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July, 2008

NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 31, 2008

'K' Line vessels return
to Port of Portland terminals

PORTLAND — For farmers, business owners and port officials alike, it was great news when the first “K” Line ship since December 2004 arrived in Portland July 29. Along with it came the return of direct export service to Japan. Port officials boarded the GUANG DONG BRIDGE to present Captain Chun-Han Gang with a special plaque commemorating the first call. There’s a lot to celebrate about the return of the Japanese carrier. The port expects that the transition from Yang Ming to “K” Line will prove to be a net positive for container volumes thanks to the larger vessels slated to call Portland. The new ships are 5,500 TEU capacity compared to the average 3,500-3,700 TEU size of the vessels they replaced.


Columbia River Channel project
changing direction for mitigation land

VANCOUVER, USA — After hearing their respective commissions request more effort to find alternatives to Martin Island for mitigation property in the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project, the Ports of Vancouver, Kalama and Longview support a new alternative presented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps of Engineers has told the Colf family that mitigation and habitat restoration will now occur on properties already owned by the ports – Cottonwood Island and the Chumbley property in the Woodland Bottoms. During May meetings that included the family, each of the three commissions postponed decisions on the use of eminent domain to acquire Martin Island for that mitigation and habitat restoration. Each of the commissions heard the concerns of the family and asked the Corps of Engineers to exhaust all options to reach a settlement or an alternative.


US steel imports
jump up during June

WASHINGTON, DC — Preliminary data show that overall steel imports in June 2008 increased 6.95 percent from May 2008. The change in June’s total amount of steel imports was due to a relatively large increase in some goods, such as blooms, billets and slabs (34 percent), wire rods (58 percent), and standard pipe (47 percent). There was a significant decrease in galvanized hot dipped sheets and strip (-38 percent). Stainless imports decreased slightly (-4.78 percent), due to decreases in each individual stainless product. June 2008 imports of steel mill products were down 12.28 percent compared to June 2007.


Wright takes command
of Corps' Seattle District

SEATTLE — Colonel Anthony Wright has assumed command of the Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As District Engineer, Colonel Wright oversees military construction in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. He also manages an extensive civil works engineering and construction mission in Washington, Idaho and Montana. His programs also include Historic Preservation of Historic Structures, and Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste cleanup. Prior to arriving in Seattle, Colonel Wright attended the National War College, where he earned a master's degree in National Security Studies. A native Northwesterner, Colonel Wright is originally from Oregon. He received a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Oregon Institute of Technology.


Last defense fleet liberty ship
making way to Greece

WASHINGTON, DC — The last Liberty ship in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, the ARTHUR M. HUDDELL, was towed from the James River Reserve Fleet on July 28, 2008. The ARTHUR M. HUDDELL will go first to the W3 facility in Norfolk, Va., to be prepared for towing across the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea to Greece, where it will become a museum. American shipyards built 2,751 Liberty ships during World War II, in the largest shipbuilding effort in history. Liberty ships crewed by merchant mariners carried troops and military cargo all over the world. The building and sailing of the Liberty ships, and their successors, the Victory Ships, were overseen by the U.S. Maritime Commission and the War Shipping Agency, both predecessor agencies of today’s Maritime Administration. After World War II, Greek shipowners purchased many Liberty ships to build up their fleet. The Greek-owned merchant fleet is now the largest in the world.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 30, 2008

ILWU/PMA negotiators
reach preliminary labor deal

SAN FRANCISCO — After a marathon weekend bargaining session, leaders from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) announced a preliminary agreement on terms for a new six year contract covering more than 25,000 dockworkers at 29 West Coast ports. The leaders shook hands in San Francisco over the proposed agreement on Monday. The agreement is subject to ratification by the ILWU and PMA membership. The ILWU and PMA have agreed to extend the previous agreement and resume normal port operations. ILWU President Bob McEllrath and PMA President Jim McKenna said the proposed agreement meets the needs of both workers and the industry. It allows West Coast ports to be competitive and provides the good jobs that workers and communities need. The parties have agreed not to discuss details of the agreement until the ILWU and PMA leadership teams have communicated with their respective membership.


TSA carriers to boost
inland fuel surcharge

OAKLAND — Container lines in the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) say they plan to begin narrowing the gap between what they pay for inland fuel in their intermodal operations and what they collect against those costs through inland fuel surcharges. TSA introduced a separate inland fuel surcharge (IFS) in mid-2005 to recover both direct costs and rising surcharges assessed by railroads and motor carriers. Inland diesel fuel expenses are distinct from marine bunker fuel costs associated with the oceangoing and shoreside portions of an intermodal move. Recovery of a greater share of bunker fuel surcharges was a key component in service contract negotiations earlier this year. TSA carriers will begin contacting customers in the coming weeks, advising them of IFS adjustments as applicable.


New purchasing manager
for Port of Tacoma

TACOMA — Steve DeRose recently joined the Port of Tacoma as purchasing manager. In this position, his key responsibilities include implementing sound purchasing procedures, developing and maintaining strong vendor relationships, approval and issuance of purchase orders, disposal of surplus materials and developing specifications for bids and requests for proposals. Before joining the port, Mr. DeRose was purchasing manager of government contracts for Todd Pacific Shipyards (Bremerton, Wash.), where he was responsible for purchasing activities on naval aircraft carriers at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Previously, he was contracts administrator for the Department of Defense's Umatilla Chemical Demilitarization Facility (Hermiston, Ore.).


ATA files lawsuit against
LA/Long Beach 'Concession Plans'

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations (ATA), with the support of its Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC), has filed suit in the U.S. District Court in California challenging the port “Concession Plans” as approved by the Cities of Los Angeles and Long Beach and their harbor commissions. The plans will limit access to the ports to only those trucking companies that have entered into concession contracts approved by the port program administrator. According to the ATA, the concession plans impose a broad range of operational requirements that create a regulatory environment very similar to state intrastate economic regulation. The ports have acknowledged that these intrusive regulatory systems will result in far fewer trucking companies being able to service the ports, reducing competition.


Panama Canal Authority
releases third quarter metrics

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has released third quarter (Q3) operational metrics for fiscal year (FY) 2008. In Q3, total canal transits and tonnage increased. There was also growth in key segments, most significantly tanker and passenger transits. These metrics are based on operations from April through June 2008, the third quarter of the ACP's 2008 fiscal year, and are compared with Q3 of FY 2007. Total Canal transits increased 2.5 percent during Q3 – from 3,726 to 3,821 transits. Booked transits (excluding auctioned slots) rose 4.5 percent – from 1,954 to 2,041 transits. Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tonnage also increased slightly, rising 0.9 percent from 2007 – from 76.5 million PC/UMS tons to 77.2 million PC/UMS tons. Tanker transits increased most significantly, up 9.1 percent – from 536 to 585 transits – while vehicle carriers increased from 192 to 194 transits. Container transits decreased from 902 to 876 transits, and passenger ships increased slightly, from 37 to 40 transits. Tanker tonnage also rose 10 percent – from 11.1 million PC/UMS tons to 12.2 million PC/UMS tons.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 28, 2008

Emergency exercise set for
Sea-Tac Airport's third runway

SEATTLE — As part of The Port of Seattle’s continued focus on safety and emergency preparedness, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will conduct a full-scale emergency exercise simulating an aircraft crash on Wednesday, July 30th, between 9 a.m. and noon. The exercise will test airfield disaster preparedness and response as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) every three years.With the availability of the soon-to-be-activated third runway, this will be the first full-scale exercise to occur on a Sea-Tac runway in at least 25 years. The exercise will not affect or delay any air travel. Both of Sea-Tac’s current runways will be open as normal and the exercise will not affect any customer activity within the terminal. Over 100 volunteers will participate as ‘victims’ next to a mock-up aircraft fuselage placed in the middle of the third runway along with wrecked cars representing various debris designed to drill extrication procedures. Volunteers will arrive at approximately 6:30 a.m. for make-up to represent a variety of injuries that will test medical care triage practices. Dozens of the King County area mutual aid police and fire agencies will participate in the exercise with an estimated 50 -75 pieces of equipment from fire engines to aid cars and up to 175 fire fighters. Additional police officers from the area are also expected to participate alongside first responders from the Port of Seattle Fire and Police Departments, Sea-Tac Airport Security, Airport Operations, Public Information and the Port Environmental team. In addition, other key exercise participants will include airport and airline representatives, the FAA, the Red Cross, King County Emergency Management Division, and the King County Medical Examiner.A comprehensive report will be prepared post-exercise to identify any gaps in emergency plans and then prioritize follow-up corrective actions.


Commerce Department finds
US exports at trade surplus

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez has announced new U.S. Commerce Department data showing that the United States is running a trade surplus in manufactured exports with the 14 free trade agreement (FTA) partners. In the first five months of 2008, the trade balance in manufactured goods rose to a $2.7 billion surplus with our FTA partners from a $12.3 billion deficit during the same period last year. The U.S. manufactured goods trade balance improved 122 percent with the FTA partners, but only six percent with non-FTA partners in the first five months of 2008. These calculations are based on the monthly data released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the FT900: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, as revised annually. The year-to-date figures are for the first five months (January-May) of 2008.


Port of Tacoma names Rozmyn
stormwater project manager

TACOMA — Lisa Rozmyn recently joined the Port of Tacoma as environmental project manager-stormwater. In this position, Ms. Rozmyn will develop and manage the stormwater management program mandated by port's municipal stormwater NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permitting under the federal Clean Water Act. She will also provide compliance assistance to port tenants and manage other projects related to water quality protection. Before joining the port, Ms. Rozmyn held various environmental positions over 16 years with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Olympia). Most recently, she was ecology transportation liaison-stormwater lead, responsible for processing federal permit applications for Washington State Department of Transportation projects, and ensuring that those projects were consistent with state water quality laws and policies.


Port of Olympia to begin
Cascade Pole site cap project

OLYMPIA — The Port of Olympia is preparing to cap about four acres of the Cascade Pole site at the tip of the Port Peninsula in downtown Olympia. The work will continue activities agreed upon by the port and the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) to remediate the area. The goal of the project is to restore this area to public use while continuing to protect people and the environment from exposure to possible contamination. The project is scheduled to begin in August 2008, and completion is targeted for October. When completed, the project will provide a paved four-acre parking area that will serve the Swanton Marina launch ramp and future commercial development of the area; a new location for the KGY Radio station antenna; and the first phase of a walking trail along the north part of the port peninsula.


Sand sculpture contest
set for Bellingham sidewalks

BELLINGHAM — Enjoy sand, sea and sculpture at Bellingham's third annual Sand in the City Sand Sculpting Festival Aug. 8-10, 2008 in front of the Harbor Center Building, 1801 Roeder Avenue. On Friday, Aug. 8, sand sculpting teams will compete in a six hour competition for the "Golden Shovel" award. Awards will be given out at 5 p.m., and KAFE Radio will do a live remote broadcast from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday festival visitors will have a chance to vote on their favorite sculptures, enjoy live music, and watch master sculptor Bert Adams and his team of artists create a sand-tastic work of art. Sand in the City is presented by the Northwest Discovery Project and the Port of Bellingham. The event is free and open to the public, however donations are accepted and encouraged.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 25, 2008

Titan Salvage removing
last NEW CARISSA wreckage

COOS BAY, OR — Residents of Coos Bay,and others following the monumental shipwreck removal of the NEW CARISSA via news reports and the Internet, can see TITAN Salvage means business. Just three-and-a-half weeks after positioning the second jack-up barge in the surf near the NEW CARISSA shipwreck, TITAN has reported that they have successfully removed more than 400 tons of the stern section above the waterline and will soon be ready to begin pulling the rest of the buried wreck out of the sand. "We want her as light as possible before we start pulling," said Todd Busch, TITAN vice president. "We're not that far from being ready to take that fist pull - maybe a week or so." The steel removal marks a significant milestone in the project. Phase three includes removing the balance of the stern portion, which includes the 200-ton main engine, from the sand. The NEW CARISSA, a 640-foot wood-chip carrier, ran aground just north of Coos Bay during a February 1999 storm, and subsequently broke apart becoming a total loss. Since 1999, several attempts by other companies to remove the wreckage, which later settled about 150 yards from the beachfront, have been unsuccessful. TITAN was contracted in 2007 to remove the remaining wreckage of the vessel.


Corps set to dredge
Columbia River mouth

PORTLAND — Annual maintenance dredging at the mouth of the Columbia River will begin early next week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced. The Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company's dredge, TERRAPIN ISLAND, will use the Shallow Water Ocean Disposal Site located oceanward of the north jetty in the vicinity of Buoy 7. Later in the season the North Jetty disposal site on the channel side of the jetty and the Deep Water Ocean Disposal Site will also be used for disposal. The dredge will also place material onto Benson Beach for repairs to the north jetty sand berm at the mouth of the Columbia River beginning Aug 15. The Corps dredges the navigation channel each year to provide an avenue for safe transit across the Columbia River bar for large and small vessels. Navigation across the bar for commercial vessels supports local, regional and national economies and accounts for about $16 billion in international commerce annually.


ACP taps Willis Limited
as expansion insurance advisor

PANAMA CITY — Laying the groundwork for the next phase of the Panama Canal’s expansion, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has awarded the contract for insurance advisory services to Willis Limited. The firm will now assist the ACP in obtaining construction risk policy and general liability insurance coverage for three contracts under the Expansion Program. The ACP bidding system for contracts follows a rigorous and strict transparency process within an open and fair competition. In a public ceremony last week, the ACP received bids from five internationally renowned insurance brokerage firms vying to provide insurance consulting services for the new locks and the fourth and fifth dry excavation projects of the new Pacific locks access channel. This channel 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). After careful review and thorough evaluation of the submissions, the ACP selected the firm with the lowest bid amount that met all of the project’s criteria as described in the request for proposal released June 16. The contract will be renewable on an annual basis for the duration of the Expansion Program with services to begin January 1, 2009.


Rail freight count
sees up/down week

WASHINGTON, DC — Carload freight was up but intermodal volume was down on the nation's railroads during the week ended July 12 in comparison with the
corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight in the week totaled 321,049 cars, up 3.3 percent from last year. Volume was up 6.4 percent in the West but down 1.2 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 231,921 trailers or containers, down 2.8 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was up 2.4 percent while container traffic slipped 4.1 percent. Total volume was estimated at 33.6 billion ton-miles, up 4.3 percent from the 28th week of 2007. Eleven of 19 carload commodities registered gains from a year ago with metallic ores up 22.4 percent, grain up 6.3 percent and coal up 3.9 percent. Among commodities reporting declines were primary forest products, 19.9 percent; lumber and wood products, 16.4 percent; and nonmetallic minerals, 4.1 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 28 weeks of 2008 totaled 9,059,027 carloads, up 0.4 percent from 2007; 6,187,074 trailers or containers, down 3.1 percent; and total volume of an estimated 937.4 billion ton-miles, up 1.6 percent from last year.


Northrop Grumman wins
navigation package contract

CHARLOTTSVILLE, VA — Northrop Grumman Corporation has won orders to supply electronic navigation equipment for 10 new ships to be built in China for Carisbrooke Shipping. Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit will supply the systems, which will be installed on the 7,600 deadweight ton (dwt) general cargo vessels at Jiangsu Yangzjiang Shipbuilding in South China. The Sperry Marine navigation package will include autopilot, gyro and magnetic compasses, radars, speed and depth sensors and other components. Based on the Isle of Wight, U.K., Carisbrooke Shipping operates a fleet of approximately 40 dry cargo vessels ranging from 3,000 to 20,000 dwt with an average age of under three years.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 24, 2008

Neptune Orient Lines makes offer
for Hapag-Lloyd container business

SINGAPORE — Neptune Orient Lines Limited (NOL) has confirmed that it has submitted an indicative non-binding bid to acquire the Hapag-Lloyd container shipping business. A completed transaction would result in the integration of NOL’s container shipping business APL with Hapag-Lloyd. The combination would create the world’s third-largest container carrier. According to the carrier, it is at this stage premature to state whether the indicative non-binding bid will lead to a definitive transaction. Any agreement would be subject to, among other steps, due diligence, acceptance of final bid, regulatory approvals and NOL shareholders’ approvals. Details of the proposal are confidential and commercially sensitive. NOL shareholders are in the meantime advised to exercise caution when dealing in the shares of NOL.


Port of Anacortes project
to receive AAPA award

ANACORTES — The Port of Anacortes reports it has received word that it has won an award from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) for the Fidalgo Bay Eelgrass Mitigation Project. This award is one of four given in the “Environmental Improvement Awards” category. The project was constructed by the port’s Engineering Department in 2007 as mitigation for impacts to eelgrass resulting from dredging the Dakota Creek Industries ship basins for Project Pier 1. The mitigation project is unique because it is large enough to allow for advance compensation for impacts to eelgrass that could result from future port dredging projects. Port staff will receive the award at the annual AAPA convention in Anchorage Alaska this September.


Portland Airport road work
scheduled to begin today

PORTLAND — The Port of Portland will begin construction today, to add an additional right-hand turn lane to the I-205 southbound off ramp onto Northeast Airport Way near Portland International Airport. During construction through late November, motorists should expect some lane restrictions and minor delays. Motorists are encouraged to drive cautiously, adhere to posted speed limits and watch for flaggers and directional signs. Motorcyclists should exercise extra caution because of rough roadway surfaces at times. When finished, the improvement will expand capacity for motorists on the roadway. This and other roadway projects under way near the airport, respond to all-time record travel last year when PDX served more than 14.6 million travelers.


ILA union members back
ILWU in labor negotiations

LAS VEGAS — Delegates to the 88th Convention of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO unanimously passed a resolution calling on the ILA to offer full support of its Sister and Brother members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in their negotiations with the Pacific Maritime Association. ILA President Richard Hughes addressed delegates at the July 23 Convention session and called for the ILA "to endorse and support our Sister and Brother ILWU members on the West Coast in their negotiations with Pacific Maritime Association." The ILA president further asked for his union's support of the ILWU saying, "No matter what happens down the road, that the ILA firmly stands behind the ILWU." Banners proclaiming support for the ILWU were hung around the convention hall here at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Las Vegas where hundreds of delegates were meeting for the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, ILA. The ILA's Executive Council and Atlantic Coast District Executive Board have held meetings in conjunction with the Convention, so the support of the ILWU includes the entire ILA.


Coast Guard warns against
making hoax distress calls

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard is once again urging people to not make hoax calls to emergency responders. Though a recent case involving an emergency call from a young girl to the Coast Guard has not officially been ruled a hoax, it is important for people to know the risks and cost involved when the Coast Guard and other emergency services respond to false reports. Every moment spent responding to a false report takes away from time that could be vital in the case of a genuine emergency. Every time a crew goes out to respond to a case, they are putting themselves in danger and the resources including fuel, manpower, and other equipment costs also end up costing taxpayers. It costs approximately $1,200 per hour to operate a Coast Guard 47-foot motor lifeboat, while a helicopter or larger cutter may cost from $9,000 to $12,000 per hour. Another important factor to consider is the cost to those who are found guilty of making false reports. Children especially should be informed of the risks involved with making false reports. Two Oregon youths were found guilty of making several false reports in 2005 and fined a combined total of $63,884.30 and were ordered to serve a combined total of 40 days in juvenile hall. The Coast Guard would like to remind individuals that false distress calls place unnecessary risk on would-be rescuers and interfere with legitimate search and rescue cases.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Celebration marks upgrades
to Port of Portland security

PORTLAND — Top Port of Portland officials met with marine security officers July 21, at the main gate of Terminal 6 to celebrate two years worth of work and $4.5 million dollars in security enhancements. Coordinated efforts to improve security have included enhancing infrastructure, leveraging new technologies and improving staff training. Some of the improvements are immediately evident, like the new gate houses at the entrances to Terminals 4 and 6. Most of the enhancements, however, are behind the scenes and out of sight. These include thermal imaging cameras with analytic capabilities that can help detect intruders. Officers can monitor hundreds of acres using a wireless network of pan-tile-zoom cameras. In addition to new gate houses, entrance lanes were redesigned with gate arms to facilitate vehicle screening. New fencing was installed and soon will be supplemented by a $220,000 federal grant for waterside fences at Terminal 4. Smart card access controls have been installed, as have entrance turnstiles with facial recognition capabilities. Optical character recognition equipment now helps ensure that the right containers leave on the right trucks, and radiation portal monitors allow all containers leaving Terminal 6 to be scanned for the presence of nuclear and radiological materials. Marine security staff was enhanced from 19 to 26 officers and one new superintendent was added. Marine security officer training programs and policies for security tasks have been updated as well.


Coast Guard stepping in
to clean up decommissioned ship

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard has issued a notice of federal assumption regarding the cleanup of a decommissioned Naval vessel currently moored on the Columbia River near Portland. The USS WASHTENAW COUNTY (LST-1166) is a 374-foot former Navy vessel that was decommissioned in 1973. The vessel has been privately owned by various entities throughout the years following its decommissioning. The vessel poses an environmental threat due to deterioration and the presence of hazardous materials and oil on board. The ship is also a potential danger to other vessels due to improper mooring. Pollution investigators from Coast Guard Sector Portland and other state and local agencies will continue to oversee cleanup efforts aboard thr vessel, which are expected to be completed by the end of October. The Coast Guard captain of the port of Portland issued an order in June 2008 requiring the owner of the vessel to submit a plan for oil and hazardous material cleanup. The owner failed to meet the requirements of the order.


Horizon Lines taps Storey
as investor relations director

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. has named James R. Storey director of investor relations and corporate communications. The position reports to Michael T. Avara, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Horizon Lines, Inc. Mr. Storey brings extensive experience to this new position, where he will have primary responsibility for managing the company’s communications with the investment community and other key constituents who influence the investment decision. He joins Horizon Lines with over 16 years experience in executive investor relations and communications roles. Most recently Mr. Storey served as vice president, investor relations for BlueLinx Holdings Inc., in Atlanta, GA. His experience also includes several years as a reporter and editor covering the stock market for Dow Jones & Co. in New York.


Seven freight forwarders fined
for Defense Department bid rigging

WASHINGTON, DC — Seven freight forwarding companies - Air Land Forwarders, Arpin International Group, Covan International, Jet Forwarding, and SIRVA, the parent company of Allied Freight Forwarding, Global Worldwide and North American Van Lines - agreed to pay the United States $666,237 for allegations of bid rigging in violation of the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced. As a result of the settlement, Air Land Forwarders will pay $72,513; Arpin International Group: $59,017; Covan International: $51,358; Jet Forwarding: $50,751; and the SIRVA companies: $432,598. The seven companies have contracts with the Defense Department to transport household goods belonging to military and civilian personnel between Europe and the United States. The United States intervened in actions alleging that Gosselin Worldwide Moving N.V., a Belgian company, via its managing director Marc Smet, and four German moving companies, executed a written agreement in November 2000 to raise the rates that they charged these freight forwarding companies for packing and unpacking services within Germany and for services performed at German ports, and that none of the companies would perform work for less than the agreed-upon rate. The United States contends that the seven settling freight forwarding companies furthered the conspiracy by submitting bids to the Pentagon at specific elevated price levels according to the instructions of other conspirators and that they were subsequently awarded transportation contracts based on their non-competitive bids. The result of the conspiracy was that the Defense Department overpaid for transportation contracts beginning in 2001 and continuing at least through 2002. The United States previously settled all claims against The Pasha Group, its subsidiaries and employees for $13 million.


Port of Vancouver hosting
annual International Festival

VANCOUVER, USA — From its earliest days as a settlement on the Columbia River, Vancouver has relied upon a diversity of cultures to build a successful community. Sunday, July 27 will be a day to celebrate many of those countries at the Port of Vancouver’s International Festival, a 38-year tradition in Esther Short Park. The festival is a free community event that showcases the many cultures of Clark County through entertainment, displays and food. The City of Vancouver is partnering with the port for the 2008 festival to bring more activities and entertainment, including Native American storyteller Ed Edmo and a performance by the Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre. The Columbian newspaper is a major event sponsor.Other community organizations sharing information at the event will include: the City of Vancouver, Clark County, Fort Vancouver Seafarer’s Center, Clark College, WSU Vancouver, Clark Public Utilities, Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, Humane Society for Southwest Washington, Sons of Italy, NAACP, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Northwest Indian Veteran’s Association, Southwest Washington Agency on Aging, Statewide Healthcare Insurance Benefits Advisor, Columbia River Crossing, Red Cross, and The Columbian. Parking is available at the VancouverCenter at Sixth and Columbia. More information about this event is available on the Port of Vancouver website at www.portvanusa.com.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 21, 2008

Port of Tacoma taps Howard
as new records manager

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma has selected Tri Howard as records manager, responsible for planning and managing the port’s records management program, electronic records systems, staff records management training, off-site records storage and the port’s public records requests response process. Before joining the port, Mr. Howard spent four years with the Washington State Office of the Secretary of State (Olympia, Wash.) as state records manager. There, he oversaw the statewide evaluations of electronic imaging systems, electronic records management training and the creation, revision and maintenance of the records retention schedules for 196 state agencies and 2,600 local government agencies throughout Washington State. Previously, he spent six years with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (Olympia) with 19,000 employees serving 1.3 million clients as the forms and records management manager. Throughout his career, Mr. Howard served in a variety of management positions for other organizations, including the U.S. Army, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and the Washington State Department of Corrections.


IntelliJet Marine teaming with
Art Anderson Associates

REDMOND, WA — IntelliJet Marine, Inc. and Art Anderson Associates have announced that they have signed a broad joint marketing agreement. Under this agreement Anderson will broaden its business development effort to generate U.S. military research funding for projects incorporating the IntelliJet technology. IntelliJet will team exclusively with Anderson to bid on Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) topics and other U.S. Government-funded research. The SBIR program provides early-stage R&D funding to small technology companies. Proposals are judged competitively on the basis of scientific, technical and commercial merit. Anderson will act as the exclusive agent for licensing of IntelliJet technology in applications over 2000hp. IntelliJet will employ Anderson exclusively for marine architecture and engineering services related to the application of IntelliJet technology under the licenses.


Washington ferries testing
biodiesel fuel blend

SEATTLE — The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division began operating its third vessel – KLAHOWYA – with a biodiesel fuel blend on July 19. The KLAHOWYA is operating on a five percent blend (B5) of tallow-based biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur diesel (95 percent). Tallow-based biodiesel is made from unused beef fat left over from the rendering process. The process of converting tallow into biodiesel is similar to the process used to convert plant oils such as soy and canola into biodiesel. The KLAHOWYA fueling is part of the Biodiesel Research and Demonstration Project – a scientific pilot test of biodiesel in the marine environment. The ferry system began the testing phase of the project in March with the fueling of the ISSAQUAH using a five percent blend of soy-based biodiesel. In April, the vessel TILLIKUM began running on a five percent blend of canola-based biodiesel. In addition to testing different types of biodiesel, the ferry system is testing different blend percentages. Initially the boats are fueled with a five percent blend of biodiesel. As the demonstration progresses, biodiesel blends are increased to a 10 percent (B10), followed by a 20 percent blend (B20). The ISSAQUAH is currently running on a 20 percent (B20) blend of biodiesel. There have been no problems in the vessel’s operational performance running on biodiesel so far. Funding for this project is made possible by a $500,000 grant through the federal energy budget. Seattle City Light is providing funding of up to $350,000, and The Glosten Associates have contributed $25,000 to this project.


California Maritime Academy
eyes LNG training program

VALLEJO, CAL — The California Maritime Academy of Vallejo, CA, a member of the California State University, and Clearwater Port LLC, haved announced the creation of a joint program to expand West Coast training in the handling and transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) products. The program puts in place the first formal continuing education LNG training available from a nationally recognized institution on the West Coast. Clearwater Port is proposing the conversion of an operating offshore oil platform, located 12.6 miles off the coast of Oxnard, CA, into a state-of-the-art LNG re-gasification terminal to meet California’s need for natural gas.


Dutch Harbor leads U.S.
in landings of fish during 2007

WASHINGTON, DC — Commercial fishermen unloaded 777.2 million pounds of fish, primarily Alaskan pollock, at the port of Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska, making it the country’s top port for landings in 2007, NOAA’s Fisheries Service announced. The port of New Bedford, Mass., claimed the top spot for value of landings, primarily due to sea scallops, bringing in $268 million in 2007. The total domestic commercial landings for 2007 were 9.2 billion pounds, valued at $4.1 billion. Dutch Harbor-Unalaska netted the top landings slot for the 19th consecutive year, according to NOAA's Fisheries Service. Reedville, Va., ranked as the number two port for quantity of landings in 2007 with 421.0 million pounds. Empire-Venice, La., was third at 323.1 million. The major fish product landed in both Reedville and Empire-Venice was menhaden.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 18, 2008

PMA reports slowdowns
at Southern California ports

SAN FRANCISCO — International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) members in Southern California have expanded disruptive job actions at terminals at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, leading to widening productivity losses, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) announced. Overall, productivity at the port complex was down 20 to 30 percent during the day shift on Tuesday, according to the PMA, who whose 71 member companies include cargo carriers, terminal operators and stevedores on the West Coast. First detected during the dayshift on Tuesday, the new work actions are occurring on top of coordinated mid-shift unit breaks that began Friday and continue to hamper operations at the nation's busiest ports. Essentially a series of small steps -- such as tractor drivers operating their vehicles more slowly than normal, or brief delays being made during routine actions such as placing containers on trucks -- the cumulative impact of these actions is to slow operations incrementally, but significantly. As time goes on, the impacts threaten to become even greater. These concerted job actions are occurring while the ILWU and PMA attempt to negotiate a new labor contract. Because the previous waterfront contract expired July 1 and the union refused to extend it as current negotiations continue, The PMA reports there are currently no means to arbitrate these matters or enforce against disruptive tactics, including coordinated work slowdowns.


Rail carload/intermodal numbers
on positive side during week

WASHINGTON, DC — Both carload and intermodal freight registered gains during the week ended July 5 in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Both weeks included the Fourth of July holiday. Carload freight in the week totaled 286,242 cars, up 1.1 percent from last year. Volume was up 1.5 percent in the West and 0.3 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 194,136 trailers or containers, up 0.8 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was up 7.3 percent while container traffic slipped 0.9 percent. Total volume was estimated at 30.0 billion ton-miles, up 2.0 percent from the 27th week of 2007. Eleven of 19 carload commodities registered gains from a year ago with metallic ores up 14.3 percent, grain up 13.6 percent and metals up 13.7 percent. Among commodities reporting declines were farm products other than grain, 17.2 percent, lumber and wood products, 15.6 percent; and motor vehicles and equipment, 14.0 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 27 weeks of 2008 totaled 8,737,978 carloads, up 0.3 percent from 2007; 5,955,153 trailers or containers, down 3.1 percent; and total volume of an estimated 903.8 billion ton-miles, up 1.5 percent from last year.


OOCL recertified
as C-TPAT member

HONG KONG — On July 2, OOCL passed revalidation for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), and gained a renewal of its certificate. OOCL first gained C-TPAT carrier status in 2002. The C-TPAT revalidation process involved rigid inspections and visits from CBP officers to OOCL’s Pusan office, terminals and vessel inspections on board the OOCL CHINA. The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program (C-TPAT) is a voluntary government-business initiative to build cooperative relationships that strengthen and improve overall international supply chain and U.S. border security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recognizes that CTPAT program can provide the highest level of cargo security only through close cooperation with the ultimate owners of the international supply chain such as importers, carriers, consolidators, licensed customs brokers, and manufacturers. C-TPAT offers trade-related businesses an opportunity to play an active role in the war against terrorism.


Colby Communications nets
Ports America Group contract

LAKEWOOD, CA — Colby Communications Corp., headquartered in Lakewood, Calif., recently contracted with Ports America Group to provide national and international public relations representation and media liaison services. Ports America Group, headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, is the largest American terminal operator, stevedore and vehicle processor with operations in 50 ports and 97 terminals within the United States, Mexico and Chile. Ports America operations include container terminals, bulk and break-bulk facilities, world-class cruise terminals, intermodal facilities and Ro Ro handling. Colby Communications Corp. is a full-service public relations and advertising firm. The company, which specializes in maritime and transportation, represents a diversity of clientele, including international trade and transportation, ports, steamship lines, stevedores, NVOCCs, software technology developers and non-profit organizations. Services include all media: print, video, radio and television. Products include designing and implementing integrated communications programs, corporate brochures, advertising, feature stories, press releases, promotional videos, newsletters, script and copy writing, and media placement.


Port of Tacoma promotes
Adamson to IT director

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma has promoted Martyn Adamson to director of Information Technology. In his new position, Mr. Adamson is responsible for leading the planning, management and use of information technology (IT) throughout the port, defining long-term information technology strategies, and aligning IT with broader organizational goals. Mr. Adamson joined the port in 2003 as manager of IT Technical Services, responsible for management of the port's IT Call Center Helpdesk and network servers and infrastructure for about 300 end-user personal computers. He also managed a number of specific IT initiatives for the port. Before joining the port, Mr. Adamson spent more than a decade in computer systems consulting. He was IT manager and vice president of operations for Tiny Computers, Inc. in Tacoma. His work history also includes IT positions with Tiny Computers, Ltd. in Surrey, United Kingdom; Hodgson Martin Limited of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom; and the U.K. Atomic Energy Authority of Cheshire, United Kingdom.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 17, 2008

Hearings board make ruling
upholding Bellingham project permit

BELLINGHAM — The Washington State Shoreline Hearings Board has made a ruling upholding the City of Bellingham's Shoreline Permit issued to the Port of Bellingham for the Bellwether Gate LLC project, denying an appeal by a small group of residents on the hillside above the development. The Port of Bellingham, City of Bellingham and the developer worked together in presenting their case to the hearings board during its extended hearing in Bellingham last month. After the city issued a development permit in December, a few residents filed separate appeals to both to the City Hearing Examiner and to the State Shorelines Hearings Board. While their appeals addressed numerous issues, their major focus was on the approval of one of the buildings being 50 feet tall, despite earlier height restrictions of 35 feet when the peninsula first was planned. In its ruling, the Shorelines Board affirmed the needed additional height for the building to support the cost of provide underground parking, rather than constructing large surface parking lots. The city in issuing its permit determined that the port's proposal to locate a portion of the required parking under the building was in the public interest due to the environmental benefits and enhanced public access of the port's proposal. In this week's ruling, the board recognized the efforts of the port and Bellwether Gate LLC to create dynamic urban waterfront development, and recognized the project's consistency with the planning efforts of the Waterfront Futures Group (WFG).


ACP receives insurance bids
for canal widening project

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has officially received a total of five bids from some of the world’s top insurance brokerage firms vying to provide consulting services for three contracts under the Canal Expansion Program. The ACP will thoroughly review the submissions and a winner will be announced in the coming weeks. In a public ceremony attended by ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta, each of the bids was revealed and recorded. Subsequently, the ACP will select the firm with the lowest bid amount that meets all of the project’s criteria and needs as described in the request for proposal submission released June 16. The contract will be renewable on an annual basis for the duration of the Expansion Program with services to begin January 1, 2009. The chosen firm will assist the ACP in obtaining construction risk policy and general liability insurance coverage for the new locks and the fourth and fifth dry excavation projects of the new Pacific locks access channel. This channel 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). The bids were: Jardine Lloyd Thompson Ltd. (England) -- $1,860,000; Arthur Gallagher & Co. (United States) -- $3,660,000; Willis Limited (England) -- $695,000; Marsh USA Inc. (United States) -- $825,585; and AON Global (Mexico) -- $1,167,250. Expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships.


JetBlue Airways planning
Portland/Long Beach nonstop

PORTLAND — JetBlue Airways has announced plans to launch new service this fall between Portland International Airport and its West Coast focus city in Long Beach, Calif. JetBlue will offer two daily nonstop flights to the Long Beach Airport, located between Los Angeles and Orange County. One daily flight begins October 9, while a second daily roundtrip begins November 2. The introduction of JetBlue service to Long Beach also marks the debut of the airline’s EMBRAER 190 aircraft in Portland. JetBlue is the first airline to serve Oregon with the E190.


Southern California ports
honor Foss for green practices

SEATTLE — The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have honored Foss Maritime Company, calling its innovative approach to reducing air pollution in southern California an outstanding example of corporate leadership. Among Foss’ initiatives: Developing the world’s first hybrid tug, the GREEN DOLPHIN, a low-emission vessel that company officials expect to deploy in San Pedro Bay by the fall of 2008. Earlier this year, the federal Environmental Protection Agency gave Foss and the GREEN DOLPHIN its Clean Air Technology Award, the first time a marine operating company has ever received the honor.


Port of Tacoma recognized
for 2008 Budget Document

TACOMA — The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded the Port of Tacoma its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the port's 2008 Budget Document. According to the GFOA announcement, the award "reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting." The 97-page 2008 Budget Document (available online at http://www.portoftacoma.com/Page.aspx?nid=132) provides a detailed overview of the port's business, including industry outlook, strategic priorities, operating budget, capital investment program, financial measures, plan of finance and more. The Chicago-based GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving 17,500 government finance professionals throughout North America.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Groundbreaking ceremony set for
Project Pier 1 at Port of Anacortes

ANACORTES — The Port of Anacortes Commission will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the port’s Project Pier 1 at Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) shipyard today. The ceremony will begin at the DCI lunchroom at 3rd Street and “Q” Avenue in Anacortes, followed by the groundbreaking inside the shipyard. Project Pier 1 is a facilities improvement project conceived and funded in partnership between the Port of Anacortes and tenant DCI. In the spring of 2007, northwest congressional leaders were briefed on Project Pier 1 during a visit to Washington, D.C. by port and DCI representatives, Anacortes Mayor Dean Maxwell and Economic Development Association of Skagit County (EDASC) Executive Director Don Wick. Subsequent to that visit Sen. Patty Murray announced a $1.15 million appropriation for the project as part of the Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary Housing and Urban Development (TTHUD) Appropriations bill. Project Pier 1, designed in large part to improve and expand port facilities leased by DCI, previously garnered a $5.6 million grant from the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, as well as $400,000 from Skagit County’s Economic Development Public Facilities Distressed/Rural County Sales and Use Tax. Port Commission and staff have made significant commitments of time and funding to this project. The port’s $3 million of up-front funding for permitting and mitigation, combined with significant funding commitments by DCI, provided a solid basis for government support.


Port of Bellingham eyes suit
against City of Bellingham

BELLINGHAM — After nearly two years of working with the City of Bellingham to resolve a dispute over water access for Bellingham International Airport properties, the Port of Bellingham's Board of Commissioners have voted unanimously to file a lawsuit seeking a legal resolution to the issue. "We view this action as a necessary last resort to resolve this issue with the city," said Commission President Doug Smith. "The port has exhausted every collaborative way to move ahead with the City and it would be poor public stewardship to risk further delays." The lawsuit will be filed this week in Whatcom County Superior Court. The port must build a new, expanded Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Station to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Requirements. The FAA has committed over $2 million for this essential public safety facility and the port has awarded the construction contract to Tiger Construction so that this work can begin as soon as a permit is issued. Whatcom County government cannot issue a permit until it has a City of Bellingham letter agreeing to provide water service to the airport fire station. Although the port filed its permit and request in February, the port still has not received a response from the City.


Boeing 777 freighter
holds first flight test

EVERETT — The first Boeing 777 Freighter successfully took to the sky for the first time July 14, and completed an initial series of tests during a flight lasting more than three-and-a-half hours. The airplane performed well. "The 777 Freighter completed the scheduled three-hour inaugural flight with no airplane performance-related issues," said Dennis O'Donoghue, vice president of Flight Operations, Test & Validation. "The only issue was a data-communication problem between the airplane and the telemetry room at Boeing Field." Boeing will identify and fix the problem to resume the flight test program as soon as possible. Due to the data-transmission issue, the 777 Freighter was unable to complete all of the first-flight tests and was returned to Paine Field in Everett, Wash. per Federal Aviation Administration procedure. The original first-flight plan called for a landing at Boeing Field. The newest member of the 777 airplane family took off at 10 a.m. (PDT) from Paine Field in Everett. It landed at 1:38 p.m. at Paine Field.


Customs officers nab fujitive
at Seattle port of entry

SEATTLE — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Seattle port of entry arrested a 61-year-old Hutchins, Texas man wanted for aggravated sexual assault on a child when he arrived at Pier 69 in Seattle aboard the Victoria Clipper ferry on July 12. Clyde Brodnax was taken into custody as he attempted to clear entry into the United States after a name check resulted in the discovery of a felony warrant in the National Criminal Information Center database. The Dallas County sheriff’s office was contacted and verified the warrant which they had just issued on July 9. CBP officers turned Mr. Brodnax over to the Port of Seattle Police Department.


MOL training vessel
helps typhoon victims

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced that the training vessel SPIRIT OF MOL transported aid supplies for the Philippine government to assist with relief efforts in Iloilo state, which was severely damaged by Typhoon No. 6 in late June. Trainees from the ship also helped with cleanup efforts. At the request of the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communication, trainees on the SPIRIT OF MOL and government staff loaded about 37 tons of relief supplies, including tanks for drinking water, blankets, and buckets etc. onto the vessel. The ship left Manila on July 8, and arrived at the port of Iloilo the following day. Upon arrival, 180 seafarers and trainees from the SPIRIT OF MOL unloaded the supplies and then pitched in to help with cleanup activities at a church and an elementary school that flooded during the storm. They stayed for about a week to assist with various relief efforts.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 14, 2008

Oregon governor calls on FERC
to kill LNG site environmental report

SALEM — Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to withdraw the final environmental impact statement on the Bradwood Landing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal project and not to make any further decisions until Oregon’s concerns are addressed and the state permitting process is complete. “FERC’s report represents a failure to be accountable to the people of Oregon,” Governor Kulongoski said. “The disregard for Oregon’s concerns is unacceptable, particularly on a project with such profound potential impacts on the lives of Oregonians.” The Governor’s decision follows FERC’s dismissal of his request in May for a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS). The governor made that request because he said the project proposal changed substantially since the draft EIS was issued in August 2007 and because significant new information concerning the project was submitted by the applicants.


Port of Seattle stops sale
of Lora Lake Apartments

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle and the King County Housing Authority (KCHA) have mutually agreed to rescind their agreement for the sale of the Lora Lake Apartments to the KCHA following the completion of environmental testing that revealed significant soil contamination at the Burien property. The estimated cost to remove and dispose of contaminants and restore the site to the residential standard could potentially reach $8 million. Cleanup standards for residential use are much more stringent than standards for industrial use. Because the price tag to restore the property for use as affordable housing is prohibitively high, the port and KCHA have mutually agreed to rescind their agreement obligating KCHA to purchase the apartment complex. The port will also refund the initial $1 million payment for the property to KCHA.


Mary Jo Muoio named president
of customs brokers & forwarders group

BRENTWOOD, TN — Mary Jo Muoio, senior vice president of Ozburn-Hessey Logistics (OH Logistics), has been elected to a second term as president of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA). Ms. Muoio is the first female president to lead the Washington, D.C.-based association. NCBFAA represents nearly 800 member companies in international trade – the nation's leading freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean transportation intermediaries, Non Vessel-Owning Common Carriers (NVOCCs) and air cargo agents, serving more than 250,000 importers and exporters. Through its various committees, counsel and representatives, the association maintains a close watch over legislative and regulatory issues that affect its members. In addition to her positions at the NCBFAA and OH Logistics, Ms. Muoio is on the Board of Governors for the New York – New Jersey Forwarders and Brokers Association and is a Past-President of the Philadelphia Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, among other affiliations.


OOCL adding service
calling Haiphong, Kaohsiung

HONG KONG — OOCL has announced a new feeder service between Haiphong in north Vietnam and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. The new service is called the Haiphong Kaohsiung Feeder (HPH) and was launched on July 9, from Haiphong. The new service, comprising one 400 TEU vessel of loadable capacity, will be OOCL’s first dedicated service calling Haiphong. Port rotation of the new service is: Haiphong - Kaohsiung – Haiphong. The service is weekly, with a midweek Haiphong call and a weekend call at Kaohsiung.


Coast Guard security unit
has new commanding officer

SEATTLE — Cmdr. James Andrews relieved Cmdr. James Howatson as commanding officer of Port Security Unit 313 during an official ceremony at their base in Tacoma July 12. As Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Andrews assumed responsibility for 134 Reserve and Active Duty Personnel trained for deployable defense contingencies both in and outside of the continental United States. He began his military service in 1976 in the United States Army. He rose to the rank of Sergeant while stationed at the 2nd/75th Ranger Battalion in Fort Lewis, Washington. While assigned to the 2nd/75th Rangers, he received his Paratroop Wings and High-Altitude Low-Opening Wings. In 1987, Cmdr. Andrews joined the United States Coast Guard Reserves as a Port Securityman 2nd Class and rose to the rank of Chief. In his civilian career, Andrews is the chief of police for the city of University Place, Wash. Cmdr. Andrews has successfully completed his Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission's Executive Certification, and is a graduate of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and Federal Bureau of Investigation Command College, and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Leadership Development course.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, July 11, 2008

Grays Harbor maintenance dredging
scheduled to begin later this month

SEATTLE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, has announced that maintenance dredging in Grays Harbor will start again about July 16. American Construction of Tacoma was awarded the contract for $6 million and will be removing approximately more than 1 million cubic yards of material from the federal channel to ensure safe navigation. Maintenance dredging in this area began back in January but had to be suspended in February until now to protect fish resources. The area to be dredged is part of the inner Grays Harbor reaches including Cow Point Reach, Cow Point turning basin and Inner Crossover reach. This is part of the annual inner harbor maintenance dredging, which is performed to provide deep draft access to Port Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4, plus other commercial docks. This does not include the Port of Grays Harbor’s area of responsibility, which is typically contracted separately. American Construction will be using a clamshell dredge with bottom-dump barge disposal in open water. Dredging is scheduled to continue through February.


Port of Bellingham taps Fix
as new chief financial officer

BELLINGHAM — The Port of Bellingham has announced the hiring of Rob Fix as its chief financial officer position. Mr. Fix will begin his new position July 28th, 2008. He has over 17 years of experience in managing financial and investment operations in the lodging industry having served as controller, director of development, mergers and acquisitions and director of finance. Prior to joining the port, Mr. Fix served as a partner and CFO for two Kirkland-based companies, MTM Luxury Lodging (a hotel management company) and FST Asset Management (a real estate and investment management company). From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Fix was employed at the Trillium Corporation primarily as the director of finance for the Semiahmoo Hotel Company, Inc. He was also employed by Red Lion Hotels from 1993 to 1998 as their corporate financial analyst and as a controller in their Bellevue and Springfield, Ore., hotels. Mr. Fix is currently the chairman of the Washington State Hotel and Lodging Association. The Port of Bellingham operates Whatcom County's major transportation terminals including the Bellingham Airport, Fairhaven Transportation Station and the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The port also serves about 2,000 moorage customers in its Blaine and Squalicum Harbors. In addition, more than 250 businesses operate on port properties, which are managed by the Port Real Estate Division.


Port Tracker report finds
box traffic on the rise

WASHINGTON, DC — Traffic at the nation’s major retail cargo ports is slowly climbing despite the continuing economic slowdown, but is expected to remain below last year’s levels through most of 2008, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Global Insight. Meanwhile, West Coast dockworkers’ union contract expired July 1, but negotiations are continuing and no disruption to cargo movement is expected. U.S. ports surveyed handled 1.31 million Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEU) of container traffic in May, the most recent month for which actual numbers are available. That’s up 3.4 percent from April but down five percent from May 2007. One TEU is one 20-foot container or its equivalent. June was estimated at 1.34 million TEU, down 7.8 percent from a year ago, and July is forecast at 1.4 million TEU, down 3.1 percent. August is forecast at 1.45 million TEU, down 0.8 percent; September at 1.42 million TEU, down 3.6 percent; and October at 1.47 million TEU, up 1.7 percent. The October figure would represent the first year-to-year rise since July 2007, when 1.44 million TEU were handled compared with 1.4 million in July 2006. November 2008 is forecast to drop to 1.35 million TEU, down two percent from 2007, but traffic typically declines after peaking in October each year.


US rail freight traffic
drops during month of June

WASHINGTON, DC — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off during June in comparison with June 2007, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Railroad carload traffic fell 3.6 percent compared with June 2007, while intermodal traffic fell 4.0 percent compared with the same month last year. Overall, U.S. railroads originated 1,295,161 carloads of freight in June 2008, down 48,950 carloads from June 2007. U.S. railroads also originated 923,031 inFive of the 19 major commodity categories tracked by the AAR saw carload increases on U.S. railroads in June 2008 compared to June 2007, led by grain (up 4,206 carloads, or 5.0 percent, to 88,040 carloads) and chemicals (up 3,232 carloads, or 2.7 percent, to 124,891 carloads). Ethanol, a small but rapidly-growing rail traffic segment, is included in the "chemicals" category. Commodities showing carload declines in June 2008 included coal (down 17,677 carloads, or 3.2 percent, to 542,324 carloads); motor vehicles and equipment (down 17,051 carloads, or 19.1 percent, to 72,450 carloads); and coke (down 6,213 carloads, or 28.8 percent, to 15,397 carloads). In the second quarter of 2008, total U.S. rail carloadings were down 0.6 percent (27,006 carloads) to 4,278,770 carloads, while intermodal traffic, which consists of trailers and containers on flat cars and is not included in carload figures, was down 2.4 percent (71,414 units) to 2,941,922 trailers and containers.


Coast Guard introduces
new communications system

SEATTLE — Coast Guard units in southern Oregon have started using a new maritime communications system known as Rescue 21. This system harnesses global positioning and cutting edge communications technology enabling the Coast Guard to perform all its missions with greater agility and efficiency. This advanced command, control and communications system provides coverage from Brookings, Ore., in the south to Cascade Head, Ore., in the north. This maritime "911" system replaces a 30-year-old legacy communications system and improves the Coast Guard's search and rescue mission capabilities. Components of the system include advanced direction-finding technology, which helps the Coast Guard identify hoax callers, saving time and taxpayer money and helping prioritize real emergencies. Rescue 21 technology also helps close coverage gaps and will narrow search areas, speeding rescues. The new C3 system also improves interoperability with local, state and federal agencies as well as with first responders.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 10, 2008

Corps grants final permit
for Maury Island barge dock

SEATTLE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued the last permits needed to reconstruct a dock for loading barges with sand and gravel for transport from an existing mine on Maury Island. The proposal to resume mining and replace the dock at Glacier Northwest's existing Maury Island mine has been reviewed by local, state and federal regulatory agencies in more depth for a longer time than any similar project in the state. It has been approved at each step in this long, complex and stringent environmental review and permitting process. Legal reviews by the Shorelines Hearings Board and the state Court of Appeals also determined unanimously that the project could proceed. The Washington State Supreme Court denied without comment an appeal of the lower court decisions, in essence upholding their prior rulings. All of the environmental, land use and building permits needed to construct the dock have been issued. King County has issued Shoreline Substantial Development and Shoreline Conditional Use permits and a Building Permit; the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife has issued a Hydraulic Project Approval; the Washington Department of Ecology has issued Coastal Zone Management Consistency Determination and Water Quality Certificate; the Corps of Engineers has now issued a Section 10 permit under the Rivers and Harbors Act and a Section 404 Permit under the Clean Water Act that allows dock construction. The Corps permits were issued after concurrence letters from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service that the project is not likely to adversely affect threatened or endangered species and designated critical habitat. For more than 40 years King County has maintained zoning for the Maury Island site that allows it to be mined. As part of complying with the Growth Management Act, King County also designated the site as a mineral resource of long term commercial significance. Glacier Northwest now must obtain a lease of state tidelands from the Washington Department of Natural Resources where a portion of the new dock will be located.


Ronald Widdows takes helm
of Neptune Orient Lines Ltd.

SINGAPORE — Neptune Orient Lines Limited (NOL) has announced that, by mutual agreement with the Board of Directors, Dr. Thomas Held has stepped down from the position of Group President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company and that Ronald Widdows has been appointed as the new group president and CEO. Dr. Held has also resigned from, and Mr. Widdows has been appointed a member of, the NOL Board of Directors. The changes have immediate effect. Mr. Widdows is currently the CEO of NOL’s container shipping business APL, and has held this position since 2003.


Freight services index
posts gains during May

WASHINGTON, DC — The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 1.9 percent in May from its April level, the largest monthly increase since January, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports. Since an increase in January that was the largest in two years, the freight index failed to advance over the three months ending in April, before rising in May to return to its January level. At 111.4 in May, the freight TSI was up 3.2 percent since its recent low of 108.0 in September 2007 but down 1.5 percent from its peak of 113.1 reached in November 2005. The 2.8 percent increase in the freight index since December marked the fifth consecutive year the index increased in the first five months. 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. The May 2008 freight TSI level was 2.1 percent above the May 2007 level of 109.2. The freight index remains below its May 2005 level of 111.7. Despite declines from May 2005 level, the freight index has increased 8.7 percent in five years and 10.9 percent in 10 years.


Greenbrier announces
third quarter numbers

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — The Greenbrier Companies, a supplier of transportation equipment and services to the railroad has reported financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended May 31, 2008. Revenues for the 2008 fiscal third quarter were $382.1 million, compared to $386.6 million in the prior year's third quarter. EBITDA was $34.5 million, or 9.0 percent of revenues for the quarter, compared to $46.4 million, or 12.0 percent of revenues in the prior year's third quarter. Net earnings were $8.1 million, or $.49 per diluted share for the quarter, compared to net earnings of $13.0 million, or $.81 per diluted share for the same period in 2007. New railcar manufacturing backlog was 17,500 units valued at $1.55 billion at May 31, 2008, compared to 18,800 units valued at $1.64 billion at February 29, 2008. Based on current production plans, approximately 1,400 units in the May 31, 2008 backlog are scheduled for delivery during the balance of fiscal 2008. Marine backlog was $158 million as of May 31, 2008, compared to $114 million as of February 29, 2008.


Coast Guard closing Columbia
for Tri-Cities hydroplane races

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard has announced the following closures on the Columbia River for the Tri-Cities hydroplane races and accompanying air show in Kennewick, Wash., July 25-27, 2008. As part of the event's safety measures, it is important that the boating public take note of the following requirements and guidelines. The Columbia River will be closed in the Kennewick area from 7 a.m. till 6 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The public can pass normally through the race area at other times that weekend. Those planning to watch the races from a boat idling or anchored above the upper (upstream) anchor line or below the lower (downstream) anchor line should note the following. The "No-Wake" zones (orange area on map) start 100 yards below red day board #52 on the upstream end (marked by a white buoy on both the Pasco and Kennewick shores) and at the green day board #49 on the downstream end. Bring a good anchor with at least 100 feet of rope. It's easiest to anchor near shore. The large Coast Guard vessel by Hydro Island and a single white buoy on the Columbia Park shore (Kennewick side) mark the upstream anchor line. White buoys near the shores just below the Blue Bridge mark the down stream anchor line. If you plan to swim in the river, be sure and trail from your boat a line with a float to hang onto to assist in your return to your vessel because most people have difficulty swimming against the strong river current. There will be Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, sheriff, Dive Rescue, and WA Fish & Wildlife boats at both ends of the racecourse if you have questions or need assistance. For emergencies call 911 by phone, Channel 16 on a VHF radio, or flag down any of the patrolling agencies listed above. Never overload your boat. Never operate a vessel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Be safe on the water and always remember to wear your life jackets. Always make sure children are wearing life jackets and that they are properly sized. Observe No-Wake restrictions, exclusion zones, and other marine safety laws. Obey law enforcement personnel and safe boating requirements. Violating the law can get you a ticket.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Seattle Port Commissioners
Ok completion of SR 519

SEATTLE — Port of Seattle Commissioners have approved a $5.5 million investment in the completion of SR 519. The project provides a connection between the port’s Terminal 46 facility and the freeway system, giving trucks an efficient way to move cargo to and from the port and pedestrians a safe route to sports stadiums and local shops. The project, currently in its second phase, has three major components: widening the roadway along South Atlantic Street, east of First Avenue South; construction of a new west-bound off-ramp from I-90 and I-5 to the current South Atlantic Street overpass; and a new elevated crossing for pedestrians and local traffic over the BNSF rail tracks on South Royal Brougham Way. The project is part of FAST Corridor, transportation projects designed to improve freight mobility along rail corridors in King and Pierce counties. Projects are funded by several partners, including federal and state agencies, local cities and counties, private partners, and the ports of Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett. Total cost for SR 519 Phase 2 is expected to be $74.4 million. Construction is slated to begin in the fall.


Everett port board adopts
new marine terminals master plan

EVERETT — After nearly two years of community outreach, conceptual planning and alternatives analysis, the Port of Everett Commission has adopted the Marine Terminals Master Plan 2008, which establishes the blueprint for future deep-water shipping terminal development over the next 5-10 years. Port staff and its consultant team, led by Westmar, held more than 16 public meetings requesting feedback on the various development alternatives explored. After considering several terminal configurations, the Everett Port Commission adopted a more moderate development that builds upon the port’s recent successes attracting niche container and breakbulk cargoes. The plan incorporates the existing lease agreements north of the bulk handling facility, and focuses the terminal expansion to the south. The plan sets forth a development scenario that would require expanding into the harbor, and increasing the South Terminal dock length to 1,000 feet in order to accommodate a Panamax vessel. The plan recommends that one container crane remain at Pacific Terminal to support the current operations and customer base, and would require installation of larger cranes at South Terminal. According to the plan, the South Terminal facility would support the majority of the container traffic, with Pacific Terminal and Pier 1 being used for breakbulk and other specialized cargoes.


Port group praises Congress
for maritime pollution act passage

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The American Association of Port Authorities has praised Congress for passing H.R. 802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act, which will now be transmitted to President Bush for his signature. The legislation will implement Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, more commonly known as MARPOL, providing air quality benefits for port communities in countries that are signatories to the treaty. Annex VI is a global treaty that establishes emission limits for oxides of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulfur (SOx) and other pollutants from vessels. Kurt Nagle, AAPA's president and CEO, said the ports association has strongly advocated for tough new air emissions standards for both foreign and domestic ships that call on U.S. ports.


Merchant Marine academy head
announces plans to retire

KINGS POINT, NY — Vice Admiral Joseph D. Stewart, superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, has announced his retirement from government service. VADM Stewart’s career spanned over 44 years of public service to the United States as a Marine Corps officer and member of the civilian Senior Executive Service. Prior to his tenure as Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, VADM Stewart served in the U.S. Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Major General. VADM Stewart held command billets beginning at the platoon level and culminating as Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, is operated by the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration. It trains men and women as merchant mariners, and all graduates are required to serve either in the U.S. maritime industry or in the U.S. Armed Forces.hance its management transparency, has finished its function upon the introduction of two directors from outside the company to NYK's board of directors.


Sand sculpture event
returning to Bellingham

BELLINGHAM — Enjoy sand, sea and sculpture at Bellingham's third annual Sand in the City Sand Sculpting Festival Aug. 8-10, 2008 in front of the Harbor Center Building, 1801 Roeder Avenue. On Friday, Aug. 8, sand sculpting teams will compete in a six hour competition for the "Golden Shovel" award. Awards will be given out at 5 p.m., and KAFE Radio will do a live remote broadcast from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday festival visitors will have a chance to vote on their favorite sculptures, enjoy live music, and watch master sculptor Bert Adams and his team of artists create a sand-tastic work of art. The event includes a children's area with a giant sandbox, guided tours of the Marine Life Center, and face painting on Saturday and Sunday. Food vendors this year include Rocket Donuts, Diego's Mexican Restaurant, House of Kabobs, Wild West Kettle Corn, the Ferndale Band Boosters, and more. Sand sculptures are available for viewing all three days. Sand in the City is presented by the Northwest Discovery Project and the Port of Bellingham. The event is free and open to the public, however donations are accepted and encouraged. Donations and proceeds support the Marine Life Center, a place where children and adults can learn about and explore the diversity of creatures found in the waters of Puget Sound and the Washington coast.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, July 7, 2008

RoadLink announces purchase
of Vancouver trucking company

ATLANTA — RoadLink, the North American private independent intermodal logistics service provider, has announced the purchase of Vancouver, Wash.-based international intermodal trucking service provider American Freight Systems, Inc. (AFS). The third such acquisition of this year. With major operations centers in Vancouver and the ports of Tacoma and Portland, AFS moves freight between these ports and a shipper’s or consignee’s location with a fleet of 55 company-owned trucks and super chassis, and 16 Independent Contractors. Started in 1998 by John Rogers, AFS has grown by providing reliable service throughout the region. After a short transition period, AFS will implement RoadLink’s TrueVision operating technology, which can provide customers with visibility of their freight from their inbound cargo ships all the way to the floor of their operating facility. AFS joins Seattle-based West Coast Trucking (WCT) and C-Truck (the Canadian trucking portion of Hapag-Lloyd) as RoadLink’s third acquisition in 2008, and along with RoadLink’s newly announced strategic relationship with Canada-based Fenway portfolio company Fastfrate, dramatically enhances the company’s intermodal network across North America. Following the conclusion of the transaction, John Rogers will continue on as a consultant to the RoadLink team to ensure a smooth transition, and AFS will be officially rebranded as RoadLink to fully harness the power of this acquisition for customers.


Vancouver, USA port board
eyeing action items at meeting

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners will consider four action items of general business at its regularly-scheduled meeting tomorrow. Commissioners Brian Wolfe, Nancy Baker and Jerry Oliver will hear recommendations from staff regarding a property agreement at the former Rufener property, an amendment to a tenant lease, and authorization of master on-call agreements for civil engineering & management, as well as master on-call agreements for structural engineering & management. The commission, during open forum, will also hear a presentation from Columbia Waterfront LLC, the development team that is working on the Vancouver Waterfront project, at the former Boise Cascade property in downtown Vancouver.


Schnitzer sees records fall
during third fiscal quarter

PORTLAND — Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. has reported record quarterly net income of $62 million, or $2.14 per diluted share, for the fiscal 2008 third quarter ended May 31, 2008. Revenues of $972 million were also a quarterly record. Compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2007, revenues increased 37 percent and diluted earnings per share increased 46 percent to $2.14 over $1.47 for 2007. Operating income was $102 million compared with $70 million in the third quarter of last year. Net income was $62 million during the quarter compared to $44 million in the third quarter of 2007. Revenues for the Metals Recycling Business increased 38 percent over the third quarter of 2007, primarily as a result of record ferrous scrap prices and higher nonferrous sales volumes. Average net ferrous processing sales prices were $463/ton, a 57 percent year over year increase, while nonferrous sales volumes increased 19 percent over last year. Third quarter revenues for the Auto Parts Business increased 41 percent over the same period last year, primarily as a result of a 20 percent increase in self-service car volumes, higher per car sales of cores and scrap and improved full-service and self-service parts sales. Revenues for the Steel Manufacturing Business rose 49 percent on a year over year basis due to a 36 thousand ton, or 20 percent increase in sales volumes, coupled with a $148/ton, or 25 percent, increase in average net sales prices. Compared to the second quarter of 2008, revenues increased 17 percent as average net prices during the quarter increased $128/ton. According to Schnitzer, higher overseas prices and a weak U.S. dollar continue to limit the volume of finished steel products imported for sale in the U.S., resulting in price increases despite soft domestic demand.


NYK does away with
outside advisory board

TOKYO — NYK has announced that it dissolved its advisory board on June 30, 2008. The board was established in June 2006 to act as a consultative body for the company's Executive Committee for Strategic Management, and consisted of six outside experts who offered objective and varied advice about the business environment and management issues facing NYK. The advisory board, which helped the company enhance its management transparency, has finished its function upon the introduction of two directors from outside the company to NYK's board of directors.


Evergreen Marine adding
Central America/Caribbean agents

TAIPEI — Evergreen Marine Corporation has announced the addition of four new agents in Central America and east Caribbean Sea area to provide full-position service and meet the needs of clients in the new locations of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras,Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Barbados. Servicios Navieros y Portuarios, S.A., Guatemala and Belize -- In charge of cargoes to/from Santo Tomas De Castille in Guatemala and Belize City in Belize; Agencias Navieras El Salvador SA de CV, El Salvador -- Taking care of cargoes to/from San Salvador in El Salvador; Universal Shipping SA de CV, Honduras -- Responsible for cargoes to/from Puetro Cortes in Honduras; and International Shipping Limited -- Trinidad & Tobago.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, July 3, 2008

Coast Guard submits review
of Coos Bay LNG facility

PORTLAND — The Coast Guard has completed a review of the Waterway Suitability Assessment for the Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal project submitted by Jordan Cove Energy Project, L.P. On April 11, 2006 the Coast Guard received official notification of the company's proposal to build an LNG terminal in Coos Bay, Ore. Over the last two years Coast Guard Sector Portland personnel worked with the applicant, state and local emergency response providers, as well as port and community stakeholders to assess the safety and security issues associated with LNG tankers traveling into Coos Bay. Based upon this review the Captain of the Port (COTP) recommended, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), that additional measures will be necessary to responsibly manage the navigation, safety and security risks associated with this project. The specific measures and the resources needed are documented in a Waterway Suitability Report submitted to the FERC. The Coast Guard will continue working with the FERC on the development of an Environmental Impact Statement that addresses the effects of the proposed safety and security measures all along the waterway. Additionally, the applicant, Coast Guard, FERC and emergency response providers will work together to develop an Emergency Response Plan that addresses the gaps identified in the Waterway Suitability Report. The Waterway Suitability Report and related documentation is available through the Coast Guard's Home Port web site (http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentTypeId=2&contentId=5935 9&programId=12590&pageTypeId=16440&). The user is directed to select "Jordan Cove Energy Project" from the bottom of the linked page. Many of these documents will also be available through the FERCs E-Library at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp.


Pacific Maritime Association
gives contract talks update

SAN FRANCISCO — The Pacific Maritime Association, whose 71 member companies include cargo carriers, terminal operators and stevedores on the West Coast, issued the following statement July 2, regarding the ongoing negotiations on a new waterfront labor agreement: The six-year West Coast waterfront labor agreement expired Tuesday, but negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) on a new contract will continue beyond the deadline. While the ILWU has stated that work will continue as normal as we negotiate, we regret that it did not agree to a formal extension of the contract and its no strike clause and arbitration procedures for resolving workplace disputes, including the tactic of slowdowns. An extension would have sent a much stronger message to the shippers and the public that the West Coast Ports will continue to operate without disruption. As it has since negotiations began March 17, PMA remains focused on reaching a new agreement that is fair and reasonable to both sides, while at the same time keeping the ports running smoothly and safely. We will continue to work as hard and as quickly as possible to resolve remaining issues. The contract covers wages, benefits and conditions of employment for the more than 26,000 ILWU members and identified casuals working at 29 West Coast ports in California, Oregon and Washington.


NAFTA partners set record
with April surface transport totals

WASHINGTON, DC — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 14.3 percent higher in April 2008 than in April 2007, reaching $74.3 billion, the highest monthly level ever recorded, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported that the value of North American surface trade in April topped the previous monthly high of $74.2 billion in October 2007 by 0.1 percent. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 5.0 percent in April from March. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors. Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 88 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in April was up 58.7 percent compared to April 2003, and up 91.8 percent compared to April 1998, a period of 10 years. Imports in April were up 106.0 percent compared to April 1998, while exports were up 75.8 percent.


Weekly rail freight totals
again hit by Midwest flooding

WASHINGTON, DC — Midwest floods continued to negatively impact rail freight traffic during the week ended June 21, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight in the week totaled 318,275 cars, down 5.7 percent from the comparable week last year. Volume was off 6.1 percent in the West and 5.3 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 228,547 trailers or containers, down 5.6 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was off 1.8 percent while container traffic dropped 6.6 percent. Total volume was estimated at 32.8 billion ton-miles, down 4.4 percent from the 25th week of 2007. Only two of 19 carload commodities registered gains from a year ago with chemicals up 4.9 percent and grain mill products up 0.8 percent. Among commodities reporting declines were motor vehicles and equipment, 19.3 percent; lumber and wood products, 21.8 percent; and petroleum products, 11.6 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 25 weeks of 2008 totaled 8,123,172 carloads, up 0.3 percent from 2007; 5,531,341 trailers or containers, down 3.2 percent; and total volume of an estimated 839.8 billion ton-miles, up 1.6 percent from last year.


Ferry service hours extended
for Everett Jetty island Days

EVERETT — With the popularity of Jetty Island Days increasing each year, the City of Everett Parks Department, in partnership with the Port of Everett, has extended the hours of the ferry service to the island. Jetty Island Days runs from July 5th – Sept. 1st. The ferry will now run Wednesday through Monday, with the following hours; 10 a.m. – 5:50 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday; 10 a.m. – 8:50 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. – 6:50 p.m. Sundays. The free ferry departs from the 10th Street Boat Launch located at 10th Street and West Marine View Drive. The City of Everett and the Port of Everett have been partnering to provide public access to the port-owned island since 1989. Visitors come to enjoy the sandy beaches, which are a rare find along the Washington coast. The island is as educationally important as it is for summer recreation, and serves as the perfect teaching tool by highlighting the importance of wildlife preservation and the nearby estuary.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Baby furniture manufacturer
leases Port of Bellingham facility

BELLINGHAM — A Canadian-US baby furniture manufacturing company will be adding local jobs later this month as it opens a major distribution facility in Bellingham. The port's Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a two-year lease with Stork Craft (USA) Inc. for a large portion of the former Georgia Pacific tissue warehouse on Roeder Avenue. The company plans to service the distribution needs of its Pacific Northwest and Canadian customers from this site until it builds a similar sized facility in Whatcom County. The lease gives Stork Craft the option of a one-year extension. The port acquired this 5-acre warehouse as part of the Georgia Pacific site purchase in 2005. It was built for regional tissue warehousing and distribution and has been vacant since the Tissue Mill closed in December. Stork Craft will lease all of the building except a section of the building that faces the former treatment lagoon, which can accommodate marine businesses, and a portion of the building where the Innovation Zone facility will be built as a waterfront early action project during the next year. Stork Craft anticipates having 10 local employees initially and expanding that to 30 local employees in the future. Its world headquarters are located in Vancouver, B C (Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc.) with current North American distribution out of Richmond, British Columbia and New Jersey. Stork Craft is the largest supplier of juvenile furniture in the world, with factories located in China, Indonesia and Vietnam; and international distribution in Canada, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.


Port of Seattle delivers
SAO Annual Report Summary

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle has submitted its SAO Annual Report Summary to Auditor Brian Sonntag, reporting the significant progress made in implementing the recommendations contained in the December 2007 performance audit on the port’s construction management program. The organization has implemented 24 of the audit’s 51 recommendations and is on track to implement 21 of the remaining recommendations by August 31, 2008. While the organization disagreed with six of the recommendations, the port reports it worked to find alternatives that met the underlying intent. As required by I-900, the Seattle Port Commission authorized President John Creighton to transmit the report to the State Auditor’s Office. During public session, commissioners noted their confidence in the reforms implemented thus far and in the organization’s commitment to greater efficiency and transparency.


Crowley response tug begins
new year of service in Neah Bay

NEAH BAY, WA — A Crowley emergency response tug began its first day of year-round service on July 1 in Neah Bay, Wash. The emergency response tug will provide assistance to disabled ships and protect the coastline in an unprecedented tour in Washington - providing 365 continuous days of service in an effort to help prevent oil spills in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and along Washington's pristine coastlines. The contract extension agreement between the Washington Department of Ecology and Crowley Maritime Corporation marks the first time that a response tug will be stationed at Neah Bay for a full year of service. Since 1999, state-funded response tugs stationed at Neah Bay have kept disabled ships from drifting onto the rocks and causing major oil spills during the severe winter months. These tugs have stood by and assisted over 40 ships that became disabled or had reduced maneuvering or propulsion during harsh winter storms. During the 2008 legislative session, Washington Gov. Gregoire and state lawmakers earmarked $3.7 million for the tug and directed the Department of Ecology to contract for year-round emergency response tug service starting July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009. In April, the Department of Ecology and Crowley agreed to extend the company's existing contract to station a high-horsepower, ocean-going tug at Neah Bay for a year.


Pacific Maritime Association
gives status of contract talks

SAN FRANCISCO — The Pacific Maritime Association, whose 71 member companies include cargo carriers, terminal operators and stevedores on the West Coast, issued the following statement today regarding the progress of negotiations on a new waterfront labor agreement: The PMA is working hard to resolve the remaining issues in contract negotiations with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). These talks continue to move forward, and our focus remains on reaching a new West Coast waterfront labor agreement that is fair and reasonable to both parties. Both PMA and ILWU have previously stated their commitment to resolving outstanding issues at the table and to keeping West Coast Ports running smoothly. We affirm that commitment, and we are prepared, if necessary, to continue talking after the current six-year labor contract expires at 5 p.m. PT today (July 1). Keeping the ports open, productive and secure are critical to the American economy. The West Coast ports generate almost $1.3 trillion in domestic business impacts -- representing 11 percent of total U.S. gross domestic product -- and support more than 8 million direct and indirect U.S. jobs. The contract covers wages, benefits and conditions of employment for the more than 26,000 ILWU members and identified casuals working at 29 West Coast ports in California, Oregon and Washington.


Port of Portland schedules
Terminal 4 cleanup meeting

PORTLAND — The Port of Portland will begin cleaning up contaminated sediment at marine Terminal 4 in North Portland later this summer. The action, which is overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency, will include dredging, capping of contaminated sediment, and bank stabilization. The public is invited to learn more about this ongoing project and efforts to clean up sediment in the Portland Harbor Superfund site at an informative open house scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Bureau of Environmental Services Water Pollution Control Lab, 6543 N. Burlington, Portland – located underneath the St. Johns Bridge on the east side of the Willamette River. The sediment removal action at Terminal 4 on the Willamette River is part of the overall effort to clean up the Portland Harbor which was designated as a Superfund site in December 2000. For more information or for accessibility assistance, contact the Port of Portland at 503.944.7047 or rachel.wray@portofportland.com or EPA at 503.326.6994 or smith.judy@epa.gov.