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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 Landing’s construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal at a former mill site. The planning commission’s 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 Port’s 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 ship’s 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. government’s 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 port’s 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 July’s 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 Washington’s top imports list. Japan, Washington’s 2nd largest import partner, exported almost $3 billion in the first half of 2007. Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam were Washington’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th largest import partners. Washington imports comprise only half of the state’s 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 Agriculture’s 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 Olympia’s "The Navigator" publication has announced Dr. Riley Moore has been appointed to the port’s 12-person Planning and Advisory Committee (PAC). Dr. Moore is an economist and business professor at St. Martin’s 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. “We’re disappointed,” said Executive Director Larry Paulson. “But the community has let us know they’re not in support of the IDD levy, regardless of whether they agree with our development plans. We will take into account the community’s 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 facility’s size while also opening the door to development of new hangars. The port’s “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 airport’s 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 port’s 2,300-slip marina, and the adjacent boat launch facility. Her duties will range from managing marina personnel and budgeting to helping market the port’s 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 Committee’s (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 NASTC’s 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 magazine’s Quest for Quality award in the Ocean Carrier category. Matson ranked high among all ocean carriers recognized in this year’s 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 project’s 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 club’s 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 project’s 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 PDX’s role in the regional economy while managing surrounding infrastructure and livability. The planning process will reinforce Portland’s planning legacy, PDX’s reputation as one of the country’s 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 group’s 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 commission’s 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 Vancouver’s 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 port’s 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 Washington’s 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 city’s 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 port’s South Terminal shipping area. In 1938, the building was moved, via barge to Mill B, which is currently the port’s 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 port’s 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 facility’s $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 airport’s 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. Hoffman’s 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 Hoffman’s 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 Transportation’s 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 USA’s 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 port’s 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 port’s 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 Vancouver’s 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 port’s 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 partnership’s 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 Gregoire’s 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 TOTE’s 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 TOTE’s 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 Governor’s 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 industry’s ability to keep alcohol and drug abusers off the road and improve safety on the nation’s 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 State’s 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 Oregon’s 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 Marshall’s 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 Master’s 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 WSF’s 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 Woodside’s 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. Woodside’s 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 California’s 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 Security’s 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.