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November, 2008
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, November 28, 2008
Port of Anacortes earns
top Washington port honor
TACOMA The Port of Anacortes was named the Washington
Public Ports Association's Port of the Year for 2008. WPPA
President Bill Clark, commissioner for the Port of Pasco, made
the announcement during the Association's annual meeting in
Tacoma on November 21, 2008. Among the accomplishments which
garnered the Port of Anacortes the award, is the port's work with
the Washington State Department of Ecology to clean up
contamination at port-owned properties. In conjunction with
Washington Governor Gregoire's Puget Sound Initiative, the port
created a comprehensive framework called Focus Fidalgo to
coordinate five different clean-up efforts on port property. The
port is pursuing an integrated program to remove toxins from
nearshore, upland and marine environments, restore critical
aquatic habitat, create new public facilities and shoreline
access areas, and generate new family wage jobs.
Port Angeles port board
approves 2009 budget
PORT ANGELES The Port of Port Angeles Port Commission
approved the 2009 Budget at its regularly scheduled meeting on
November 24, 2008. Highlights include: 1) an estimated operating
surplus of $5,450; 2) capital expenditures of $2,275,000; and 3)
no increase in property taxes. Paper copies of the budget are
available at the Port Administrative Offices building, 338 West
1st Street, Port Angeles, WA.
Port of Olympia looking for
East Bay request for qualifications
OLYMPIA The Port of Olympia has issued a request for
qualifications from development firms and potential end users for
mixed-use development of six parcels in the East Bay District,
the downtown Olympia waterfront property adjacent to State
Avenue. The port has secured agreements with public partners for
development of the first three sites. The LOTT Alliance, the
Hands On Childrens Museum, and the City of Olympia have
joined together to create a center of activity, connecting
surrounding communities, the waterfront and Olympias
downtown. The individual projects a larger, permanent home
for the Hands On Childrens Museum, a new administrative and
education center for LOTT and an economic development platform
for the port will energize the redevelopment of the entire
area. The heart of the district will feature a public plaza with
a water feature, open space and public gathering area. Planning
and citizen input for the East Bay project has been under
development for more than seven years. The port is awaiting the
final short-plat of the district so that parcels can be
subdivided and specifically identified for development with
streets and utilities. The port is awaiting final short plan
approval from the City of Olympia so that the street and utility
construction can begin. The request for qualifications was sent
on November 24 to local, state and national firms and potential
users that have the capability to plan and develop the site.
Copies of the Request for Qualifications may be requested from
the Port of Olympia at 360-528-8000 or downloaded from the East
Bay website: www.eastbayportofolympia.com. The submittals are due
December 23, 2008.
New study covers
Port Metro Vancouver
VANCOUVER, BC Trade through Port Metro Vancouver generates
132,700 total jobs across Canada, according to a new study
prepared for the port by InterVISTAS Consulting Inc., a
transportation consulting firm. As the first study to assess the
economic impact of the amalgamated port, the study also concluded
that port-related activities generate $10.5 billion in gross
domestic product (GDP), $22 billion in economic output and $6.1
billion in wages. The amalgamated Port Metro Vancouver
jurisdiction borders on 16 municipalities and covers 600 km of
shoreline extending from Point Roberts at the Canada/U.S. border
through Burrard Inlet to Port Moody and Indian Arm, and from the
mouth of the Fraser River, eastward to the Fraser Valley, north
along the Pitt River to Pitt Lake, and includes the north and
middle arms of the Fraser River. The Port hosts the operation of
28 major marine terminals and several domestic intermodal
terminals.
US rail freight traffic
sees gains during week
WASHINGTON, DC Freight volume on U.S. railroads was up
during the week ended November 22 in comparison with the
corresponding week a year ago, the Association of American
Railroads (AAR) reports. AAR cautioned, however, that comparisons
between the two weeks are distorted by the fact that the year ago
week included the Thanksgiving holiday. Carload freight for the
47th week of 2009 totaled 309,109 cars, up 6.6 percent from last
year, with volume up 10.2 percent in the East and 4.4 percent in
the West. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload
data, totaled 220,314 trailers or containers, up 15.1 percent
from last year. Container volume was up 15.4 percent while
trailer traffic gained 13.9 percent. Total volume was estimated
at 32.9 billion ton-miles, up 7.5 percent from the 47th week last
year. Cumulative volume for the first 47 weeks of 2008 totaled
15,249,068 carloads, down 0.8 percent from 2007; 10,596,451
trailers or containers, down 2.9 percent; and total volume of an
estimated 1.59 trillion ton-miles, up 0.3 percent from last year.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Everett Port Commission
Oks 2009 operating budget
EVERETT On Nov. 18, the Port of Everett Commission
approved a $29.8 million operating budget and a $24.5 million
capital budget for 2009. The adopted budget includes a resolution
that will maintain the property tax levied within the Port
District. The resolution, which was approved 2 to 1, with
Commissioner Phil Bannan opposed, authorizes the Port of Everett
to levy nearly 27-cents per assessed $1,000 in home value. This
is a slight decrease over last years tax levy rate.
Corps to begin repairs
of Coos Bay North Jetty
PORTLAND The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin
interim repairs of the Coos Bay North Jetty in mid-December. The
contractor, Kerr Contractors, Inc., began staging jetty stone
nearly two weeks ago at the Bureau of Land Management parking
area on Trans Pacific Parkway, southwest of the BLM boat ramp.
They will begin hauling the stone from the staging area to the
jetty in mid-December, necessitating the temporary closure of the
sand Foredune and South Dike roads on the North Spit. The sand
roads will remain closed until the nearly 33,000 tons of stone
has been hauled to the jetty. Due to poor visibility on the sand
roads, and the size and limited maneuverability of the trucks, it
is unsafe to share the roads with the public during this portion
of the construction. A notice will be sent out prior to the
actual road closures and another prior to reopening the roads.
ATA trucking index
falls again in October
ARLINGTON, VA The American Trucking Associations
advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index
decreased 3.0 percent in October, marking the fourth consecutive
month-to-month drop. The index fell 0.8 percent in September and
1.9 percent in August. In October, the seasonally adjusted
tonnage index equaled 108.9 (2000 = 100), its lowest level since
October 2003. The not seasonally adjusted index increased 3.4
percent to 119.9 in October. The seasonally adjusted index
declined 1.8 percent compared with October 2007.
Evergreen Line plans
shipping service changes
TAIPEI Evergreen Line will restructure its services on the
U.S., Asia, Indian Sub continent and Europe routes to stabilize
the ship schedules to ensure on-time performance and banker
savings to meet the needs of the market and its own operations.
The new routing will also extend the U.S. service scope to
include Southeast Asia and the ISC. The AUS (Asia-United States)
and service of CES (China-Europe Shuttle) will become the new
pendulum service UAE (U.S. West Coast - Asia - Europe) and the
existing CPS (China - South U.S. West Coast). The UAE service
will employ 10 S-series and 3 E-series ships. The new CPS service
will utilize two E-series and three UX-series vessels. Rotation
will be as follows:
Westbound
Los Angeles - Oakland - Taipei - Kaohsiung - Hong Kong - Yantian
- Tanjung Pelepas - Colombo - Suez Canal - Rotterdam - Hamburg -
Thamesport - Zeebrugge
Eastbound
Rotterdam - Hamburg - Thamesport -Zeebrugge - Taranto - Port Said
- Colombo - Tanjung Pelepas - Yantian - Hong Kong - Kaohsiung -
Los Angeles - Oakland
Memorial service
set for Harry Hutchins
SEATTLE A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life for
Harry Hutchins has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 10,
2008, at 12:00 p.m. at The Catholic Seamens Club, 2330 1st
Ave., Seattle, Washington. Everyone is invited and welcome to
celebrate a person who meant so much to so many people in the
Coast Guard and the maritime industry. Mr. Hutchins passed away
on November 15, after a very serious accident a little more than
a week earlier. Mr. Hutchins graduated from the Coast Guard
Academy in 1962. After two sea tours, he became a Coast Guard
aviator and served the remainder of his 20 years of service
flying rotary and fixed wing aircraft or in staff assignments,
finishing his Coast Guard career as chief of the Marine
Environmental Protection Branch of Coast Guard District Thirteen
(Pacific Northwest). After retirement in 1982, Mr. Hutchins
worked as deputy manager of the Clean Sound Oil Spill Response
Cooperative. In 1983, he became the executive director of the
Marine Exchange of Puget Sound. In 1995, he became the first
executive director of the Puget Sound Steamship Operators
Association (PSSOA) from which he retired in 2002. Mr. Hutchins
was active on many boards and committees and very involved in
numerous marine safety and environmental protection initiatives,
oftentimes industry led. He was the recipient of Maritime
Man of the Year awards from both labor and management
organizations.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, November 24, 2008
Tidewater christens converted
double-hulled liquid products barge
VANCOUVER, USA Tidewater has increased its presence as a
top Pacific Northwest inland waterway transporter with the
christening of a newly converted double-hulled liquid products
barge and repowered tug boat on the Columbia River at Vancouver
Landing. The NEW FRONTIER was converted from a single-hulled
grain barge to a double-hulled liquid products barge; and the
REBEL was repowered with new engines that will reduce emissions
and improve fuel efficiency. The NEW FRONTIER was christened by
Tidewater deck mechanic Tim Johnson from Astoria. To recognize
the 70,000 man-hours spent over ten months to complete the two
projects, Tidewater held a competition to name the barge and the
winner had the honor of christening it. The double-hull is a
safety feature that adds a second layer of steel between the
liquid cargo in the tank and the outside of the barge, which
significantly reduces the risk of spills and leaks. In addition
to the added protection of the double-hull, this barge is
outfitted with vapor recovery equipment, high-level alarms and
spill response equipment standards that Tidewater
initiated on its own, well before the EPAs requirement that
all petroleum barges become double-hulled by 2015. The NEW
FRONTIER was converted by Sundial Marine, a full service marine
construction and repair facility and wholly-owned subsidiary of
Tidewater Holdings Inc., located in Troutdale, Ore. Sundial also
repowered and renovated the REBEL, the tug that towed the NEW
FRONTIER to its christening. The REBEL has been upgraded with new
electronically-controlled Caterpillar® diesel engines and
gearboxes to burn fuel more efficiently and reduce emissions.
OOCL teams with ZIMC
to build new maritime academy
HONG KONG OOCL has announced the company has signed a
cooperation agreement with Zhejiang International Maritime
Professional Technology College (ZIMC) to build an OOCL Maritime
Academy. The academy is expected to assist in the professional
development and continuing re-education for OOCL seafarers. The
cooperation agreement was signed on October 30, 2008 during the
ZIMC annual Education Consultative Conference held in Hangzhou,
Peoples Republic of China. The objectives of the
cooperation are to promote the important role of China in the
global maritime industry, to promote the role of safety, security
and environmental protection in global maritime shipping and to
encourage Chinese students to join the maritime industry as a
career path. OOCL will provide the Academy with bridge
simulators, an engine room simulator and crew seminar rooms;
while ZIMC will provide equipment including a tugboat simulator,
a dynamic position system, bridge and engine room simulators and
computer based training rooms. The target date for the
inauguration of the Academy has been scheduled towards the end of
2009.
NOAA decommissions
ALBATROSS IV research vessel
WASHINGTON, DC The NOAA research ship ALBATROSS IV was
decommissioned November 20, ending its 45-year career in service
to the nation. The vessel sailed over 655,000 miles on 453
research cruises, primarily fisheries surveys off the
northeastern coast of the United States. These surveys created
the worlds longest continuous study of fish population
data. NOAAs new fisheries survey vessel, the HENRY B.
BIGELOW is replacing the ALBATROSS IV, ensuring the collection of
important ecological data goes uninterrupted. The ALBATROSS IV is
the last of four vessels sharing the same name sailing from Woods
Hole since 1883. The original ALBATROSS was the first to be built
exclusively for marine research by any government. Built in 1962,
ALBATROSS IV was the first vessel in the modern ship-building
era, and continued the long scientific tradition established by
the first three ALBATROSS vessels.
Horizon Lines makes further
voluntary debt reduction payment
CHARLOTTE, NC Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced that it
has made another voluntary debt reduction payment of $7.5 million
on its revolving credit facility. The payment is the third made
by Horizon Lines in its fiscal fourth quarter and brings the
total voluntary debt reduction to $17.5 million for the quarter
and to $40 million since the second quarter. The principal
payment reduces borrowings on its $250 million revolving credit
facility to $140.0 million, and total debt outstanding to $590.5
million.
Port association schedules
trade routes workshop for Tampa
ALEXANDRIA, VA What do the administrator of the Panama
Canal Authority, the U.S. Maritime Administrator, the planning
and research director for the Suez Canal Authority and at least a
half dozen port authority chief executives have in common? They,
together with other "C-suite" shipping line, rail,
marine terminal operator, financial and property development
executives are among the luminaries who will be leading
discussions at the American Association of Port Authorities'
(AAPA) Shifting International Trade Routes workshop in Tampa,
Fla., Jan. 15-16, 2009. Cosponsored by Maritime Administration
and hosted by the Tampa Port Authority, this 1½ -day program
will examine changing global trade patterns, impacts of improving
"all water" shipping routes, anticipated waterside and
marine terminal development needs, increased road and rail
capacity requirements and infrastructure financing challenges
needed in the coming decade, particularly in light of the $5.25
billion expansion of the Panama Canal due for completion in 2014.
More information about AAPA's Shifting International Trade Routes
workshop is available at www.aapa-ports.org.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, November 21, 2008
Port of Seattle opens
third runway at Sea-Tac
SEATTLE Alaska Airlines flight 674 was the first
commercial operation on Sea-Tac's new third runway. On hand for
the celebration were Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters,
Acting FAA Administrator Robert Sturgell, Alaska Airline CEO Bill
Ayer, and Washington Governor Christine Gregoire. The new runway
is designed to help decrease delays during low visibility
conditions, which occur approximately 44 percent of the year. The
third runway allows two streams of traffic to land in lower
visibility conditions. Sea-Tac's other two runways are too close
to each other to allow two streams of traffic to arrive in such
conditions.
Runway Facts
The runway is:
8,500 feet long
150 feet wide
17 inches thick
Designed to last 40 years
To pave the runway and the eight connecting taxiways, it
required:
130,000 cubic yards of concrete
35,000 tons of asphalt (for the runway shoulders)
NOL making changes
in face of container slowdown
SINGAPORE Neptune Orient Lines Limited (NOL), the parent
company of container shipping line APL and of APL Logistics, has
announced a package of measures to place the company on a more
sustainable footing through an expected severe and prolonged
downturn in global container shipping. The actions to be taken
will bring the organization into line with the reduced capacity
the company will be operating as a result of initiatives
announced on October 21, 2008. The capacity reductions will lower
the NOL Groups vessel network costs by about US$200 million
in 2009 (This figure includes some fixed vessel and charter hire
costs). NOL said it did not see a recovery from the challenging
conditions for quite some time and the potential exists for them
to persist for the next few years. The company said the market
environment has worsened considerably over the past month and
that it anticipated further deterioration in trading conditions
going forward. It described the outlook for profitability in 2009
as grim.
US rail freight
rolls to slow week
WASHINGTON, DC Freight volume on U.S. railroads was off
during the week ended November 15 in comparison with the same
week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads (AAR)
reports. Both weeks included the Veterans Day Holiday. Carload
freight for the week totaled 309,099 cars, down 9.1 percent from
last year, with volume off 6.5 percent in the West and 12.8
percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in
the carload data, totaled 225,375 trailers or containers, down
7.9 percent from last year. Container volume was off 6.9 percent
while trailer traffic fell 11.7 percent. Total volume was
estimated at 32.8 billion ton-miles, down 7.9 percent from the
comparable week last year. Cumulative volume for the first 46
weeks of 2008 totaled 14,939,959 carloads, down 0.9 percent from
2007; 10,376,137 trailers or containers, down 3.2 percent; and
total volume of an estimated 1.56 trillion ton-miles, up 0.2
percent from last year.
US sees increases
in NAFTA partner trade
WASHINGTON, DC Goods valued at more than $909 billion
crossed the U.S. border in trade with Canada and Mexico in 2007,
4.9 percent higher than the previous record set in 2006,
according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of
Transportation Statistics (BTS). BTS, a part of the Research and
Innovative Technology Administration, released the data as part
of the third annual update of the North American Transportation
Statistics (NATS) online database. Freight weighing nearly 606
million tons was transported through U.S. land borders, airports,
and seaports to and from locations in Canada and Mexico in 2007.
U.S. merchandise trade with Canada and Mexico rose by more than
$305 billion or by 50.6 percent between 2002 and 2007.
Corps of Engineers closing
large Chittenden Locks
SEATTLE The large chamber of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
in Ballard will be closed to maritime traffic for its annual
maintenance beginning at 6 p.m. today. The Seattle District, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the locks, says the large
chamber will reopen no later than 6 p.m. on the December 5 and
expects to have the entire project back in normal operation after
completion of the scheduled annual maintenance. The maintenance
crews will make maximum efforts to minimized disruptions and the
small lock is scheduled to remain fully operational throughout
the closure period. The small lock can accommodate vessels up to
25 feet wide and 100 feet long.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, November 20, 2008
MOL training vessel
holds piracy exercise
TOKYO Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced that
MOL, along with the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and other
organizations involved, conducted an anti-piracy/terrorism drill
aboard the training ship SPIRIT OF MOL in the South China Sea on
November 17. During the drill, the JCG patrol ship SHIKISHIMA
hurried to site, and marine safety officers boarded the SPIRIT OF
MOL. The drill helped confirm the effectiveness of MOL's crisis
management programs as well as its communication systems and
methods. It was a lesson for the 170 trainees serving onboard the
SPIRIT OF MOL, who learned how to respond to a crisis and the
steps to follow in case of an attack by pirates or terrorists.
Drill participants included the SPIRIT OF MOL (a MOL-owned
seafarer training vessel); the JCG's International Criminal
Investigation Division; the JCG patrol ship Shikishima; the
Japanese Shipowners' Association; Japan's Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure Transport and Tourism Maritime Bureau
International Shipping Division; MOL, and M.O. Cable Ship, Ltd.
Seattle Tacoma Airport
earns excellence award
SEATTLE The Port of Seattle has recognized Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport as the recipient of the 2008 Airport
Facilities Management Excellence Award from the Airport
Facilities Council of the International Facility Management
Association. Sea-Tac was awarded first place in the size category
of thirty million passengers served or greater for the second
year in a row. The AFC Award for Airport Facilities Management
Excellence is designed to recognize and advance excellence in the
field of airport facilities. The Award for Airport Facilities
Management Excellence is AFC's highest honor and provides airport
maintenance departments the opportunity for national and
international recognition for their outstanding achievements in
facilities management.
Boeing announces plans
to cut nearly 800 positions
WICHITA, KA The Boeing Company has announced plans to cut
approximately 800 positions at its Integrated Defense Systems
facility in Wichita during 2009. Boeing attributes the reductions
to the end of some programs and the delay in the U.S. Air Force
tanker-replacement program. The layoffs will impact managers and
both salaried and hourly workers. Boeing will deliver 60-day
layoff notices to approximately 76 employees on Friday, Nov. 21.
Their last day of work is scheduled for mid-January. The company
will deliver the balance of the layoff notices throughout 2009,
with most occurring in the first half of the year.
NCS Pearson agrees to pay
settlement related to TSA contract
WASHINGTON, DC NCS Pearson Inc. has agreed to pay $5.6
million to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims in
connection with a contract to assist the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) in deploying federal government security
personnel at airports, the Justice Department announced. The
Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which was enacted Nov.
19, 2001, created TSA and, among other things, gave the agency
one year to identify the personnel it needed to perform airport
security screening, and then to hire and train them. TSA
contracted with the Bloomington, Minn., firm for help recruiting
and selecting federal screeners. The settlement resolves
allegations that NCS Pearson overcharged TSA in connection with
that contract by billing incorrect rates for subcontractor labor.
The settlement resulted from the collective efforts of the
Justice Department's Civil Division, the Office of Inspector
General for the Department of Homeland Security, the Defense
Contract Audit Agency and TSA.
Dino Caroussis elected
UK P&I Club chairman
HONG KONG Dino Caroussis was elected chairman and
president of the UK P&I Club at the recent board meeting in
Hong Kong. He succeeds Tullio Biggi who has retired from the
board. Mr. Caroussis, 56, of Chios Navigation, became a director
of the UK Club in 1996 and a deputy chairman in 2002. Mr. Biggi,
68, of V Ships, had been the clubs chairman for the past
three years, having joined the board in 1998. Patrick Decavèle
of Bröstrom Tankers was elected a deputy chairman and vice
president, joining E. André of Suisse Atlantique and A K Olivier
of Grindrod in those roles. Peter Evensen of Teekay Corporation,
Edward Jones of Carnival UK and Masamichi Marooka of NYK Europe
were elected to the board.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Terrorist threat slows down
Seattle/Bremerton ferry service
BREMERTON Ferry service on the Seattle/Bremerton route was
shut down at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday due to a second
hand report of a terrorist threat to one of the vessels on the
route. Ferry service on the route resumed at approximately 3:45
p.m., when the Hyak was cleared by Washington State Patrol (WSP)
and the U.S. Coast Guard to return to service. The
Seattle/Bremerton continued to operate approximately 30 minutes
behind schedule for the rest of the evening while the Washington
State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division
worked to clear out waiting traffic.
Vancouver Port Commission
approves 2009 final budget
VANCOUVER, USA The Port of Vancouver USA Board of
Commissioners approved the 2009 final budget during their most
recent regular meeting. Commissioners offered the opportunity for
the public to comment on the ports $59,635,843 budget
during a public hearing, but no comment was offered. The final
budget was presented at a reduced amount from the preliminary
budget approved in October. That reduction came when the port had
the opportunity to make the second payment on its purchase of a
second mobile harbor crane in November, due to favorable exchange
rates. That second payment had been scheduled to be paid in 2009,
but when exchange rates allowed the port to save nearly $280,000
by making the payment in 2008, the budget was amended.
Commissioners also approved Resolution 11-2008, which authorized
an increase in the ports tax levy in the amount of $94,394
which is a one percent increase over the 2008 tax levy.
The total property tax allotment the port will receive in 2009 is
expected to be $9,561.300.
Arrowac Fisheries closes
Bellingham production facility
BELLINGHAM Last week Arrowac Fisheries Inc. closed its
Bellingham operations, laying off about 30 people. This seafood
production facility, located in Fairhaven alongside the
Bellingham Cruise Terminal, employed 100 people when it was in
full production. Arrowac will continue to operate its Seattle
facility and will continue to buy and sell seafood from its
Seattle corporate offices. Arrowac operated its Bellingham
facility since 1982. The main seafood products Arrowac processed
in Bellingham included wild salmon, halibut, black cod and
dogfish.
International Maritime Organization
eyes increasing shortfall of seafarers
LONDON A campaign to address the global shortage of
seafarers, especially officers, which threatens the future of the
international shipping industry, has been launched by the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) in association with the
International Labour Organization, the "Round Table" of
shipping organizations - BIMCO, ICS/ISF, INTERCARGO and
INTERTANKO - and the International Transport Workers' Federation.
The campaign calls on governments, industry and IMO, supported by
ILO and other international organizations, to take specific
actions, within their areas of influence, to increase the
recruitment of seafarers to tackle the problem. A recent report
issued by maritime industry analysts Drewry Shipping Consultants
assessed the current shortfall of officers in the global shipping
fleet to be some 34,000, against a total requirement of 498,000.
Based on Drewry's fleet growth projections, and the assumption
that officer supply will only increase at the current rate, the
report predicts that, by 2012, the officer shortfall will have
grown to 83,900.
Young freight forwarder award
marking 10 year anniversary
LONDON Next year sees the 10th Anniversary of the FIATA
Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year award,
sponsored by TT Club. The award, which is bestowed by the
International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations
(FIATA), has been sponsored by TT Club since its inception in
1999; and last year TT Club announced a further commitment to
sponsor the award for another five years. The award is given to
the candidate who produces the best dissertation on a subject
chosen by the panel of judges. The award is open to any young
freight forwarder whose company is a member of their National
Forwarding Association. Each National Forwarding Association
selects one candidate who will be no more than 30 years old in
the year that the dissertation is to be written, and who has
completed at least two years of full-time forwarding work. The
winner will be drawn from a shortlist of four candidates proposed
by national associations, and the prize will be presented at the
FIATA World Congress being held in Geneva 21-25 September 2009.
The deadline for nomination of candidates is 15th January 2009,
and dissertations have to be submitted by 30th April 2009.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, November 17, 2008
Coos Bay Port Commission
Oks purchase of rail branch line
COOS BAY Oregon International Port of Coos Bay Executive
Director, Jeffrey Bishop, was authorized by unanimous vote of the
ports Board of Commissioners during the Wednesday, November
5, special port commission meeting to agree to purchase the Coos
Bay Branch Line of the Central Oregon & Pacific (CORP)
railroad. The purchase is dependent on the final net liquidated
value (NLV) as determined by the Surface Transportation Board
(STB). Port Commissioners David Kronsteiner, president, Catherine
Caddy McKeown, vice president, Brady Scott, treasurer
and Jerry Hampel, commissioner, attended the special meeting in
person. Dan Smith, secretary, participated by telephone. The STB
rendered their initial decision on the ports feeder line
application granting the port the right to acquire the rail line
on October 31, 2008, but required additional information filings
from both the port and RailAmerica, Inc., the holding corporation
of CORP. The information in those filings is expected to assist
STB Commissioners in determining the NLV for the
CORP/RailAmerica-owned portion of the rail line. The port filed
its feeder line application on July 11, 2008, and
CORP/RailAmerica filed for abandonment authority on July 14,
2008. Under the standard STB process, the port will have 10 days
following the final decision by the STB to accept or reject the
NLV, and 90 days to complete the purchase.
Port of Bellingham holding
Fairhaven public hearing today
BELLINGHAM Community members are welcome to take part in a
public hearing today, on the Port of Bellingham's update of its
long-range plan for its Fairhaven properties. This plan update,
the Fairhaven Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements has
been underway for nearly two years and has included neighborhood
and community meetings. The port uses this long-range planning
document to make decisions about land use, new developments and
capital expenditures on port property in Fairhaven. This updated
plan, attempts to forecast potential development projects and
other capital expenditures, as well as, potential land use
changes for Port property in Fairhaven in the next 5 to 10 years.
The port has scheduled a public hearing for 3 p.m., today at the
Harbor Center Building, located at 1801 Roeder Avenue,
Bellingham, Washington to solicit public comment on the draft
Fairhaven Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements. The draft
Fairhaven Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements may be
viewed or downloaded on-line. A limited number of hard copies
will be available at the hearing.
Alaska Airlines adding flights
from Portland, Anchorage
PORTLAND Alaska Airlines has announced new twice-daily
nonstop service between Portland and Long Beach, Calif., starting
Feb. 8, 2009. The airline also announced it would add a second
nonstop flight between Anchorage and Chicago, operating June 7
through Aug. 22, 2009. From Portland, flights will depart at 7:05
a.m. and 2 p.m. and arrive in Long Beach at 9:25 a.m. and 4:20
p.m., respectively. Flights from Long Beach will depart at 10:05
a.m. and 5:05 p.m. and arrive in Portland at 12:35 p.m. and 7:35
p.m., respectively. From Anchorage, the new flight will depart at
11:15 p.m. and arrive in Chicago at 8:13 a.m. the following day.
The flight from Chicago will depart at 9:30 a.m. and arrive in
Anchorage at 1:06 p.m. Alaska Airlines will operate the new
routes with Boeing 737 aircraft, providing first class and
main-cabin seating. Alaska Airlines and sister carrier Horizon
Air together serve more than 90 cities through a network in
Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico.
WSDOT Ferries Division
set to remove Unocal Pier
EDMONDS, WA The Washington State Department of
Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division is removing the former
fueling pier known as the Unocal Pier located off the shore of
Marina Beach Park in Edmonds. The removal is scheduled to begin
on Monday, Nov. 24, continuing through March 2009. During the
removal, park users can expect restricted public access to some
park areas on or near the work site, increased noise, activity
and heavy equipment from the construction site, and increased
truck traffic on the park access road along the parks
eastern edge. The Unocal pier, owned by the City of Edmonds since
2001, is a creosote-treated timber pier that has stood abandoned
since 1991 and is currently in disrepair. Creosote treated timber
can leach contaminants. The project will remove approximately 530
creosote-treated lumber piles and 31,000 square feet of
creosote-treated timber decking to return the offshore area to
its natural state.
Seattle marine insurance group
calling for scholarship applications
SEATTLE The Marine Insurance Association of Seattle will
award $5000.00 scholarships to each of two eligible applicants.
Any student with an affiliation with the Marine Insurance
Association of Seattle accepted into a school of higher education
is eligible. Preference will be given to those applicants
intending to study marine/insurance related fields.
1. Applicant must have a grade point of 2.5 or better
2. Applicant must be a full time student
3. Applicant must have a responsible motor vehicle driving record
Requirements:
1. Completed application
2. Two letters of recommendation (one personal and one
professional)
3. Copy of last grade transcript or G.E.D. certificate
The deadline for receiving the applications is December 12, 2008.
Go to the Community Services dropdown menu at:
http://www.miaseattle.org to download an application form.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, November 14, 2008
One bid submitted
for new Washington ferries
SEATTLE WSDOT Ferries Division has taken the next step in
the process to build new ferries for the Port Townsend/Keystone
route. WSDOT opened bids Nov. 13, on a contract to construct up
to two new 64-car vessels based on the Island Home design. The
formal bid opening was held at 11:00 a.m at Ferries Division
headquarters in Seattle. WSDOT received one bid from Todd Pacific
Shipyards. Bids were solicited for construction and delivery of
one or two 64-auto ferries. Todds proposed bid price is
$124,450,559.00 for two vessels and $65,487,328.00 for one
vessel. The WSDOT engineers estimate is $95,943,865.00 for
two vessels and $49,452,894.00 for one vessel. While I
appreciate Todd Shipyards responsiveness, I am disappointed
that there is only one bid, said David Moseley, assistant
secretary, WSDOT Ferries Division. We will identify all
viable options before making a decision. WSDOT will
evaluate the bid over the next few days to ensure it meets
contract requirements before making an award recommendation.
Port of Portland seeks comment
on Portland Airport runway work
PORTLAND Public Comment Invited on PDX Runway Extension
and Rehabilitation Program Port of Portland invites public
comment on plans to lengthen the north runway at Portland
International Airport so that it is long enough to serve large
passenger and cargo aircraft when the south runway closes in 2011
for up to six months of rehabilitation. The public review and
comment period on the administrative draft Environmental
Assessment document for PDXs Runway and Rehabilitation
Program runs Nov. 17-Dec. 16. The draft EA document is available
for review at www.pdx.com, at some public libraries, or on a CD,
by request. send comments to ContactUs@portofportland.com.
DHS sets new rules
for US rail systems
WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) has announced regulations aimed at strengthening the
security of the nations freight and passenger rail systems
and reducing the risk associated with the transportation of
security-sensitive materials. The Rail Security final rule will
require freight and passenger rail carriers to designate rail
security coordinators and report significant security concerns to
the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The rule also
will codify TSAs broad inspection authority. For freight
rail, the rule will ensure the positive handoff of
security-sensitive materials as well as establish security
protocols for custody transfers of security-sensitive material
rail cars between receivers of these materials that are located
in high threat urban areas, shippers of these materials, and rail
carriers. The freight rail provisions of the rule will address
the transport of security-sensitive materials by rail, from start
to finish, including shipment handoffs, secure areas for
transfers, and reporting of shipment locations to TSA.
US rail freight traffic
off during month of October
WASHINGTON, DC Rail freight traffic on U.S. railroads was
down during October in comparison with the same month last year,
the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. U.S.
railroads originated 1,639,542 carloads of freight in the month,
down 47,279 carloads (2.8 percent) from October 2007. Railroads
also originated 1,175,499 intermodal units in October 2008, a
decrease of 34,628 trailers and containers (2.9 percent) from
October 2007. Four of the 19 major commodity categories tracked
by the AAR saw U.S. carload increases in October 2008 compared to
October 2007. Commodities showing substantial carload gains in
October 2008 were coal (up 43,738 carloads, or 6.1 percent),
metallic ores (up 2,289 carloads, or 6.1 percent), and the
catch-all all other carloads (up 5,780 carloads, or
23.5 percent). Commodities showing the biggest carload decreases
in October 2008 were motor vehicles and equipment (down 23,239
carloads, or 22.7 percent), grain (down 18,394 carloads, or 13.4
percent), and metals and metal products (down 10,004 carloads, or
16.0 percent). Carloads of chemicals were down 5.1 percent, or
7,644 carloads.
International Maritime Prize
presented to Jorgen Rasmussen
LONDON The International Maritime Prize for 2007 has been
presented to Jørgen Rasmussen, who has had a prominent role in
developing key instruments of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO), including the Global Maritime Distress and
Safety System (GMDSS), the International Safety Management (ISM)
Code and the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme. Mr.
Rasmussen, former chief ship surveyor and chief advisor to the
Director-General in the Danish Maritime Authority, former member
of the Danish delegation to IMO meetings and former head of the
Navigation Section in the Maritime Safety Division of the IMO
Secretariat, has enjoyed a long and distinguished career spanning
many different areas in the maritime field. The International
Maritime Prize is awarded annually by IMO to the individual or
organization judged to have made the most significant
contribution to the work and objectives of the Organization. The
100th session of the IMO Council in June 2008 took the decision
to award the prize to Mr. Rasmussen in recognition of his
contribution to maritime safety and security and prevention of
marine pollution from ships.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Oregon governor presents
transport plan to House/Senate
SALEM Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has presented his
transportation plan called The Jobs and Transportation Act
of 2009 to the Oregon House and Senate Transportation
Committees. The governor points out his comprehensive
transportation plan will create thousands of jobs, establish
sustainable long-term funding for Oregons statewide
transportation system and address greenhouse gas emissions in
transportation construction and planning. The governors
Jobs and Transportation Act of 2009 invests $1 billion every
biennium into the state transportation system, creating 2100 jobs
annually over the first five years. The plan includes policies to
reduce vehicle-miles-traveled in urban areas, a dedicated fund
for non-highway transportation investments, a new transportation
utility commission, and dollars for rural counties hit hardest by
the scheduled sunset of the federal forest payments. The cct also
recommends a series of funding options, including bonding, a new
vehicle title fee, and a path to transition away from the gas tax
as the central funding source for transportation.
Ports of Seattle aids veterans
with new employment program
SEATTLE At a moving and sometimes somber breakfast
Tuesday, Commissioners and staff honored the many veterans
working at or retired from the Port of Seattle. Retirees, staff
members, family members and friends gathered to celebrate the
service of these veterans to our country. The port also announced
the second class of participants in the Veterans Fellowship
program, a newly-formed program that hires veterans leaving
active duty and transitioning to jobs in the civilian workforce.
Up to three fellows are hired for each class, and are given
6-month paid positions within the port tailored to their skills
and expertise. Participants must have served at least three years
of active or mobilized reserve duty and be within 120 days of
discharge to be eligible for a fellowship. The first class of
three fellows completed their program in late October.
Everett fifth graders
to learn about Jetty Island
EVERETT Partnering with City of Everett, Port of Everett,
People for Puget Sound and Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), the
Stilly-Snohomish Task Force will be offering a day-long
environmental and service-learning opportunity Friday, November
21, for Everett youth. From 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., approximately 80
fifth grade students attending Hawthorne Elementary School will
visit Jetty Island to participate in environmental education and
perform a service-learning project by planting native trees to
enhance fish and wildlife habitat. This project is funded by REI
and the Port of Everett. The Port of Everett owns and maintains
Jetty Island, a two-mile long, man-made island located near the
mouth of the Snohomish River. To increase youths awareness
of leave no trace principals, REI will present its
PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) program to
students. Students will also participate in a nature tour of the
island led by park rangers from the City of Everett. Finally, the
Stilly-Snohomish Task Force will coordinate the students
efforts to plant over 200 native trees and shrubs to enhance the
islands habitat.
Corps sending teams
to deal with Washington flooding
SEATTLE The Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, activated its reservoir control center Nov. 11 for
24-hour operation and has flood fight teams out in seven western
Washington river basins. Flood teams have deployed to the
Snohomish, Nooksack, Puyallup and Skagit river basins and the
Olympic Peninsula and are prepared to assist counties as
requested in flood fighting operations. Teams are also on alert
for the Chehalis. Additionally, there are teams monitoring the
Green River levees. The reservoir control center is managing
flood control operations for dams on the White, Green, Skagit and
Wynoochee rivers. Currently high inflows with regulated outflows
are occurring each of the dams where the Seattle District is
operating. Inflow at Mud Mountain Dam is 19,000 cubic feet per
second (cfs) with regulated outflows at 4,000 cfs. Howard Hanson
Dam has inflows of 14,000 cfs with outflow at 4,800 cfs. The
Upper Baker and Ross dams in the Upper Skagit have inflows
respectively at 14,000 cfs and 12,000 cfs with outflows at 5,200
and 500 cfs. The Corps is also providing flood control operations
at the Wynoochee Dam; inflows are 3,700 cfs with outflows at 200
cfs. For more information on the Corps, and up-to-date river
forecasts, go to www.nws.usace. army.mil and click on Rivers and
Reservoirs. Lake and river information is available at:
http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nws/hh/basins/ Private citizens
seeking sandbags should contact their local government offices.
Mitsui earns award
from investor relations group
TOKYO Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced the
company has received the 2008 IR Prime Business Award from the
Japan Investor Relations Association (JIRA). The IR Corporate
Excellence Award started in 1996 and is presented to companies
that make outstanding efforts on IR. This year, MOL was one of
six companies selected for the award from 332 entries. This is
the fourth time MOL has been honored, following 2001, 2004, and
2005.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Horizon Lines plans cuts
to non-union work force
CHARLOTTE, NC Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced a
non-union workforce restructuring initiative targeted at reducing
annualized labor-related costs by an estimated $7 million to $10
million. The company intends to reduce its workforce by at least
10 percent, or approximately 70 of its 700-plus non-union
employees. Initially, the company will offer a voluntary
severance program to certain eligible non-union employees. If the
company is unable to achieve anticipated reductions from the
voluntary program, it intends to implement an involuntary
severance program for non-union employees. The company expects to
complete the workforce reduction initiative by January 31, 2009,
and it is expected to result in a fourth-quarter 2008 charge of
approximately $3.5 million to $5 million pretax, or $0.11 to
$0.16 per fully diluted share. The final annualized savings and
associated costs of the initiative will depend on the actual mix
of associates who are ultimately included in either the voluntary
or involuntary program.
Ports America taps Khan
as chief development officer
ISELIN, NJ Ports America has appointed Nasir Khan as its
new chief development officer who will be responsible for leading
the companys future investments and expansion in marine
terminals. Prior to joining Ports America, Mr. Khan served as
director of infrastructure and energy finance (IEF) at Citigroup,
New York, where he led that companys financing of
transportation sector projects in the Americas. During his time
with Citigroup, he also served as the director and regional head
of IEF in its Sydney, Australia, office. Mr. Khan, who is a
graduate of Yale University with his MBA from Columbia
University, will be based in Iselin, N.J., and report to
President and CEO Stephen Edwards.
"K" Line vessel first ship
to 'plug in' at Port of Long Beach
TOKYO Launching a new, green era in shipping
at the Port of Long Beach, the K Line container
vessel LONG BEACH BRIDGE on Tuesday, November 11, 2008, became
the ports first ship to plug in to clean
electrical power and shut down its diesel engines at berth for
major air quality improvements. A dockside commissioning ceremony
at the International Transportation Service, Inc. (ITS) terminal
marked the completion of an $8 million project that installed
electrical power outlets for ships docking at Pier G. Plug-in
shoreside power, also known as cold-ironing, allows
ships to shut down their auxiliary engines while the ship is
docked, for a 100 percent reduction of air pollution at berth.
Without shoreside electricity, vessels would use their own
diesel-powered auxiliary engines to power refrigerated
containers, pumps, lighting, air conditioning and computers while
at dock.
Shipper pleads guilty
to keeping false oil records
WASHINGTON, DC Hiong Guan Navegacion Japan Co. Ltd.,
operator of the commercial cargo ship BALSA 62, has agreed to
plead guilty in U.S. District Court in Tampa, Fla., to conspiracy
and to falsifying and failing to properly maintain records meant
to ensure environmental compliance, the Justice Department
announced. Specifically, Hiong Guan agreed to plead guilty for
falsifying the oil record book kept on board the BALSA 62.
Federal and international law requires that all ships comply with
pollution regulations that include the proper disposal of oily
water and sludge by passing the oily water through an oily-water
separator aboard the vessel or burning the sludge in the ship's
incinerator. Federal law also requires ships to accurately record
each disposal of oily water or sludge in an oil record book, and
to have the oil record book available for the U.S. Coast Guard
when the vessel is within the waters of the United States.
According to the plea agreement, from June 2007 through February
2008, Francisco Bagatela, the chief engineer of the BALSA 62,
directed other crew members and personally participated in the
operation of a bypass pipe, also referred to as a "magic
pipe," which was used to circumvent the pollution prevention
equipment on board the ship, thereby transferring oily water and
sludge directly overboard and into the ocean approximately twice
a month. On Feb. 25, 2008, Robert Racho replaced Mr. Bagatela as
chief engineer and continued the use of the magic pipe. Both Mr.
Bagatela and Mr. Racho deliberately concealed these illegal
discharges from the
U.S. Coast Guard by not recording them in the ship's oil record
book.
Columbia Sportswear opening
new store at Portland Airport
PORTLAND Columbia Sportswear Company, a global active
outdoor apparel and footwear industries firm, has announced the
opening of a new Columbia-branded retail store at Portland
International Airport on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008. Now, the
estimated 14.6 million travelers who visit the airport each year
have the opportunity to purchase and experience the Columbia
Sportswear and Sorel footwear brands on their way to
Oregons outdoor attractions and activities. The company
currently operates one Columbia flagship store and an adjacent
Mountain Hardwear store in Portland, and plans to open additional
branded stores in Minneapolis and Seattle later this month and
next year in Chicago. Columbia Sportswears airport store
will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, November 10, 2008
Bellingham Port Commission
backs job creation projects
BELLINGHAM As part of its focus on economic development
and job creation, the Port of Bellingham's Board of Commissioners
has approved a project that will help link technology businesses
with the emerging research and expertise in Whatcom County's
higher education institutions. The commission authorized spending
$25,000 to hire the Bellingham/Whatcom Technology Alliance Group
(TAG) to complete two projects aimed at boosting employment,
growth and success of the local technology industry sector. This
sector is one of four economic areas that the port plans to
target resources toward in 2008 and 2009 to help improve the
local economy.
Port Tracker report predicts
further slowdown at box ports
WASHINGTON, DC Cargo volume at the nations major
retail container ports fell again in October, and 2008 is now
expected to be the slowest year since 2004 as the downturn in the
nations economy continues, according to the monthly Port
Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and IHS
Global Insight. Volume is projected to total 15.3 million
Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units for the year, compared with 16.5
million TEU in 2007. That would be a decline of 7.1 percent and
the lowest total since 2004, when 14 million TEU moved through
the ports. The estimate is down from the 15.43 million projected
a month ago, which would have been a 6.5 percent decline from
2007 and the lowest number since 2005s 15.4 million TEU.
One TEU is one 20-foot container or its equivalent.
Coast Guard Cutter ALERT
receives pair of awards
SEATTLE The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter ALERT, based in
Astoria, received two awards for dedication to the local
community Oct. 28. Representing the crew of the ALERT, Cmdr.
Matthew Creelman was presented with the Spirit of Hope Award
during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The Spirit of Hope Award is
presented to men and women of the armed forces whose patriotism
and service reflect that of Bob Hope and who have contributed
outstanding service to the United States of America. The ALERT
was chosen as the Coast Guard award recipient because of the
crew's spirit of service and compassion for the local community
of Clatsop County. Specifically, the crew was recognized for
running an annual haunted ship event to collect canned goods for
the food bank and for volunteering thousands of man hours in
response to the 2007 December storm. The crew's efforts in the
community were recognized again Nov. 3 when Rear Adm. John
Currier, Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District,
presented the crew with the Coast Guard Unit Commendation. The
Coast Guard Unit Commendation is the highest peacetime award
bestowed upon Coast Guard commands. The unit must support Coast
Guard operations and be involved in extremely meritorious service
not involving combat. The crew received the award for the unit's
response to and recovery from the devastation caused by the storm
of 2007 in Clatsop County.
Horizon Lines voluntarily
paying down debt amount
CHARLOTTE, NC Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced that it
has further reduced debt by making an additional payment of $5
million on its revolving credit facility, bringing the total debt
reduction during the company's fiscal fourth quarter to $10
million. These payments of $10 million in the fourth quarter are
in addition to $22.5 million of voluntary payments made in the
second and third quarters. The principal payments reduce
borrowings on Horizon Lines' $250 million revolving credit
facility to $147.5 million and total debt outstanding to $598
million.
Boeing Company/employees
donate to Puget Sound charities
SEATTLE Three area food distributors recently accepted
donations of nearly $400,000 from The Boeing Company, Boeing
employees and the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound.
The three distributors accepted the contributions during the
annual Boeing employees' Food & Essentials drive. The
donations will generate nearly two million meals for the region
or enough to feed about 5,600 families of four for a month.
Boeing representatives announced the results Oct. 30 during a
celebration event at Northwest Harvest's warehouse in Kent, Wash.
Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest and the Emergency Food Network,
all of which distribute resources to Puget Sound food banks,
accepted the checks. Employees gave more than $190,000 in
monetary donations. In addition, The Boeing Company and the
Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound each contributed
$100,000, matching employee contributions dollar-for-dollar up to
$100,000. Employees also donated 36,240 pounds of food and
essential items.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, November 7, 2008
Port of Tacoma honors Carlile
for clean air achievements
TACOMA At their Nov. 6 meeting, Port of Tacoma
Commissioners recognized the significant clean air achievements
of Carlile Transportation Systems, an Alaska-based trucking
company that also serves the Port. The Port of Tacoma, with the
Port of Seattle and Port Metro Vancouver in Canada, last year
developed the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy to set short-
and long-term targets for reducing diesel emissions from
port-related activities, including shipping, rail, trucking,
cargo handling and harborcraft. Port of Tacoma Commissioners
recognized Carlile for achieving the truck performance standards
outlined in the strategy ahead of the 2010 target. Carlile's
environmental initiatives include: SmartWay certification; Newer
engines; Alternative power units (APUs); and Hybrid trucks.
Air China Cargo orders
Boeing converted freighters
SEATTLE Boeing and Air China Cargo have announced that the
carrier will add three 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF)
to its cargo fleet. The modification work on the three Combi
airplanes will take place at Taikoo Aircraft Engineering (TAECO)
in Xiamen, China. They previously were operated by Air China. Air
China Cargo currently operates eight freighters, including three
747-400 Freighters delivered new in 2005, 2006 and 2008, as well
as two other 747-400 Freighters on lease and three 747-200
Freighters. Modifications include a side cargo door addition, a
strengthened main-deck floor, full main-deck lining installation,
provisions for a new cargo handling system and complete revisions
to the airplane systems. The 747-400BCF has positions for 30
pallets on the main deck - volume which is comparable to the
747-400 production freighter.
US rail freight totals
drop during week
WASHINGTON, DC Freight volume on U.S. railroads trailed
year ago totals during the week ended October 25, the Association
of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight for the week
totaled 325,315 cars, down 4.7 percent from last year, with
volume off 4.8 percent in the West and 4.5 percent in the East.
Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data,
totaled 230,774 trailers or containers, down 4.1 percent from
last year. Container volume was off 2.4 percent while trailer
traffic fell 10.0 percent. Total volume was estimated at 34.5
billion ton-miles, down 3.9 percent from the comparable week last
year. Sixteen of 19 carload commodity groups were down from a
year ago, with automotive traffic off 28.1 percent, waste and
scrap down 22.7 percent and metals dropping 22.3 percent. Coal
volume registered a 6.5 percent gain from the comparable week
last year. Cumulative volume for the first 43 weeks of 2008
totaled 13,996,433 carloads, down 0.4 percent from 2007;
9,692,715 trailers or containers, down 3.0 percent; and total
volume of an estimated 1.46 trillion ton-miles, up 0.7 percent
from last year.
Crystal Cruises takes home
Best Large-Ship Cruise Line award
TOKYO Crystal Cruises Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
NYK Line, has been recognized as the Best Large-Ship Cruise Line
by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler. This is the 15th year for
Crystal Cruises to receive this honor. This year, more than
32,000 subscribers participated in the selection process, and
voters evaluated cruise lines on calling ports, facilities,
cabins, design and layout, food/dining, and crew/services.
Crystal Cruises, which operates Crystal Symphony (940 guests,
50,000 tons) and Crystal Serenity (1,080 guests, 68,000 ton),
received 93.1 out of 100 points. Crystal Cruises has also
received the following recognitions: Cruise Line of the Year in
September 2008 by Travel Trade Gazette. World's Best Large-Ship
Cruise Line (for the 13th consecutive year) in July 2008 by
Travel + Leisure.
Port Angeles Coast Guard station
hosting Veterans Day celebration
SEATTLE Coast Guard Group Port Angeles, Wash., will host
the Clallam County Veterans Association Annual Veterans Day
Ceremony Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The event is open to the public.
The front gate at the end of Ediz Hook will open to the public at
9:30 a.m. Parking is limited and ride sharing is strongly
recommended. The event will be held in the Coast Guard Group/Air
Station hangar. The ceremony will feature a special tribute to
Korean War veterans. Performances will include the Port Angeles
High School Band, The Olympic Peninsula Men's Chorus, Grand
Olympics Chorus of Sweet Adeline's International and Don Alward
on bagpipes. Ceremony participants also include the Coast Guard
Group Port Angeles Color Guard and the Marine Corps League Honor
Guard rendering a 21 Gun Salute. The High School Band will
perform pre-ceremony music from 10-10:30 a.m. At the conclusion
of the ceremony the Ladies of VFW Post 1024 Auxiliary will host a
barbecue at the Veteran's Building on 3rd and Francis St. This is
the thirteenth year that Coast Guard Group Port Angeles has been
designated by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Regional
Veterans Day Observance Site.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Port of Port Angeles schedules
public hearing on budget/tax levy
PORT ANGELES The Port of Port Angeles will conduct a
public hearing on the 2009 Preliminary Budget and Tax Levy at
10:00 AM on Monday, November 10, 2008 at the Port Administrative
Offices Building, 338 W. 1st St., Port Angeles, WA during the
scheduled, regular Commission meeting. Any person may present
comments pertaining to the preliminary budget or tax levy.
Following the public hearings, the Commission will consider
adoption of the final tax levy for 2009. Adoption of the final
budget for 2009 will be considered on November 24, 2008.
Homeland Security Department
opens new round of port grants
ALEXANDRIA, VA Officials of the American Association of
Port Authorities (AAPA) have lauded the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) for announcing that it is opening the application
process for the next round of port security grants. The Port
Security Grant program, run by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA), will distribute $388.6 million in grant funding in
fiscal 2009 to eligible maritime entities to pay for facility
expenses ranging from security cameras, lighting and other
protective equipment and infrastructure, to interoperable
communications devices, interagency coordination and
implementation expenses associated with the new Transportation
Worker Identification Credential. As in the past, port areas
classified as Group I and Group II have been designated a
specific funding amount based upon a DHS risk analysis. Group III
recipients and what FEMA classifies as "All Other Port
Areas," together with ferry systems, will compete for the
funding identified in their corresponding group.
Schnitzer Steel taps Lundgren
as new president and CEO
PORTLAND Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. has announced
that Tamara L. Lundgren, previously executive vice president and
chief operating officer of the company, was elected president and
chief executive officer and a director by the company's board of
directors at its meeting on October 29, 2008. Both positions will
be effective December 1, 2008. John D. Carter, current president
and chief executive officer, was elected chairman of the board,
also effective December 1, 2008.
Greenbrier Companies releases
numbers for fourth fiscal quarter
LAKE OSWEGO, OR The Greenbrier Companies has reported
results for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended
August 31, 2008. Revenues for the quarter were $362 million, up
$11 million vs. the prior year's fourth quarter. Net earnings for
the quarter were $7.4 million, or $.45 per diluted share vs.
$13.2 million, or $.82 per share, in the prior year's fourth
quarter. The 2007 fourth quarter results include a special charge
of $2.3 million, or $.14 per diluted share, with no related tax
benefit, associated with closure costs of the company's Canadian
railcar manufacturing facility. There were no special charges in
the 2008 fourth quarter. EBITDA for the quarter was $33.7
million, or 9.3 percent of revenues, compared to $43.0 million,
or 12.2 percent of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2007.
Evergreen to pull plug
on TANGO service participation
TAIPEI Based on the worldwide economic downturn and the
need to focus resources in other trades, Evergreen Line has
announced its withdrawal from the TANGO service linking ports on
the East Coasts of North and South America. Evergreen Line is
suspending service by terminating its space charter agreement and
in compliance with its 90-day pre-notice. The final sailings for
Evergreen Line customers will be: M/V CAP SAN NICOLAS 064S ETD
New York Jan. 25 2009 and M/V CAP SAN AUGUSTIN 064N ETD Buenos
Aires Jan. 26, 2009 Evergreen will continue service to Venezuela
via the Colon Container Terminal in Panama and to South America's
West Coast trade.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Port of Seattle posts
best ever cruise season
SEATTLE The Port of Seattle has announced that the 2008
cruise season was the busiest ever. For the first time, Seattle
surpassed Vancouver B.C. in passenger numbers. Seattle welcomed
210 cruise ships and 886,039 passengers while Vancouver reported
854,453 passengers. The cruise business in Seattle generates $274
million in annual business revenue, $8 million in annual state
and local taxes, and 2,380 jobs. The 2009 season will see the
opening of a new facility on Pier 91, near the Magnolia Bridge.
Current projections for 2009 estimate 211 cruise ship visits and
801,080 passengers, in which the Port will serve 11 homeport
vessels including the Pacific Princess, a new homeport ship for
our harbor.
Port of Tacoma schedules
series of public meetings
TACOMA Port of Tacoma commissioners have scheduled three
public meetings to consider the port's 2009 budget, cargo
forecast, finance plan and tax levy. The first budget meeting at
noon on Nov. 6 will include an update on the third quarter of the
2008 budget and a preliminary look at the 2009 capital plans,
revenue projections, tax levy and finance plans. This general
business presentation will not call for public comment, but
community members are encouraged to attend to hear how the port's
budget is formed. Presentation materials are available on the
port's website at www.portoftacoma.com/budget. The Nov. 13
meeting at noon will include a more in-depth look at cargo
forecasts, capital building plans, tax levy and the 2009 budget.
Commissioners will invite public comment at this meeting. The
final meeting at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 21 is a special public hearing to
formally adopt the 2009 statutory budget, tax levy and
authorization to bank excess tax levy capacity. All three
meetings will be held in The Fabulich Center, Room 104, at 3600
Port of Tacoma Rd. in Tacoma. The public is encouraged to attend.
Meetings also are streamed live from the port's website at
www.portoftacoma.com and are later broadcast on Click! and
Comcast throughout Pierce County.
Douglas Tilden named to
Ports America Group board
ISELIN, NJ Douglas Tilden has been named to the advisory
board of Ports America Group (PAG), according to Stephen Edwards,
PAG president and CEO. Mr. Tilden most recently served as
chairman of Ports America Group, the largest stevedoring and
terminal operating company in the Americas providing services at
97 terminals in 50 U.S. ports. PAG is an affiliated group of
terminal operating companies owned by Highstar Capital, an
infrastructure fund. Mr. Tilden's career in the shipping industry
began in 1969 with United States Lines. His most recent position
as chairman of Ports America Group led to his appointment as
senior strategic analyst to the advisory board, which oversees
PAG operations. Mr. Tilden, past president of MTC Holdings, Inc.,
is actively involved in the maritime industry and public affairs
and serves on the boards of several associations, including the
Pacific Maritime Association.
Genco Shipping & Trading
backs away from ship deals
NEW YORK Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has
announced that it has agreed to cancel the previously announced
acquisition of six drybulk newbuildings from Lambert Navigation
Ltd., Northville Navigation Ltd., Providence Navigation Ltd., and
Prime Bulk Navigation Ltd., with an aggregate purchase price of
$530 million. As part of the agreement, the selling group will
retain the deposits totaling $53 million for the six vessels,
comprised of three Capesize and three Handysize vessels. Genco
has four remaining Capesize newbuildings scheduled to be
delivered in 2009. The company intends to utilize the undrawn
portion of its credit facilities as well as cash flow from
operations to fund these acquisitions.
Boeing air cargo forecast
predicts global growth
KUALA LUMPUR Boeing has said that world air cargo growth
will expand at a 5.8 percent annual rate over the next two
decades, with worldwide air freight traffic tripling through
2027, according to the company's World Air Cargo Forecast
2008/2009. Air cargo traffic will grow over the long term despite
current near-term market weakness and worldwide economic
uncertainty. The industry has shown strong recoveries from
previous economic downturns such as the Asian economic crisis,
the 9/11 attacks and the SARS outbreak. Boeing released the
biennial forecast, which is widely cited by airlines and industry
groups, at the International Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition 2008
in Kuala Lumpur.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, November 3, 2008
Port of Tacoma calling for
public comment on Tideflats project
TACOMA The Port of Tacoma seeks public comment on the
potential environmental impacts of planned Tacoma Tideflats
terminal, road, rail and utility infrastructure developments. The
draft Environmental Impact Statement is part of the environmental
review process conducted under the Washington State Environmental
Policy Act (SEPA). Elements of the redevelopment plans for the
Blair-Hylebos Peninsula include:
*Relocating Totem Ocean Trailer Express to a newly developed
terminal
*Building a new container terminal for NYK Line
*Widening a section of the Blair Waterway
*Lengthening a wharf at Washington United Terminal
*Improving road, rail and utility infrastructure
*Habitat improvements
The draft Environmental Impact Statement is available for review
on the port's website: www.portoftacoma.com. Comments on the
document must be received by 4 p.m. Dec. 1 to be considered for
the final Environmental Impact Statement, to be released in
February 2009. Comments may be sent by mail to: ATTN: Matoya
Scott, Port of Tacoma, PO Box 1837, Tacoma, WA 98401-1837.
Comments also may be submitted at a public hearing scheduled for
5 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in Room 104 of The Fabulich Center, 3600
Port of Tacoma Road in Tacoma. Staff from the port's Sustainable
Development department will be available in an open house format
for the first half hour to discuss various aspects of the
project. Project managers are scheduled to deliver a short
presentation at 5:30 p.m. and take public comment immediately
afterward.
Schnitzer nets Nasdaq warning
for director requirement shortfall
PORTLAND Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. has announced
that the company received a Nasdaq Staff Deficiency Letter on
October 30, 2008 indicating that the company was not in
compliance with the independent director requirement for
continued listing set forth in Marketplace Rule 4350(c)(1), which
requires that a majority of the board of directors of a listed
company be comprised of independent directors. The non-compliance
with Nasdaq's rule resulted from the previously announced
resignation of Mark Palmquist, an independent director of the
company. Consistent with Marketplace Rule 4350(c)(1), Nasdaq is
providing the company with a cure period until April 20, 2009 to
regain compliance (assuming the company's annual meeting of
shareholders is held on January 28, 2009, as scheduled). At the
date of Mr. Palmquist's resignation, the board of directors had
already engaged a professional recruiting firm to assist it in a
search for an additional independent director. The recruiting
firm has identified a number of candidates whose names have been
submitted to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of
the board of directors.
Trade between NAFTA partners
rises during month of August
WASHINGTON, DC Trade using surface transportation between
the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) partners, Canada and Mexico , was 4.5 percent higher in
August 2008 than in August 2007, reaching $72.3 billion,
according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the
U.S. Department of Transportation. The value of U.S. surface
transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 0.9 percent in
August from July. 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 August was up 60.5 percent
compared to August 2003, and up 101.9 percent compared to August
1998, a period of 10 years. Imports in August were up 107.5
percent compared to August 1998, while exports were up 95.2
percent.
Union members approve
new contract with Boeing
SEATTLE Striking Boeing machinists in Washington, Oregon
and Kansas voted to ratify a new four-year contract that includes
what the company calls "excellent wages" and an
industry-leading pension. About 27,000 employees represented by
the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
(IAM) returned to work with the third shift Nov. 2, ending a
58-day walkout. "We're looking forward to having our team
back together to resume the work of building airplanes for our
customers," said Scott Carson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
president and CEO. "This new contract addresses the union's
job security issues while enabling Boeing to retain the
flexibility needed to run the business. It rewards employees for
their contribution to our success with industry-leading pay and
benefits and allows us to remain competitive." The contract
calls for general wage increases of 15 percent over four years,
an immediate 16 percent pension increase and lump-sum payments of
at least $8,000 over the life of the agreement. The new contract
is for four years, longer than Boeing has typically negotiated
with the IAM, which adds to long-term stability for Boeing, its
employees, customers, suppliers and communities.
Musicians set to perform
at Sea-Tac Airport
SEATTLE The Port of Seattle is launching the Sea-Tac
Airport Music program, which will provide selected local
musicians the opportunity to come to the airport and perform for
travelers. Performances are non-paid by the airport, and
performers must have a commercially-produced CD which can be made
available for sale to travelers. Tips may be accepted. Locations
and other provisions are subject to Airport approval, in
consideration of the operation of the airport. The airport music
program will kick off on December 16 with live piano performances
in the Central Terminal beginning at 5 a.m. There is a line-up of
other performers throughout the holiday season. Performers
interested in joining the program should e-mail Airport
Concessions at: concessions-business-development@portseattle.org.