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September, 2010
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Commerce Department plans
trade mission to Baghdad
WASHINGTON, DC — Francisco Sánchez, Under Secretary of
Commerce for International Trade, will lead a historic trade
mission to Baghdad, Iraq, in October. Sánchez will accompany
representatives from 15 U.S. companies on the department’s
first trade mission to Iraq since the end of the U.S. combat
mission in Iraq. “The U.S.-Iraq bilateral relationship is
entering a new phase of commercial engagement,” Under
Secretary Sánchez said. “This trade mission will connect
American and Iraqi companies in a partnership to rebuild the
Iraqi economy. This mission will be economically and commercially
beneficial to U.S. and Iraqi firms, and the citizens of
Iraq.”
Port Angeles HarborWorks
announces plans to shut down
PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles reports that Port
Angeles HarborWorks has announced it is unable to negotiate an
agreement for the purchase and cleanup of the former Rayonier
Mill Site property. The dissolution of HarborWorks will occur in
the next thirty days in keeping with the Charter Agreement. The
port engaged with the City of Port Angeles and formed HarborWorks
in 2008 with two specific objectives:
1. Support the City of Port Angeles’ goal of using the
existing infrastructure, the storage tank and the outfall, to
meet Department or Ecology standards by resolving the combined
sewer overflow (CSO). The benefits to the water quality in the
Port Angeles harbor and the economic benefit (savings) to the tax
payers are significant. The City and Rayonier are working closely
to finalize an agreement for the sale of the property and
infrastructure relating to the CSO.
2. Put this waterfront property back into productive use to
provide economic benefit to the community in the form of job
creation. HarborWorks completed the due diligence process on the
property creating valuable information which will be used in the
future as part of the ultimate clean up and re-development of the
site.
Coast Guard teams respond
to oil platform explosion
NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a report
of 13 people in the water following an oil platform explosion in
block 380 approximately 90 miles south of Vermillion Bay, La., at
about 9:19 a.m. Watchstanders at the Eighth Coast Guard District
command center received a report from a pilot aboard a Bristow
helicopter at about 10:00 a.m., stating that 13 people were in
the water near an oil platform on fire. All 13 people were
wearing immersion suits. The 13 people in the water were picked
up by the OSV Crystal Clear and taken to another platform. Coast
Guard helicopters are being utilized to transport the rescued to
Terrebonne General Hospital. Their conditions are unknown at this
time.
Boeing predicts expansion
of North American plane deliveries
MONTREAL — Boeing forecasts that air carriers in North
America will take delivery of about 7,200 new airplanes over the
next 20 years at an investment of $700 billion. New airplane
deliveries in Canada and the United States will be driven largely
by the need to retire older, less fuel-efficient single-aisle
airplanes and regional jets, as airlines replace them with
new-generation, more fuel-efficient models. (For the purposes of
the Boeing forecast, the North America market consists of the
U.S. and Canada. Mexico is included in Boeing's forecast for
Latin America.) Taking retirements of airplanes into account, the
North America fleet will grow from 6,590 airplanes today to about
9,000 airplanes by 2029. Large airplanes (747-size and larger)
will not see significant demand in North America, with only about
40 units (all freighters), or one percent of the total
investment.
Alaska Airlines become sponsor
of Portland Timbers soccer team
PORTLAND — The Major League Soccer (MLS) Portland Timbers
and Alaska Airlines have announced that Alaska Airlines is the
team's official airline. The multiyear deal is highlighted by the
Alaska Airlines' logo prominently featured on the team's jerseys
beginning with the Timbers' debut MLS season in March 2011. As
part of the sponsorship, the airline will support the new
Portland Timbers Community Fund, partnering with the team on
several youth-based fitness and educational initiatives.
Additionally, the airline will donate 25 game-day tickets to
underprivileged Portland-area youth at every home game as part of
the Timbers "Tickets for Kids" program. Alaska Airlines
also will be the presenting sponsor for all MLS Timbers youth
soccer camps. With the announcement, Alaska Airlines becomes the
first airline jersey sponsor in the 15-year history of MLS.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Commerce Department finds
China subsidized aluminum products
WASHINGTON, DC — A preliminary determination by the Commerce
Department’s Import Administration has found that $514
million of aluminum products imported from China in 2009 were
unfairly subsidized. As a result of the preliminary
determination, importers of Chinese aluminum extrusions will be
required to post cash deposits or bonds at rates determined by
the Import Administration. If Commerce makes a final
determination that Chinese exporters or producers received an
unfair subsidy under international law, and the U.S.
International Trade Commission finds that domestic industry was
harmed, those imports would be subject to countervailing duties
(CVD). The affirmative preliminary determination found that
Chinese producers/exporters have received countervailable
subsidies ranging from 6.18 to 137.65 percent. Commerce is
currently scheduled to make its final determination in this case
in November.
Hamburg Sud set to add
new general rate increase
MORRISTOWN, NJ — Hamburg Süd has announced that effective
October 15, 2010, a general rate increase (GRI) will be applied
to all cargo moving from the East Coasts of the United States and
Canada to Europe. Tariff cargo as well as existing service
contracts will be increased by the following amounts:
US$150/20' equipment
US$300/40' equipment
Norfolk Southern orders
two Progress Rail locomotives
ALBERTVILLE, AL — Progress Rail Services Corporation, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., and Norfolk Southern
have announced the order of additional EPA Tier 2 compliant,
high-horsepower repower locomotives - designated the PR43C. In
2008, Norfolk Southern and Progress Rail began a cooperative
effort to develop the PR43C locomotive. Since then, two PR43C
prototype locomotives have been built and placed in service on
the Norfolk Southern system. These locomotives have been closely
monitored during a series of developmental and operational
testing. With the testing of the first two prototypes coming to a
close, Progress Rail is pleased to announce Norfolk Southern has
ordered four additional PR43C locomotives, scheduled for delivery
later this year. The PR43C locomotives are unique in the
industry. Remanufactured from reusable locomotive cores, the
PR43C locomotives have a dual-engine configuration. The primary
engine, a Caterpillar C-175 rated at 3,600 horsepower, and a
secondary engine, a Caterpillar C-18 rated at 700 horsepower,
work in tandem to power the locomotive. By rebuilding the PR43C
from a reusable locomotive core and providing 4,300 total
horsepower, the PR43C locomotive serves as an
environmentally-friendly solution for the rail industry.
Genco Shipping & Trading
adds Supramax ship to fleet
WASHINGTON, DC — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has
announced that it has taken delivery of the GENCO ARDENNES, a
2009-built Supramax vessel. The GENCO ARDENNES is the tenth
vessel to be delivered to the company under Genco's agreement
previously announced on June 25, 2010 to acquire 13 Supramax
vessels from Setaf SAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bourbon SA.
The company also announced that it has reached an agreement to
enter into a time charter for the GENCO ARDENNES with Klaveness
Chartering for 23 to 25.5 months at a rate of $19,000 per day,
less a five percent third party brokerage commission. The time
charter for the GENCO ARDENNES is expected to commence on or
about September 2, 2010 and is subject to the completion of
definitive documentation. The company used its available cash to
pay the remaining balance of $32.13 million for the GENCO
ARDENNES. On August 20, 2010, the company entered into its
previously announced $253 million senior secured term loan
facility and intends to use the credit facility to refund a total
of $20 million associated with the purchase of this vessel to the
company.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
begins safety campaign
TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced the
launch of the semi annual Safety Campaign for all MOL-operated
vessels. During the campaign, the company will publicise MOL's
goal of “four zeroes”- zero serious marine incidents,
zero oil pollution, zero fatal accidents, and zero cargo damage.
The campaign is directed at realizing the company's key objective
of becoming the world leader in safe operation, as set out in the
new mid-term management plan “GEAR UP! MOL.” A key
element of the campaign is a frank exchange of ideas, advice, and
opinions between management and seafarers and other front-line
personnel. The campaign period will extend September 1 to October
15, 2010.
