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July, 2007

NNEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 30, 2007

ATA truck tonnage index
continues string of monthly declines

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 0.1 percent in June, marking the third consecutive month-to-month drop. Tonnage fell 1.3 percent in May and has dropped 3.5 percent since March. The not seasonally adjusted index dropped 3.3 percent from May to 114.1. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the tonnage index declined to a seven-month low of 110.5 (2000 = 100) in June from 110.6 the previous month. Compared with a year earlier, tonnage was down 3.4 percent in June, which is just a slight improvement from the 3.6 percent year-over-year decrease in May. 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.


Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
buying share in Tianjin terminal

TIANJIN — Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics has taken a 15 percent stake in a new $98 million USD ro-ro terminal in the Port of Tianjin, the largest in North China. The new terminal, to be owned by TPG Global RO-RO Terminal Co. Ltd., is a three-way venture with Wallenius Wilhelmsen Terminals North AB, Tianjin Port Stock CoLtd (51 percent) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha in Tianjin (34 percent). TPG has the rights to operate the terminal for 30 years with an option to extend the term. Designed to handle upwards of 500,000 vehicles a year, the new 296 000 m² terminal will incorporate two ro-ro berths for cars, high and heavy ro-ro equipment and static cargoes. Construction of the new terminal, situated in Tianjin Port's North Harbour, is due to start by mid-August 2007. The plan is to have one berth open by end of 2007 and the whole terminal by October 2008.


New rules coming online
for vessel fuel tank locations

LONDON — The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reports that on August 1, 2007 an amendment to Annex I of MARPOL will come into force. New regulation 12A, on oil fuel tank protection sets out the requirements concerning the location of oil fuel tanks in all ships with an aggregate oil fuel capacity of 600m3 and above and which are delivered on or after August 1, 2010. In this context, "ship delivered on or after August 1, 2010" also refers to a ship for which the building contract is placed on or after August 1, 2007 or, in the absence of a contract, its keel is laid on or after 1 February 1, 2008. The new regulation will, therefore, be immediately applicable for all categories of ships "on the drawing board" with oil fuel tanks of 600 m3 capacity, or more. In essence, the protection requirements require the oil fuel tanks to be located inside the double hull.


Union Pacific breaking records
with second quarter numbers

OMAHA — Union Pacific Corporation has reported second quarter 2007 net income of $446 million or $1.65 per diluted share, compared to $390 million, or $1.44 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. Operating income during the second quarter of 2007 was $787 million, up from $717 million reported in the second quarter of 2006. "Union Pacific topped the $4 billion quarterly revenue mark for the first time in our history," said Jim Young, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "More importantly, in the face of economic and weather challenges, we improved our operating efficiency, posting the best second quarter operating ratio in four years. In addition, our customer satisfaction scores improved 11 points year-over-year." During the second quarter commodity revenue set an all-time quarterly record, up three percent to $3.9 billion. Four of the six business groups posted revenue increases in the quarter as total average revenue per car (ARC) grew seven percent. Second quarter 2007 carloads declined three percent versus the second quarter of 2006 to 2.4 million. Severe weather in the Midwest, a softer housing market and decreased auto sales all contributed to the decline. The second quarter 2007 operating ratio improved to 80.5 percent compared to 81.7 percent in the second quarter of 2006. This was the best second quarter operating ratio in four years. The company repurchased more than 3.6 million common shares at an average share price of $116.40 in the second quarter of 2007. Year-to-date purchases total 5.7 million common shares or 28 percent of the 20 million share repurchase program.


Kaitlyn Blair named winner
of Lelli Memorial Scholarship

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma’s Pierce County’s Port Report has announced the 2007 Lelli Memorial Scholarship first place winner is Kaitlyn Blair, a student at Tacoma’s Wilson High School. The Tacoma Propeller Club's Lelli Memorial Scholarship competition is held every April. Twenty-three Pierce County public high schools are solicited to participate. Ms. Blair received $3000 for her first place award. A second place award of $1500 was presented to Sierra Gronewold from Gig Harbor High School. Third place, with an award of $1000, went to Caitlin Carter of Peninsula High School. Scholarship applicants are selected by their high school scholarship committee.`The scholarship is awarded to the student with the highest score computed from grade point, community and school involvement, financial need, letter of recommendation and a verbal presentation. This year’s topic was, "For your career, after graduation, if you could choose any job at or related to the Port of Tacoma, what would it be, why and what kind of difference do you think you could make in that position? Local businesses sponsor a student and student’s chaperone for the day’s activities. Sponsors, Susan Beckland of the Port of Tacoma and Nancy Bellerud of APM Terminals escorted Ms. Blair on a tour of APM Terminals and the cranes that load and off-load ships.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 27, 2007

Bidders on Washington ferries
receive more time for proposals

OLYMPIA — Following requests from two out of three potential bidders on the Request for Proposals (RFP) to build four new ferries, Washington State Department of Transportation/Washington State Ferries (WSDOT/WSF) has decided to extend the period of time allowed for potential bidders to complete their technical proposals. Under the RFP, issued on August 3, 2006, potential bidders were to deliver their technical proposals for building the boats (the beginning of Phase 2 of the three-phase design-build process mandated by the Legislature) on January 2, 2007. J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding and Todd Pacific Shipyards however, both requested to delay the schedule to allow them more time to work with naval architects and others to provide initial scheduling documents and to develop their technical proposals. Based on these requests, WSDOT/WSF will extend the due date for technical proposals to June 4, 2007. All other dates in the boat delivery schedule will also shift by approximately five months to accommodate this request by two potential bidders.


LA/Long Beach office workers
reach tentative labor deal

LOS ANGELES — After months of bargaining and negotiations, office clerical workers announced yesterday that a tentative agreement has just been reached with shipping executives on a three-year labor contract covering clerical workers at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. "This agreement means good jobs that our community needs will stay here in the southland,” said Local 63-OCU (Office and Clerical Unit) President John Fageaux. The proposed contract between the ILWU and 17 shipping terminals now goes to workers for a ratification vote. The 900 clerical workers covered by the tentative agreement are responsible for processing millions of cargo documents each year. "I’ve spent my whole life as a clerical worker," said Local 63OCU Secretary-Treasurer Debbie Karmelich. "This contract guarantees good jobs and the respect that all clericals deserve.” Contract talks started in May, 2007, and included a 37-hour marathon session last weekend followed by several long days of talks. Negotiations broke-off early Wednesday morning, July 25, as tensions escalated prior to the final settlement. The new contract establishes a multi-employer pension trust that will provide secure retirement and health benefits for clerical workers. According to the ILWU, this is the first plan of its kind established in over 25 years.


APL Logistics wins contract
with Army & Air Force Exchange Service

WASHINGTON, DC — APL Logistics has been awarded the international import logistics and freight transportation business of the $8.9 billion Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). Under terms of the deal, APL Logistics will serve as lead logistics provider for the 111-year-old military exchange. It will oversee consolidation/vendor management, air freight, ocean transport, Customs brokerage and in-transit visibility services. AAFES ships about 3,500 FEUs (forty-foot equivalent units) of ocean cargo and 1.27 million kilograms of air freight annually under the contract managed by APL Logistics. The arrangement caps a 12-year partnership between APL Logistics and AAFES and marks one of the supply chain manager's largest-ever military logistics deals.


US rail freight traffic
down again during week

WASHINGTON, DC — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was down during the week ended July 14 in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Total volume was estimated at 32.5 billion ton-miles, down 4.1 percent from the same week last year. Intermodal volume totaled 238,625 trailers or containers, down 3.0 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 310,769 cars for the week, down 5.5 percent from 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. Increased volume was reported in 5 of 19 carload commodity groups, with petroleum products up 9.4 percent from last year, motor vehicles up 7.5 percent and food products up 5.8 percent. On the negative side, lumber and wood products were off 24.0 percent; farm products other than grain were down 22.8 percent; and stone, clay and glass products declined 17.7 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 28 weeks of 2007 totaled 9,025,051 carloads, down 4.1 percent from 2006; 6,383,516 trailers or containers, off 1.3 percent; and total volume of an estimated 920.0 billion ton-miles, down 2.9 percent from last year.


ITC report finds US would benefit
from easing of restrictions with Cuba

WASHINGTON, DC — The United States could provide more than half of Cuba's agricultural, fish, and forest product imports if certain U.S. trade and travel restrictions to Cuba were lifted, reports the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in its publication U.S. Agricultural Sales to Cuba: Certain Economic Effects of U.S. Restrictions. The U.S. share of such Cuban imports would rise from one-third to between one-half and two-thirds if the restrictions were lifted, according to the report. The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, examined the effects of U.S. trade and travel restrictions on Cuban purchases of U.S. agriculture products at the request of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. U.S. Agricultural Sales to Cuba: Certain Economic Effects of U.S. Restrictions (Investigation No. 332-489, USITC Publication 3932, July 2007) will be available on the ITC's Internet site at http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/pubs/332/pub3932.pdf. A CD-ROM of the report 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.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 26, 2007

Port of Tacoma planning
new terminal for NYK Line

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma has announced plans to build a $300 million, 168-acre (68-hectare) container terminal on the industrial east side of Tacoma's Blair Waterway. The terminal will be leased to a container terminal operator, Yusen Terminal Tacoma Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NYK Line. The lease agreement will introduce Yusen Terminal Tacoma Inc. (YTTI) to the Pacific Northwest. Another subsidiary of NYK Line, Yusen Terminals, Inc. (YTI), is currently operating a terminal in the Port of Los Angeles and now the NYK Group is expanding into the Puget Sound. The YTTI terminal is expected to open in 2012. Designed for an annual throughput capacity of 1.4 million to 1.8 million TEUs (twenty-foot container units), the terminal will include a 24-acre intermodal rail yard and a 2,400-foot (731.5-meter) berth on the 51-foot (15.5-meter) deep Blair Waterway. The facility will feature up to eight super post-Panamax container cranes and initial design concepts favor rubber tire gantry (RTG) operations. In addition to building the YTTI terminal, the Port will develop a redesigned terminal with expansion capabilities for Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. (TOTE), a major domestic shipping line serving the Alaska market. TOTE has called at the Port of Tacoma since 1976.


Port of Anacortes project
clears all regulatory hurdles

ANACORTES — The Port of Anacortes has announced it has received all permits required for starting work on Project Pier I. The final approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers – granting of the Section 10/404 permit - was received after approximately 19 months of review by regulatory agencies. The port reports that adherence to required conditions outlined in this and other permits ensures compliance with local, state, and federal laws that protect cultural resources, water quality, endangered species, and other important resources in the water and along the shoreline. Project Pier I is a public-private partnership with the port's tenant - Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) – a shipbuilding and repair company located on the Guemes Channel waterfront at Pier I. DCI is one of Anacortes' major employers of skilled labor and a significant contributor to the local community. Together, the Port and DCI have redesigned the shipyard and some adjacent properties. The project will improve the Port’s upland marine terminal and modify the public waterway to greatly increase the operational flexibility and capacity of the shipyard. Two existing shipyard basins at Pier I will be reconfigured by dredging sediments to deepen the basins to -35 feet mean lower low water. New bulkheads will be installed just upland of the basins. A new rail transfer system will also be constructed to accommodate moving large vessels within the shipyard. The new layout will provide more in-water capacity and will also allow DCI to work on larger vessels.


NOL announces plans
to build eight container ships

TOKYO — Neptune Orient Lines has signed contracts with two South Korean shipyards for the construction of eight large, high-speed container ships. Four vessels each will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, respectively. The vessels will enter the fleet of NOL's container arm, APL, in 2011 and will be deployed in the Asia-Europe trade. The vessels to be built at Daewoo will have a design capacity of 10,700 TEU, while the Hyundai ships are of 10,100 TEU size. All the vessels will have design speeds in excess of 26 knots.


Steel imports down
for month of May

WASHINGTON, DC — Preliminary data show that overall steel imports in June 2007 decreased 10 percent from May 2007. The change in June’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in most carbon categories (excluding blooms, billet and slabs, and standard pipe). June 2007 imports of steel mill products were down 22 percent compared to June 2006.


NASSCO nets Navy contract
for material for tenth T-AKE vessel

SAN DIEGO — General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has been awarded a $100 million contract from the U.S. Navy to purchase long-lead materials for the construction of a tenth T-AKE dry cargo-ammunition ship. NASSCO already is under contract to construct nine T-AKE ships at its shipyard. Under the contract, NASSCO will place orders for the ship's engines and other components that have significant manufacturing lead times. A contract that funds construction of the ship is expected to be awarded by January 2008. Construction of T-AKE 10 is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2009; delivery to the Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC) is scheduled for the first quarter of 2011. The Navy is expected to order a total of 11 T-AKE ships for MSC service and three additional ships for its Maritime Prepositioning Force.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Port of Vancouver/Wallenius
ink Letter of Intent for development

VANCOUVER, USA — After nearly two years of work, the Port of Vancouver USA and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Americas LLC (WWL) have developed a Letter of Intent outlining a potential joint project with each party performing a portion of the development of a marine terminal, and a vehicle processing and distribution center at the Columbia Gateway industrial property owned by the port. On Tuesday, July 24, the POV Board of Commissioners took action which provided authorization for port Executive Director Larry Paulson to sign the letter of intent. The proposal includes a facility on a phased basis that could ultimately accommodate more than 500,000 vehicles annually. WWL proposes to construct and operate an integrated marine terminal/vehicle processing and distribution center at Columbia Gateway, Parcel 3 adjacent to a deep water channel, complete construction designs for and oversee all construction, obtain required construction permits, and operate the finished facilities. The facility, at full build-out – according to John Martin and Associates – could directly employ 1,193 workers that would amount to an annual payroll of more than $62 million. Also according to Martin, construction of the facility could generate over eight million person-hours and total annual economic activity in excess of $453 million, and a tax revenue increase of $28 million annually.


Port of Tacoma celebrates
25-year partnership with Mitsubishi

TACOMA — The Port Tacoma Commission and officials of Mitsubishi Motors North America marked a quarter-century of partnership at the commission's recent public meeting. The Port of Tacoma was among the first ports of entry in the United States, when in 1982 Mitsubishi introduced its brand to the American Market. The first 1983 model Tredia sedans and Cordia and Starion coupes imported through Tacoma were initially sold through 70 dealers in 22 states. Twenty-five years later, the Port of Tacoma and its partner, Tacoma-based Auto Warehousing Company (AWC), have processed more than 660,000 Mitsubishi vehicles. Today, the Japan-based manufacturer boasts a network of nearly 500 dealers in the United States. Mitsubishi vehicle imports, along with four other Japanese and Korean auto makes, are processed at the 146-acre Marshall Avenue Auto Facility. Operated by AWC, the port-owned facility is designed for efficient transfer of autos from ship for processing and transfer to truck or rail for nationwide distribution. The facility is capable of processing more than 19,000 vehicles at a time.


Port of Anacortes taps Johnson
as finance/administration director

ANACORTES — The Port of Anacortes has hired Chris S. Johnson as their new director of finance and administration, replacing Lisa Matthews who left the port to become the director of business and finance with the Anacortes School District. Mr. Johnson who has worked the last eight years for the Washington State Auditor’s Office and for the last four years as regional audit manager in Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties, comes to the port with experience and background working with various municipalities in the region. Mr. Johnson, after graduating from Ferndale High School, received his undergraduate degree in German and International Relations from Brigham Young University, and he received a Masters in Business Administration from Western Washington University in Business Management and Accounting. Upon completing his MBA, Mr. Johnson joined the Washington State Auditor’s Office as an assistant state auditor working his way up to assistant audit manager, Washington State Higher Education Coordinator to his current position as regional audit manager. During his tenure with the Washington State Auditor’s University for three years teaching organizational behavior and business management. Mr. Johnson will begin his employment with the Port of Anacortes on August 1, 2007.


Eagle Bulk Shipping buying
fleet of 26 Supramax vessels

NEW YORK — Eagle Bulk Shipping, Inc. has announced that it has agreed to acquire a fleet of 26 Supramax vessels for $1.1 billion from the parent of Anemi Maritime Services, a private Greek shipping company. The transaction is subject to completion of customary documentation and closing conditions.The 26 Supramax vessels are expected to be delivered between 2008 and 2012. Twenty-one of the 26 vessels are secured by long-term charters up to 2018 with an average charter duration in excess of 10 years. Minimum contracted revenue on the chartered vessels is approximately $1 billion. Uncapped profit sharing on 17 of the chartered vessels may further enhance revenue potential. The acquisition will more than double Eagle's fleet size from 23 to 49 vessels, expand tonnage by 124 percent, and reduce the average age of the fleet to two years. Upon completion of this acquisition, the Eagle fleet will consist of 46 Supramax vessels and three Handymax vessels.


NYK joins with shipbuilders
to fund shipping technology courses

TOKYO — Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and five shipbuilding companies have agreed to jointly fund courses for the study of new technology development strategies in shipping and shipbuilding. The courses, which are being offered for the first time, began on June 1 at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Information Science and Technology. The purpose behind this initiative is to foster new shipping and shipbuilding technologies and to provide necessary basic research to address and solve problems of safety and environmental protection. Through collaboration between the companies and the university, the courses will reflect real world needs and serve as a foundation for the training of future leaders of the maritime industries. Eventually a maritime research center is expected to emerge from the collaboration.Participating with NYK are the shipbuilding companies Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, IHI Marine United, Kawasaki Shipbuilding, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, and Universal Shipbuilding.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 23, 2007

Matson to boost fuel charge
for Hawaii/Guam services

OAKLAND — As a result of recent increases in bunker fuel prices and other energy-related costs, Matson Navigation Company has announced that it is raising its fuel surcharge in its Hawaii and Guam/CNMI services by 1.5 percentage points, from 22.50 to 24 percent, effective in 30 days on August 19, 2007. “The cost of fuel has been on the rise again, increasing to near record high levels,” said Dave Hoppes, senior vice president, ocean services. “Fuel consumption is an unavoidable and significant component of our operating costs, with every dollar increase per barrel adding over two million dollars in annual expenses. We will continue to monitor fuel costs and adjust the fuel surcharge accordingly.”


Panama Canal Authority
Oks expansion project contract

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) took one step closer to breaking ground for the expansion of the Panama Canal July 17, when it officially awarded the first expansion construction project contract to Constructora Urbana S.A. (CUSA) with a winning low bid of $41,094,000. Jay Cashman, Inc., a US firm, submitted the highest bid at $89,968,160. The selection process began May 7, when the ACP released its request for proposals to begin the first of five dry excavation projects to 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). This project represents approximately 16 percent of the total excavation for the new Pacific Locks access channel. At a special ceremony on Friday, July 6, the ACP reviewed the bid submissions for the first dry excavation of the new Pacific Locks access channel. The scope of work for the first dry excavation will include the removal of non-classified material, the disposal of excavated material and the construction of new gravel roads and ditches. Site work could begin as early as two weeks after the ACP gives CUSA the order to proceed.


New 4578TEU vessel
joining OOCL fleet

TOKYO — The first of sixteen 4,578-TEU vessel built by Samsung Heavy Industries for OOCL was named OOCL KOBE on July 20, 2007 at the Port of Kobe in Japan, following closely the christening of its sister vessel, OOCL YOKOHAMA in Korea on July 19. The newbuilding was named just a few days after the 140th anniversary of the Port of Kobe. OOCL will operate a fleet of 18 of these Panamax class vessels in total once the 16 vessels built by Samsung Heavy industries are delivered, in addition to the two vessels of the same class delivered earlier by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard at the end of 2006. The m.v. OOCL KOBE will be deployed on the KTX1 service. The port rotation is: Tokyo / Yokohama / Nagoya / Kobe / Osaka / Kaohsiung / Hong Kong / Singapore / Shekou / Hong Kong / Xiamen and back to Tokyo in a 21-day round trip.


Trainees begin education
onboard SPIRIT OF MOL

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S. K. Lines, Co., Ltd. (MOL) has announced that its training vessel the SPIRIT OF MOL, launched on July 1, started onboard training of the first trainees in Manila on July 16. The SPIRIT OF MOL left on its first training voyage today, with about 70 Filipino and Russian trainees. The trainees will now start an intensive three to six month education curriculum. The company plans to conduct most of the training voyages between the Philippines and India in the future. MOL continues to expand its fleet under the midterm management plan MOL ADVANCE set forth in March 2007, and plans to have 1,000 vessels by March 2010. To recruit and develop seafarers who will maintain safe operation of its growing fleet, the company offers an exclusive MOL training program at 13 crew training centers around the world including the MOL training centers.


Genco expanding fleet
with purchase of nine ships

TOKYO — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has agreed to acquire nine Capesize vessels from companies within the Metrostar Management Corporation group for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.1 billion. The acquisition is subject to the completion of customary additional documentation and closing conditions. Two of the nine Capesize vessels were built in the first quarter of 2007 and are expected to be delivered to Genco during the third quarter of 2007. The remaining seven Capesize vessels are expected to be built, and subsequently delivered to Genco, between the fourth quarter of 2007 and the third quarter of 2009. Upon completion of the acquisition, Genco's fleet will consist of nine Capesize, seven Panamax, seven Handymax, and five Handysize drybulk carriers, with a total carrying capacity of approximately 2,559,000 dwt and an average age of eight years.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 20, 2007

Public hearing scheduled
for Port of Olympia land sale

OLYMPIA — On July 23, 2007, the Port of Olympia Commission will consider and hold a public hearing regarding the proposed sale of property by the port to the LOTT Alliance. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the LOTT Boardroom, 111 Market Street NE, Second Floor, Olympia, Washington. Approximately 1.9 acres is being proposed for sale. The property lies adjacent to the east side of the LOTT Alliance's Budd Inlet sewage treatment facility. A portion of the site is currently occupied by the west half of an existing warehouse. LOTT plans to use the land for construction and operation of processing facilities, reclaimed water demonstration features, and administrative building(s), including a boardroom and for a reclaimed water interpretive and education center. 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 LOTT Alliance.


US rail freight traffic
drops down during week

WASHINGTON, DC — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was down slightly in compared to last year during the week ended July 7, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Both weeks included the July 4th holiday. Total volume was estimated at 29.6 billion ton-miles, down 2.3 percent from the corresponding week last year. Intermodal volume totaled 192,516 trailers or containers, down 0.7 percent from last year, with container volume up 1.4 percent and trailer volume down 7.9 percent. Carload freight, which doesn't include the intermodal data, totaled 282,888 cars for the week, down 3.6 percent from last year. Loadings were down 3.3 percent in the East and 3.9 percent in the West. Cumulative volume for the first 27 weeks of 2007 totaled 8,714,282 carloads, down 4.1 percent from 2006; 6,144,891 trailers or containers, off 1.3 percent; and total volume of an estimated 887.5 billion ton-miles, down 2.8 percent from last year.


OOCL christens new
4,578 TEU container ship

TOKYO — OOCL has announced the Thursday, July 19, christening of its second of 16 4,578-TEU vessels, ordered with Samsung Heavy Industries since 2004. The newbuilding was named the m.v. OOCL YOKOHAMA. The m.v. OOCL YOKOHAMA will be deployed under the AEA1 service, after its initial deployment in KTX1 service in the Intra-Asia region, providing a link between Asia and Australia. The OOCL YOKOHAMA’s port rotation is : Kaohsiung / Hong Kong/ Shanghai / Chiwan / Hong Kong / Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane and back to Kaohsiung in a 35-day round trip.


Past Coast Guard commandant
Admiral Owen W. Siler dies

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Coast Guard has announced the death of Adm. Owen W. Siler, 85, Coast Guard commandant from 1974 to 1978, who succumbed to heart failure July 18. "This is a sad day for the Coast Guard," said Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard. "The Coast Guard lost a close member of our family and America has lost a great leader. Adm. Siler's relentless service to his nation, from World War II to the war on drugs, will never be
forgotten. The face of the Coast Guard was forever changed as a result of Adm. Siler's commitment and foresight towards minority recruiting and the advancement of women within the Coast Guard's ranks." "Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Siler family during this difficult time," Allen said. Adm. Siler was nominated to become the 15th commandant of the Coast Guard by President Richard M. Nixon and, following Senate confirmation, he relieved Adm. Chester R. Bender, on June 1, 1974. Funeral arrangements are pending.


Port of Vancouver, USA
hosting International Festival

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA will host the International Festival at Esther Short Park, a tradition since 1970. The festival will be held on Sunday, July 29, from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The festival is a free community event that showcases the many cultures of Clark County through entertainment, displays and food. Multicultural entertainment featuring several Clark County performers and groups will include the Khmer Angkor Dance Troupe (Cambodian), Kaleinani O Ke Kukui Dancers (Hawaiian), and Mariachi Viva Mexico, American West Vancouver Chinese School students, the One-of-A-Kind Drumline, Jim Fischer & Friends from Around the World, a fashion show by Clark College International students and the Sons of Italy Bocce Ball demonstrations. New for 2007 will be the Columbian.com Internet Lounge, where festival guests can check email and local news. Columbian.com, festival sponsor and pioneer in the new media arena, offers a local and intimate connection to the internet incorporating the voices of its newsroom, businesses and the community to provide 24-hour, 365-days a year breaking news and information. This year will also feature free bus tours of the port’s working waterfront, scheduled to depart each half hour from the north side of the park. Bus tour guests will receive discounts for vendors at Vancouver Farmer’s Market. The market will be open throughout the festival, at the west side of the park on Esther Street. Adults must have photo identification to take the tour and children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. More information about this event is available on the port’s website at www.portvanusa.com.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 19, 2007

Port of Tacoma site of
security training exercise

TACOMA — A full scale homeland security training exercise will take place at the Port of Tacoma on Tuesday, July 24. Tideflats-area businesses and residents with views of the port area may observe emergency response vehicles, simulated explosions and smoke and limited on-water activity on Commencement Bay. According to officials from the Center for Asymmetric Warfare (CAW), a federally-funded, national center dedicated to protecting U.S. forces, citizens and property, this activity will not disrupt normal business activity and should not create visual or audible distractions outside the immediate port area. The Port of Tacoma exercise is expected to begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 24 and will conclude by early afternoon. There will be no public or media access to the exercise. The CAW exercise launches Friday with the simulated seizure of a ferry in Steilacoom, and concludes a few days later with disasters and mock terrorist attacks around the Puget Sound. In all, more than 50 agencies will participate in the two-phase exercise, including participants from the Department of Defense and federal, state, county, local and private entities. The Asymmetric Warfare Initiative exercise is designed to challenge local, state and federal agencies to assemble rapidly and establish a coordinated response to multiple terrorist attacks. Participants will practice specialized tactics, techniques and procedures aimed at preventing an attack and lessening human, social and economic impacts. Funded by the United States Congress through the Asymmetric Warfare Initiative, the exercise is the fifth of its kind to be conducted in the Puget Sound region. Activities will begin at the Steilacoom Ferry Dock, July 19 and 20, and will include a hostage situation on a ferry. Exercise activities will continue the following week at the Port of Tacoma on July 24, the location of last year’s exercise. Scenarios will include both terrorist and non-terrorist activities and the distinction between the two could be ambiguous, further challenging participants.


National Industries subsidiary
to build rail car facility in Alabama

HAMILTON, ON — National Industries Inc., the parent company of National Steel Car Limited (NSC), a North American rail car manufacturer since 1912, has announced its newly formed subsidiary, National Alabama Corporation, will build a new manufacturing facility in The Shoals Region of northwest Alabama. Construction of the manufacturing unit, National Alabama Corporation, is scheduled to begin over the next few months with startup expected in early 2009. National Steel Car Limited and National Alabama Corporation are wholly owned subsidiaries of National Industries Inc. While specific cost figures were not released, the investment is estimated to be in the $350 million range. When in full operation, annual capacity is expected to be in the 8,000 to 10,000-unit range providing new employment for 1800 people.


Coast Guard to honor heroes
at ceremony today in Astoria

ASTORIA — Coast Guard Air Station Astoria will conduct a civilian awards ceremony today at 4 p.m. The event will take place at 2185 SE 12th Place Warrenton, Ore. 97146. Rear Admiral Richard Houck, Coast Guard Thirteenth District Commander, will be joining Captain Peter Troedsson, Group/ Air Station Astoria Commander, in presenting awards to members of the community. A Silver Lifesaving Medal will be presented to Curtis L. Dawson, a Distinguished Public Service Award will be presented to Leroy Schlecht and three Meritorious Public Service Awards will be presented to Alan Graham, Wayne Simpson, and Jeremy Youngquist, members of the Columbia River Bar Pilots from Astoria. The Medal and Awards are presented to them for their heroic actions on the night of December 3, 2005 when the tug TIGER tipped over near Pier 1 in Astoria. While assisting a barge that broke loose from its mooring, the TIGER tipped over forcing Captain David Schmelzer into the frigid waters of the Columbia River. Crewman Curtis L. Dawson risked his life by jumping from the barge into the 45-degree water to rescue the Captain. Crew member, Leroy Schlecht threw over a line to bring the two up, but Crewman Dawson was unable to bring Captain Schmelzer and himself out of the water due to injuries they both attained and the onset of hypothermia after being in the water for 15 minutes. After several attempts to bring Captain Schmelzer back to consciousness, Crewman Dawson finally had to bring himself onto the barge leaving Captain Schmelzer on the line with his head still above water. Within minutes the Columbia River Bar Pilot helicopter Seahawk, piloted by Alan Graham and Jeremy Youngquist with Wayne Simpson as the hoist operator, arrived on scene and lowered a rescue strap down to recover Captain Schmelzer. The crew of the Seahawk was able to hoist Captain Schmelzer into the helicopter and transport him to an awaiting ambulance ashore.


Genco announces plans
to buy nine Capesize vessels

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has agreed to acquire nine Capesize vessels from companies within the Metrostar Management Corporation group for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.1 billion. The acquisition is subject to the completion of customary additional documentation and closing conditions. Two of the nine Capesize vessels were built in the first quarter of 2007 and are expected to be delivered to Genco during the third quarter of 2007. The remaining seven Capesize vessels are expected to be built, and subsequently delivered to Genco, between the fourth quarter of 2007 and the third quarter of 2009. Upon completion of the acquisition, Genco's fleet will consist of nine Capesize, seven Panamax, seven Handymax, and five Handysize drybulk carriers, with a total carrying capacity of approximately 2,559,000 dwt and an average age of eight years.


CBP officers use hi-tech gear
to nab stowaway in rail car

BUFFALO, NY — Earlier this week, U.S Customs and Border Protection officers apprehended an El Salvadorian national as he attempted to enter the United States illegally as a stowaway aboard an inbound freight train. CBP officers, using advanced scanning technology system at the Black Rock International Rail Bridge, discovered the individual hiding inside a rail car. On July 16, at approximately 2:45 p.m., CBP officers were reviewing an inspection scan of an arriving Canadian Pacific train using gamma-imaging technology. The officers discovered an anomaly consistent with that of a stowaway hiding inside of one of the freight cars. CBP officers ordered the train to come to a controlled stop and converged on the rail car. The suspect was discovered hiding on the inside of a hopper car and was immediately taken into custody by CBP officers. The stowaway was later identified as Ever Varela-Gonzalez, a 39 year-old citizen of El Salvador without proper documentation to enter or remain in the United States. Record checks revealed that Varela-Gonzalez had been previously deported from the United States in August of 2003.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Port of Everett reports
on progress of rail/barge facility

EVERETT — The Port of Everett reports that On July 9, Railworks Track Systems, based out of Chehalis, Wash., mobilized onto the Rail/Barge Transfer Facility site in preparation for construction. The facility is now called Mount Baker Terminal. The actual pier construction was completed by Manson Construction in July 2006, but Railworks will be performing some of the remaining work to get the facility ready for operation in early 2008. Railworks is tasked with installing the crane rail on the pier, and the railroad tracks that will connect the facility to the realigned BNSF mainline. From July through September, work crews will be installing the crane rail and train tracks on the pier. Starting in October, Railworks will begin installing the railroad tracks onshore and connecting it with the mainline. The operations building and other associated infrastructure to prepare the facility for operation will be done in this same time period, but by a different contractor. The facility will be used to support the Boeing 747, 767 and 777 Airplane programs, and be used as a backup facility to the 787 Dreamliner.


Port of Vancouver, USA
speeds contaminant cleanup

VANCOUVER, USA — Having already cleaned up a significant amount of solvents in the groundwater below property in Fruit Valley, the Port of Vancouver, USA and Washington Department of Ecology are embarking on a program to accelerate the ultimate clean up. Port of Vancouver Executive Director Larry Paulson has announced that the port will be installing a pump-and-treat system to remove the solvent contamination from previous owners in an aquifer below Fruit Valley industrial and residential lands, where contamination was discovered in the late 1990s. The aquifer is not a source of drinking water, and drinking water service in the Fruit Valley Neighborhood is safe. The port has already spent $13 million, and anticipates it will spend another $21 million to finish the cleanup. The Washington Department of Ecology has given the port a total of $6.3 million to assist with funding the cleanup.Since the cleanup started, the port has removed and treated 14,000 cubic yards of soil from the former Swan Manufacturing site. A second source of contamination is located on the Cadet Manufacturing property, where three remediation systems have been put in place on the site. The port purchased property at Cadet Manufacturing in 2006, and took control of the cleanup activities.


Port of Vancouver, BC
bringing new truck rules onboard

VANCOUVER, BC — The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) reports it has introduced the most demanding container truck safety and environmental licensing standards in North America. In support of its strategic trucking program, the port's new Truck Licensing System (TLS) will prohibit the access of substandard trucks on port property and develop a safer, cleaner, more sustainable container truck fleet to service the port's container facilities. The new provisions will take effect on January 1, 2008. The new truck license includes more stringent safety and environmental enforcement, data qualification and audit provisions to allow the VPA to prevent non-compliant or substandard equipment from accessing port property. New safety enforcement standards within the port's mandatory licensing system include a three-tiered approach based on a cumulative system of warnings and suspensions and, for the most serious offences over time, cancellation of a company's truck license. New environmental standards will require cleaner and more modern engine technology by phasing-out the use of older container trucks. By January 1, 2008, the port will no longer allow access on port property to container trucks older than 1989. By January 1, 2009, the VPA will prohibit access to container trucks older than 1994. The TLS will include an appeals process to consider older trucks that meet acceptable alternatives to reduce emissions. Other new environmental provisions address opacity, idling and driver education. To qualify for a TLS beginning January 1, 2008, trucking companies will be required to pass increasingly stringent annual opacity checks conducted by provincially certified facilities and pass random checks throughout the year. The port will also enforce a new mandatory idle reduction provision on and around port property and introduce a compulsory annual driver education component to the truck license.


Carriers net contract
to open Rotterdam box terminal

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K.Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced that a consortium consisting of MOL and four other companies has been awarded a contract to equip and operate a new container terminal in Port of Rotterdam. The facility is scheduled to open in latter half of 2013. MOL's partners of the consortium are APL (Singapore), Hyundai Merchant Marine (South Korea), CMA CGM (France), and DPWorld (Dubai). MOL and the four other companies will jointly establish a terminal operation company, which will be named "Rotterdam World Gateway", and sign a 25-year lease contract with the port of Rotterdam.


Grand Alliance member lines
plan changes to CCX service

TOKYO — Grand Alliance members of Transpacific Trade - Hapag-Lloyd, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) have announced they plan to restructure and upgrade the Central China Express Service (CCX). Effective from August, 2007, Grand Alliance will adjust the port rotation of CCX to Ningbo / Shanghai / Los Angeles / Ningbo. CCX will call at the new Yangshan terminal in Shanghai. Four 5,500-TEU vessels will be deployed in the service, an upgrade in capacity from four 4,000-TEU vessels. With these changes, the new CCX service will offer a direct call from Shanghai to Los Angeles with a transit time of10 days. The Grand Alliance, formed in 1998, is an integrated consortium in global container shipping. Its members are Hapag-Lloyd (Germany), MISC Berhad (Malaysia), NYK (Japan) and OOCL (Hong Kong). MISC Berhad does not provide any Transpacific services.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 16, 2007

Appropriations bill holds funds
for Port of Vancouver, USA project

VANCOUVER, USA — U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) has announced that she has included $4.85 million in funding for transportation and community development projects in Southwest Washington in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill. Senator Murray is the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee. Among the projects funded in the bill is the Port of Vancouver USA's West Vancouver Freight Access project which will bring new rail access to the port and enhance the port’s internal rail system. The bill includes $2 million for the project that will: Change the main rail line into the port so that it no longer runs directly across the BNSF railway mainline. This will result in a 40 percent reduction in rail traffic delays; Allow the port to receive large inbound trains directly into the port and will provide an area where Unit Trains can be staged, inspected, prepared and built ready for departure; Add capacity for current industrial tenants and marine customers and prepare for the growth of rail cars entering the port. The THUD bill has passed the full Appropriations Committee and will now move to the full Senate for consideration.


Schnitzer Steel sets records
for third quarter earnings/net income

PORTLAND — Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. has reported net income for the fiscal 2007 third quarter ended May 31, 2007, of $44 million, or $1.47 per diluted share. Net income and earnings per share were third quarter records. This compares to net income of $30 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, during the third quarter of fiscal 2006. Net income in the third quarter of 2006 included a $4 million charge relating to reserves taken by the company for the estimated settlement of the SEC and Department of Justice investigations into the company's past payment practices in Asia. Excluding the charge, third quarter 2006 net income would have been $34 million, or $1.11 per share. The company reported fiscal year-to-date net income of $93 million, or $3.06 per diluted share. This compares to net income of $93 million, or $3.02 per diluted share, for the same period in 2006. Included in fiscal year-to-date 2006 net income was a gain in the first quarter of $34 million (after tax) related to the disposition of the Hugo Neu joint venture assets. Additionally, net income in 2006 was reduced by charges of $15 million for reserves relating to the SEC and Department of Justice investigations. Excluding the gain from the disposition of joint venture assets and the charges for the investigation reserve, fiscal year-to-date 2006 net income for the comparable period would have been $74 million, or $2.40 per diluted share.


Vessels rescue survivors
of sinking bulk log carrier

HONOLULU — Ten people were rescued and 12 people remain missing as Coast Guard, Navy and Good Samaritan rescue crews search the Pacific Ocean about 375 miles northwest of Guam. An emergency beacon registered to the motor vessel HAI TONG #7 began broadcasting a distress signal at about 11 a.m. July 10. About 20 minutes later the emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) signal ceased broadcasting. The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine broadcast asking mariners in the area to assist. The masters of the motor vessel IKAN BILIS and the HORIZON FALCON diverted to the scene. The HORIZON FALCON arrived on scene shortly before noon July 11. The master reported an oil slick and debris in position last broadcast by the emergency beacon. A Navy P-3 airplane and crew from Kadina Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan; a Navy P-3 airplane and crew from Misawa Naval Air Station in Misawa, Japan; two Coast Guard C-130 airplanes and crews from Barbers Point; and the Coast Guard Cutter SEQUOIA from Guam were sent to respond to the distress. The Navy P-3 crew arrived on scene at the emergency beacon's location and began searching for survivors. The crew spotted several persons wearing orange life jackets or survival suits floating among debris in the water and directed the two Good Samaritan vessels to their position. The IKAN BILIS recovered eight people, including two injured persons; and the HORIZON FALCON rescued two persons from the water. The HAI TONG #7 is a 420-foot Chinese-flagged, bulk log-carrier, owned by Fuzhou Haijing Shipping, en route China from Papua-New Guinea. Survivors reported that the cargo began shifting as the vessel made way through 70-mph winds and 24-foot seas. Rescue crews report seeing an oil sheen, but mainly logs and other debris in the area.


Diana Shipping chartering
bulk vessel to Hanjin

ATHENS — Diana Shipping Inc., a global shipping company specializing in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, today announced that it has entered into a time charter contract with Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd., Seoul, for one of its Panamax dry bulk carriers, the OCEANIS, at a gross rate of US$40,000 per day for a minimum 22 to a maximum 25 month period. This employment is anticipated to generate approximately US$26.5 million of gross revenues for the minimum scheduled period of the charter. The charter is expected to commence in mid-September, 2007. The OCEANIS is a 75,211 dwt Panamax dry bulk carrier built in 2001.


Port of Longview brochure
wins AAPA Award of Merit

LONGVIEW — The Port of Longview has announced that its Marine Marketing Brochure has won an Award of Merit from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Annual Communications Awards Program. The Marine Marketing Brochure is the port's newest marketing piece. It features an overview of the port's terminal services, with maps showing locations and transportation connections. It was designed locally by Lillevold Design and Illustration, and printed at the Printing Arts Center. The Port of Longview Commissioners were notified of the award at the July 11, 2007 regular meeting. The official award ceremony will take place at the AAPA Annual Convention in September, 2007. Winning entries from seaports across the Western Hemisphere will be recognized at an awards luncheon and featured in a video presentation.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 13, 2007

Port of Vancouver, USA
adding longshore workers

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver USA is all about creating family-wage jobs, and there are 26 new jobs on the docks. With the continued growth of cargos being both imported and exported through the port, a study was done to determine the number of longshore workers the port needs to keep cargo moving efficiently and effectively. The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) determined that the Port of Vancouver needed 26 additional longshore workers now, and perhaps more by the end of 2007. The Port of Vancouver is the largest grain exporter on the Columbia River, but it also is a leader in the handling of other bulk commodities, including copper concentrate and fertilizers among others. Roughly 16 percent of all grain exported from the U.S. goes through the Port of Vancouver. It is also the U.S. port of entry for Vestas wind energy components. In addition, Vancouver is the U.S. West Coast’s port of entry for Subaru automobiles. The port’s efficiency, its access to modes of cargo transportation that includes river, road and rail, and its ability to quickly turn ships are major reasons why shipping lines choose the Port of Vancouver.


Tacoma Port Commission backs
new roads/transit package

TACOMA — Citing the need for transportation funding throughout Puget Sound and the importance of reducing regional traffic congestion, the Port of Tacoma Commission has unanimously passed a resolution in support of the Joint Roads and Transit Package that will be before voters on November 6, 2007. Port of Tacoma Commission Resolution No. 2007-5 notes the "urgent need for funding of transportation projects to ensure capacity for the movement of people and commerce, to reduce congestion and to strengthen the region's economy." The resolution also expresses that Puget Sound's regional transportation system has failed to keep pace with its growing needs, and that "our economic vitality depends on significant and immediate improvements to increase safety and capacity." To view the full Resolution, visit: http://www.portoftacoma.com/files/07-10-07.pdf. Passage of the Joint Roads and Transit Package would result in $17.8 billion in transportation improvements in the Central Puget Sound that would be paid for, in part, with a 0.6 percent increase in sales tax. The funding package also includes a 0.8 percent motor vehicle excise tax. In Pierce County, the package would extend Highway 167, construct Highway 704 (Cross Base Highway), improve the Highway 162 interchange at Highway 410 and rebuild the Interstate 5 interchange at the Tacoma Mall.


Month of June sees drop
in US rail freight traffic

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. freight railroad carload traffic fell 2.7 percent in June 2007 compared with June 2006, while intermodal traffic fell 1.8 percent compared with the same month last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Overall, U.S. railroads originated 1,344,296 carloads of freight in June 2007, down 37,679 carloads from June 2006. U.S. railroads also originated 961,545 intermodal units in June 2007, a decrease of 17,956 trailers and Six of the 19 major commodity categories tracked by the AAR saw carload increases in the United States in June 2007 compared to June 2006, led by metallic ores (up 4,347 carloads, or 14.7 percent, to 33,982 carloads) and chemicals (up 4,208 carloads, or 3.6 percent, to 121,727 carloads). Ethanol, a small but rapidly-growing rail traffic segment, is included in the "chemicals" category. Commodities showing carload declines in June 2007 included crushed stone, sand, and gravel (down 9,543 carloads, or 9.6 percent, to 90,296 carloads); coal (down 8,910 carloads, or 1.6 percent, to 560,397 carloads); grain (down 5,371 carloads, or 6.0 percent, to 83,660 carloads); and metals and metal products (down 4,060 carloads, to 54,193 carloads). In the second quarter of 2007, total U.S. rail carloadings were down 3.3 percent (147,011 carloads) to 4,305,761 carloads, while intermodal traffic, which consists of trailers and containers on flat cars and is not included in carload figures, was down 2.6 percent (81,992 units) to 3,013,336 trailers and containers. For the first half of 2007, total U.S. rail carloads were down 358,530 carloads to 8,431,637 carloads, as year-over-year increases in chemicals (up 17,204 carloads, or 2.2 percent) and petroleum products (up 8,903 carloads, or 5.7 percent) were not enough to offset declines in crushed stone, sand, and gravel (down 66,228 carloads, or 11.0 percent); coal (down 61,161 carloads); and motor vehicles and equipment (down 57,283 carloads, or 9.6 percent), among others. U.S. intermodal traffic was down 77,384 trailers and containers (1.3 percent) for the first six months of 2007 to 5,952,375 units. At this pace, 2007 will be the second-highest year for U.S. intermodal traffic in history, behind only 2006. Total volume through the first half of 2007 was estimated at 857.9 billion ton-miles, down 2.8 percent from the first 26 weeks of 2006.


Maersk Line boosting
Bunker Adjustment Factor

COPENHAGEN — Effective from August 1, 2007, Maersk Line is increasing the Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) between Mediterranean ports and the United States and Canada. The change follows the higher oil prices. The new bunker surcharges will be: USD 453 (currently USD 399) per 20' container; USD 906 (currently USD 798) per 40' container. Transatlantic cargo to and from the following countries will be affected: United States, Canada, Russia (via Black Sea ports), Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Cyprus, Albania, San Marino, Slovenia, Egypt, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Syria, Serbia & Montenegro, Croatia, Turkey, Lebanon, Macedonia, Greece, Malta, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Andorra, Gibraltar and France.


Change of command for
Coast Guard Station Seattle

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard welcomed Lt. Melanie Burnham to Station Seattle and said farewell to Lt. Matt Baer during a Change of Command ceremony at Integrated Support Command Seattle July 12. Lt. Baer served at Station Seattle for three years and is leaving to pursue a master's degree at Harvard. His personal decorations include a permanent Boat Forces pin, the Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, the 9-11 Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, five Meritorious Team Ribbons and numerous service and unit awards. He is a recipient of the Department of Transportation Secretary's Partnering in Excellence Award and the Coast Guard Office of Boat Forces "Soul of the Service" Award. Lt. Burnham comes to Seattle from Boston where she served as a search and rescue controller and command duty officer at the First District Command Center in Boston. Her personal decorations and awards include two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Commandant's Letter of Commendation awards and two Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 12, 2007

Report finds Port of Port Angeles
creates over $200 million in revenue/taxes

PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles and the businesses that operate on port property generate extensive economic activity in Clallam County and throughout Washington State, according to a new study that will be released by the port. A draft of the study was presented to the commissioners and the public at the July 9th Port Commission meeting by Paul Sorenson of BST Associates. In 2006, the port and its tenants generated an estimated $190 million in direct business revenue and $10.5 million in state and local taxes. Included are revenues generated by the port’s core businesses – Airports (William R. Fairchild International Airport and Sekiu Regional Airport), Marine Shipping Terminal, Property Development, Marinas (Port Angeles Boat Haven and John Wayne Marina) – and about $2 million in revenues from capital projects. The port and its tenants were responsible for direct payrolls of $53 million in 2006, which translated into over 1,700 direct jobs in Clallam County. These jobs were relatively high paying averaging $31,000 (over $15 per hour) with some jobs paying $35,000 ($17 per hour across all businesses using the marine terminal). The majority of these jobs come from people who work for companies that do business on port properties located throughout the county. The port retained BST Associates, a strategic planning and market research firm that specializes in the analysis of port districts, to do the study. The study measured direct impacts – jobs and wages produced directly by the port’s operations; induced impacts, or the jobs and economic activity that can be attributed to purchases by those holding direct jobs; and indirect impacts, the jobs and impacts attributable to purchases by companies that are directly dependent on the port. Direct economic impacts were estimated using a survey/interview process, while a review of secondary data and the IMPLAN model for Clallam County and Washington State were used to estimate total impacts. When total impacts are calculated, it is estimated that statewide, the port and its tenants generated over 3,500 jobs and $190 million in income in Clallam County.


Crowley Maritime will continue
to station rescue tug in Nea Bay

OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Crowley Maritime Corp. have agreed to continue a contract stationing a company rescue tug at Neah Bay from October 2007 through mid-March 2008. A rescue tug has been stationed at Neah Bay since spring 1999. The tug has stood by or assisted 33 ships that were disabled or had reduced maneuvering or propulsion capability while transiting along the coast and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The actions helped ensure the ships didn't drift onto rocks and spill oil. Under the extended contract, Crowley Maritime will begin stationing a company rescue tug at Neah Bay starting Oct. 1, 2007, through mid-March, 2008. Lawmakers made about $1.45 million available to fund the tug for 168 days at $8,750 a day. Ecology administers the rescue tug contract.


Freight transportation services index
makes small gain during May

WASHINGTON, DC — The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.1 percent in May from its April level, rising after a one-month decline, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports. The May rise was the fourth in the last six months. The freight TSI is down 3.0
percent from its peak of 113.1 achieved in November 2005 but up 1.3 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 year-to-date, the freight TSI rose 0.8 percent, compared to a 1.6 percent increase during the December-to-May period in 2006. The May freight TSI of 109.7 was down 3.0 percent from its May 2006 level, the largest May-to-May decline in the 17 years of the index. The May index is 1.8 percent lower than the May 2005 level and 0.3 percent lower than the May 2004 level. Despite the recent declines, the freight index has increased 8.5 percent in five years and 18.6 percent in 10 years.


Scholarship endowment created
to honor Capt. David Lyman

VALLEJO, CA — The Captain David Lyman Endowment Fund Committee and The California Maritime Academy have announced the creation of The Captain David Lyman Scholarship Endowment, opening new opportunities for Hawaiian students attending Cal Maritime. The initial $100,000 funding for the endowment includes contributions from members of the Hawaiian maritime industry and of the Hawai’i Harbor Pilots Association, members of the Lyman family and the many many friends Capt. Lyman made during his life. Those contributions have been matched by The California Maritime Academy Foundation to create the initial endowment. Captain Lyman, a 1965 Academy graduate and founder of the Hawai’i Harbor Pilots Association, died January, 2006, in a fall from a boarding ladder during a pilot assignment.


Department of Commerce
publishes Export Yellow Pages

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Commerce has released the 2007-multimedia buyers’ guide, The Export Yellow Pages (EYP), which highlights the goods and services of U.S. companies interested in export business. This publication also includes a U.S. Trade Assistance Directory that offers details to federal export programs. U.S. companies register their commercial profiles with the EYP to attract new overseas customers, reach new export business partners, and find U.S. export service firms. This year’s publication offers 65,000 goods and services categories for precise end-user registration and search functions. It also provides an on-line search capability available in 11 languages and has the accessibility to an on-line network that attracts prospective international buyers of goods and services. Produced through a public-private partnership, the EYP is available in print at the Department of Commerce’s Export Assistance Centers, U.S. embassies, U.S. consulates, and via the Internet at http://www.theexportyellowpages.com/. The worldwide availability makes it convenient for customers to connect with U.S. companies interested in new export business. Companies can register their business profiles on-line or by contacting Global Publishers LLC at 1-877-390-2629.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Port of Tacoma selected to receive
top AAPA communications honor

TACOMA — For the second year in a row, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) will present the Dan Maynard Communications Award for Overall Program Excellence to the Port of Tacoma. The leading organization representing public ports throughout the Western Hemisphere, AAPA's 2007 Communications Awards competition attracted 194 entries from 38 U.S. and Canadian ports. Entries were judged by 32 Washington, DC-area public relations professionals. In total, the judges marked 82 entries for honors, including 17 for an Award of Excellence, 42 for an Award of Merit and 23 for Honorable Mention. Each year, AAPA acknowledges the top performer in the competition with the Dan Maynard Communications Award for Overall Program Excellence. With four Awards of Excellence and three Awards of Merit, the Port of Tacoma earned top honors for the second-straight year and for the third time over the past five years.


Greenbrier sees big gains
in third quarter revenues

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — The Greenbrier Companies, a supplier of transportation equipment and services to the railroad industry, has reported financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended May 31, 2007. Revenues for the 2007 fiscal third quarter were $386.6 million, compared to $266.1 million in the prior year's third quarter. Gross margins during the quarter were 14.9 percent compared to 16.7 percent in the prior comparable period. EBITDA before special charges was $46.4 million, or 12 percent of revenues for the quarter, compared to $32.9 million, or 12.3 percent of revenues in the prior year's third quarter. Net earnings were $13.0 million, or $0.81 per diluted share for the quarter, compared to net earnings of $10.7 million, or $0.67 per diluted share for the same period in 2006. Current period net earnings include a special charge of $3.1 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, with no related tax benefit, associated with severance and other closure costs of Greenbrier's Canadian railcar manufacturing facility. This facility's last order was completed in early May 2007, and the facility is now in the process of being permanently shut down. Greenbrier's new railcar manufacturing backlog as of May 31, 2007 was 14,100 units valued at $970 million, compared to 14,300 units valued at $990 million as of February 28, 2007. Approximately 3,900 units in backlog are subject to Greenbrier's fulfillment of certain competitive conditions. The backlog is scheduled for delivery through 2010 and has been priced to cover potential material price increases or decreases and surcharges.


Port of Olympia handles
shipment of Kia vehicles

OLYMPIA — The 660-foot vessel MORNING MERIDIAN arrived at the Port of Olympia July 8 to unload 3,924 Kia vehicles shipped from the Port of Mokpo, South Korea. The vessel departed Monday, July 9. Manufactured in South Korea, the port reports the vehicles are normally unloaded and staged at the Port of Tacoma. However, due to increased Kia production to meet growing demand, the Port of Tacoma was temporarily unable to handle this shipment About 140 longshore workers unloaded eight models of Kias, including the Rio, Sedona, Spectra, Optima, Amanti, Sportage, Rondo and Sorento. The vehicles will be stored at the port's marine terminal prior to being transported to Auto Warehousing in Tacoma where they will be processed for distribution to dealerships. "In the spirit of partnership with the Port of Tacoma, we are pleased to be able to provide a solution to this temporary terminal capacity issue," said Kari Qvigstad, the port's director of marketing & business development.


Panama Canal Authority opens bids
for first phase of construction work

PANAMA CITY — On July 6, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) officially began reviewing bids for the first construction project under the canal's expansion program. Submissions to perform the dry excavation of the new Pacific Locks access channel will be thoroughly reviewed and a winner will be determined in the coming weeks. In a special ceremony, the ACP opened each bid submission. After reviewing them, the proposal that meets all of the project's criteria and needs, with the best price, will be selected. There were 10 submissions. On May 7, the ACP released its tender (request for proposal submission) for the first of five dry excavation projects of the new Pacific Locks access channel that will link the new third set of locks on the Pacific end of the Canal with the existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch in the Panama Canal). This project represents approximately 16 percent of the total excavation for the new Pacific Locks access channel. The scope of work for the first dry excavation will include the removal of non-classified material, the disposal of excavated material and the construction of new gravel roads and ditches. Site work could begin as early as two weeks after the chosen firm receives confirmation from the ACP and is given the order to proceed.


Damaged propeller causes Celebrity
to cut short European cruise

MIAMI — Celebrity Cruises is fully refunding the cruise fare paid by all guests on its June 30 sailing of CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM due to itinerary disruptions caused by propeller damage. On July 2, while anchored off Villefranche, France, the ship's propellers struck a submerged rock, following an electrical malfunction. Three of the four blades on the starboard propeller and one on the port propeller needed replacement. The ship's itinerary was significantly altered to allow repairs to be made. "We sincerely apologize to our guests for the disappointment they have experienced on this cruise," said Dan Hanrahan, president of Celebrity Cruises. "We share in their disappointment, and believe that offering a full refund is the right thing to do." CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM departed Barcelona, Spain, June 30 on a 12-night Mediterranean sailing concluding in Venice, Italy, July 12. The refunded cruise fare is expected to have a negative impact on the earnings of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. of approximately $ 0.04 per share.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 9, 2007

Initial Columbia Gateway tenant
inks Letter of Intent with Port Vancouver

VANCOUVER, USA — The first tenant at the Port of Vancouver USA’s Columbia Gateway project has reached agreement with port staff on a Letter of Intent to lease 30 of the 75 total acres of planned industrial property. Rappaport Energy Consulting will build a state-of-the art biofuels facility, which will serve Vancouver and the metropolitan area. Vancouver Port Commissioners are expected to consider the Letter of Intent at their July 11 meeting. The facility – a Biorefinery/Biomass Energy Project – is expected to create 135 construction jobs and 95 permanent jobs. The investment in the facility is estimated at $150 million. The lease will include the 30 acres of property, as well as access to rail lines, services common to industrial parks, access to a liquid bulk-loading marine terminal and construction of infrastructure. Development of biodiesel processing plant, capable of 60 million gallons a year will be the first phase of the project. The plant will be designed to handle vegetable oils, animal fats or palm oil, providing flexibility that promises viability for a long term. Cost of building the biodiesel plant is estimated at $60 million. The plant will provide 40 jobs. The second phase of project construction will be a cogeneration plant and ethanol biorefinery, which will use waste streams collected from Vancouver and the metropolitan area as feedstock. Through its processes, the plant will convert waste into ethanol and co-products, and will use waste heat in generation of electricity. Construction of the ethanol biorefinery is expected to take two years at an estimated cost of $150 million. Projections show that the plant will generate 20 megawatts of electricity and roughly 25 million gallons of ethanol. The project will be interconnected. Heat from the cogeneration plant will also be supplied to the biodiesel facility. That plant will supply surplus glycerin to the power plant for added fuel. The cogeneration plant will dispose of 240,000 tons of waste woody debris.


Goldman Sachs investing
in SSA parent company

SEATTLE — Carrix, Inc. has announced that Goldman Sachs Infrastructure Partners has committed to a significant equity investment in the company, positioning Carrix to capitalize on the substantial growth opportunity in the global port operations industry. Carrix is the parent company of SSA Marine and Tideworks Technology. SSA Marine is the largest U.S. owned, and privately held, marine terminal operator in the world, with over 120 marine and rail operations worldwide, including 11 container terminals in LA/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, Panama, Mexico and Chile. Throughout its existence, Carrix has been wholly owned and operated by the Smith/Hemingway family. The Smith/Hemingway family will continue to maintain majority ownership. Carrix’s management team, including Jon Hemingway, who has served as CEO for the past 17 years, will continue on in their roles. Completion of this transaction will occur upon completion of the necessary regulatory approvals and fulfillment of the other customary closing conditions. Carrix’s financial advisor is Citi and its legal advisor is Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Goldman Sachs Infrastructure Partners’ legal advisor is Sullivan & Cromwell, with financial advice provided by Goldman, Sachs & Co.


Crowley looks to academies
for merchant marine candidates

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley recently hired 21 graduating seniors from the 2007 Spring graduating classes of the nation's merchant marine academies. The surge in academy new-hires is part of Crowley's re-energized recruiting program designed to help address crewing shortages currently facing the maritime industry. These newly hired graduates will be given a comprehensive, training program intended to provide them an introduction to the basics of towing along with insight intCrowley points out that after the new-hires complete the training program, they sail for approximately one month under the guidance of the company's experienced senior officers with an overall goal of exposing them to an environment where they gain hands-on tools for success and advancement of their skills.Crowley reports its intensive academy recruiting campaign is just one of several comprehensive initiatives started by the company over the last year. Crowley is taking steps to further the company's competitive advantage to not only recruit but also retain qualified sea-going personnel for the future.


Insurance club calling for
crane boom sensor devices

LONDON — The TT Club is strongly urging container terminal operators to fit electronic sensor devices to quay crane booms to prevent them accidentally colliding with vessels during loading and unloading operations in port. The TT Club says that crane booms colliding with the structure or equipment of a ship is an all-too-common occurrence at almost every port around the world, causing serious injuries to workers and costly repairs and operational downtime. In advising its members and the industry at large, TT Club highlights the frequency of such collisions, and recommends installing effective boom anti-collision systems. The TT Club is a provider of insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry.


Repair work completed on
EMPRESS OF THE NORTH

PORTLAND — The EMPRESS OF THE NORTH has left Vigor Marine's shipyard with all repairs successfully and safely completed. According to the company, the project went smoothly, with no unexpected findings over the course of the job. The work package for the dry docking included steel repairs, hull coating, and general inspections. Vigor Marine reports it was able to complete the steel renewals four days ahead of schedule without incident or injury. The EMPRESS OF THE NORTH ran aground off the Alaska coast May 14. There were no injuries and no environmental damage. The vessel is a 360-foot diesel-powered paddlewheeler operated by Majestic America Line. It was built in 2002 at the Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 6, 2007

Washington governor leading
trade mission to Mexico

SEATTLE — Washington Governor Chris Gregoire will depart July 9, on a five-day mission to promote Washington products and services in Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico. Governor Gregoire is leading a delegation of Washington business, agriculture and education representatives to promote two-way trade of goods and services, as well as to promote foreign investment, tourism, and educational and cultural exchanges with Mexico. The governor will have the opportunity to meet with President Felipe Calderón to establish new ties and reaffirm the existing relationship that has grown through significant trading with Mexico. Mexico in 2006 became one of Washington’s top ten export markets and exports from Mexico to Washington also are growing rapidly. Governor Gregoire will also meet with Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and sign an agreement to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, tourism, labor standards and educational and cultural exchange. Governor Gregoire and the agriculture delegation will promote a variety of Washington products, including wine, potatoes, apples, cherries and processed foods, through in-store and restaurant promotions and receptions. Mexican companies in 2006 purchased $207 million in food and agricultural products from Washington including $128 million in apples. According to the governor’s office, previous missions to Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand led by Governor Gregoire have resulted in millions of dollars in sales for Washington farmers and businesses.


US container ports expecting
record numbers during August

WASHINGTON, DC — Traffic at the nation’s major retail container ports is moving smoothly and should hit a record high in August despite the threat of a short-term clerical workers’ strike at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Global Insight. Rank-and-file members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63, the Marine Clerks Association, recently authorized a strike, but negotiations were continuing even though the union’s contract expired June 30. Port Tracker has moved the ports’ congestion rating from low to moderate, because of the possible job action. All other U.S. ports covered by Port Tracker – Oakland, Tacoma and Seattle on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast – are currently rated “low” for congestion, the same as last month. Nationwide, the ports surveyed handled 1.37 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) of container traffic in May, the most recent month for which actual numbers are available. That was down 0.2 percent from May 2006 but up 3.3 percent from this April. Volume continued up in June, which was estimated at 1.4 million TEU (up 0.1 percent from June 2006), and July is forecast at 1.48 million TEU (up 6.3 percent from July 2006). Ports in the survey are expected to set a record high in August, which is forecast at 1.54 million TEU, up 3.4 percent from last August and easily breaking last October’s record of 1.51 million TEU. Volume should drop to 1.51 million TEU in September but will still be up 1.4 percent from last September. October, traditionally the busiest month of the year as retailers bring in merchandise for the holiday sales season, is forecast at 1.57 million TEU, a 3.9 percent increase from a year ago and a new record. After the October peak, traffic should drop to 1.47 million TEU in November (up 4.1 percent from November 2006) and follow its historical pattern of slowing down for the winter. One TEU is a 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent.


Corps' ESSAYONS begins
annual maintenance dredging

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ dredge, ESSAYONS, is beginning annual maintenance dredging in the Columbia River. The ESSAYONS will work in the Columbia River for several days before moving to the mouth of the Columbia River. The dredge may return up the Columbia River if shoals that impact navigation form while the dredge is working at the mouth. The Corps recently awarded a contract for additional maintenance dredging of the Columbia River, including the mouth, to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock. The contractor will begin dredging in conjunction with the ESSAYONS when their dredge is available in the area. The ESSAYONS will deposit material from the mouth at the Shallow Water Ocean Disposal Site, located oceanward of the north jetty in the vicinity of Buoy 7, and the Deep Water Ocean Disposal Site located six miles off the mouth of the Columbia River. The contractor’s dredge will also use the North Jetty Disposal Site located just south of the north jetty. The navigation channel at the mouth of the Columbia River is located between River Mile -3 and River Mile 3, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. The deep draft navigation channel extends from the Mouth of the Columbia River, upstream to Vancouver, Wash., at about River Mile 106.


US rail freight traffic count
rolls even with last year's numbers

WASHINGTON, DC — Total freight traffic on U.S. railroads was even with the comparable week last year during the week ended June 23, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Total volume was estimated at 34.3 billion ton-miles, the same as in the corresponding week last year. Intermodal volume totaled 242,104 trailers or containers, down 1.2 percent from last year, with container volume up 2.2 percent and trailer volume down 12.3 percent. Carload freight, which doesn't include the intermodal data, totaled 337,774 cars for the week, down 0.8 percent from last year. Loadings were up 0.1 percent in the East but down 1.4 percent in the West. Seven of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains from last year, with metallic ores up 35.7 percent, petroleum products up 11.9 percent and nonmetallic minerals up 8.8 percent. Loadings of lumber and wood products were off 15.9 percent while crushed stone, sand and gravel were down 12.7 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 25 weeks of 2007 totaled 8,095,552 carloads, down 4.1 percent from 2006; 5,711,893 trailers or containers, off 1.3 percent; and total volume of an estimated 823.7 billion ton-miles, down 2.9 percent from last year.


Port of Bellingham presents
annual BayFest celebration

BELLINGHAM — The Port of Bellingham invites everyone to enjoy a fun-filled day on the waterfront with live music, great food, children's activities and much more at the second BayFest maritime celebration. Admission and parking are free. BayFest will be on Saturday, July 14 from 10 am to 5 pm, at Zuanich Point Park, in Squalicum Harbor, Bellingham. Bring the whole family and don't forget your lawn chairs or blankets to sit back and enjoy the array of live entertainment from family folk music, sea shanties, jazz and Celtic rock. Specialty food vendors will be serving a menu variety from hamburgers and curly fries, tacos, kettle corn and shaved ice. Plus this free festival is a great way to find out about the many local water-oriented businesses, clubs and activities available in Whatcom County. BayFest will showcase the many and diverse marine-oriented clubs, businesses and educational organizations offered in our region. Boats for sale and show of all shapes and sizes will also be on display from Regal Sport Boats, NuCanoes and more to junior sailing dinghies, classic wooden motorboats, and remote control models. In the morning, the U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to perform an air-sea rescue helicopter demonstration in Bellingham Bay. While you're there, tour the HomePort Learning Center's Plume and see demonstrations about clean ups on the water from the Marine Spill Response Center's vessel. The USCG Auxiliary will also offer free Vessel Safety Checks for boaters at BayFest. The M.V. Fairhaven will be making special stops throughout the afternoon at one, three and five pm at the day dock to offer its popular waterfront tours. Children can create arts and crafts projects from the Whatcom Children's Museum and clown Daisy Picklehoffer will offer free face painting as well. Learn more about the waterfront redevelopment project by taking a guided bus tour and visiting the display at the Squalicum Boathouse during BayFest. The Port of Bellingham will offer free guided bus tours of the New Whatcom site (former GP property) from 11 am to 4 pm. Tours are on a first-come first-serve basis and space is limited. To sign up for a tour, stop by the display at the event. For more information call the Port of Bellingham at (360) 676-2500 or visit the port's website: www.portofbellingham.com under Calendars--Port Sponsored Events.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 5, 2007

Panama Canal expansion project
nets Ok on environmental study

PANAMA CITY — In a referendum held on October 22, 2006, the Panamanian people voted to expand the Panama Canal. Since then, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has continually taken steps on the path toward expanding the waterway. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has now announced that, after a thorough review, the Panamanian National Environmental Authority (ANAM) has approved the environmental impact study (EIS) for the first dry excavation contract for the new Pacific Locks access channel - the first construction project under expansion.With this approval, the ACP has laid the groundwork for the preliminary stages of the dry excavation. On May 6, 2007, the ACP released its tender (request for proposal submission) for the first dry excavation contract for the new Pacific Locks access channel - the subject of the environmental impact study and the first of five dry excavation projects that will link the new Post-Panamax Locks on the Pacific end of the Canal with the existing Gaillard Cut. Bids are due on July 6, 2007. 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 and wider ships. The approved study evaluated hydrological conditions, conducted a forest inventory and analyzed potential air quality effects. It also included meetings with residents of nearby communities. The EIS was then presented to ANAM for final approval.


Crowley taps Bob Cox
as Petroleum Group manager

ANCHORAGE — Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced that Bob Cox has joined the company's petroleum distribution group as general manager. Mr. Cox is domiciled in the company's Anchorage office and reports to Craig Tornga, vice president of petroleum distribution. In his new position, Mr. Cox is responsible for Crowley's 14 Alaska marine and aviation petroleum terminals, which have a combined fuel capacity of 39 million gallons. A veteran of the Alaska petroleum sales and distribution market, Mr. Cox also brings transportation experience to his position. Prior to joining Crowley, he was vice president at both Petro Marine Services, Inc. and Alaska Railroad. He also held various positions of increasing responsibility with Southern Pacific Railroad including engineering, operations and marketing. Mr. Cox, a registered civil engineer, is a board member at the Alaska Resource Development Council Board, Alaska Chadux Corporation, SEAPRO, Intermodal Transportation Institute and the University of Denver.


Carriers parting ways
on joint Europe service

HAMBURG — After many years of cooperating on the Southern Route Service, which connects Europe with the Levant, the partners Hamburg Süd and Senator Lines have decided to split as from August 2007. While Hamburg Süd will continue the existing service-setup with four vessels, Senator Lines will present its new service concept shortly. The last jointly operated vessel will be CAP AZUL 766 (ETS Antwerp August 11).


Hargrave named as president
of Camas-Washougal port board

CAMAS, WA — The Port of Camas-Washougal Board of Commissioners elected Alan Hargrave to serve as president of the board from July 2, 2007- December 31, 2008. Jim Carroll, who is in his second year of his first term, will continue to serve as vice president. Rich Gunderson, immediate past president, will hold the position of secretary of the board through the end of his four-year term in December. Mr. Gunderson is not seeking re-election. An active member of the local business community for the past 35 years, Mr. Hargrave’s professional experience is primarily in the excavation/underground utilities industry. He retired last year after 28 years with a local construction company, George Schmid & Sons, Inc., and he currently provides business consulting services for site work projects. Prior to that, Mr. Hargrave also has been a retail manager for Town & Country Stores, Inc. in Camas, Wash. In addition to his consulting business, Mr. Hargrave is involved in starting up the Partners Bank of Washington, a new bank planned for Clark County; he also teaches part-time at the Northwest College of Construction. Serving his third elected term on the Port of Camas-Washougal Commission, Mr. Hargrave is the port’s delegate to Washington Public Ports Association and the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. He serves on the board of the Columbia River Economic Development Council and the Portland International Airport Futures Advisory Group. Hargrave also serves as a board member of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA). He was a past member of the City of Washougal Board of Adjustments; a past president of the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Council; and past member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Finance Council.


ILWU marks Bloody Thursday
with Portland ceremony today

PORTLAND — The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) reports workers from across the greater Portland area will gather in Oaks Park today, to honor waterfront workers who have fallen on the job. A group will toss a large wreath of flowers into the Willamette River to mark the occasion. Bill Wyatt, executive director of the Port of Portland will attend the July 5th event, along with Tom Chamberlain, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. The annual ceremony dates back to 1934, when six waterfront workers were killed and hundreds were seriously injured on the west coast while trying to establish a labor union, which became today’s ILWU with hundreds of members who work in the Portland area. The ceremony will also honor two waterfront workers who were killed in the past year while working on the job: Joe Aliseo, 42, who died April 19th while working on the Seattle waterfront, and Piper Cameron, 26, who was killed while she worked as a deckhand on a tug boat in Southern California. This year’s ceremony will take place at 11am. A community picnic will follow the ceremony, with speeches by local officials at 1 p.m.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 2, 2007

Coast Guard marks start
of new response boat construction

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard, in conjunction with Marinette Marine Corporation, began building its new 45-foot Response Boat - Medium (RB-M) at Kvichak Marine's facility in Fremont after a brief ceremony June 28. The ceremony marked an end to the detailed design of the new multi-mission response boat and laid the keel for the first of a planned fleet of 180 boats. Kvichak will produce half of the boats at a new facility set to open this week in Kent, Wash., and Marinette Marine will build the other half of the boats in a facility to be opened in Green Bay, Wis., in 2009. The Response Boat - Medium is a major systems acquisition to replace and upgrade the capability of the 41-foot Utility Boat that has been the workhorse and recognizable symbol of the Coast Guard along the nation's waterfront for over 30 years. The RB-M is the third class of standard multi-mission boats that are modernizing the Coast Guard's boat forces units, joining the 47-foot Motor Lifeboat and the 25-foot Response Boat - Small. The RB-M will execute Coast Guard missions such as search and rescue, law enforcement, marine environmental protection, ports, waterways and coastal security, and defense Operations. The RB-M takes advantage of the recent advances in marine technology to provide Coast Guard boat crews with a more capable platform, while reducing maintenance and increasing operational availability. The first boat is scheduled to be delivered to Coast Guard Station Little Creek, Virginia, in March 2008.


NOL plans to build
eight new container ships

SINGAPORE — Global transportation and logistics group Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) has announced that it intends to invest in eight large, high-speed container ships worth a total of approximately US$1 billion, subject to the satisfactory completion of contractual terms and documentation. Each ship will have a capacity of 10,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) and a design speed of more than 26 knots. The vessels will be built in South Korea and will be delivered during 2011. The company intends to deploy the vessels in APL’s Asia-Europe trade.


Capt. Gordon Houston named CEO
of VFPA Transition Committee

VANCOUVER, BC — The Transition Committee responsible for the amalgamation of the Fraser River, North Fraser and Vancouver Port Authorities, has named Captain Gordon Houston as Transition Chief Executive Officer for the proposed Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA). The Transition CEO will report to the Transition Committee. Capt. Houston is president and CEO of the Vancouver Port Authority. The Transition CEO is a newly created role to guide the formation of the proposed VFPA, including the selection of the executive team. The CEOs of the three lower mainland port authorities will continue to lead operations of their respective organizations until the date of amalgamation.


US/New Zealand customs services
ink mutual recognition agreement

WASHINGTON, DC — United States Customs and Border Protection, and the New Zealand Customs Service, have signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement at the 109th/110th WCO Council Sessions held in Brussels, Belgium. The arrangement will provide for closer cooperation and coordination between CBP’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program and the New Zealand Customs Service’s Secure Export Scheme. New Zealand's Secure Exports Scheme is a voluntary arrangement where goods exported by New Zealand program participants are packed and transported securely, without interference, to the place of shipment. Once the two countries have established the compatibility of the membership levels between their supply chain programs, each country is expected to treat members of the other country's program in a manner comparable to that of its own members. Mutual recognition by U.S. and New Zealand customs administrations of their respective customs-to-business partnerships will benefit both industry and government. For industry, the benefits could include reduced costs of doing business, decreased pilferage and, due to speedier clearance times, increased control over “just-in-time” deliveries. Governments will be able to direct resources to priority areas.


Union Pacific celebrating
company's 145th anniversary

OMAHA — On July 1, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the Pacific Railroad Act, creating Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads and chartering the two companies to link the country from Omaha to Sacramento. One hundred and forty-five years later, Union Pacific has become one of the most recognized corporations in America and continues to build on its rich history. Jim Young, chairman and chief executive officer of Union Pacific Corporation, said the 145th anniversary is a time to not only remember the railroad’s rich past, but also to highlight the tremendous progress Union Pacific has made in helping build the nation and protect its natural resources. "The railroad industry has changed dramatically from the original days of wood-fired locomotives steaming across the plains to connect a nation," Young said. "Today Union Pacific is committed to moving the products that fuel the nation’s economy in the most safe, economical and environmentally friendly manner possible."