bowl of Safety" is sponsored by the American Trucking Associations. In route to his title, Mr. Krites has logged 31 years as a driver, with over three million miles behind the wheel. Mr. Krites began competing in his state truck driving championships in 2002, and this is his first trip to the National Truck Driving Championships. The contestants were the state champions in nine truck types from all 50 states. Collectively, they have driven 581,001,783 accident-free miles.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, August 9, 2010

Open house scheduled to discuss
Bellingham waterfront master plan

BELLINGHAM — Everyone is invited to take part in an opportunity to learn about and comment on the Preliminary Draft Master Plan for the Bellingham waterfront redevelopment at an open house on Wednesday, Aug. 11. The plan describes the 220-acre waterfront redevelopment occurring gradually in five phases over the next 30 to 50 years. The community-led Waterfront Advisory Group is hosting an open house that will include an overview of the plan that the the City of Bellingham and Port of Bellingham released for community review last month. The Preliminary Draft Master Plan includes information about the potential parks and trails, development density, view corridors, building heights, multimodal transportation networks and project phasing over a long-range period. The entire document is available on both the port and city websites. People also can submit comments to waterfront@cob.org. In addition to a description of the key components of the plan, the meeting also will feature a presentation of a series of electronic mapping images that will illustrate views of how the waterfront site could look if it developed in the manner described in the planning document. This city-operated software will allow the audience to visually move around in the simulated development and experience how various views, development densities and development clustering could look in the future. Following these staff presentations, there will be an hour-long period for public comment, questions and discussion about the Preliminary Draft Master Plan. These public comments, as well as comments from members of the Waterfront Advisory Group, will be part of the information considered as the port and city fine-tune this preliminary version of the plan. In September, the port will submit the plan to the city's Planning Department, which will launch a city process of review that will include hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council. This meeting will be videotaped for later broadcast on the city's BTV10.


Panama Canal Authority
receives dredge project bids

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has received three bids from international firms vying to dredge and excavate the Pacific Access Channel (PAC) entrance. This project represents the last major Expansion Program contract to be awarded and once completed, will allow larger ships to successfully enter the new access channel and reach the new Pacific Locks. Of note, the access channel will link the new Pacific locks with the Gaillard Cut. The ACP will award the contract to the firm with the lowest-priced bid that meets all of the terms and conditions stated by the tender in the request for proposals. The contractor then has a 90-day procurement and mobilization period before receiving the notice to proceed.
Submitted bids and the corresponding bid prices:
Jan De Nul -- $54,550,647.00
International Underground Corporation -- $55,329,492.00
BKI-MECO -- $71,344,784.00
(All prices in U.S. dollars.)
The scope of work for the contract will include an estimated four million cubic meters of dredging and excavation of the PAC entrance.


Crowley funds scholarships
at University of Alaska Fairbanks

ANCHORAGE — Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced a gift of $20,000 to the University of Alaska Foundation, establishing a partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks geared toward advancing educational opportunities for students from rural communities where Crowley operates. Two $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to students in the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, with two more $5,000 scholarships for two students from the general student population at UAF. Preference will be given to Alaska Native students and students from Anchorage, Kenai, Palmer, Wasilla, Nenana, Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Glennallen, Valdez, Fort Yukon, Galena, St. Mary's, Iliamna, Bethel, Aniak, McGrath, Hooper Bay, St. Michael, Nome, Kotzebue and Prudhoe Bay. Crowley, the worldwide marine transportation and logistics services company, serves as the main marine fuel supply and distribution company in these communities. Selection of the 2010 Crowley Scholarship recipients will be managed by the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and the UAF Financial Aid Office, and will be announced Sept. 2. Interested applicants for the 2011-12 award should contact the UAF Financial Aid Office for more information.


Messenger courier association
elects new slate of officers

WASHINGTON, DC — The Messenger Courier Association of America (MCAA) recently elected new officers and members of their Board of Directors. The new officers include: Chris MacKrell, president, Custom Courier Solutions, Saratoga Springs, NY; Rob Johnstone, first vice-president, Priority Express Courier, Inc., Boothwyn, PA; Rob Hackbarth, second vice-president, Hackbarth Delivery, Mobile, AL; Kirk Godby, treasurer, Corporate Couriers, Fort Worth, TX and John Benko, secretary, MANKO Delivery Systems, Inc., Tampa, FL. Also serving the board is Mike Gualtieri, immediate past president, ProCourier, Inc., West Hartford, CT.


OOCL holds annual
Green Week activities

HONG KONG — OOCL Green Week, held annually in July in 55 countries around the world, highlights the importance of environmental protection in the communities where OOCL staff live and work. The 2010 theme was “Acting Green”. OOCL colleagues in 280 global offices participated in environmental and sustainability-related activities in the local areas surrounding their offices. This includes activities such as donations to conservation organizations such as WWF, tree-planting, resources reduction, awareness-raising and conservation projects. On a more personal level, many colleagues adopted a vegetarian diet for the week and cycled to work. In the US and Canada colleagues organized a Green Week Bingo to raise funds for Project Hope.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, August 6, 2010

Neptune Orient Lines reports
second quarter profits jump

SINGAPORE — Global container shipping and logistics group Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) has reported a net profit of US$100 million for the second quarter of 2010. That was up from a net loss of US$146 million in the second quarter of 2009. The group’s Core EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) for the quarter was US$114 million compared to a Core EBIT loss of US$131 million in the same quarter a year ago. Second quarter 2010 revenue increased 53 percent to US$2.1 billion. NOL reported Core EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) of US$40 million for the first half of 2010, compared to a US$353 million Core EBIT loss a year ago. Revenue in the first half increased 44 percent to US$4.2 billion. Net profit for the first half of 2010 was US$1 million, compared to a net loss of US$391 million in the first half of 2009. The group said it will not pay an interim dividend to shareholders. However, the group will consider a final dividend to be paid based on its current policy of paying an annual dividend of 20 percent of net profits after tax.


Trio of carriers to begin
Southeast Asia/India/Middle East run

TAIPEI — Evergreen Line, Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) and Simatech Shipping have agreed to operate a new joint Southeast Asia-India-Middle East liner service beginning on August 20. The ASEAN-Gulf-ISC (AGI) service will have the following port rotation with a 35-day voyage: Laem Chabang - Singapore - Tanjung Pelepas - Port Klang - Colombo - Jebel Ali - Karachi - Mundra - Colombo - Port Klang - Singapore - Laem Chabang. The partners have agreed to operate the AGI service with five 2,700 TEU ships. The Evergreen vessel LT GENOVA will initiate the service from Laem Chabang departing on August 20. Evergreen, OOCL and Simatech have entered the new service to meet growing trade demand between ASEAN nations, India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. The AGI service will shorten transit times and enhance the shipping network in the region.


Crowley nets award for
LA/Long Beach clean air efforts

LONG BEACH, CA — Crowley Maritime Corporation's efforts to reduce carbon emissions at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach were recognized Thursday, July 29 during the third annual San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan Air Quality luncheon at the Maya Hotel in Long Beach. The Clean Air Award recognizes companies who make great strides to reduce pollutant emissions at both ports. Committee members from the Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles, as well as representatives from several governmental agencies, including the South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Region 9) reviewed all nominations, before choosing Crowley for its "Significant Early Action to Reduce Emissions Award." Crowley's Bill Metcalf, director of engineering, accepted the award on the company's behalf. In another environmental initiative, Crowley tugboats in the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach last year began using newly installed shore-side electrical power when not on the job to cut fuel consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Previously, the tugs tied up at the dock needed to run their generators to provide electrical power. This environmentally friendly initiative, also known as cold ironing, is also available at other Crowley facilities in Seattle, Jacksonville, Fla., Pennsauken, N.J. and Puerto Rico.


Weekly AAR report finds
rail carload numbers drop

WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports a decline in rail traffic for the week ending July 10, 2010, with U.S. railroads originating 252,963 carloads, down 3.5 percent compared with the same week in 2009 and down 20.8 percent from 2008. The July 4 Independence Day holiday did not affect comparison weeks in 2008 or 2009. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Weekly intermodal traffic totaled 192,954 trailers and containers, up 9.1 percent from a year ago and down 16.8 percent compared with 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 11.4 percent, and trailer volume sank 2.7 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume fell 10.2 percent and trailer volume dropped 41.9 percent. Six of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009, while all 19 groups posting decreases from 2008 numbers. For the comparable week in 2009, metallic ores, up 72.8 percent, and metals and metal products, up 42.4 percent, continued to post the most significant increases. For the comparable 2008 week, declines ranged from 46 percent for waste and scrap materials to 9.9 percent for coke.aget SAS. The GENCO BOURGOGNE and the GENCO PYRENEES represent two of the 13 Supramax vessels from the Bourbon acquisition.


Port of Bellingham takes home
best wedding reception location nod

BELLINGHAM — The Port of Bellingham Meetings and Events Department was selected as a ‘best of' by local brides in the categories of best customer service and best wedding reception location - the Squalicum Boathouse. The recognition came after a survey by The Knot Magazine in which recently married couples were surveyed on every business or organization hired for their wedding celebration. The Knot Best of Weddings 2010 provides a "by brides, for brides" guide to wedding professionals across the country based on these surveys. The newlyweds were asked to rate their vendors on multiple criteria, from creativity to professionalism, and to comment on their experiences. In addition to the Squalicum Boathouse, port facilities available for public rental include the Bellingham Cruise Terminal Dome Room, Blaine Boating Center, Bellingham Airport General Aviation Conference Room and Technology Development Center conference rooms. The same department also rents port parks for private use, including Fairhaven Marine Park, Zuanich Point Park and Tom Glenn Common.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, August 5, 2010

Inaugural sailing of new WSF ferry
pushed back due to vibration concerns

SEATTLE — The Aug. 29 inaugural sailing of the new Chetzemoka ferry is being postponed as additional sea trials are conducted this week regarding excessive vibration. The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division said a new date for the first sailing between Port Townsend and Keystone has not been set. Sea trials set for today will involve a series of operating parameters that will determine if the 64-vehicle ferry can operate properly on the route between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island before a cause and solution are found for the vibrations. Instrumentation will collect data on maneuvering characteristics and corresponding stopping distances. Experts from the Ferries Division, Todd Pacific Shipyards, equipment suppliers, design consultants and Department of Transportation engineers continue to analyze data collected last week in sea trials. The data deals with vibration in the drive train, which includes the main diesel engine, couplings, shafting, reduction gears and propellers. New sea trials and necessary crew training make the Aug. 29 inaugural sailing impossible. A new date for the inaugural sailing will be set as soon as possible.


Annual Towboat Invitational
raises money for local charities

SEATTLE — On Monday, July 26, Foss Maritime, Harley Marine Services and Sause Bros. sponsored the 11th annual Towboat Invitational at The Golf Club at Newcastle. The tournament brings together almost 300 people in the towboat industry all raising money for two deserving organizations, The Heart Institute at Virginia Mason Medical Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon. Towboat 2010 was another sold out tournament despite the economic downturn within the marine industry. High spirited guests were ready to make a great contribution to the benefiting charities by participating in games and challenges on the course, the first ever Towboat Bingo and both the silent and live auctions. The day’s events raised a remarkable $295,000 for the nonprofit organizations. All net proceeds directly benefit Boys & Girls Club programs and new equipment for The Heart Institute at Virginia Mason. The evening’s speakers included Denise Gould, from the Boys and Girls Club and Phil Smart Sr., a patient of the Heart Institute of Virginia Mason. Their heart-felt messages helped bidders raise the paddle and bring in even more money for the benefiting charities. Since its inaugural event in 2000, Foss Maritime, Harley Marine Services, Sause Bros. and all other participating marine transportation companies have helped raise more than $1 million.


Horizon adds agent, representative
for new Five Star Express Service

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced it has secured two important agreements in the ongoing development of its new Asia liner service. Horizon Lines has appointed Hon Wing Lam as its owner's representative and Ben Line Agencies as its General Agent to support the company's ongoing sales and operations in Shanghai and Ningbo. As Horizon Lines Owner's Representative, Mr. Lam brings more than 30 years of ocean transportation experience and spent the past 13 years working in China. Prior to joining Horizon Lines, Mr. Lam worked for several leading ocean carriers where, among other things, he managed shipping and logistics in the China trade. Ben Line Agencies is Asia's leading privately-owned shipping services company. With over 150 years of experience in the shipping industry, the company has established a network of more than 90 owned offices employing 1,500 people across 15 Asian countries. As the General Agent for Horizon Lines, Ben Line will support all sales efforts and operations in China. Beginning on December 13, 2010, Horizon Lines will launch a weekly liner service, called the Five Star Express service, with port calls at Shanghai and Ningbo in Central China and Los Angeles and Oakland in California. Using its five 2,824 TEU capacity Hunter Class vessels, Horizon Lines will offer some of the fastest transit times in the transpacific trade, including 11-day port-to-port transit from Shanghai to Los Angeles with Monday morning cargo availability every week at the nation's busiest import gateway.


Genco Shipping & Trading
receives new Supramax ship

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has taken delivery of the GENCO LOIRE, a 2009-built Supramax vessel. The GENCO LOIRE is the second of 13 vessels to be delivered to the company under Genco's agreement previously announced on June 25, 2010 to acquire 13 Supramax vessels from Setaf SAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bourbon SA. Genco has signed a novation agreement for the vessel's current time charter with TMT Bulk Corporation at a rate of $13,000 per day, less a five percent third party brokerage commission, with a maximum expiration of October 2010. The company used its available cash to pay the remaining balance of $29.16 million for the GENCO LOIRE. On July 16, 2010, the company entered into a commitment letter for a $253 million senior secured term loan facility and, upon the closing of this credit facility, intends to use the credit facility to refund $20 million associated with the purchase of this vessel to the company. Genco also announced that it has reached agreements to sign time charters for the GENCO BOURGOGNE and the GENCO PYRENEES, both 2010-built Supramax vessels, with Setaf Saget SAS. The GENCO BOURGOGNE and the GENCO PYRENEES represent two of the 13 Supramax vessels from the Bourbon acquisition.


Crowley's logistics business
earns spot in Top 100

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation's logistics group has been selected as a Top 100 third-party logistics (3PLs) provider by Inbound Logistics (IL) magazine for the second consecutive year. The list serves as a qualitative assessment of service providers deemed as the best equipped to meet and surpass readers' evolving outsourcing needs. IL editors selected this year's class of Top 100 3PLs from a pool of more than 300 companies. The service providers selected are companies that, in the opinion of the editors, offer the diverse operational capabilities and experience to meet readers' unique supply chain and logistics needs. Each year, IL editors select the best logistics solutions providers by evaluating submitted information, conducting personal interviews and online research, and comparing that data to readers' burgeoning global supply chain and logistics challenges.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Port of Everett concerned
about EA for Mukilteo Tank Farm

EVERETT — On July 29, 2010, the Port of Everett submitted its response to the U.S. Air Force, raising questions about the terms presented in the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the transfer of the Mukilteo Tank Farm. Among many issues with the Draft EA, the port voiced concern over requirements set forth in the proposed Preservation Covenant, which extend beyond Air Force legal authority. The port also noted concern over inclusion of an abandoned, 1,300 foot creosote pile supported pier, and failure to provide a warranty regarding clean up actions completed on the property. The port sees three major issues with the proposed Preservation Covenant in the Draft EA, which sets the preservation requirements for the property. These issues include:
1. Enforcement of Federal Law: requires the port and State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) to assume enforcement of Federal Law, which is beyond the port and SHPO’s authority;
2. Expansion of Federal Law: expands federal law beyond what is currently required of the Air Force; and
3. Perpetual Obligation: makes the port responsible, in perpetuity, to enforce the Preservation Covenant even if the property is transferred to another entity.
Furthermore, the Draft EA includes conveyance of the pier. The pier is Air Force personal property, and cannot be transferred to the port unless determined appropriate as a port facility. The pier is of no value to the port, and would cost an estimated $10 million to remove. The port has requested the Air Force provide the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Warranty missing from the Draft EA, and extend the comment period to allow time to respond to the Warranty. The CERCLA Warranty is required by federal law and is necessary to properly evaluate the environmental condition of the property. The Mukilteo Tank Farm is a decommissioned fuel tank site located along the Mukilteo waterfront. The Air Force is in the process of conveying 18.85 acres of the property to the Port of Everett for use as a multi-modal facility.


Seattle Port Commissioners
looking to capture tourism cash

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle Commission led a round table policy discussion to find ways of boosting tourism dollars in the King County region. Recent figures show considerable spending by visitors, but funding the promotion of tourism by the State of Washington is ranked 48 out of 50 states. With so much opportunity at stake, the tourism industry has adopted the theme “tourism matters” to help raise awareness of the contributions made by tourism in the state. The commission is exploring ways it can contribute in a positive way to this economic issue. According to one panelist, tourist destinations should not be taken for granted for potential visitors, nor should promotional efforts be curtailed. The Port of Seattle is a major player in the local tourism industry. With Sea-Tac International Airport and its two cruise terminals, its assets are uniquely positioned to benefit from any new promotional efforts. Around 100,000 passengers move through the airport every day, and the 2010 cruise season from Seattle is expecting over 850,000 passengers to visit Alaska. Interesting figures include the following:
* Travelers spent $14.2 billion in the state in 2009—a little more than half of that in King County ($7.5 billion).
* This spending generated nearly $1 billion in state and local taxes; nearly half in King County ($453 million out of $958 million).
* Tourism generates 147,600 jobs, and $4.2 billion in payroll.


Washington State Ferries
names new Deputy Chief

SEATTLE — Capt. George Capacci has been named deputy chief of Operations and Construction with the Ferries Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). He will oversee operations, terminal engineering, and vessel maintenance, preservation and engineering. He will start on Aug. 16 and report to Assistant Secretary David Moseley. Capt. Capacci served 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard and more recently was vice president of Fleet Operations for B.C. Ferries and general manager for the Alaska Marine Highway System. Since 2009, he has been the Washington State Ferries Division North Region port captain. He has a Masters of Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. This position, vacant since 2008, serves on the division management team and provides strategic leadership to ensure safe, cost-effective, customer-oriented, reliable and efficient transportation of nearly 23 million passengers annually; a safe and cost-effective working environment for Ferries Division employees; strict fiscal accountability for the Ferries Division; and management of employee labor contracts.


TSA reports airline industry
meets cargo screening deadline

WASHINGTON, DC — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced the airline industry has met a key requirement of the 9/11 Act by screening 100 percent of air cargo on domestic passenger aircraft. TSA worked closely with the cargo and aviation industries to fulfill this important Congressional mandate by the Aug. 1, 2010 deadline. TSA continues to utilize a multi-layered approach to air cargo security, including procedures for known and established shippers to ship cargo on domestic passenger aircraft, deploying explosive detection canine teams, and conducting covert tests and no-notice inspections of cargo operations. TSA is also continuing its work to improve cargo security on passenger flights originating in other countries. TSA requires 100 percent of high risk cargo to undergo security screening and has increased the requirements for overall cargo screening. To meet the mandate, TSA created the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP), which allows certified facilities across the country to screen cargo before it reaches the airport. CCSP facilities must be approved by TSA and adhere to strict security standards, including physical access controls, personnel security, and screening of prospective employees and contractors. A secure chain of custody must also be established from the screening facility to the aircraft. Prior to the Aug. 1 deadline, over 900 facilities became CCSP certified.


Coast Guard celebrating
220th birthday today

WASHINGTON, DC — Coast Guard personnel around the nation are celebrating the Coast Guard's 220th birthday today. From its genesis as the Revenue Marine, the Coast Guard has evolved to become the world’s premier multi-mission, maritime service, conducting operations around the globe to execute its 11 missions. The Coast Guard began its service to America in 1790 within the Treasury Department as the Revenue Marine, later renamed the Revenue Cutter Service. The Revenue Cutter Service joined with the U.S. Lifesaving Service in 1915 to create the Coast Guard. The U.S. Lighthouse Service was added to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939, followed by the Steamboat Inspection Service in 1946. The Coast Guard transferred from the Treasury Department to the Department of Transportation in 1967 and to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. In 1851 customs activities established a central role in monitoring trade in the Pacific Northwest and in 1854 with maritime trade flourishing in the region the Revenue Cutter JEFFERSON DAVIS was dispatched to interdict smuggling activities. The crew of the JEFFERSON DAVIS sailed into Puget Sound on September 28, 1854. The cutter's arrival marked the first unit of the U. S. Coast Guard to be stationed in the states of Washington and Oregon. Recently the Pacific Northwest continued its rich Coast Guard tradition by establishing the first Marine Safety and Security Team (MSST). MSSTs were created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) 2002 and are a part of the Department of Homeland Security's layered strategy directed at protecting our seaports and waterways. MSSTs were created in direct response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Accordingly, every MSST designation number begins with "911." Commissioned on July 3, 2002, MSST Seattle was the first of its kind; hence having the honor of being known as 91101.


NEWS BULLETIN
Tuesday, August 3, 2010

North Runway closure begins
at Portland International Airport

PORTLAND — Portland International Airport neighbors should expect some temporary changes when the north runway completely closes for construction beginning today. The work is part of the second phase of a three-year runway rehabilitation program. This year’s work will extend the north runway, which is needed to accommodate larger aircraft requiring the extra length for takeoff when the longer south runway closes for rehabilitation next year. The runway is expected to reopen partially in mid-September and fully in mid-October. The runway improvement program is designed to keep the airport fully operational, while keeping changes in air traffic and noise as brief as possible. During the first phase of this year’s work, the north runway remained partially open, helping reduce additional use of both the crosswind (north-south) and south runway. When the north runway fully closes, airport neighbors may notice some temporary increases in aircraft noise associated with increased use of the crosswind and south runways. The Federal Aviation Administration will continue to restrict jet use of the crosswind runway, except when winds or other conditions require, and late-night propeller aircraft will avoid the crosswind runway when possible.
Contacts for neighbors with project questions or concerns include:
· General Information – Click on “North Runway Extension” at www.pdx.com.
· Aircraft Noise – Port noise management office at 503.460.4100, 800.938.6647, or
PDXNoise@portofportland.com.
· Project Details – Art Spillman at 503.415.6133, or
art.spillman@portofportland.com.
· Attend Upcoming Events or Schedule a Presentation – Brooke Berglund at
503.415.6532, or brooke.berglund@portofportland.com.


Port Metro Vancouver adds
new Blue Circle Awards program

VANCOUVER, BC — Port Metro Vancouver is launching its new Blue Circle Award for the EcoAction Program for Shipping, a user-friendly financial incentive for shipping lines that reduce emissions of their ocean-going vessels. Port Metro Vancouver emissions reduction programs have received international acclaim, having been awarded the Globe 2010 ecoFreight Award for Sustainable Transportation. The port has also been credited for its Air Action Program, having been nominated for the International Sustainable Shipping Award. The Port has also brought shore power to Canada Place making 2010 the first eco-friendly cruise season. Under the EcoAction Program for Shipping, formerly known as the differentiated harbour dues program, vessels that qualify will be eligible to receive the newly established Blue Circle Award, a recognition reserved for only the highest emissions reduction achievements. The Blue Circle Awards honor gold, silver or bronze, ratings based on efforts to reduce air emissions, depending on the quality of fuel used and overall emission reductions. Vessel operators can apply for the program at each call or provide an annual declaration for their vessels.


Environmental group pleased
with new House transport bill

VANCOUVER, BC — The Environmental Defense Fund reports that a bill introduced Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives could help transform America’s transportation policy and investment by directing federal investment to freight system projects that update the freight system and help reduce freight's environmental and health impacts, according to a green transportation group. The legislation, the Focusing Resources, Economic Investment and Guidance to Help Transportation Act of 2010 (FREIGHT Act/HR 5976)—sponsored by Reps. Albio Sires (NJ), Adam Smith (WA), Laura Richardson (CA), and Steve Cohen (TN)—mirrors a Senate bill (S. 3629) introduced by Senators Frank Lautenberg (NJ), Patty Murray (WA) and Maria Cantwell (WA). The bill also compliments freight improvement provisions in the transportation authorization bill introduced last year by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (MN). The FREIGHT ACT directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop and implement institutional advances that will improve and coordinate policy within the federal government and the states:
* A National Freight Transportation Strategic Plan to guide and inform goods movement
infrastructure investments in future years
* An Office of Freight Planning and Development, led by an Assistant Secretary for
Freight Planning and Development
* A new National Freight Infrastructure Grants program, a competitive, merit-based
program for multimodal freight investment designed to focus funds where they will provide
the most public benefit


Parsons Brinkerhoff taps Tutuncu
as a principle engineer in New York

NEW YORK — Ilker Tutuncu has been named a principal engineer in the New York City office of Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), a global infrastructure strategic consulting, planning, engineering and program/construction management organization. In his new position in PB’s Ports & Marine Division, Dr. Tutuncu will be responsible for engineering and design management of port and marine structures and also will support port and intermodal planning projects. Dr. Tutuncu has nearly 15 years of industry experience, primarily in the maritime sector, working on major public and private port and marine terminal projects throughout the U.S. and abroad. His areas of expertise include engineering inspection, condition assessment, conceptual and detail design of marine structures, oil and gas terminals, buried pipeline systems, industrial buildings, bulk storage silos, and oil storage facilities. He also has experience in advanced research, numerical and analytical modeling, finite element analysis, and full-scale laboratory testing.


Jaguar Freight Services
opens new EMEA group

VALLEY STREAM, NY — Jaguar Freight Services, an international freight forwarder serving a full range of business customers and shipping requirements, has created a new organizational group, Jaguar EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa). Philippe Delorme, previously managing director of the company’s Paris office, has been named vice president and head of the new group with responsibility for the Paris and London offices and oversight for the network of agents in nearly 20 countries throughout the region. Mr. Delorme will oversee operations, sales and accounting in the Paris and London offices and will implement region-wide programs to enhance customer service.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, August 2, 2010

Oregon, Washington governors
receive final report on new bridge

SALEM/OLYMPIA — Governors Ted Kulongoski of Oregon and Chris Gregoire of Washington have received the final report from the Independent Review Panel (IRP) that they appointed in April to assess the work of the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project and provide recommendations for improvements and refinements as the work continues. In a letter to the governors, the panel affirms that the CRC must move forward and a new bridge should be constructed at the earliest possible date. The panel also commends the work to date on the preliminary environmental and engineering issues and outlines a series of recommendations to serve as a roadmap to move from design to completion of the project.


Test show new Washington ferry
has excessive driveline vibration

SEATTLE — The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division reports that continuing sea trial tests of the state’s newest ferry, CHETZEMOKA, have uncovered excessive vibration in the engine driveline. During sea trials, the U.S. Coast Guard approved the safety requirements for the 64- vehicle ferry that will sail between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend. Successful tests were made of the boat’s propulsion system, steering system, navigation equipment and public address system, among others. Discovery of the excessive vibration in the driveline “is exactly why we have sea trials and a massive cooperative effort to get this new ferry into service,” said Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. The Ferries Division and Todd Pacific Shipyards, builder of the boat, are working together with design engineers, manufacturers’ representatives and contract engineers to isolate the vibration issue to determine its cause. Excessive vibration could cause operational limitations or shorten the lifespan of key driveline components.


Port Metro Vancouver sees
tonnage increase at mid-year

VANCOUVER, BC — Port Metro Vancouver has released the 2010 mid-year results of overall throughputs in the Cargo Statistics Report. The report shows that 2010 is building momentum, with an overall tonnage increase of 20 percent totalling 58.4 million tonnes to date. Total foreign tonnage increased 19 percent, to 45.5 million tonnes, with increased foreign exports to growing Asian economies leading the way. Total domestic tonnage also increased, to 12.9 million tonnes, up from 10.7 million tonnes in 2009. Signs of growth: Key Sectors Breakbulk is up 24 percent overall, with value-added forest products the key driver behind the growth, due to increased foreign and domestic demand. Bulk is up 22 percent resulting from growth in Asian economies and strong demand for Canadian commodities like coal and potash. Containers are up 12 percent as a direct result of consumer spending, with demand for consumer goods increasing as the economic recovery begins to take hold. Auto volumes are up six percent, returning close to 2008 levels. Cruise voyage numbers experienced an anticipated decrease this year from 105 voyages in 2009, to 70 voyages to date in 2010 as cruise lines redeployed vessels in response to a difficult business climate globally and specific challenges to the economics of cruise business in Alaska.


Alaska Airlines bringing
Honolulu flights to Bellingham

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines will inaugurate nonstop service between Bellingham, Wash., and Honolulu, Hawaii, starting Jan. 7, 2011. The daily flights will provide an alternative airport for travelers in Northwestern Washington and Lower Mainland, British Columbia. "Alaska Airlines is proud to call the Pacific Northwest home. So we're delighted to offer Bellingham its first-ever nonstop scheduled service to Hawaii," said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing. "Our new Honolulu flights will allow travelers from north of Seattle and the Lower Mainland to take advantage of our low fares, award-winning service and Mileage Plan earning opportunities via an easy-to-access, nearby airport." Alaska Airlines currently flies between Bellingham and Las Vegas while its sister carrier, Horizon Air, offers Bellingham-Seattle service. The flights will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin.


DHL bests TSA deadline
for cargo screening

PLANTATION, FL — DHL reports it has met the mandate set by the Transportation Security Administration to screen all cargo that is transported on passenger aircraft originating in the United States. The TSA requirement is effective August 1, 2010. Over the past 18 months, DHL has taken a proactive approach and implemented aggressive actions, including training and certifying screeners and supervisors at its certified cargo screening facilities, to ensure that the company’s three divisions transporting cargo shipments are prepared to deliver safe and secure industry-leading service. DHL’s goal has been to work toward the 100-percent screening capacity right from the start, rather than just meet the phased approach allowed by the TSA. DHL worked closely with the TSA to identify the gateways that handle most cargo. DHL mapped the TSA gateways to its own gateways to ensure coverage of the locations through which the largest cargo volumes flow. DHL has been screening 100 percent of the cargo it places on outbound passenger flights since May 2010.