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August, 2007
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, August 31, 2007
Clatsop County planning board
gives go ahead to LNG facility project
ASTORIA The Clatsop County Planning Commission has voted
to recommend the Board of Commissioners issue land use approvals
authorizing Bradwood Landings construction of a liquefied
natural gas terminal at a former mill site. The planning
commissions actions to approve or approve with conditions
certain changes requested by Bradwood Landing led to the overall
positive recommendation for the project. NorthernStar Natural
Gas, Inc., is proposing to construct the Bradwood Landing LNG
terminal in Clatson County. The U.S. owned and managed company is
focused on the development of domestic LNG terminal projects.
Beginning in October, the Clatsop County Commission will begin
holding public hearings on the Bradwood Landing project with a
final decision expected in mid-November. Although not a binding
recommendation, the planning commission reports its decision to
support the project is a significant milestone and follows a
similar recommendation made by the federal government. On August
17th the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued its draft
Environmental Impact Statement for Bradwood Landing with a
recommendation for approval with appropriate mitigation. The
statement said that with appropriate mitigation measures as
recommended, the project would have limited adverse
environmental impact.
Month of June sees jump
in trade between NAFTA partners
WASHINGTON, DC Trade using surface transportation between
the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 3.9 percent higher in June
2007 than in June 2006, reaching $69.5 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 (RITA), reported that the value of U.S.
surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 0.1
percent in June from May. Month-to-month changes can be affected
by seasonal variations and other factors. Surface transportation
consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and
pipeline. About 90 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and
Mexico moves on land. The value of U.S. surface transportation
trade with Canada and Mexico in June was up 50.6 percent compared
to June 2002, and up 96.1 percent compared to June 1997, a period
of 10 years. Imports in June were up 109.2 percent compared to
June 1997, while exports were up 81.2 percent.
US rail freight traffic
sees drop in totals for week
WASHINGTON, DC Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off
slightly during the week ended August 18 in comparison with the
corresponding week last year, the Association of American
Railroads (AAR) reports. Total volume was estimated at 35.3
billion ton-miles, down 0.3 percent from the same week last year.
Intermodal volume totaled 238,270 trailers or containers, down
4.3 percent from last year, with container volume off 2.0 from
last year and trailer volume down 11.9 percent. Carload freight,
which doesn't include the intermodal data, totaled 338,364 cars
for the week, down 1.5 percent from last year. Compared with last
year, loadings were up 1.7 percent in the West but down 5.5
percent in the East. Eight of 19 carload commodity groups were up
compared with last year. Loadings of farm products other than
grain rose 20.0 percent, while coke was up 12.6 percent from last
year and petroleum products gained 8.4 percent. Among commodities
reporting declines were primary forest products, off 16.6
percent; lumber and wood products, down 14.5 percent; and metals,
off 15.3 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 33 weeks of
2007 totaled 10,687,926 carloads, down 3.7 percent from 2006;
7,579,383 trailers or containers, off 1.7 percent; and total
volume of an estimated 1.09 trillion ton-miles, down 2.4 percent
from last year.
Port Olympia sets hearing
to discuss property sale
OLYMPIA On September 10, 2007, the Port of Olympia
Commission will consider and hold a public hearing regarding the
proposed sale of property by the Port to the Tilley Road
Industrial Park LLC. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the
LOTT Boardroom, 111 Market Street NE, Second Floor, Olympia,
Washington. Approximately 5.02 acres is being proposed for sale.
The property lies at 112 SE 93rd Ave, Tumwater Washington. The
property is zoned LI2. Tilley Road Industrial Park LLC plans to
use the land for construction of a storm water treatment and
infiltration area in accordance with the City of Tumwater Storm
Water Manual. The purpose of the public hearing will be to
address: (1) declaring the property surplus; (2) modifying the
Ports comprehensive plan to reflect this land use change;
and (3) approving the sale of the property to the Tilley Road
Industrial Park LLC.
Work temporarily closing
Port of Bellingham Marine Park
JACKSONVILLE, FL The Port of Bellingham's Marine Park in
Fairhaven will be temporarily closed for the month of September
while the City of Bellingham completes work upgrading the city's
sewer system. Beginning Tuesday Marine Park will be closed both
to vehicles and pedestrians. The city began working to replace
its secondary outfall piping in July and has structured this
project so that it would require just one month of park closure.
The city's Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Alternate
Outfall Replacement Project involves installing a larger
alternate outfall pipe from Post Point. The new pipe will
accommodate future expansion of the wastewater treatment plant to
handle high flows during rainstorms. The original alternative
outfall pipe, built in 1949 is an overflow outfall designed to
function only when the primary outfall is nearing its capacity.
During the closure, the gates to the park will be locked and the
park will be closed to both vehicle and foot traffic while the
upland construction is completed. In addition to Marine Park, the
port also operates Zuanich Point Park, Tom Glenn Common, Marine
Drive Trail, Blaine Public Fishing Pier, and numerous waterfront
trails and promenades.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Pile driving work to begin
on Port of Tacoma project
TACOMA Later this week, Port of Tacoma contractors are
expected to drive the first of about 820 concrete piling into the
Blair Waterway as part of new wharf construction adjacent to the
96-acre (39-hectare) former Kaiser Aluminum Smelter site. The
one-berth, 1,200-foot (366-meter) wharf and adjacent Kaiser site
are part of future East Blair Waterway marine terminal
development. Manson Construction of Seattle will work from 6 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays to drive the 140-foot-long
concrete piling, manufactured by Tacoma-based Concrete Technology
Corporation. The pile-driving work will be complete by
mid-February 2008. Longer hours or work weeks, however, might
become necessary to finish the in-water work before the annual
fish migration season begins in February.
Insurance club report finds
vessel accidents on the rise
GOTEBORG, Sweden Serious marine accidents are on the
increase, according to The Swedish Club. Commenting on the
findings of a new club report on collisions and contact damage,
Managing Director Frans Malmros says: We saw fewer major
accidents in the 1990s, but we are now experiencing a disturbing
reversal of that positive trend. The truth is unpalatable.
The most likely explanation for an increase in the serious
accident rate is a fall in crew experience and, thus, lower
competence levels, exacerbated by stress and fatigue. These
conclusions are contained in a review of collision and contact
cases dealt with by the club in the two years to end-2006. The
accidents include collision and contact damages in port
approaches, coastal waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone. The
study focused on the causal factors linked to failure to follow
standard operating procedures, instructions for critical
shipboard operations (where an error might immediately cause an
accident threatening people, the environment and the ship) and
emergency response actions. The Swedish Club, founded in 1872, is
a mutual marine insurance company, owned and controlled by its
members. The llub writes Hull & Machinery, War Risks,
Protection & Indemnity, Loss of Hire, Freight Demurrage &
Defence and any additional insurance required by shipowners.
NASSCO starts work on
first US Shipping Partners vessel
SAN DIEGO General Dynamics NASSCO has begun construction
of its first product carrier ship for U.S. Shipping Partners.
NASSCO is building the ship from designs provided through its
collaboration with DSEC of Korea, a subsidiary of Daewoo
Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering. The San Diego shipyard is
scheduled to lay the ships keel in December and deliver the
ship in early 2009. In August 2006, NASSCO received a $1 billion
contract from U.S. Shipping Partners to build nine ships. The
double-hulled ships will be 183 meters (600.4 feet) in length,
displace 49,000 dead weight tons and will have a cargo capacity
of about 331,000 barrels. They are designed to carry petroleum
and chemical products in Jones Act trade. The Jones Act, among
its many provisions, requires ships that carry cargo between U.S.
ports to be built in the United States. U.S. Shipping Partners
has decided to name the first ship, Golden State, in honor of
California where the ship is being built and expected to operate.
The other ships of the class will bear the nicknames of American
seaboard states.
Sea-Tac Airport environmental plan
found to be on top tier in US
SEATTLE A recently released independent report reveals
that the environmental efforts at Seattle-Tacoma Airport combine
to make one of the strongest environmental programs at any
airport in the nation. The report was conducted by the non-profit
organization Clean Airport Partnership (CAP), which works with
airports and communities to improve environmental quality and
efficiency. CAP was retained by the Port of Seattle to assess the
airport's current environmental achievements and identify
opportunities for further reducing environmental impacts and the
airport's contribution to climate change. Conclusions were based
upon Sea-Tac's achievements compared to other U.S. airports.
Sea-Tac's existing environmental programs encompass recycling;
air quality and alternative fuels; noise, wetland and stream
mitigation; and management of stormwater, hazardous waste and
wildlife.
Crowley trucking unit
joins EPA pollution program
JACKSONVILLE, FL Crowley Trucking Inc. has announced that
it has joined the SmartWay Transport® Partnership, a voluntary
collaboration between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency
while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.
By being accepted as a SmartWay Transport® Partner, Crowley has
pledged to contribute to the partnership's goal of reducing
between 33 - 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx)
emissions per year by 2012. Carbon dioxide is the most common
greenhouse gas, and nitrogen oxide is an air pollutant that
contributes to smog. At the same time, the initiative should
result in fuel savings of up to 150 million barrels of oil
annually. Crowley's primary emphasis will be on reducing truck
idling times. Crowley Trucking, a subsidiary of Crowley Liner
Services, has some 72 drivers and 56 trucks based in Pennsauken,
N.J., and Jacksonville and Port Everglades, Fla. Drivers haul
short and medium distances primarily along the Eastern Seaboard.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Port of Seattle backs
strong US rules for vessels
SEATTLE The Seattle Port Commission has passed a
resolution endorsing the U.S. governments proposal for more
stringent international rules for ocean-going vessels. The port
joins a number of other industry partners in this effort,
including the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, the World
Shipping Council and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The port
is currently engaged with the Ports of Tacoma and Vancouver, B.C.
to develop a common set of standards for air-emissions reductions
in all three Northwest ports. The U.S. recommendation calls for:
Strict new emission limits for particulate matter and oxides of
sulfur, beginning in 2011 and 2012; Limits for oxides of nitrogen
to achieve a 15 to 25 percent reduction beginning in 2011, and
further limits in certain areas to achieve 80 percent reductions
beginning in 2016 -- these would apply to new engines; and limits
for oxides of nitrogen on engines built before Jan. 1, 2000 that
would achieve a 20 percent reduction. These standards would phase
in beginning in 2010 and 2012.
New tenant inks lease
at Port of Vancouver, USA
VANCOUVER, USA The Port of Vancouver and Page One
Northwest, a company that provides new car reviews to automotive
publications, have entered into a lease for warehouse space at
the port. The Vancouver Port Commission has approved the lease,
which includes 8,400 square feet in building 2400, which is
located near the Panasonic plant on the east end of the
ports industrial property. Page One NW and the port agreed
to a three-year lease running September 1, 2007-August 31, 2010.
Page One NW is allowed one three-year extension with 180 days
notice. Base rent is $2,856 per month ($0.34 per square foot per
month) with annual increases. The total anticipated revenue from
the initial term of the lease will be $104,832. The designated
space will be used for receipt, delivery, storage, washing, test
drive and provide new vehicles for the purpose of auto reviews
for various automotive publications.
New report finds US ports
create jobs, boost economy
ALEXANDRIA, VA The American Association of Port
Authorities (AAPA) reports that last year, United States
deep-draft seaports and seaport-related businesses generated
approximately 8.4 million American jobs and added nearly $2
trillion to the economy, according to a just-completed study by a
Lancaster, Pa.-based business consulting service that specializes
in port-sector economic impact studies. Based upon 2006 U.S. port
cargo statistics and thousands of recent port-sector interviews,
Martin Associates late this month completed an in-depth study
into the economic impacts of coastal and Great Lakes ports,
examining aspects ranging from jobs and wages to business and tax
revenues. Of the 8,397,301 Americans working for ports and
port-related industries in 2006, nearly seven million were
employed by firms involved in handling imports and exports, such
as retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors and
logistics companies. In addition to citing employment numbers,
Martin Associates' new study also shows that businesses providing
goods and services to U.S. seaports directly and indirectly paid
$314.5 billion in total wages and salaries. Of this total, $207.4
billion came directly from businesses involved in handling
international waterborne commerce. Moreover, the 2006 report
shows that port-sector businesses generated a high rate of
economic output, with business revenues and the value of the
goods and services they provided totaled $1,976.4 billion, or
nearly $2 trillion. In addition, port-sector businesses paid more
than $102 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2006. To
see a summary chart of port-sector economic impacts resulting
from the Martin Associates study, click on
http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/secure/index.cfm?FileID=22354
ATA truck tonnage index
sees improvement during July
WASHINGTON, DC The American Trucking Associations' (ATA)
advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose
0.3 percent in July, marking the first month-to-month increase
since March of this year. The not seasonally adjusted index
decreased 2.7 percent from June to 111.0. On a seasonally
adjusted basis, the tonnage index increased to 110.9 (2000 = 100)
in July, which was the highest reading since April. Despite
Julys sequential gain, tonnage was down 3.7 percent from a
year earlier. Year-to-date the tonnage index was 2.6 percent
lower than the same period in 2006. Trucking serves as a
barometer of the U.S. economy because it represents nearly 70
percent of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight
transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks
hauled 10.7 billion tons of freight in 2005. Motor carriers
collected $623 billion , or 84.3 percent of total revenue earned
by all transport modes. ATA calculates the tonnage index based on
surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the
1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the
final report issued around the 10th day of the month. The report
includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant
economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.
Panama Canal Authority releases
expansion plan Request for Qualifications
PANAMA CITY The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has released
a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the construction of the
new set of locks to be built under the canal's Expansion Program.
The document is available at:
http://www.pancanal.com/eng/procsales/buy.html. The release of
the RFQ is part one of a two-phase process to determine the firm
that will ultimately design and build the new locks. During this
first prequalification stage, the ACP will evaluate responses
(also called SOQ or Statement of Qualification) from prospective
firms based on a combination of pass/fail criteria and
capabilities. The four firms that meet the ACP's needs with the
highest number of points will move to the second and final round.
The short-list-selection is expected to be announced by the end
of November 2007. In the second and final round, the ACP will
release an RFP and respondents will submit a bid proposal. Other
important dates in this process are: a site visit September 12,
2007 and a project information meeting September 13, 2007. The
Expansion Program will build a new lane of traffic along the
Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks,
which will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer,
wider ships. Except for the public information meeting and the
optional site visit, all information between the ACP and the
prospective proposers will be provided in written form through
the designated ACP Contracting Officer. The ACP will share all
submitted queries and ACP responses with all parties preparing a
response to the RFQ. The ACP will not divulge the names of those
parties submitting queries.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, August 27, 2007
Washington State sees small gain
in imports for first half of year
TACOMA The World Trade Center Tacoma reports that six
months into the year, Washington State imports increased by just
over four percent compared to the same period in 2006, amounting
to almost $14 billion. About half of those imports were from
China. China continues to dominate Washington imports through
toys and industrial machinery, ranking number one and two on
Washingtons top imports list. Japan, Washingtons 2nd
largest import partner, exported almost $3 billion in the first
half of 2007. Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam were
Washingtons 3rd, 4th, and 5th largest import partners.
Washington imports comprise only half of the states total
exports, and it is the only state to have a positive balance of
trade with China. Most of this is due to airplane sales.
Washington State exports have increased to over $30 billion
dollars in the first 6 months of 2007. The statistics for the
first half of 2007 represent a 20.3 percent increase in exports,
compared with the same period in 2006. For more information about
Washington State trade, contact the World Trade Center Tacoma.
Harmful insect intercepted
at Blaine port of entry
BLAINE, WA Recently at the Peace Arch port of entry in
Blaine, Wash., a Customs and Border Protection agriculture
specialist intercepted a species of scales insect never seen in
the United States that could have caused serious damage to
American agriculture. The armored scales insects were found under
the leaf stem of a mangosteen fruit seized from a passenger
arriving from Canada. A scale is an insect that lives under a
hard shell on the surface of a plant or fruit and uses its
straw-like mouthparts to suck the juices from its host. Foreign
scales and other exotic pests pose a serious risk to American
agricultural resources because they have no natural predators in
the U.S. They can damage fruit and potentially kill entire fruit
trees. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Systematic
Entomology Laboratory determined the scales as a probable new
species of Diclavaspis, adding to the significance of this
discovery. As a new species, its impact to American agriculture,
had it gone undetected, could be devastating. The CBP agriculture
specialist and the CBP officer at U.S. ports of entry and
international mail facilities target, detect, intercept and
thereby prevent the entry of these potential threats before they
have a chance to do harm. On a typical day in fiscal 2006, CBP
seized more that 4,000 prohibited meat, plant material or animal
products, including 147 agricultural pests at ports of entry.
Evergreen/Wan Hai come together
on enhanced Japan to Thailand service
TAIPEI Evergreen Marine Corp (Taiwan) Ltd. and Wan Hai
Lines are to cooperate to enhance their intra-Asia network with
the launch of the Japan-Thailand Express Service. The fixed-day
weekly service will link key ports in Japan with Hong Kong,
Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand.Evergreen will commit two ships of
approximately 900TEU to the new NSE/NS6 service, while Wan Hai
Lines will commit a third vessel of the same size. Sailings will
commence late September, when the first departure from Hong Kong
will be made by Evergreen vessel UNI-AMPLE. Ports of call on the
21 days rotation are as follows: Hong Kong (HIT) - Tokyo -
Yokohama - Osaka - Kaohsiung - Hong Kong - Ho Chi Minh - Laem
Chabang - Hong Kong.
FIDELIO chief engineer
hit with pollution charge
WASHINGTON, DC Patrick K. Brown, a former chief engineer
of the M/V FIDELIO was arraigned August 24, 2007, on a six count
indictment related to deliberate vessel pollution that was
originally returned by a federal grand jury on July 26, 2007.
According to the indictment, Chief Engineer Brown was a U.S.
licensed chief engineer and was responsible for managing and
supervising the engine department, including compliance with laws
regulating the discharge of oil from the ship. The indictment
alleges that Chief Engineer Brown conspired to discharge
oil-contaminated bilge waste directly into the ocean through the
use of a "magic pipe" which bypassed the ship's oily
water separator, a required piece of pollution prevention
equipment. Chief Engineer Brown is alleged to have used a false
log book regularly inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard in order to
conceal illegal discharges. Chief Engineer Brown faces up to five
years in prison, a potential fine, a special assessment of $100,
and a term of probation up to five years. An indictment contains
only allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty. This investigation was conducted by the
Chesapeake Regional Office of the Coast Guard Investigative
Service and the EPA Criminal Investigation Division.
Dr. Riley Moore named to
Port Olympia planning board
OLYMPIA The Port of Olympias "The
Navigator" publication has announced Dr. Riley Moore has
been appointed to the ports 12-person Planning and Advisory
Committee (PAC). Dr. Moore is an economist and business professor
at St. Martins University. Leaving the PAC is Jim Smego,
who has served on the committee for six years.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, August 24, 2007
Failure of levy has Port Vancouver
making new plans for development
VANCOUVER, USA The Port of Vancouver, USA reports it will
continue its efforts to bring more jobs to Clark County and to
provide increased tax revenue for public services through a
modified development plan in response to the defeat of its
proposed Industrial Development District levy in the August 21,
2007 primary election. The levy received 11,624 yes votes or 28.5
percent compared to 29,164 no votes or 71.5 percent.
Were disappointed, said Executive Director
Larry Paulson. But the community has let us know
theyre not in support of the IDD levy, regardless of
whether they agree with our development plans. We will take into
account the communitys message while we reconsider our
plans for growth and development.
Anacortes port board Oks
Airport Layout Plan
ANACORTES Anacortes Port Commissioners approved their
vision for the Anacortes Airport on Thursday, August 16, 2007, a
plan that will maintain the facilitys size while also
opening the door to development of new hangars. The ports
Airport Layout Plan, a document mandated by the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), was tentatively approved
by the Board of Commissioners last April. The plan approved
Thursday night, said Port of Anacortes Executive Director
Bob Hyde, represents the successful completion of a
thorough, 11-month process. Deliberations included a public
hearing in Skyline last March, attended by more than 90 people.
There have also been numerous staff and commission sessions,
including two five-hour sessions in April 2007. With this
plan we have elected to maintain the airports current A-1
design category, noted Mr. Hyde. Yet, we have also
made provision for commercial aviation development, in keeping
with the port district's mission of stimulating the local
economy. Details of the Airport Layout Plan include
definition of wetlands; no additional transient tie-downs, and
opportunity for development of three commercial hangar pads near
the building leased by San Juan Airlines, from a total of about
58 hangar spaces to 85 spaces.
New rules put in place
to resume dredging at Deltaport
VANCOUVER, BC The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) has
received notice from Environment Canada regarding conditions to
resume dredging and ocean disposal activities. Environment Canada
has attached two new conditions to the existing ocean disposal
permit: Condition 1: An independent marine surveyor, mutually
agreeable to Environment Canada and VPA, must be on-board all
tugs towing material destined for disposal at sea; and Condition
2: Environment Canada requires a daily report on volume of
material and coordinates of disposal for all disposal activities.
All other existing ocean permit conditions remain in place. The
contractor will resume dredging once VPA is satisfied that
compliance and monitoring activities are successfully implemented
to adhere to Environment Canada's new permit conditions.
Environment Canada's investigation is still ongoing. The VPA had
reported earlier that contractors working on the Deltaport Third
Berth Project (DP3) at Roberts Bank in Delta disposed of clean
dredge material outside of the permitted disposal location for
the project. The VPA said this disposal took place approximately
one kilometer from the area designated in the ocean disposal
permit for the project. Construction for DP3 has been underway
since January 2007. The project will add a third berth to the
existing two-berth terminal at the Deltaport container terminal
at Roberts Bank.
US rail freight traffic numbers
head back to negative side for week
WASHINGTON, DC Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off
slightly during the week ended August 11 in comparison with the
corresponding week last year, the Association of American
Railroads (AAR) reports. Total volume was estimated at 34.5
billion ton-miles, down 0.6 percent from the same week last year.
Intermodal volume totaled 237,298 trailers or containers, down
5.1 percent from last year, with container volume off 3.0 from
last year and trailer volume down 12.1 percent. Carload freight,
which doesn't include the intermodal data, totaled 328,821 cars
for the week, down 2.2 percent from last year. Compared with last
year, loadings were up 0.1 percent in the West but down 5.3
percent in the East. Six of 19 carload commodity groups were up
compared with last year. Loadings of coke were up 15.5 percent
from last year while grain rose 9.7 percent and petroleum
products climbed 4.5 percent. Among commodities reporting
declines were lumber and wood products, down 15.9 percent and
metallic ores, off 26.0 percent. Cumulative volume for the first
32 weeks of 2007 totaled 10,349,562 carloads, down 3.7 percent
from 2006; 7,341,113 trailers or containers, off 1.6 percent; and
total volume of an estimated 1.06 trillion ton-miles, down 2.5
percent from last year.
NASSCO working on Navy deal
to construct additional T-AKE ships
SAN DIEGO General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of General Dynamics, has reached an agreement with the
U.S. Navy for options to build up to five additional T-AKE dry
cargo ammunition ships. Contracts for the ships, valued at
approximately $2.5 billion if all options are exercised, are
expected to be awarded over the next four years. Including the
nine ships previously under contract, this agreement means the
San Diego shipyard would build a total of 14 T-AKE ships for the
Navy. Since October 2001, NASSCO has received contracts to build
nine T-AKE ships and delivered the first three ships of the
class. The fourth T-AKE ship is scheduled to be delivered in
November. Under the new agreement, NASSCO would deliver the
fourteenth ship in the fourth quarter of 2014. NASSCO has
incorporated international marine technologies and commercial
ship-design features into the T-AKE class, including an
integrated electric-drive propulsion system. The ships can
deliver more than 10,000 tons of food, ammunition, fuel and other
provisions to combat ships at sea. T-AKE ships are replacing
single-mission ships that are reaching the end of their service
lives.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Port of Everett taps Olson
as new marina director
EVERETT The Port of Everett has announced the hiring of
Cyndy Olson as its new marina director. Ms. Olson has more than
10 years experience working in marinas, which have included
Elliott Bay and Semiahmoo. In recent years, she has worked as a
boat/yacht insurance agent. Ms. Olson will be responsible for the
management of the ports 2,300-slip marina, and the adjacent
boat launch facility. Her duties will range from managing marina
personnel and budgeting to helping market the ports new
guest moorage facilities to increase tourism on the Everett
waterfront. Ms. Olson started her position at the marina office
on Aug. 20, 2007.
Horizon Lines buying
San Francisco logistics firm
CHARLOTTE, NC Horizon Lines, Inc., has announced that it
has acquired Aero Logistics, a full service, third party
logistics provider (3PL) headquartered in South San Francisco,
CA. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Aero
Logistics designs and manages custom freight shipping and special
handling programs for customers in service-sensitive industries
including high-tech, healthcare, energy, mining, retail and
apparel. Aero also operates a fleet of GPS-equipped trailers
under the direction of their Aero Transportation division.
Horizon Lines, Inc. announced last week the formation of Horizon
Logistics, established to manage the Company's growing integrated
logistics services business. Horizon Lines, LLC will continue to
operate the ocean container shipping services between the U.S.
and Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia and Puerto Rico.
Vessel hit with $10 million penalty
for illegal discharge in wildlife refuge
WASHINGTON, DC The US Department of Justice reports IMC
Shipping Co. Pte. Ltd. (IMC), a Singapore corporation, has
pleaded guilty in federal court in Alaska to three-counts
alleging two violations of the Refuse Act for the illegal
discharge of oil and soy beans and one violation of the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act for the killing of thousands of migratory birds
that resulted from the grounding of the M/V SELENDANG AYU on Dec.
8, 2004 in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. IMC was
subsequently sentenced to pay a criminal penalty of $10 million.
According to the plea agreement, in December 2004, the SELENDANG
AYU, operated by IMC, was traveling the Great Circle Route
through the Aleutian chain in Alaska when it went aground near
the north shore of Unalaska Island, west of Skan Bay in the
Bering Sea. Unalaska Island is within the Alaska Maritime
National Wildlife Refuge. On Dec. 6, 2004, the discovery of a
crack in the engine's number three cylinder liner led the crew to
shut down the engine. The ship drifted for three days in high
winds and heavy seas while the crew attempted to repair the
engine. The crew was never able to restart the engine. On Dec. 8,
2004, the SELENDANG AYU ran aground on the north shore of
Unalaska Island, Alaska west of Skan Bay. IMC has also been
sentenced to serve three years probation to include an audit of
IMC's maintenance program. The cost of the clean up of the spill
was over $100 million. The captain of the SELENDANG AYU, Kailash
Bhushan Singh, previously pleaded guilty on April 1, 2005, to a
charge of making a false statement during the casualty
investigation regarding the time the engine was shut down prior
to the grounding of the SELENDANG AYU.
Department of Commerce adding
website to monitor steel trade data
WASHINGTON, DC The Department of Commerce has announced
the launch of the North American Steel Trade Committees
(NASTC) NAFTA Steel Monitor. This website will allow online
public access to consolidated steel trade data from the United
States, Canada, and Mexico. The Monitor is available at
www.NASTC.org. The NAFTA Steel Monitor is an online tool based on
a prototype developed by Department of Commerce officials working
closely with NASTCs government and industry members. This
website provides detailed and timely trade statistics relevant to
NAFTA partner countries and their steel industries in a
user-friendly format based upon current national monitoring
programs, such as the United States Steel Import Monitoring
and Analysis system. The site contains summaries of intra-NAFTA
and external NAFTA steel trade data, as well as notable changes
in NAFTA steel import trends. Data is provided at both yearly and
monthly levels and will be updated on a monthly basis. The NAFTA
Steel Monitor also features several helpful resources, including
links to individual country monitors and the NAFTA Guide to
Customs Procedures.
Dave Hunt to be guest speaker
at Columbia River Propeller Club meeting
PORTLAND Special Guest Speaker: Dave Hunt, executive
director of the Columbia River Channel Coalition will speak on
The Columbia River: Rolling along toward a Deeper Channel
and Stronger Jetties" at the Columbia River Propeller Club's
Kick-Off meeting, Tuesday, September 18, at the Red Lion on he
River - Jantzen Beach, 909 North Hayden Island Drive in Portland.
Mr. Hunt will explore recent progress made to deepen the Columbia
River Navigation Channel and repair the Jetties - and outline
what major challenges lie ahead. Networking begins at 11:30 am
with lunch served at noon. Cost for Propeller Club Members is
$35. Non-Members $45. Deadline for reservations is Friday,
September 14, 2007. Deadline for cancellations is Monday,
September 17, 2007. Questions? Call Doris @ 503.220.2098.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
MOL car carrier earns
Washington environmental honor
TOKYO Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced that
its operated car carrier CAMELIA ACE has been named by the state
of Washington as a model for its bunkering operation, reflecting
the company's commitment to safe operation and environmental
protection. Washington State sets regulations for bunkering
operation that are said to be the strictest in the world, and
inspects the vessels that do bunkering in its waters. The CAMELIA
ACE was inspected by the state's Department of Ecology on July
20, and received high marks for its bunkering manual and plan,
the training, education, and performance of its crew, and overall
management-related to bunkering operation. The state announced
the honor on July 30. On August 6, Mitsui Kinkai Kisen Co., Ltd.,
an MOL Group ship management company, received a letter of
appreciation from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Hamburg Sud boosting
Asia to Australia/New Zealand run
HAMBURG As from mid-September Hamburg Süd will be
offering an upgraded service between Asia and Australia/New
Zealand (ANZL). Tasman Orient Line and Hapag-Lloyd will be
partners on a slot-charter basis. Five new 1,800 TEU chartered
vessels will be phased into the fixed-day weekly service with an
enhanced port rotation, replacing five smaller ships. Featuring
400 reefers slots apiece and a service speed of 21 knots, the
newbuildings will provide the most comprehensive express service
in the trade between Asia and Australia/New Zealand. The new
joint service has the following port rotation: Yokohama
Kobe Shanghai Hong Kong Brisbane
Tauranga Lyttleton New Plymouth Yokohama.
Matson wins fifth straight
Quest for Quality award
OAKLAND Matson Navigation Company has been honored for the
fifth consecutive year with Logistics Management magazines
Quest for Quality award in the Ocean Carrier category. Matson
ranked high among all ocean carriers recognized in this
years reader survey, which rates transportation companies
in five key services areas: on-time performance, value, equipment
and operations, information technology and customer service.
According to the publication, more than 6,500 readers
participated in the 24th annual survey.
Steelscape joins EPA
in waste minimization program
WASHINGTON, DC Steelscape, in Kalama, is partnering with
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by joining the National
Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) program.
Steelscape is only the second company in Region 10 (Alaska,
Oregon, Idaho and Washington) and the first company in the State
of Washington to enroll in EPA's NPEP program. Steelscape, the
only coated-steel producer in the western United States, has
agreed to make process and equipment changes that will reduce
their use or release of 89,750 lbs. of naphthalene solvent per
year by 30 percent between 2007 and 2010. NPEP is a voluntary
waste minimization program that encourages public and private
organizations to form voluntary partnerships with EPA to reduce
the use or release of 31 priority chemicals beyond the
requirements of environmental regulations. These chemicals are
long-lasting, highly toxic substances that can harm humans and
the environment.
WTSA member carriers call for
forest products rate increase
OAKLAND Member shipping lines in the Westbound
Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) have adopted
guideline rate increases of US$100 per 40-foot container (FEU)
and $80 per 20-foot container (TEU) for port-to-port forest
products shipments, and of $150 per FEU and $120 per TEU for
intermodal moves, to take effect October 1, 2007. WTSA carriers
said the increases are needed to help ensure equipment
availability as the U.S. export market to Asia picks up and as
demand for empty equipment intensifies in the Asia-Europe and
intra-Asia markets, as well in the eastbound Asia-U.S. segment,
given current imbalances. Lines add that, as more forest products
migrate to containers from bulk rail movement, railroads continue
to raise their container rates for those cargoes. Nearly 226,000
FEU of U.S. forest products were shipped to Asia in 2006,
including woodpulp, lumber and logs, kraft linerboard,
paperboard, plywood, newsprint and paper products. WTSA is a
voluntary discussion and research forum of 10 major container
shipping lines serving the trade from ports and inland points in
the U.S. to destinations throughout Asia.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, August 20, 2007
Environmental Impact Statement
released for Astoria LNG facility
ASTORIA NorthernStar Natural Gas (NorthernStar) reports
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued its draft
Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS) for the proposed Bradwood
Landing liquefied natural gas terminal near Astoria and its
associated pipeline stating that with appropriate mitigation
measures as recommended, the project would have limited
adverse environmental impact. The dEIS was prepared by FERC
in consultation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the
U.S. Coast Guard. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff
further concluded that the project would be an
environmentally acceptable action with appropriate
mitigation measures.
Panama Canal Authority names
CH2M Hill to management deal
PANAMA CITY The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has awarded a
Program Manager contract to CH2M Hill to assist the ACP in the
management of numerous contracts including those for design and
construction of the two post-Panamax lock structures under its
Expansion Program. The procurement process began June 1, when the
ACP released its request for proposals seeking a top-tier firm
with a strong reputation in program management and with
experience working on a variety of major international
construction projects. On July 17, the ACP began reviewing the
three bid submissions from CH2M Hill, Parsons Brinkerhoff and URS
Holdings, Inc. The ACP reports the winning proposal was selected
based on the best value and not the lowest price; additionally,
each firm was also required to give an oral presentation. Over
the course of a month, the ACP conducted careful evaluation and
review to ensure that the chosen firm would best meet the
projects needs. The ACP Board of Directors approved the use
of an integrated program management model, wherein the authority
will designate tasks between its own staff and CH2M Hill. The
firm will begin work as early as next week and will interface
with both design and construction teams. Moreover, the bulk of
the program manager duties will focus on the new locks contracts
while also interfacing with other contracts. , construction and
operations expertise. Expansion will build a new lane of traffic
along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of
locks, which will double tonnage capacity and allow the transit
of much longer, wider ships through the waterway.
WTSA member carriers
eye wastepaper rate boost
OAKLAND Major U.S.-Asia container lines in the Westbound
Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) are recommending a
second increase in wastepaper freight rates this year, of US$50
per 40-foot container (FEU) and $40 per 20-foot container (TEU),
to take effect September 1, 2007. The proposed increase applies
to both port-to-port and intermodal shipments, and follows an
earlier increase taken last April. Sudden cargo growth in the
U.S.-Asia market due to a weaker U.S. dollar has put pressure on
carriers to make container equipment available across many
commodity segments. At the same time, a continuing cargo and
equipment imbalance favoring inbound traffic requires shipping
lines to optimize equipment allocation for faster turns and
improved utilization. The result has been upward pressure on
rates, especially aslow-rated, high-volume traffic such as
wastepaper competes with other cargoes for available equipment.
WTSA is a voluntary discussion and research forum of 10 major
ocean and intermodal container shipping lines serving the trade
from ports and inland points in the U.S. to destinations
throughout Asia.
Pair of shutdowns set for
Shilshole Bay Marina tomorrow
SEATTLE Seattle City Light has advised the Port of Seattle
of an electrical shutdown of the entire Shilshole Bay Marina
tomorrow, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for a Terminal Pole
Relocation. Water will also be shutdown tomorrow, from 8:00 p.m.
to 3:00 a.m. for a Hydrant Relocation. Both shutdowns are related
to construction of the Burke Gilman Trail Extension. Electrical
power and water shutdowns will impact service to all of the
docks, restrooms, hoists, fuel dock, Corinthian Yacht Club,
A-dock pump-out station, and tenants in the Marina Building.
Portable toilets will be provided at M-2, M-5 and two just
southeast of the Marina Building. The Marina Office will be open
on the 21st during regular business hours.
Women's Shipping Club
looking for past members
PORTLAND The Portland Women's Shipping Club is trying to
locate the following people to update the clubs records and
invite them to the club's 50th Anniversary meeting. If anyone has
any contact information on these people: Maxine Macklin, Rosemary
Anderson, Evelyn Rooke, Evelyn Elsner Osborne, Marguerite
(Maggie) Davidson, Mary (Schroeder) Fairhurst, Tom Campbell,
Arnold Fenger, Beverlee Olson Yeager (last known to be in
Florida), please email: allen@pdxmex.com.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, August 17, 2007
New round of funding set for
Port Security Grant Program
WASHINGTON, DC The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
has announced a further $110 million in supplemental Fiscal Year
(FY) 2007 grants and released guidance and application kits for
the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). Eligible applicants must
apply for FY 2007 supplemental funding online at
http://www.grants.gov. Grant guidance and eligibility criteria
for the supplemental funds are also available online. Although
dollar amounts to some areas have been determined, all applicants
must still submit completed applications no later than 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time, Aug. 29, 2007. As required by Congress,
the department anticipates awarding supplemental grants by Sept.
30, 2007. Eight port regions qualified for Tier I, or highest
risk status, in FY 2007. Through this supplemental award, these
ports will receive a combined total of $66 million, or roughly 60
percent of the $110 million available through supplemental PSGP
funding. Seventeen port regions qualified for Tier II in FY 2007.
Through this supplemental award, these ports will receive a
combined total of $22 million, or roughly 20 percent of total
supplemental PSGP funding. This latest round of PSGP funding will
support a strategic, area-wide focus around ports, providing
funding for the development and implementation of port-wide risk
management and mitigation activities, as well as continuity of
operations plans for Tier I and II ports. An additional $16.5
million will be made available for Tier III projects not funded
under the initial FY07 PSGP award. DHS will also make available
$5.5 million for Tier IV port areas to submit new project
proposals specifically for Transportation Worker Identification
Credential implementation or security training initiatives.
Crowley Maritime christens
new articulated tug-barge
MOBILE, AL Crowley Maritime Corporation has christened the
third of ten new 185,000-barrel articulated tug-barge (ATB) tank
vessels that the company will take delivery of by the end of
2010. The vessels christened were the 9,280 HP-tug RESOLVE and
BARGE 650-3. During ceremonies held at the Mobile Convention
Center on South Water Street, Nancy Schlueter, wife of Ed
Schlueter, vice president of Crowley's Vessel Management Services
(VMS) christened the RESOLVE, while Alison Haber-Djuve, wife of
Karsten Djuve, regional chartering manager, BP Shipping USA,
christened BARGE 650-3. Crowley's Petroleum Services group will
charter the VT Halter Marine-built ATB from VMS, and operate it
for BP under a seven-year agreement. The 650-3 is the first
vessel in the United States to be certified by Lloyds
Classification Society as complying with the requirements of the
International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) Green Passport
program. This certification ensures that any and all potentially
hazardous materials that went into the original construction of
the barge have been identified and will be properly disposed of
when the barge ceases trading at the end of its useful life.
Crowley already has four, 155,000-barrel ATBs and two
185,000-barrel ATBs operating.
Panama Canal ties record
for daily large vessel transits
PANAMA CITY For the third time in the last 14 months, the
Panama Canal tied its record for the total number of daily
transits that have an overall length greater than 900 feet. The
Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced that nine vessels with
an overall length greater than 900 feet transited the canal on
Tuesday, August 7 - tying the record achieved in May 2006 and
matched in April 2007. On average, 39 vessels transit the
waterway each day and, of those, usually five vessels are greater
than 900 feet. All of the record-tying vessels were container
vessels and, due to the size of the vessel (greater than 900
feet), require more time and resources to transit the waterway.
Of the nine, Maersk and Evergreen own two vessels each and the
remaining belonged to MSC, ZIM, CMA-CGM, HAPAG-LLOYD and COSCO.
Weekly rail freight traffic
shows signs of improvement
WASHINGTON, DC Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was up
slightly during the week ended August 4 in comparison with the
corresponding week last year, the Association of American
Railroads (AAR) reports. Total volume was estimated at 35.4
billion ton-miles, up 2.3 percent from the same week last year.
Intermodal volume totaled 237,850 trailers or containers, down
1.6 percent from last year, with container volume up 1.7 from
last year and trailer volume down 12.3 percent. Carload freight,
which doesn't include the intermodal data, totaled 338,386 cars
for the week, up 1.2 percent from last year. Compared with last
year, loadings were up 3.2 percent in the West but down 1.5
percent in the East. Eight of 19 carload commodity groups were up
compared with last year. Loadings of coke were up 24.3 percent
from last year while motor vehicles gained 15.4 percent and
petroleum products rose 11.3 percent. Among commodities reporting
declines were lumber and wood products, down 15.9 percent and
metallic ores, down 11.6 percent. Cumulative volume for the first
31 weeks of 2007 totaled 10,020,741 carloads, down 3.8 percent
from 2006; 7,103,815 trailers or containers, off 1.5 percent; and
total volume of an estimated 1.02 trillion ton-miles, down 2.5
percent from last year.
New web site created for
Portland International Airport
PORTLAND The newly launched web site,
www.PDXAirportFutures.com, is an online hub for all things
related to the forthcoming three-year Airport Futures planning
process for Portland International Airport. Visit the Web site to
see an overview of the project schedule, review the
projects public involvement process, submit questions to
the project team; view, zoom and rotate airport and surrounding
area photos, and much more. Airport Futures is a collaborative
effort between the City of Portland, Port of Portland, and the
Portland-Vancouver metropolitan community to update the Portland
International Airport 2000 Master Plan and create a land use plan
for the airport which recognizes PDXs role in the regional
economy while managing surrounding infrastructure and livability.
The planning process will reinforce Portlands planning
legacy, PDXs reputation as one of the countrys
premier airports, and incorporate principles of sustainability
and livability. The City and Port are committed to planning for
future cargo and passenger aviation needs of the region while
using reasonable efforts to avoid, reduce, or mitigate potential
impacts to the community. The Airport Futures project will be
guided by a 30-member planning advisory group and input from
outreach to other key PDX stakeholders and surrounding
communities. The groups first planning meeting is scheduled
for Oct. 9. On July 11, the Port of Portland Commission approved
an intergovernmental agreement between the city and port to
develop an integrated long-range development plan for PDX known
as Airport Futures. Portland City Council approved this
intergovernmental agreement on June 27.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Project Labor Agreements entered
by Seattle Port Commissioners
SEATTLE The Port of Seattle Commission has agreed to enter
Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for two new construction projects
in the Seattle harbor, including conversion of Terminal 30 into a
container terminal, and expansion of Terminal 91 as a base for
cruise ship operations. The PLA is designed to assure that work
can proceed on the two related construction projects without
interruption. Terminal 30 has been used for cruise operations but
will be converted to its original use as a container terminal.
When combined with Terminal 25, it will provide 70 acres for
container use. The terminal has been leased by SSA, which already
operates Terminal 18 in Seattle. Terminal 91 is now used by the
Bering Sea factory trawler fleet when it is in port over the
winter. Moving cruise ships there for the summer months
the season in April through October will provide
year-round use of that facility. It will have two cruise berths
with shore power available for cruise ships when in port. The PLA
with the Seattle-King County Building Trades Council is a
site-specific agreement that supersedes any conflicting
collective-bargaining agreements. It addresses working conditions
and work rules and provides uniform grievance and
dispute-resolution procures. It includes a no-strike agreement by
all signatory unions for the duration of the construction
projects.
Vancouver, USA Port Commission
Oks change order for rail project
VANCOUVER, USA The Vancouver Port Commission has
authorized staff to award a change order for project management
and construction services for the execution of the Schedule 1
Rail Project. The commissions action authorized Executive
Director Larry Paulson to sign a change order to a contract with
David Evans & Associates to extend services to include
construction services on Schedule 1 of the Port of
Vancouvers West Vancouver Freight Access Project. The
change order increases the contract by $492,020, for a
not-to-exceed total of $2,034,259. The firm selected to perform
final design engineering for the project, David Evans &
Associates, has completed the design documents, which are
currently in final review. Design costs under the personal
services contract awarded to David Evans & Associates through
competitive solicitation were approved at $1,542,239. Actual
design costs are expected to be completed under the budget
contract cost by approximately 10-15 percent. The anticipated
construction costs for the Schedule 1 Rail project have been
estimated by the ports engineers to be between $13 million
and $15 million. Services provided by David Evans &
Associates include project management for design and
constructability, project close-out, and sub-consultant services
for surveying, staking and grade checking.
Washington State delivers
big jump in export numbers
TACOMA The World Trade Center Tacoma reports Washington
State exports have increased to over $30 billion in the first
half of 2007. This represents a 20.3 percent increase, compared
with the same period in 2006. This jump in exports further
solidifies Washington State's position as fourth largest exporter
nationwide, closely behind New York, then California, and Texas.
Exports to Japan, Washington's largest trading partner, increased
24.1 percent in the first half of the year. China closely
followed, growing by almost 56 percent more than the same period
of 2006. Canada, France, and Taiwan are the third, fourth, and
fifth largest customers. The aircraft trend continues as aircraft
and parts maintain their status as Washington's largest export,
growing over 25 percent to $19 billion, which is 59 percent of
the state's exports. In addition, other top exports that lagged
in the interim were met with renewed growth; industrial machinery
exports rose 15 percent, and cereals and other agricultural
products saw growth over 20 percent. The World Trade Center
Tacoma has gathered this information from the World Institute for
Strategic Economic Research (WISER). For more information about
Washington State trade, contact the World Trade Center Tacoma at:
http://www.wtcta.org.
Port of Tacoma taps Hazarian
as new public affairs manager
TACOMA The Port of Tacoma has selected Tara Hazarian to
the newly-created position of public affairs manager. With more
than 15 years experience in strategic communications, community
outreach and public relations program management, Ms. Hazarian
will focus on several key areas of port communications, including
economic development, transportation and environmental issues.
Before joining the port, Ms. Hazarian managed regional
communications for public involvement agency EnviroIssues
(Tacoma). She also served in the Community Relations Department
for the City of Tacoma (2003-2006) and was principal of Get Real!
Communications (Tacoma, 2000-2003). Ms. Hazarian's background
also includes seven years working for newspapers and as a
freelance journalist.
Invasive species meeting
set for August 20, in Seattle
OLYMPIA Representatives from the national, Oregon, Idaho,
and Washington invasive species councils will meet for the first
time on Aug. 20 in Seattle to share information and explore
coordinating efforts to battle highly destructive invasive plants
and animals. The councils will meet at 9:00 a.m., Aug. 20, in the
Center for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington,
3501 N.E. 41 St., Seattle. Invasive species are non-native
plants, animals and other organisms that choke out native
species, often causing significant environmental and economic
damage. Invasive species hitchhike to new locales in a variety of
ways, such as in a ship's ballast water. The cause of their
introduction can be as innocent as cleaning out an aquarium and
dumping plants and animals into a stream, or moving a boat from
lake to lake without cleaning the hull. At the August meeting,
which will be held at the Univeristy of Washington, the three
state councils will look at cross-border concerns and seek
opportunities to work together as a region. Lori Williams,
representing the National Invasive Species Council, will bring a
national perspective to the issue.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Port of Vancouver, USA
to settle cleanup suit
VANCOUVER, USA The Vancouver Port Commission has
authorized Executive Director Larry Paulson to sign settlement
documents with three parties, ending litigation over
reimbursement for the environmental cleanup at the former site of
Fort Vancouver Plywood. The settlement agreements amount to $1.9
million from the parties. The property was the site of industrial
activities mostly wood-related manufacturing by Fort
Vancouver Plywood and its predecessor Vancouver Plywood
for more than 70 years. The last known industrial operation was a
former plywood mill that closed in 1996. Site investigation
revealed that the soil had been contaminated with petroleum
hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), metals, and
pentachlorophenol (PCP) in excess of Washington State Department
of Ecology standards. Under a formal agreement with the
Department of Ecology, the port removed the contaminated soil
from the site. Under Washingtons Model Toxics Control Act
(MTCA), suit was filed in 1998 by the port against Fort Vancouver
Plywood, Texaco (as the successor to Vancouver Plywood), and
Wausau Insurance for reimbursement of the $6.8 million cost of
the complex environmental remediation at the site. The Department
of Ecology has provided grants totaling approximately $3 million
toward the cleanup. As a result of its cleanup, the port returned
16 brownfield acres to productive industrial use. Pacific Coast
Shredding is currently a tenant of the port on the property, and
the port is conducting ongoing groundwater monitoring. Under
terms of the settlements, the port will receive $1.5 million from
Fort Vancouver Plywood and Texaco, and $400,000 from Wausau.
Port of Everett selling
historic Weyerhaeuser building
EVERETT On Aug. 14, the Everett Port Commission approved
the Executive Director to negotiate the sale of the historic
Weyerhaeuser building to developer Steve Hager, and to enter into
negotiations with the Stuchell/Kinzua Partnership for developing
the existing site. The building, which the port purchased in 1984
from the Weyerhaeuser Mill Company, will be moved to a one-acre
piece of property near the citys new Riverfront
Redevelopment. Mr. Hager is known for his work in moving the
Donovan Homes in Everett in light of the Providence Everett
Medical Center hospital expansion. He earned the 2007 Historic
Preservation Award from the state Department of Archeology and
Historic Preservation for his work on saving the Donovan Homes.
The Weyerhaeuser Building was constructed in 1923, and originally
located at Mill A, which is currently the ports South
Terminal shipping area. In 1938, the building was moved, via
barge to Mill B, which is currently the ports Riverside
property. In 2009, when Mr. Hager plans to move the building, it
will once again be transported by barge. Even with the impending
move, the building will maintain its status on the National
Register of Historic Places. As part of this transaction, the
port will enter into negotiations with the Stuchell/Kinzua
Partnership to lease the site where the Weyerhaeuser Building is
now located in Port Gardner Landing. Stuchell would then sell the
one-acre site near the Riverfront property to Mr. Hager for the
Weyerhaeuser Building.
Panama Canal celebrates
93 years of operations
PANAMA CITY Ninety-three years after its grand opening in
1914, the Panama Canal will mark its anniversary today by
celebrating the successful start of its historic Expansion
Program. Nearly a year after Panamanians approved a national
referendum to expand the waterway, the Panama Canal Authority
(ACP) has set the project in motion. It awarded the first
expansion-related construction contract, the first of five dry
excavation projects that will create the new Pacific Locks access
channel. This new channel will link a new, third set of locks on
the Pacific end of the Canal with the existing Gaillard Cut (the
narrowest stretch in the Panama Canal). Recently, the ACP
assembled an internal team to manage this undertaking, hired
legal and financial advisors, and released other preliminary
tenders. It has also presented the canal's Expansion Program to
international financial institutions, as it begins to weigh
financing alternatives for the project. Expansion will build a
new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the
construction of a new set of locks, doubling capacity and
allowing more traffic and longer, wider ships. This project,
which just received the 2008 Samoter award for "Best
Construction Project in the World," will be the largest
undertaking at the Canal since its opening.
Genco Shipping & Trading
buying six drybulk vessels
NEW YORK Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has
announced that it has agreed to acquire six drybulk vessels with
an average age of approximately two years from affiliates of
Evalend Shipping Co. S.A. for an aggregate purchase price of
approximately $336 million. The acquisition is subject to the
completion of customary additional documentation and closing
conditions. Genco plans to finance the acquisition through
borrowings under its $1.4 billion revolving credit facility. The
six vessels, comprised of three Supramax vessels and three
Handysize vessels, are expected to be delivered to Genco during
the fourth quarter of 2007. Upon completion of the acquisition,
and including the nine Capesize vessels to be acquired from
companies within the Metrostar Management Corporation group
announced on July 18, 2007, Genco's fleet will consist of nine
Capesize, seven Panamax, three Supramax, seven Handymax, and
eight Handysize drybulk carriers, with a total carrying capacity
of approximately 2,814,000 dwt and an average age of
approximately eight years.
Work at Portland Airport
closing lanes in "departures" area
PORTLAND The Port of Portland reports motorists can expect
periodic single lane closures on the inner lanes of the
departures (upper) roadway in front of Portland
International Airport through mid-September. The work will close
a single lane between 2 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays
to allow workers to reseal the expansion joints in the roadway.
The work will allow through traffic at all times, but may cause
minor traffic delays. Signage and traffic control measures will
inform motorists and pedestrians of changes.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, August 13, 2007
Port of Everett wins award
for beach restoration project
EVERETT The Port of Everett has received the 2007 American
Association of Port Authorities National Environmental
Improvement Award in the mitigation category for its beach
restoration work as part of the Mount Baker Terminal project. The
beach restoration project, which is located in south Everett and
is known as Edgewater Beach, was constructed as part of the
ports new Mount Baker Terminal, formerly known as the
Rail/Barge Transfer Facility. The port, while working with the
local tribes, constructed this new beach to restore the natural
beach along the BNSF Railway mainline fill and to enhance public
beach access at the terminal. To restore the beach, the port
added 1,100 lineal feet of selected gravels and sand to form a
natural beach slope, storm berm and backshore. This restoration
allows the beach to be accessible at all tide levels. This
project also provides beach access with paths, benches, picnic
tables and a parking lot. Since ownership of the property is in
the process of being transferred from the United States Air
Force, the beach is not yet open for public use. The beach
restoration cost $1.7 million, which was approximately 4.7
percent of the facilitys $30 million price tag. The project
was partially funded through a $15.5 million grant from the state
of Washington.
Port of Bremerton sets Open House
to discuss Kitsap SEED Project
PORT ORCHARD, WA On Wednesday, August 15, the Port of
Bremerton is holding an open house for the public to
hear detailed information and ask questions of experts about the
Kitsap SEED Project (Sustainable Energy and Economic
Development). The gathering will be held beginning at 6 p.m. at
Klahowya Secondary School on Newberry Hill Road in Central Kitsap
County. The Kitsap SEED project is a multifaceted program
centered on a clean technology business park to be located on
port property southwest of Bremerton including a business
incubation program for this rapidly growing business sector. A
second facet of Kitsap SEED is a sustainable business practices
program for park tenants and those in the wider Kitsap and Puget
Sound community. Formal presentations will include visual
displays and demonstrate the significant expertise which has gone
into the design and development of this advanced business
recruitment and job development center.
Boeing nets contract
to eye PNW ocean conditions
ST. LOUIS Boeinghas been selected by the Northwest
Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) to
further develop ocean observing and modeling capabilities that
help monitor and predict marine conditions in the Pacific
Northwest region of the United States. Under a three-year, $8.5
million grant awarded to NANOOS by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Boeing's Network Centric Operations
Capabilities and Emerging Markets team will serve as system
architect for the Data Management and Communication component of
the regional system. NANOOS, the Pacific Northwest's regional
association of the nation's planned Integrated Ocean Observing
System (IOOS), is responsible for addressing ocean observing and
prediction needs of users in Washington, Oregon and northern
California, with links to British Columbia and Alaska observing
programs. NANOOS will leverage federal, local and private
observing systems to deliver information as a non-federal
component of the IOOS. NANOOS collects and disseminates coastal
ocean and estuary data and products to help monitor and predict
ocean conditions, protect coastline and marine ecosystems, warn
of public health risks, mitigate natural hazards, improve the
safety and efficiency of marine operations, and support national
security efforts.
Top Tankers buying
three panamax vessels
ATHENS TOP Tankers Inc. has announced that it has entered
into agreements to acquire three drybulk panamax vessels from
unrelated third parties. The vessels, built between 2000 and
2001, are scheduled to be delivered to the company between
September 2007 and March 2008 and to enter into spot market
trading. The aggregate purchase price of the vessels is
approximately $222 million. The company intends to finance the
acquisition through new loan facilities, working capital, and the
proceeds from future capital raisings.
Free musical performance
headed to Port of Olympia plaza
OLYMPIA The Port of Olympia will host a Music in the Park
event at Port Plaza on Budd Inlet Friday, August 17. The Becki
Sue & Her Big Rockin' Daddies band is slated to perform
beginning at 7:00 p.m. The free performance is part of the Music
in the Park Summer Concert series brought to the community by the
Olympia Downtown Association and a number of community sponsors.
This is the only concert of the season to be held at Port Plaza.
The Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin' Daddies band, a rockin' blues
band, won the "Best Band" award at the 2006 Washington
Blues Society and also received the award for "Best
Bass" "Best Electric Guitar" "Best Sax"
and "Keeping the Blues Alive" award. For further
information, contact the Olympia Downtown Association at
360-357-8948 or go to www.downtownolympia.com
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, August 10, 2007
Port Seattle honors contractors
for safety programs at work
SEATTLE The Seattle Port Commission has recognized four of
its contractors for their excellent safety programs while working
on port-related construction projects. In all four cases, the
contractors worked without a recordable incident on the job, a
key indicator that they are taking safety seriously. Having
success at the airport, the same principles were enlisted at the
Shilshole Bay Marina reconstruction site, where some of the same
challenges were apparent the need to keep the facility
open for customers while it was being rebuilt. The four companies
and projects recognized include: An underground storm water
detention project at the airport. Pellco Construction, Inc. a
certified small business, worked more than a year without a
recordable incident. Pellco worked with the port to develop its
safety program. An 11-acre detention pond for treatment of storm
water near the airport. Gary Merlino Construction, Co., of
Seattle, completed the project with no recordable incidents.
G&T Conveyor Co., of Tavares, FL., which worked for almost
two years on the airports baggage conveyor without any
recordable incidents. Hoffman Construction Co., of Washington,
general contractor at Shilshole Bay Marina, which also worked for
more than a year without a recordable incident. Hoffmans
project included demolition of the old central pier and office
building at the marina, as well as installation of new docks and
new buildings. The Shilshole project will be completed next year.
Invitation for bids announced
for Portland Airport project
PORTLAND The Port of Portland's website reports Hoffman
Construction Co. is inviting interested contractors to submit
bids on the first phase of construction for the new parking
garage at Portland International Airport (PDX). This second
parking structure also includes a headquarters facility for the
Port of Portland, thus the project name, HQP2. Subcontracting
opportunities for this underground portion of the project include
site civil utilities, demolition, piling and foundation
excavation and backfill, steel reinforcement for concrete
foundations, geothermal wells, underground mechanical and
electrical. Pre-bid meeting is August 15, 2007; and bid due date
is August 24, 2007. Construction is tentatively scheduled to
begin Sept. 20, 2007. Minority-owned and woman-owned businesses
and emerging small businesses are encouraged to participate. To
view this request for proposals, go to Hoffmans Web site at
www.hoffmancorp.com.
July brings further lows
for US rail freight totals
WASHINGTON, DC Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off
again during July, the Association of American Railroads (AAR)
reports. U.S. railroads originated 1,250,961 carloads of freight
in July, down 39,196 carloads (3.0 percent) from July 2006. They
also originated 913,590 intermodal trailers and containers during
the month, down of 24,570 units (2.6 percent) from July 2006.
Commodities showing carload gains in July 2007 included chemicals
(up 3,441 carloads, or 3.0 percent, to 119,704 carloads); motor
vehicles and equipment (up 2,199 carloads, or 4.0 percent, to
57,366 carloads); and food products (up 1,584 carloads, or 4.8
percent, to 34,569 carloads). Commodities showing carload
declines in July 2007 included coal (down 15,643 carloads, or 2.9
percent, to 524,755 carloads); crushed stone, sand, and gravel
(down 9,339 carloads, or 10.1 percent, to 82,933 carloads); and
metals and metal products (down 6,638 carloads, or 11.9 percent,
to 49,138 carloads). Six of the 19 major commodity categories
tracked by the AAR saw U.S. carload increases in July 2007
compared to July 2006. For the first seven months of 2007, total
U.S. rail carloads were down 397,969 carloads (3.9 percent) to
9,682,355 carloads. Year-over-year traffic is down in most
commodity categories, including coal (down 77,118 carloads, or
1.8 percent); crushed stone, sand, and gravel (down 75,567
carloads, or 10.9 percent); and motor vehicles and equipment
(down 55,084 carloads, or 8.4 percent). U.S. intermodal traffic,
which consists of trailers and containers on flat cars and is not
included in carload figures, was down 101,954 trailers and
containers (1.5 percent) for the first seven months of 2007 to
6,865,965 units. Total volume for the first seven months of 2007
was estimated at 988.5 billion ton-miles, down 2.7 percent from a
year ago.
Freight transport index
falls during month of June
WASHINGTON, DC The Freight Transportation Services Index
(TSI) fell 0.7 percent in June from its May level, falling to its
lowest level since February after a one-month rise, the U.S.
Department of Transportations Bureau of Transportation
Statistics (BTS) reports. The June decline was the largest
monthly decrease since November 2006. The freight TSI is down 3.7
percent from its peak of 113.1 achieved in November 2005 but up
0.6 percent from its recent low of 108.3 in November 2006. The
freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in the output of
services provided by the for-hire freight transportation
industries. The index consists of data from for-hire trucking,
rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight. For the first
six months of 2007, the freight TSI was virtually unchanged. It
was the first time since 2003 that the freight TSI failed to
increase during the first half of the year and only the third
time in 10 years. The June freight TSI of 108.9 was down 3.4
percent from its June 2006 level, the largest June-to-June
decline in the 17 years of the index. The June index is at its
lowest June level since June 2003, 2.1 percent lower than the
June 2005 level and 1.4 percent lower than the June 2004 level.
Despite the recent declines, the freight index has increased 7.4
percent in five years and 18.1 percent in 10 years. The TSI is an
index of the month-to-month changes in the output of services
provided by for-hire transportation industries. It includes
historic data from 1990 to the present. The TSI is still under
development and is considered experimental. The seasonally
adjusted index measures changes from the monthly average of the
base year of 2000. Release of the July index is scheduled for
Sept. 12.
Cannon ceremony marks change
of Coast Guard's 13th District command
SEATTLE A ceremonial firing of cannons will signal the
change of command for the commander of the Coast Guard's
Thirteenth District at Pier 36 in Seattle today, as part of a
time-honored Naval tradition. The ceremony will be held at the
Integrated Support Command, 1519 Alaska Way South, at 10:30 a.m.
Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard, will
preside over the ceremony as Rear Admiral John P. Currier will
relieve Rear Admiral Richard R. Houck, who is retiring from the
Coast Guard after 32 years of service. Admiral Houck's previous
assignments include, but are not limited to, student engineer of
the Coast
Guard Cutter HAMILTON; Engineer Officer on the Coast Guard Cutter
NORTHLAND; Executive Officer on the Coast Guard Cutter JARVIS;
Commanding Officer, Integrated Support Command, Portsmouth, Va.;
Chief of Staff, Seventeenth Coast Guard District in Juneau,
Alaska. Admiral Houck's military awards include the Legion of
Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal,
and Coast Guard Achievement Medal. Admiral Currier's pervious
assignments include, but are not limited to, Pacific Area Chief
of Operations; Coast Guard Air Station Miami, which is the
world's busiest air-sea search and rescue unit; Chief of Search
and Rescue Operations and Director of Auxiliary for the Ninth
Coast Guard District based in Cleveland; Commanding Officer of
Air Station; Detroit tours of duty at Coast Guard Air Station
Cape Cod, Mass., and Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, Alaska.
Admiral Currier's military awards include the Legion of Merit,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal,
Coast Guard Commendation Medal with "O" device and the
Coast Guard Achievement Medal with "O" device. Gun
salutes originated as a friendly gesture from one ship to honor
another. When a cannon was fired, it partially disarmed the ship,
so non-combatant firing of a cannon showed respect and trust. The
number of guns fired indicated the rank of the individual in
command being honored.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Senator Murray helps break ground
on Port of Vancouver, USA project
VANCOUVER, USA United States Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
spent part of the Congressional Recess at the Port of Vancouver
USAs Terminal 1 assisting in the groundbreaking for the
West Vancouver Freight Access Project, which will provide
congestion relief on the mainlines and improved access to port
facilities. The $56 million West Vancouver Freight Access Project
will allow the Port of Vancouver and the region to support
existing and planned freight volumes. With potential new
investments expected at the ports Columbia Gateway and the
Alcoa/Evergreen properties, this rail development will provide a
significant boost to the economy of the entire region. Existing
tenants and customers of the port are also experiencing growth
and will require additional rail access and service. For these
reasons, a 2010 completion date is anticipated for the rail
project. This will allow full use of the newly-developed
properties and result in a doubling of jobs and the ports
economic impact. The project has also forged partnerships between
the City of Vancouver, the port and the BNSF Railway Company. At
full build-out, the project will also create opportunities to
redevelop a long-dormant stretch of the Columbia River
waterfront, assist the City of Vancouvers realization of
the Vancouver City Center Vision Plan and connect the Renaissance
Plan in downtown Vancouver with the river which, in turn, will
create significant private sector investment. Development of the
Vancouver waterfront is tied to the ports rail project.
TSA member carriers
express peak season concerns
OAKLAND Container lines in the Transpacific Stabilization
Agreement (TSA) see a potentially difficult peak season through
October, with spillover effects likely heading into 2008. The
carrier research and discussion group is reporting consistently
high ship utilization numbers since May and going forward through
the summer; higher monthly volume and utilization totals relative
to 2006; and increased congestion at Asian ports notably
Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Colombo due to booming
intra-Asia and Asia-Europe trade growth. While trade growth has
moderated in line with expectations, U.S. importers face supply
chain congestion challenges that get progressively complex to
manage moving into the peak shipping season. Despite a slower
than expected first quarter and revised 2007 cargo demand
forecasts in the 7-8 percent range, shipments have rebounded to
healthy levels moving into the summer. June liftings by TSA
carriers, for example, totaled more than 370,000 40-foot
containers (FEU), up 16.4 percent from the 318,000 FEU carried in
June 2006. Average vessel utilization was 95.6 percent versus
92.4 percent in June 2006. While some of the gain in traffic may
have related to July 1 changes in Chinese export subsidies, the
overall trend suggests a resumption of strong cargo growth.
Coast Guard Officer
charged with dumping wastes
HONOLULU David G. Williams, a Chief Warrant Officer in the
U.S. Coast Guard and the Main Propulsion Assistant for the Coast
Guard Cutter RUSH, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for
obstructing the investigation into his authorization of the
direct overboard discharge of bilge wastes through the deep sink
into the Honolulu Harbor, announced Ronald J. Tenpas, acting
assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's
Environment & Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney
for the District of Hawaii Edward H. Kubo Jr. Mr. Williams was
charged with two counts: one count of obstruction of justice and
one count of
making a false statement. As the Main Propulsion Assistant, he
oversaw the maintenance of the main diesel engines and other
machinery in the engine room for the Coast Guard Cutter RUSH, a
378 ft. high endurance cutter stationed in Honolulu. According to
the indictment, on or about March 8, 2006, Mr. Williams
authorized the direct discharge of bilge wastes into Honolulu
Harbor. The Engineering Department personnel engaged in an
unusual and abnormal operation and configuration of engine room
equipment to pump bilge wastes from the aft bilge to the deep
sink and overboard into Honolulu Harbor, thereby bypassing the
"oily water separator" (OWS) system. The OWS system is
a pollution prevention control device used by high endurance
Coast Guard cutters like the RUSH to manage accumulations of
bilge wastes while underway at sea. The OWS system collects,
stores, and processes wastes to separate the water from the oil
and other wastes. The charges set forth in an indictment are
merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until
proven guilty. If convicted Williams could face five years in
prison on each count.
Foss joins EPA program
to reduce greenhouse gases
SEATTLE Foss Maritime has announced that it joined the
SmartWay Transport® Partnership, a voluntary collaboration
between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while
significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. Foss
is the first carrier accepted into the program for its marine
transportation services. Foss has pledged to contribute to the
partnerships goal to reduce 33 to 66 million metric tons of
carbon dioxide and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide per year
by 2012 by improving the environmental performance of its marine
operations. Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas, and
nitrogen oxide is an air pollutant that contributes to smog.
Repair work has WSF
making changes to ferry service
SEATTLE Washington State Ferries will be making a number
of vessel changes this weekend to accommodate the need for vessel
maintenance. In the San Juans, the MV ELWHA will replace a sister
ship, the MV KALEETAN in the San Juan Islands. These vessels are
the same size so there will be no impact to service. In the
Seattle/Bremerton service, on Sunday, August 12, the smaller
KALEETAN (144-car) will replace the slightly larger MV WALLA
WALLA (188-car) on the Seattle/Bremerton route. While it carries
fewer vehicles, the Kaleetan carries 500 more passengers.
Customers are encouraged to either leave a vehicle on either side
of the water and walk on the ferry or, to ease loading, commuters
can also join with friends in setting up three person temporary
carpools. Interested commuters can contact Nicole Patrick at
Patricn@wsdot.wa.gov or 206.515.3857 for more information. on the
Edmonds/Kingston run, the WALLA WALLA will replace the slightly
larger MV PUYALLUP (202-cars) on the Edmonds/Kingston route while
the PUYALLUP goes to the Seattle/Bainbridge route to replace its
sister ship, MV TACOMA. The TACOMA and the PUYALLUP are the same
size so there will be no change in service on the
Seattle/Bainbridge route.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Port of Anacortes to begin
Focus Fidalgo cleanup effort
ANACORTES The Port of Anacortes, in partnership with the
Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE), will soon begin
cleanup of contaminated soil northwest of the boat launch at Cap
Sante Boat Haven. This site, which includes approximately
one-half acre of land leased to tenant Cap Sante Marine, is the
first of five cleanup sites identified by the Port of Anacortes.
The Focus Fidalgo cleanup project integrates remediation, habitat
restoration, redevelopment, and public access improvements into a
single, planned and coordinated effort. The $5.3 million soil
remediation project will be funded in part by a grant from DOE,
in conjunction with Gov. Christine Gregoires Puget Sound
Initiative. The initiative, with funding from the state
legislature, is designed to expedite environmental cleanup
projects throughout the Puget Sound region. Fuel leaks from
underground storage tanks within yards of the boat basin were
initially discovered in the early 1980s. At that time the Port of
Anacortes installed a petroleum recovery trench, and two leaking
tanks were subsequently removed and replaced. Contaminated soils
remained, however, and were the focus of a 2007 agreed
order between the Port of Anacortes and DOE.
Crowley Maritime presents
maritime security award
KINGS POINT, NY Crowley Maritime Corporation recently
presented Tyler A. Stutin, a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA)
midshipmen, with the Crowley Maritime Security Enhancement Award.
Vic Goldberg, Crowley vice president of marine operations,
recognized Mr. Stutin, during the 2007 Academic Awards
Convocation at Kings Point in June. Candidates for this award
must demonstrate exceptional interest in and aptitude for, a
career in port, maritime or transportation security. Mr. Stutin,
a logistics and intermodal transportation major, hails from
Pasadena, Calif., and was the senior class president and the aide
to the academy's Deputy Superintendent, Rear Admiral Christopher
McMahon, USMS. In February 2005, Mr. Stutin was presented with
the U.S. Maritime Service Professional Achievement Medal by the
U.S. Maritime Administrator for saving a life at sea. In October
2006, he completed and presented an independent study for the
Department of Defense Threat Reduction Agency on the
vulnerability of U.S. ports to terrorist sea mining. And last
December, Crowley presented Mr. Stutin with a Thomas B. Crowley
Sr. Memorial Scholarship. Stutin plans to pursue a career in the
maritime industry and to one day enter the field of admiralty
law. In addition to cash awards, Crowley has provided scholarship
aid totaling more than $100,000 to students at U.S. maritime
academies and other select institutions in the name of Thomas B.
Crowley Sr., who guided the company to extraordinary heights
before passing away in 1994. Tom Crowley Jr., his son, is now
chairman, president and CEO. To qualify, students must
demonstrate scholastic achievement, leadership skills,
initiative, teamwork, a history of community involvement and a
desire to make a career in the maritime industry. Crowley also
extends formal internships when possible as an additional benefit
to the scholarship recipients.
Panama Canal Authority
releases third quarter metrics
PANAMA CITY The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has released
third quarter (Q3) operational metrics for fiscal year 2007.
Canal Waters Time (CWT), the average time it takes a vessel to
transit the canal including waiting time for passage, decreased.
In Q3, there was also a decrease in net tonnage, total transits
and booking slot utilization. These metrics are based on
operations from April through June of 2007, the third quarter of
the ACP's 2007 fiscal year, and compared to Q3 of fiscal year
2006. Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tonnage
decreased 0.3 percent - to 75.6 million PC/UMS tons from 75.9
million PC/UMS tons. Total canal transits also decreased 0.3
percent - to 3,727 transits from 3,737. Transit of full container
vessels increased 10.7 percent, while Panamax transits, the
widest vessels to cross the canal, decreased 3.2 percent - to
1,494 transits from 1,544. Of these, the transit of Panamax
vessels with an overall length greater than 900 feet increased
2.9 percent - to 427 transits from 415. During Q3, there was also
a decrease in traffic of supers (vessels 91 feet or more in
beam). Transits of supers decreased 0.1 percent - to 1,856
transits from 1,858. Due to the size of the vessel, supers
require more time and resources to transit the waterway. CWT of
all canal transits decreased 37 percent during Q3 - to 24.50
hours from 38.90. CWT has declined in part due to the ongoing
implementation of more efficient operational systems, investments
and enhancements to the waterway. The official accidents rate per
1,000 transits remained at 0.535. An official accident is one in
which a formal investigation is requested and conducted.
Utilization of the canal's booking system experienced a 0.5
percent decrease during Q3 - to 94.9 percent utilization from
95.4 percent.
CBP officers capture
bugs sneaking in US
LOS ANGELES The U.S. avoided the introduction of a
dangerous new pest when CBP agriculture specialists at Los
Angeles International Airport recently intercepted mealy bugs as
well as two other foreign pests that hitched rides on imported
plants and fresh cut flowers. The mealy bug attacks plants,
especially citrus trees. On July 19, a LAX CBP agriculture
specialist examined a shipment of 242 pounds of plantain leaves
and fernaldina from Guatemala. Plantain is a type of banana
generally used in cooking. Fernaldia, commonly named loroco, is a
species of flower used in Central American cooking. During
inspection the agriculture specialist discovered an insect pest
on the loroco leaves. The importer, a Commerce, Calif., food
distributor, was given the choice of destroying the shipment or
exporting it back to Guatemala. Opting for destruction, the
shipment was destroyed under CBP supervision on July 25. On
August 1, an entomologist confirmed to CBP that the insect was a
mealy bug, discovered for the first time in the Continental U.S.
Two more pests were also intercepted by LAX CBP agriculture
specialists on July 19. The Pseudococcus eucalypticus, an insect
that attacks a wide variety of plants, such as Myrtles, and
Contarinia or Diptera, commonly called gall midge, which have
been known to attack young crop plants causing widespread damage.
Both shipments of fresh cut flowers arrived from Australia.
International Trade Commission
reports on 2006 trade year
WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. International Trade Commission
(ITC) has released The Year in Trade 2006, its annual overview of
the previous year's trade-related activities. The publication
provides a practical review of U.S. international trade laws, a
survey of actions under U.S. trade laws, a summary of the
operation of the World Trade Organization (WTO), an overview of
U.S. free trade agreements and negotiations, and a review of U.S.
bilateral trade relations with major trading partners. The Year
in Trade 2006 includes complete listings of antidumping,
countervailing duty, safeguard, intellectual property rights
infringement, and section 301 cases undertaken by the U.S.
government in 2006. The Year in Trade 2006 (USITC Publication
3927, June 2007) will be posted on the ITC's Internet site at
http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/pubs/year_in_trade/pub3927.pdf. The
report also is expected to be available at federal depository
libraries in the United States and at offices of the U.S.
Information Agency abroad. In addition, the ITC is disseminating
this report, as well as previous Year in Trade reports covering
the years 2001-2006, on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM may be requested by
calling 202-205-2000 or by writing the Office of the Secretary,
U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington,
DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104. A printed
copy of The Year in Trade 2006 may be requested through the same
channels. Technical questions concerning the CD-ROM version
should be directed to Renea McGriff at 202-205- 2752.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, August 6, 2007
TOTE completes process
for ISO 14001:2004 certification
FEDERAL WAY Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., (TOTE) has
announced its completion of the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) 14001:2004 certification process for
environmental management standards. This was TOTEs first
endeavor to achieve ISO 14001:2004; however, the company has
retained an ISO certification for quality management systems
(9000 series) since 1998. By achieving ISO 14001:2004
certification, TOTE demonstrates its commitment to environmental
excellence and quality at all of its land-based activities and
facilities, with the focus being on reducing both electrical
energy consumption and non-hazardous waste. The new certification
closely follows TOTEs acceptance of the Tahoma
Environmental Business Award from the Tacoma-Pierce County
Chamber of Commerce in April 2007. This award is given to
businesses deserving recognition for exemplary environmental
protection or restoration efforts. TOTE was also awarded the
prestigious Washington State Governors Award for Pollution
Prevention and Sustainable Practices in 2006. ISO 14001:2004 is
an internationally-recognized, independently-verified management
standard designed to continually improve environmental management
systems and performance. The purpose of ISO 14001:2004 is to help
organizations prevent pollution and protect the environment.
Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., is a privately-owned shipping
company operating roll-on/roll-off cargo vessels between the
ports of Tacoma, Wash., and Anchorage, Alaska, since 1975.
Trucking group calls for
national drug/alcohol test system
WASHINGTON, DC American Trucking Associations (ATA)
President and CEO Bill Graves has urged Congress to authorize and
fund a centralized clearinghouse for positive drug and alcohol
testing results of commercial motor vehicle drivers to ensure
that motor carrier employers are aware of previous positive test
results during the hiring process. Speaking at the National Press
Club in Washington, D.C., Graves said such a clearinghouse will
improve the industrys ability to keep alcohol and drug
abusers off the road and improve safety on the nations
roadways. ATA has lobbied for a national clearinghouse of
positive test results since the 1990s. In 2004 the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration reported to Congress on the merits
of reporting positive test results to states. Currently, five
states have instituted a drug and alcohol clearinghouse.
Firm nets go-ahead
for Long Beach rail project
LONG BEACH, CA The Port of Long Beach has issued a notice
to proceed for HDR to perform engineering services for its Pier B
Rail Facility infrastructure program. The Ports of Long Beach and
Los Angeles handle more than 40 percent of container volume
between the United States and the Pacific Rim and by 2020, the
Port of Long Beach expects its share of this traffic to increase
500 percent over 2004. Estimated construction cost for the new
facility is more than $250 million and is anticipated to begin in
2012. The estimated construction time frame is approximately four
years. Engineering & Shipbuilding, and Universal
Shipbuilding.
Carriers come together
for new Med/US service
TOKYO COSCON, K Line and Yang Ming (CKY) will
introduce a new Mediterranean/U.S East Coast Service effective
from September, 2007 through the new cooperation scheme with
Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. This new service named TAS-6
covering the areas from the Mediterranean to the US East Coast
and will replace current TAS-3 service which is jointly operated
by CKY's 4x1700TEU type vessels. The port rotation will be as
follows : Valencia -- Naples -- La Spezia -- New York -- Norfolk
-- Charleston -- Valencia. This new scheme is subject to approval
by all regulatory bodies.
Port of Everett holding
Puget Sound Pirate Festival
EVERETT The Port of Everett Marina hosts its second Puget
Sound Pirate Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug.
11, in the South Marina. The festival is a free event. The
Pirates of Puget Sound, a division of the Seattle
Knights/Swashbucklers, will put on the event in conjunction with
the visit of Washington's home-state tall ships, the LADY
WASHINGTON and the HAWAIIAN CHIEFTAIN. The Pirates of Puget
Sound, known for their high-octane sword-fighting demonstrations,
will have 40 members of the Jack Pack (everyone is
named some variation of Jack) interacting with the crowd and
providing entertainment all day. The pirates will be
settling their disputes in the fight circle
throughout the day, performing choreographed sword-fights
starting at 10 a.m. and running every hour. There will be lots of
free or low-cost activities and entertainment. Children can play
a variety of pirate-oriented games such as Swab the Deck, Bat a
Rat and Load the Cannon. The games are free, but if young pirates
want to win some swag from the crew, they can pay $1 for either a
Treasure Map or Wanted Poster to win prizes once games are
completed. A Little Knight Music will be performing sea shanties
during the festival and the Black Diamond Pirates will run
story-telling and Become a Pirate activities. A variety of
vendors will also be selling piratey trinkets, goods, clothing,
games and books including Ravenswood Leather and University Book
Store. Two face painters will also be on site. There is no
admission charge for the festival and parking is free in
designated areas. For more information about the Pirate Festival,
contact Deborah Fisher, Associate Director, Seattle
Knights/Swashbucklers at (425) 641-4785. For more information
about separate schedules and admission charges for the Lady
Washington and Chieftain, which are run separately by the Grays
Harbor Historical Society, go to www.historicalseaport.org or
call (800) 200-5239.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, August 3, 2007
Vancouver Port Authority reports
improper disposal of dredge material
VANCOUVER, BC The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) reports
it has recently learned that contractors working on the Deltaport
Third Berth Project (DP3) at Roberts Bank in Delta disposed of
clean dredge material outside of the permitted disposal location
for the project. VPA understands this disposal took place
approximately one kilometre from the area designated in the ocean
disposal permit for the project. British Columbia Transmission
Corporation (BCTC) has further advised VPA that one of its HVDC
underwater electrical power cables, which services Vancouver
Island, is located in the area of this improper disposal and may
have sustained damage. Service to Vancouver Island has not been
affected. It also appears some disposal may have occurred in
waters which are located within the United States. VPA
immediately advised Environment Canada and the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans of the error and is working closely with
BCTC, Environment Canada and U.S. officials to investigate and
confirm details pertaining to the incident, which appears to have
taken place between May 31 and July 10, 2007. VPA holds an ocean
disposal permit issued by Environment Canada, to dispose of clean
dredge material that is not suitable for use as fill in the
construction of DP3. Environment Canada will also be conducting
an independent investigation to determine the cause and
responsible parties for the "non-approved" disposal.
VPA will work in conjunction with Environment Canada, BCTC and
other authorities to ensure that any required remedial action is
carried out. Construction for DP3 has been underway since January
2007. The project will add a third berth to the existing
two-berth terminal at the Deltaport container terminal at Roberts
Bank.
Grant helps Port of Everett
upgrade marina electrical service
EVERETT With the help of a grant from the States
Recreation and Conservation Funding Board (RCFB), the Port of
Everett Marina will be better equipped to serve guest boaters
with an upgrade to transient float electrical services. RCFB,
formerly known as the Interagency Committee for Outdoor
Recreation, awarded the port a $94,500 grant in May 2007 to cover
75 percent of the total project costs for the electrical upgrade.
The total project cost is expected to be $126,000, and the grant
is funded from the Federal Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, which is
administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The
electrical upgrades will occur on the transient float located
near the Everett Yacht Club Building in the North Marina.
Currently, the guest moorage allows for 20/30 amp power, but
after the upgrade the floats will provide 30/50/100 amp power to
accommodate the influx of boats 40 feet and longer. The
construction on the electrical upgrade is scheduled to begin in
October.
Oregon governor signs bill
to fund ConnectOregon II
MEDFORD, OR Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has signed
House Bill 2278, ConnectOregon II, which provides $100 million in
grants and loans for key multimodal projects around the state. In
an effort to diversify and strengthen Oregons multi-modal
transportation infrastructure, the governor introduced the
ConnectOregon program in 2005 to fund non-highway projects
statewide, which passed the legislature with bipartisan support.
Currently there are 40 ConnectOregon projects across the state
aimed at improving local airports, seaports, railways and public
transit systems. Building on the success of the program, the 2007
legislature passed House Bill 2278, ConnectOregon II, provides an
additional $100 million in lottery backed grants and loans for
communities seeking improvements to their transportation
infrastructure. Both public organizations and private entities
may apply for funding to finance project activities that are not
eligible for funding from the State Highway Trust Fund or for
projects that require or rely upon continuing subsidies from
ODOT. ConnectOregon II also provides for statewide and regional
funding, with at least 10 percent of the net proceeds of the
lottery bond funds dedicated to each region of the state. The
governor has put this project on a fast-track and the
Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) has established a process
that includes a three-month application period, beginning in
September 2007, and OTC approval by June 2008. For more
information about the application and selection process, go to:
www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/CO.
US rail freight traffic
sees another down week
WASHINGTON, DC Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was down
during the week ended July 21 in comparison with the
corresponding week last year but up from the previous week this
year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Total
volume was estimated at 33.4 billion ton-miles, down 1.3 percent
from the same week last year, but up 2.7 percent from the
previous week this year. Intermodal volume totaled 239,286
trailers or containers, down 3.2 percent from last year, with
container volume virtually the same as last year and trailer
volume down 13.8 percent. Carload freight, which doesn't include
the intermodal data, totaled 321,232 cars for the week, down 2.2
percent from last year, but up 3.4 percent from the previous week
this year. Compared with last year, loadings were down 4.1
percent in the East and 6.5 percent in the West. Weather-related
problems continued to affect railroads in some parts of the
country. Seven of 19 carload commodity groups were up compared
with last year. Grain was up 8.7 percent while metallic ores rose
8.2 percent and motor vehicles and equipment gained 7.4 percent.
Among commodities reporting declines were farm products other
than grain, down 29.2 percent; metals, off 17.8 percent; and
lumber and wood products, down 14.0 percent. Cumulative volume
for the first 29 weeks of 2007 totaled 9,346,283 carloads, down
4.1 percent from 2006; 6,622,802 trailers or containers, off 1.4
percent; and total volume of an estimated 953.4 billion
ton-miles, down 2.8 percent from last year.
Vessel up for auction
at Port of Anacortes facility
ANACORTES The Port of Anacortes reports the United States
Federal Marshalls office will auction the vessel D.M.
FLEMING August 9, for non-payment of Port charges and fees. The
vessel can be found at the head of A Dock at Cap
Sante Boat Haven, 1019 Q Avenue, Anacortes, WA. Contact the
Harbor Masters office at (360) 293-0694 for auction time of
day and procedures for submitting a bid.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Washington State Ferries
releases CATHLAMET findings
MUKILTEO Washington State Ferries has announced the
results of the investigation into the CATHLAMET incident at
Mukilteo on Friday, June 1st. At approximately 5:44 a.m. that
morning, the Washington State Ferry MV CATHLAMET, sailing from
Clinton (on Whidbey island) to Mukilteo hit the north wingwall at
over seven knots, causing $139,000 damage to the ferry and over
$1 million in needed terminal repairs. Port Captain Mark
McElwaine, lead investigator into the incident, conducted
extensive research interviews with crew members and reviewed GPS
Tracking of the CATHLAMET incident. The safety of our
passengers is our number one priority every day, without
exception, says Captain McElwaine. The allision (the
striking of a moving vessel against a stationary vessel or fixed
object such as a pier) on June 1 was a direct result of negligent
actions of Captain Dan Tracy, a 13-year employee of Washington
State Ferries. Captain Tracy failed to follow WSFs Safety
Management System (SMS) of documented policies and procedures and
has been terminated by the ferry system for cause as a result of
the findings. While terminating Captain Tracy was a very
difficult decision, our passengers rely on our crews
uncompromising commitment to their safety every day,
stressed Capt. McElwaine. WSF transports over 24 million
passengers a year, system-wide throughout the Puget Sound area.
Over four million passengers use the Mukilteo/Clinton route
annually.
LNG firm reaches agreement
to man LNG ships with US seafarers
WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Transportation
Maritime Administration has announced an agreement that could
lead to the first LNG ships registered in the United States in
almost ten years, potentially creating almost 200 jobs for U.S.
mariners. Officials from Woodside Natural Gas, Inc., of Santa
Monica, Calif., committed to Maritime Administrator Sean T.
Connaughton and representatives from seafaring trade unions that
Woodside will create a U.S. presence in the international
liquefied natural gas (LNG) fleet. The company agreed to the
employment of U.S. mariners in Woodsides operation of the
proposed OceanWay deepwater port located 28 miles off the coast
of Los Angeles, and to register its two new LNG regasification
vessels under the U.S. flag. Although the global LNG fleet has
been growing from 194 ships at the beginning of 2006 to an
estimated 373 at the end of 2007 there are currently no LNG
ships of American registry. Woodsides proposed OceanWay
facility will use trading LNG carriers to transfer LNG to the
U.S.-flagged regasification vessels, which will then convert the
liquefied natural gas into natural gas for injection into
Southern Californias existing onshore pipeline system. More
than 90 American officers and crew will be employed on each of
the vessels. OceanWay Secure Energy (Woodside Natural Gas, Inc.)
filed an application with the Maritime Administration for a
license under the Deepwater Port Act, to build, own, and operate
an LNG facility. The Maritime Administration, the U.S. Coast
Guard, and the City of Los Angeles are reviewing the revised
application for completeness. The company's application to build
the OceanWay terminal must be approved by the Maritime
Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the City of Los Angeles,
and the Governor of California. If approved, the specifics of
this agreement will become conditions of the deepwater port
license.
Panama Canal Authority
wins award for expansion plans
PANAMA CITY The Republic of Panama has received the
Samoter 2008 "Best Construction Project in the World"
award for the Panama Canal expansion. The Samoter International
Award honors those that contribute to the development of
construction at both national and international levels. The
official ceremony and presentation of the 2008 award will take
place in Verona, Italy, on March 5, 2008. Expansion will build a
new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the
construction of a new set of locks, which will double capacity
and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships. The Samoter
International Award is a global honor assigned by VeronaFiere
since 1973 to distinguished figures whose work on behalf of
development and success in building and site activity, has helped
consolidate major entrepreneurial systems on an economic and
social scale. The award may be granted to a country, a public or
private company or a machine builder or draftsman.
Port of Hong Kong joining
Customs' security program
HONG KONG The United States and Hong Kong have arranged to
cooperate on the Secure Freight Initiative, a joint effort of the
Department of Homeland Securitys U.S. Customs and Border
Protection and the Departments of Energy (National Nuclear
Security Administration) and State aimed at keeping radioactive
weapons out of U.S.-bound cargo. Hong Kong is a key location for
this scanning to take place. Among worldwide seaports processing
containers with goods destined for the U.S., Hong Kong is first
in terms of the volume of shipments and containers imported. In
fiscal year 2006, for example, the country processed more than
1.3 million shipments bound for the U.S., constituting
approximately 13 percent of all shipments here. Hong Kong will be
participating in the Secure Freight Initiative in a limited
capacity on an initial basis. However, even this limited
participation goes beyond the mandate of the Security and
Accountability for Every Port Act (SAFE Port Act) of 2006. That
law required that the U.S. evaluate, at three initial ports, the
possibility of scanning 100 percent of U.S.-bound cargo for
radiation. In fact, the port of Hong Kong is part of the second
group of international ports evaluating integrated cargo
radiation detection and non-intrusive imaging capabilities in
Phase 1 of the Secure Freight Initiative, also known as the
International Container Security project.
Coast Guard celebrating
one millionth rescue
WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Coast Guard will announce during a
ceremony Saturday in Grand Haven, Mich., that it has rescued more
than one million persons since it was established in 1790.
"When things are at their worst, America's Coast Guard is at
its best," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael
Chertoff. "What began as a revenue enforcement agency with a
fleet of ten cutters established by Alexander Hamilton more than
200 years ago has evolved into the world's premiere
multi-mission, maritime and military service. It's fitting that
we celebrate the Coast Guard's 217th birthday this August 4th as
we recognize its brave men and women for saving more than 1
million lives over the course of its long and storied
history." The Coast Guard is one of America's five armed
forces and traces its founding to Aug. 4, 1790, when the first
Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce
tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the
collection of the federal revenue. Responsibilities added over
the years included humanitarian duties such as aiding mariners in
distress and the service received its present name in 1915 when
the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the US Life-Saving Service
to form a single maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea
and enforcing the nation's maritime laws. The number of lives
saved was calculated by the Coast Guard historian's office
through research of logs and records from the Coast Guard, the
Revenue Cutter Service, the US Life-Saving Service, the
Lighthouse Service and other agencies that eventually became the
modern Coast Guard.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Grand Alliance carriers
extend agreement 10 years
TOKYO The CEOs of the four Grand Alliance member lines
have extended their cooperation for a further term of 10 years.
The Grand Alliance, founded in 1998, is an integrated consortium
in container liner shipping. Its members are Hapag-Lloyd
(Germany), MISC Berhad (Malaysia), Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK),
(Japan), and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) (Hong Kong).
The Grand Alliance members deploy in their services a total of
about 140 vessels with a capacity of between 2,700 and 9,000 TEU
offering 20 services, mainly on major east- west routes. This is
an exclusive state-of-the-art tonnage, with additional
newbuildings to be integrated into the fleet once delivered. When
deploying ships, the Grand Alliance adopts the best vessel
for the loop principle. Cooperation among members is
restricted to provision of joint port-to-port services, on which
each member is allocated space to market on its own account. The
shipping lines compete with each other to attract customers, and
there is no discussion or agreement within the alliance on any
commercial matters such as in particular fixing freight rates.
The Grand Alliance provides a comprehensive network of links
across the major trade lanes meeting all customers' requirements.
Crowley Maritime charters
pair of new harbor tugs
SEATTLE Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced that
its marine services subsidiary has chartered the VALOR, a newly
built, 100-foot, Z-drive harbor tug from BayDelta Maritime, Inc.,
for use in the company's ship assist and tanker escort business
in the Pacific Northwest. The tug, built by Nichols Brothers Boat
Builders, Inc., in Langley, Wash., was christened July 21 and
delivered to Crowley on Saturday. Crowley will also lease the
VALOR's sister tug, VIGILANT, from BayDelta when it is completed
at the Nichols yard in November. The VIGILANT will be stationed
at Tesoro Alaska Company's Nikiski, Alaska refinery in Cook Inlet
on a year-round basis. The boat will be strengthened for ice and
severe winter conditions found there. The new Crowley tugs were
designed by Jensen Marine Consultants, Inc., of Seattle with ship
handling as their primary purpose. The tugs are also being fitted
for long-haul towing.
Freight forwarder pleads guilty
in Department of Defense case
WASHINGTON, DC A Kirkland, Wash.-based freight forwarder
involved in the military's program for shipping household goods
of military and civilian Department of Defense (DOD) personnel
between the U.S. and foreign countries has pleaded guilty to
criminal offenses related to its participation in that program,
according to the Department of Justice. Criminal charges were
filed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., against Air Van
Lines International Inc. (AVLC). Under the terms of a plea
agreement, AVLC pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in a
scheme to conceal a material fact, and agreed to pay a criminal
fine of $143,040. AVLC is the seventh company to be charged in
the DOD's investigation into anticompetitive and fraudulent
conduct related to the ITGBL program. Criminal fines in excess of
$12 million have thus far been imposed on six companies. The
charges relate to the company's participation in a DOD program
called the International Through Government Bill of Lading
(ITGBL) program. Under this program, freight forwarders file
rates with DOD to transport the household goods of military and
civilian DOD personnel between the U.S. and foreign countries.
The companies filing the lowest rates are awarded shipments of
household goods to transport during a six-month summer or winter
"cycle." According to the felony charges filed against
AVLC, during two separate bidding cycles in 2000 and 2001, AVLC
engaged in a scheme to falsify, conceal and cover up the fact
that its rates to transport military household goods had not been
determined in accordance with its certificate of independent
pricing. In fact, contrary to its sworn statement, its rates had
not been arrived at independently, but rather AVLC had engaged in
collusion with a competing carrier.
Marcon acts as broker
in sale of two vessels
COUPEVILLE, WA Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville,
WA. has announced the sales of the 134' research vessel ALPHA
HELIX from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks to private U.S.
Northwest Buyers and the 145' SAFARI EXPLORER (ex-Rapture) from
Certified Marine Expeditions to American Safari Cruises. ALPHA
HELIX is an all welded steel oceanographic research ship and was
built in 1966 by Martinac of Tacoma, WA. The vessel had been
acting as an oceanographic ship operated by the University of
Alaska's Institute of Marine Science for the National Science
Foundation for over 20 years, with its home port being Seward,
AK. American Safari Cruises, L.L.C. of Seattle, WA purchased the
U.S. Flag, Passenger Cruise/Research Vessel SAFARI EXPLORER
(ex-'Rapture') from Certified Marine Expeditions of San Clemente,
CA. The SAFARI EXPLORER is an all steel, twin screw, passenger
vessel, built in 1998 at Freeport Shipyard in Freeport, FL.
Marcon acted as sole broker in both transactions. To-date this
year, Marcon International, Inc. has sold or chartered a total of
40 vessels and barges plus has several sales pending and expected
to close within the next month.
Port of Bellingham sponsoring
second Sand in the City festival
BELLINGHAM The second annual Comcast's Sand in the City
Festival will be held August 3-5, at Bellingham's Squalicum
Harbor. Over 150 team members are ready to compete in a six-hour
competition of sand sculpting creations approved by architects
and the master sculptor Bert Adams. Limited to five cubic feet of
sand for each entry, teams of 12 or more people will compete on
Friday, August 3rd for the "Golden Shovel" award. The
public will have an opportunity to vote on their favorite
sculpture Saturday and Sunday while sculptor Bert Adams and five
associates create a masterpiece right before their eyes. Other
festival activities include free face painting and two giant
sandboxes created just for children to build their own sand
castles. Live entertainment is scheduled on Saturday and Sunday
starting at noon. Food vendors and booths will be on hand to add
to the festivities. Guided bus tours of the Port of Bellingham's
waterfront redevelopment site (former Georgia Pacific property)
will be offered by the port from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday's schedule: Quickdraw String Band 12-1:45 p.m.; Anna
Schaad & David MacVittie 2-3:45 p.m.; Feed n Seed 4-5:45
p.m.; and Sabrina Y los Reyes from 6-8 p.m. Sunday's schedule:
The Bellingham Youth Jazz Band 12- 1:45 p.m.; Mhuri Marina 2-3:45
p.m.; and Saltwater Octet to close the festival from 4-6 p.m. The
event, presented by the Northwest Discovery Project and the Port
of Bellingham was created in 2006 to support the Marine Life
Center, a community asset appreciated by 70,000 families and
school children each year. The event is free and donations are
encouraged to support the Marine Life Center operations.the event
will be held at 15 Bellwether Way at Squalicum Harbor (Gravel
Parking Lot across from the Coast Guard Station). Free parking is
available in the gravel lots and parking garage located on
Bellwether Way.