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October, 2009
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 30, 2009
Port of Bellingham draft budget
eyes gradual economic recovery
BELLINGHAM The Port of Bellingham's 2010 Draft Strategic
Budget shows cautious optimism that the economy will gradually
improve in the coming year and focuses on local job creation
through special programs and through more than $33 million in
capital projects. The draft budget, which the Bellingham Port
Commission will consider in November, was developed anticipating
the port would again forgo the allowed property tax rate
increase. The port will have a presentation on the draft budget
at the regular Board of Commissioners meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday
in the Harbor Center Conference Room, 1801 Roeder Avenue. The
presentation will be followed by a public hearing on the budget.
The public will have a second opportunity to comment on the
budget at a 3 p.m. hearing on Nov. 17, before the Commission
votes on the budget. Copies of the budget are available in print
and on cd at the port's Administrative Office, 1801 Roeder
Avenue. Public comments also can be submitted to the port in
writing.
AAPA taps Michael Leone
as chairman of the board
ALEXANDRIA, VA Massachusetts Port Authority Port Director
Michael A. Leone has been formally installed as the American
Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) chairman of the board for
2009-2010. Mr. Leone accepted his new chairmanship duties at the
association's annual membership meeting in Galveston, during
which the entire slate of 2009-2010 officers was inducted as part
of AAPA's 98th Annual Convention. Mr. Leone-the first person to
serve twice as AAPA's board chairman (2003-2004 and
2009-2010)-was appointed port director of Massachusetts Port
Authority in 1998 after serving as counsel to the port
authority's maritime department. Prior to that, he served in the
U.S. Coast Guard for 22 years in numerous positions, including
regional counsel for all Coast Guard commands in the Northeast,
and as a military judge. He is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard
Academy and earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from George
Washington University Law School. In addition to his role as AAPA
board chairman, Mr. Leone will serve as AAPA's U.S. Delegation
chairman for 2009-2010.
Trade between NAFTA partners
slows 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 24.9 percent lower in
August 2009 than in August 2008, dropping to $54.3 billion,
according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the
U.S. Department of Transportation. BTS, a part of the Research
and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value
of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose
5.3 percent in August 2009 from July 2009. 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 1.3
percent compared to August 2004, and up 26.0 percent compared to
August 1999, a period of 10 years. Imports in August were up 18.8
percent compared to August 1999, while exports were up 35.5
percent.
Rail freight traffic count
drops again during week
WASHINGTON, DC The Association of American Railroads has
reported that for the week ended Oct. 3, 2009, rail traffic
continues to reflect the down economy originating 277,734
carloads, down 17.2 percent compared with the same week in 2008.
All of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down from the
same week last year, with declines ranging from 2.7 percent for
chemicals to 53.2 percent for metallic ores. Intermodal traffic
of 206,293 trailers or containers on U.S. railroads was down 15.7
percent from the same week last year. Container volume fell 10
percent and trailer volume dropped 37 percent. Regionally,
carloads were down 16.4 percent in the West and 18.3 percent in
the East. For the first 39 weeks of 2009, U.S. railroads reported
cumulative volume of 10,381,905 carloads, down 18.1 percent from
2008; 7,347,299 trailers or containers, down 16.8 percent, and
total volume of an estimated 1.11 trillion ton-miles, down 17.3
percent. Total volume on U.S. railroads for the week ending
October 3 was estimated at 29.7 billion ton-miles, off 16.6
percent from the same week last year.
Crystal continues record string
of best cruise ship line wins
TOKYO For a record 16th year, Crystal Cruises wholly owned
subsidiary of NYK has been voted the Best Large-Ship Cruise
Line for 2009 by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler
magazine (U.S.). Crystals overall score of 92.7 is one of
its highest in the surveys history. The luxury lines
16 wins is unprecedented by any cruise line or hotel
in the world. Considered one of the highest honors in the travel
industry, the Condé Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards
celebrate the best-of-the-best hotels, airlines, cruise lines,
cities, rental car companies and islands. More than 25,000
subscribers voted in the 2009 survey. Travelers evaluated cruise
lines on their Activities/Facilities, Cabins, Crew/Service,
Design/Layout, Food/Dining, Itineraries and Shore Excursions to
determine the overall score.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Port of Bremerton eyes lease
with General Dynamics Electric Boat
BREMERTON The Port of Bremerton has announced it has come
to agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat to lease more
than 9,000 square feet of office and industrial space in the
ports new building in Olympic View Business Park. The lease
is subject to approval by the ports Board of Commissioners.
Electric Boat, headquartered in Groton, Conn., is known for its
construction of the Virginia Class submarine, and as the prime
contractor for conversion of Trident SSBNs to SSGN submarines at
Bremertons Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and at
Virginias Norfolk Naval Shipyard. But the companys
history dates back even farther to the Navys original
submarine force, and the company has been involved in
construction and overhaul of every submarine class in the Navy.
The companys workforce has worked on Navy projects in the
Puget Sound area since 2003. The lease gives the company a new
building to meet the continuing demands of its ongoing work with
the Navy.
Boeing selects Charleston
as Dreamliner assembly site
SEATTLE Boeing has announced that it has chosen its North
Charleston, S.C., facility as the location for a second final
assembly site for the 787 Dreamliner program. Boeing evaluated
criteria that were designed to find the final assembly location
within the company that would best support the 787 business plan
as the program increases production rates. In addition to serving
as a location for final assembly of 787 Dreamliners, the facility
also will have the capability to support the testing and delivery
of the airplanes. Boeing Charleston performs fabrication,
assembly and systems installation for the 787 aft fuselage
sections. Across the street, Global Aeronautica, which is 50
percent owned by Boeing, is responsible for joining and
integrating 787 fuselage sections from other structural partners.
Until the second 787 assembly line is brought on line in North
Charleston, Boeing will establish transitional surge capability
at its Everett location to ensure the successful introduction of
the 787-9, the first derivative model of the 787. When the second
line in Charleston is up and operating, the surge capability in
Everett will be phased out.
Hanjin shareholders Ok
transformation of company
SEOUL Hanjin Shipping has announced it has held a special
meeting of shareholders with regards to transforming into a
holding company. At the meeting, shareholders approved dividing
Hanjin Shipping into Hanjin Shipping Holdings, a holding company
and Hanjin Shipping, an operating company, which had been agreed
by the Board of Directors on September 16. With this
transformation, current Hanjin Shipping will be divided into
Hanjin Shipping Holdings, a holding company focusing on
investment and corporate governance and Hanjin Shipping, an
operating company concentrating on its main shipping business.
Navios Holdings sells vessel
to Navios Maritime Partners
PIREAUS, Greece Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. has
announced that it has agreed to sell NAVIOS APOLLON, a 2000 built
Ultra-Handymax vessel with a capacity of 52,073 dwt to Navios
Maritime Partners L.P. for $32.0 million in cash. NAVIOS APOLLON
has been chartered out at a net rate of $23,700 per day for the
remaining period of three years expiring in November 2012. The
vessel is expected to be delivered to Navios Partners before
November 2009. Navios Holdings intends to use the proceeds from
the sale of this vessel for operating purposes, such as repayment
of indebtedness or reinvestment in vessels.
Port of Seattle phone numbers
now start with same 787 prefix
SEATTLE All Port of Seattle phone numbers now share the
same prefix 787. So whether youre calling the main
number at port headquarters or a port seaport office or Sea-Tac
Airport - the first three digits of the number are now 787. The
last four digits stay the same. For example, the port's main
number was 728-3000; it is now 787-3000. The new prefix affects
port phones only; not the phone numbers of outside businesses
operating on Port of Seattle properties. Examples of outside
business include airlines at Sea-Tac Airport and cruise lines and
cargo carriers at Seaport terminals. If you need to reach a
specific person and dont know their extension, dial the
port's main number, 787-3000, and press 5 for a directory. The
old numbers will roll over for a short time.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Port of Seattle cruise season
breaks records during 2009
SEATTLE The Port of Seattle has announced that the 2009
cruise season, which brought in a record 218 vessel calls and
welcomed 875,433 passengers, continues to validate Seattle's
strong position in the Alaska cruise market. The cruise business
in Seattle generates over $312 million in annual business
revenue, over $16 million in annual state and local taxes, and
3,781 jobs. The 2009 season saw the opening of the new Smith Cove
Cruise Terminal, a new two berth facility on Pier 91 near the
Magnolia Bridge. For next years cruise season, it is
estimated that 222 vessel calls will arrive in Seattle bringing
with them 846,000 passengers.
Everett Port Commission
Oks scaled back budget
EVERETT The Everett Port Commission adopted a $51.4
million operating and capital budget for 2010. Similar to other
governmental agencies, the port has been reducing expenses and
deferring projects in an effort to weather the economic storm.
Compared to 2009, the port trimmed its 2010 operating budget by
10 percent, and its capital budget by 21 percent. The adopted
budget forecasts additional reductions in trade and marina
occupancy in the first half of 2010, with a slight rebound by the
end of the year. The Port of Everetts activities stimulate
the local economy through the creation of jobs and tax base. The
Port of Everett supports 31,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs
in our region. It also generates approximately $247 million in
state and local taxes, which go toward supporting necessary
programs at the city, county, school and state levels.
Public meetings set
for Port of Tacoma budget
TACOMA Port of Tacoma commissioners have scheduled three
public meetings to consider the ports 2010 budget, cargo
forecast, finance plan and tax levy. The first budget meeting on
Nov. 5 will include an update on the third quarter of the 2009
budget and a preliminary look at the 2010 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 ports
budget is formed. More information and materials are available on
the ports Web site at www.portoftacoma.com/budget. The Nov.
12 meeting will include a more in-depth look at cargo forecasts,
capital building plans, tax levy and the 2010 budget.
Commissioners will invite public comment at this meeting. The
final meeting Nov. 23 is a special public hearing to formally
adopt the 2010 statutory budget, tax levy and authorization to
bank excess tax levy capacity. All three meetings will be held in
Room 104 of the Fabulich Center, at 3600 Port of Tacoma Rd. in
Tacoma. The public is encouraged to attend. Meetings also are
streamed live from the ports Web site at
www.portoftacoma.com/webstreaming and are later broadcast on
Click! and Comcast throughout Pierce County.
Ceremony marks christening
of new Crowley ATB vessels
JACKSONVILLE, FL On October 23, Crowley Maritime
Corporation christened the seventh of 10 new 185,000-barrel
Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) tank vessels that the company will
take delivery of in 2010 and 2011. The vessels christened were
the tug PRIDE and BARGE 650-7. During the ceremonies, which took
place at the Port of New Orleans, Cruise terminal #2, Susan
Rodgers, Crowley senior vice president of corporate services
christened the 10,728 Hp-tug Pride, while Rita McKain, wife of
Bradley McKain, manager, terminal, transport and marine for
Marathon Petroleum Company, christened the barge 650-7. Crowley
Petroleum Services will charter the VT Halter Marine-built ATB
from Crowley's vessel construction and naval architecture
subsidiary, Vessel Management Services, and operate it for
Marathon Petroleum under a time charter agreement. Crowley
already has six, 185,000-barrel and four 155,000-barrel ATBs in
the Jones Act trade.
Corps plans blasting project
to deepen Columbia channel
PORTLAND Workers under contract with the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers will begin blasting basalt from the bottom of the
Columbia River Nov. 1. The work is taking place to complete the
deepening of the Columbia River Federal Navigation Channel from
40-feet to 43-feet. The blasting work will take place along a
one-mile stretch of the river between River Miles 87 and 89 near
St. Helens, Ore. The contractor will drill holes into the basalt
from a barge-mounted rig and detonate blasting agent to fracture
the rock before removing the rock with an excavator. Blasting
will take place twice each day, once after sunrise and again
before sunset. The contractor must complete blasting operations
by Feb. 28. A 1,500-foot safety zone is planned for both upstream
and downstream from blasting operations. When a vessel approaches
these signs, the drill boat must be contacted on Marine VHF
Channel 16 for permission to navigate through. Paddlers and
recreational boaters without marine radios can call the Marine
Transportation Coordinator cell phone on the drill boat (503)
396-9893. This cell number will be posted at local boat launches
and marinas. The project site will be patrolled by security
guards and the US Coast Guard. Fines may be imposed on boaters
entering the safety zone during restricted times. Additional
information about the blasting work is available on the
contractors website at www.crci-project.info.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 26, 2009
Port of Everett completes
Port Gardner Waterfront Loop
EVERETT The Port of Everett has opened the final segment
of its marina trail system completing Everetts newest
public access path -- Port Gardner Waterfront Loop. The nearly
four mile pathway, located between 10th and 18th Street off West
Marine View Drive, provides pedestrian access throughout the
marina facilities. This link allows visitors to walk or ride
continuously from the ports Pigeon Creek Public Access
trail, which is behind the shipping terminals, down West Marine
View Drive, throughout the marina waterfront and beyond Legion
Park. A large portion of this six-mile stretch is along the
shoreline. To complete the final segment of the trail system, the
port constructed an interim asphalt pathway around the northwest
perimeter of the North Marina Redevelopment area. This interim
walking and biking corridor advances the ports commitment
to public access until the permanent esplanade can be constructed
as part of the overall development.
Truck tonnage index
down during September
ARLINGTON, VA The American Trucking Associations
advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index
decreased 0.3 percent in September, after increasing 2.1 percent
in both July and August. The latest decline lowered the SA index
to 103.9 (2000=100). The not seasonally adjusted index, which
represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets
before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 107.9 in September, up
two percent from August. Compared with September 2008, SA tonnage
fell 7.3 percent, which was the best year-over-year showing since
November 2008. In August, the index was down 7.5 percent from a
year earlier.
Congressman helps pass
Coast Guard Authorization Act
WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Elijah E. Cummings has assisted
in the U.S. House of Representatives passing of H.R. 3619, the
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. Congressman
Cummings was floor manager for the bill. The
Congressman, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation, also sponsored the bill. The Coast Guard
authorization, which passed 385-11, will allow the Coast Guard to
add 1,500 additional personnel, bringing the total number of
authorized service members to 47,000. Also, the number of
authorized officer slots will increase to 6,700.
Horizon Lines releases
third quarter numbers
CHARLOTTE, NC Horizon Lines, Inc. has reported results for
its fiscal third quarter ended September 20, 2009. On a GAAP
basis, net income totaled $8.4 million, or $0.27 per diluted
share, on revenue of $308.0 million. This compares with net
income of $11.1 million, or $0.37 per diluted share on revenue of
$352.6 million for the same period a year ago. Adjusted
third-quarter 2009 net income totaled $11.4 million, or $0.37per
diluted share, after excluding antitrust-related legal expenses
and vessel impairment charges totaling $3.0 million, or $0.10 per
share after tax. Adjusted net income for the 2008 third quarter
totaled $14.7 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, which excludes
antitrust-related legal fees totaling $3.6 million, or $0.11 per
share after tax.
Port of Olympia holding
NorthPoint open house events
OLYMPIA The Port of Olympia invites the community to hear
MJR Development, the developer who qualified through the
ports process, present its two conceptual designs for the
NorthPoint District at public open houses on Oct. 27, 28 and 29
at 6:30 p.m. Following the presentations, the developer will be
at its displays to answer the communitys questions. MJR
Development is a Kirkland-based firm established in 1991. Its
experience encompasses 17 projects, such as Woodinville Village,
Madison Lofts, Lakewood Office Building and other mixed-use
developments. MJR submitted two proposals for NorthPoint.
The port will accept written and verbal comments from Thurston
County residents about the NorthPoint proposals at the open
houses:
Oct. 27 Tues. - Lacey Community Center - 6:30-8:30 p.m. - 6729
Pacific Avenue SE, Lacey
Oct. 28 Wed. - Olympia Center - 6:30-8:30 p.m. - 222 Columbia
Street NW, Olympia
Oct. 29 Thurs. - Tumwater Comfort Inn - 6:30-8:30 p.m. - 1620
74th Avenue SW, Tumwater
The port will continue to accept written comments at port offices
until 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 4: Port of Olympia, 915 Washington Street
NE, Olympia 98501 or at: northpoint@portolympia.com
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 23, 2009
WorleyParsons-Westmar
tapped for Everett terminal project
EVERETT The Port of Everett Commission has awarded an
on-call engineering contract to WorleyParsons-Westmar to continue
work on the ports South Terminal Intermodal Freight
project. This $43.1 million project would upgrade the load
capacity of the ports aging dock structure to accommodate
modern cargo operations, improve rail and yard functions, and
incorporate high-voltage power which will allow ships to plug
into shore power while at port. Cold ironing, as it is referred
to, allows ships to shut down their diesel engines, hence
reducing carbon emissions. This project is contingent upon the
successful grant award through the U.S. Transportation Investment
Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program.
WorleyParsons-Westmar will be hired on an on-call basis as the
port works to transform its South Terminal facility to
accommodate emerging cargo and modern cargo handling equipment.
Preliminary engineering services will include design studies,
evaluations, cost estimating and final professional engineering
design services. The Port of Everett selected the company, which
has a local office in Bellevue, out of ten firms that responded
to the ports Request for Qualifications.
Delta to use Sea-Tac Airport
as major gateway to Asia
SEATTLE The Port of Seattle and the Washington Governor's
office have welcomed the announcement from Delta Air Lines that
they are positioning Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as a
major gateway to Asia with the addition of nonstop routes to
Beijing, China and Osaka, Japan in summer 2010. Delta also
announced additional nonstop flights to Amsterdam. Delta Air
Lines last year merged with Northwest Airlines, becoming the
world's largest airline. Delta's Asian expansion is powered by
its partnership with Alaska Air Group. The new nonstop flights to
Beijing and Osaka will be timed to connect with Delta and
Alaska's 267 combined daily departures to 64 destinations from
Sea-Tac, and will complement Delta's existing daily service to
Tokyo-Narita. Delta and Alaska offer customers reciprocal code
share, lounge and frequent flyer benefits to make it easier to
connect between the airlines' domestic and international networks
at Seattle. Currently, Delta nonstop service from Sea-Tac to
Tokyo-Narita, Amsterdam (in partnership with Air France KLM),
Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis, New York -
Kennedy, Paris Charles de Gaulle (in partnership with Air France
KLM) and Salt Lake City. Connections through Alaska and Horizon
would add 64 nonstop destinations.
Corps to begin repair work
on Tillamook north jetty
PORTLAND The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a
$16.1 million contract to repair and cap the Tillamook north
jetty to Kiewit Pacific of Vancouver, Wash. The contractor will
begin delivering the 36,600 tons of stone needed for the 100-foot
jetty cap Oct. 22. The rocks, which average 35 tons each, will be
delivered to the staging area near the north jetty via public
roads and through the Barview County Campground and Park. Rock
delivery will continue through August 2010. The jetty cap will be
constructed between June and September 2010, and is designed to
last 50 years. A revetment that was constructed in 2004 is
showing signs of deterioration and also will be repaired as part
of this project. The revetment helps prevent shoreline erosion
and protects the jetty root and parking lot. The Tillamook
jetties have experienced damage, including significant loss of
length. This repair work will stabilize the north jetty --
protecting the federal investment at this location and
reliability of the navigation channel. A Major Maintenance Report
was written in December 2003 to lay out the minimum repair plan
that maintains the federal investment and protects the jetties
from further deterioration. The most important repairs mentioned
in the report were 100-foot head repairs to the north and south
jetties, and construction of a revetment at the root of the north
jetty.
US rail freight traffic
falls again during week
WASHINGTON, DC The Association of American Railroads
reports 271,659 carloads for the week ending Sept. 26, 2009, down
17.1 percent compared with the same week in 2008. The traffic
numbers were affected by severe flooding in Tennessee and Georgia
which halted freight shipments in those areas from Sept. 21-23.
Flooding also impacted the western freight carriers who operate
through Atlanta. At this time, freight rail operations have
returned to normal. Regionally, carloadings were down 15.5
percent in the West and 19.3 percent in the East. Intermodal
traffic of 205,627 trailers or containers on U.S. railroads was
down 16.5 percent from the same week last year. Container volume
fell 11 percent and trailer volume dropped 37.2 percent. All of
the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down from last year
with declines ranging from 6 percent for chemicals to 38.5
percent for metals and products. For the first 38 weeks of 2009,
U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 10,104,171 carloads,
down 18.2 percent from 2008; 7,141,006 trailers or containers,
down 16.8 percent, and total volume of an estimated 1.08 trillion
ton-miles, down 17.3 percent. Total volume on U.S. railroads for
the week ending September 26 was estimated at 28.8 billion
ton-miles, off 17.2 percent from the same week last year.
APL announces plans to begin
new Japan/Thailand/Vietnam run
SINGAPORE APL has announced the launch of the
Japan-Thailand-Vietnam (JTV) service, which will serve key
manufacturing and consumption markets within Asia. From October
30, the JTV offers shippers a dedicated service linking the key
markets of Japan, South China and Hong Kong with the emerging
South East Asian manufacturing locations of Thailand and Vietnam.
The service will also enable importers and exporters to access
APL's global mainline services network via Hong Kong and
Kaohsiung. APL will deploy three ships, each with a capacity of
1,200 TEU. Port rotation for the JTV will be: Tokyo, Yokohama,
Kobe, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh City,
Kaohsiung and Tokyo.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Flood woes have Port of Seattle
declaring emergency for Sea-Tac Airport
SEATTLE The Port of Seattle reports it has conducted an
ongoing review and associated preparations of operational impacts
from Green River flooding due to water releases from the Howard
Hanson Dam. The port has moved to proactively lease back-up
electric generators, fuel, and other necessities to ensure
Sea-Tac International Airport is able to operate in the event of
Green River flooding. The need for this action stems from the
Puget Sound Energy substation that provides electricity to the
airport is located in the Green River flood area; in the event
flood level water is released from Howard Hanson Dam, the
substation could be prevented from providing electricity for
days, weeks, or longer. To provide port staff the necessary
authority to secure this back-up power capability in time for
potential flooding this winter, port CEO Tay Yoshitani has
announced a Declaration of Emergency as provided for by
Resolution 3605, which governs how commission authority is
delegated to the CEO. The declaration ensures that port staff
members are authorized to move quickly to keep facilities safe
and operating.
Monthly Port Tracker report
pushes 2009 box predition up
WASHINGTON, DC Import cargo volume at the nations
major retail container ports is now expected to total 12.7
million containers for 2009, according to the monthly Port
Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and IHS
Global Insight. The revised number is significantly below last
years total but shows continuing growth over what was
forecast this summer. The 12.7 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent
Units now forecast for 2009 would be a drop of 16.8 percent from
last years 15.2 million TEU and the lowest since the 14
million TEU imported in 2004. In August, Port Tracker forecast
12.3 million TEU for the year and in September increased the
number to 12.5 million. The numbers have been revised upward to
reflect higher projected imports for the remainder of the year as
retailers anticipate that economic conditions will begin to ease.
The New World Alliance carriers
plan changes in Transatlantic trades
TOKYO The New World Alliance (TNWA) carriers - APL,
Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) have
announced revised capacity and service plans for the
Transatlantic trade. TNWA and Maersk Line have been exchanging
space in the Transatlantic trade. The carriers have determined
that market conditions require capacity reductions and service
rationalization in certain deployments. Enhancements on other
routes will ensure continued service reliability and rapid
transit times for shippers.
The changes are:
ATN/TA3- Maersk Line loop
Currently APL and HMM have the space on this loop. From December
2009, the ATN/TA3 service between the US East Coast (USEC) and
Europe will be suspended.
APX/TA1-TNWA loop
The USEC-Europe segment of the APX/TA1 will include additional
calls at Antwerp and Le Havre. The revised port rotation for this
segment will be:
Manzanillo-Miami-Jacksonville-Savannah-Charleston-NewYork-Antwerp-Bremerhaven-Felixstowe-Rotterdam-Le
Havre-New York-Norfolk-Charleston-Manzanillo-Los Angeles-Oakland.
Maersk Line will continue to participate in this loop as a slot
charterer.
ATS/TA2- Maersk Line loop
The ATS/TA2 rotation will include additional calls at New York,
Savannah and Miami. An additional ship will be added to make this
a six-vessel loop. The revised rotation will be
Houston-Mobile-Norfolk-Rotterdam-Felixstowe-Bremerhaven-New
York-Charleston-Savannah-Miami-Houston
Currently, APL, HMM, and MOL have the space. After this change,
APL and HMM will continue to charter slots.
The changes will reduce existing capacity of the TNWA and Maersk
deployments in the Transatlantic by around one-third.
Crowley taps EZ Shipping
as liner agent in Tortola
JACKSONVILLE, FL Crowley Caribbean Services has announced
that EZ Shipping of Tortola, British Virgin Islands, is now the
company's local liner services agent on the island. EZ Shipping
will be responsible for cargo sales, documentation, collections,
dispatching and equipment control for Crowley customers wishing
to move cargo to and from the island. For over six years,
EZ-Shipping has served Crowley as a connecting carrier offering
feeder service within the islands including St. Thomas and St.
Croix, Virgin Gorda, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, St
Eustatius, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba, Montserrat and Antigua. The
company is also Crowley's agent for St. Eustatius, St. Barts,
Saba and Montserrat.
Shipper pleads guilty
in pollution discharge case
WASHINGTON, DC A Panamanian company that operated a
40,000-ton oil tanker ship that regularly made calls in multiple
ports in Texas has pleaded guilty in federal court in Houston for
deliberately concealing pollution discharges from the ship
directly into the sea, the Justice Department announced. Styga
Compania Naviera S.A., the operator of the M/T GEORGIOS M,
pleaded guilty to three felony violations of the Act to Prevent
Pollution from Ships for failing to properly maintain an oil
record book as required by federal and international law.
According to a plea agreement filed with U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of Texas, the company has agreed to pay a
$1 million criminal fine along with a $250,000 community service
payment to the congressionally-established National Marine
Sanctuary Foundation. The money will be designated for use in the
Flower Garden and Stetson Banks National Marine Sanctuary,
headquartered in Galveston, Texas, to support the protection and
preservation of natural and cultural resources located in and
adjacent to the sanctuary.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Port of Tacoma director
plans to leave position
TACOMA The Port of Tacoma Commission has approved the
terms of a transition in leadership. Transition plans call for
Executive Director Timothy J. Farrell to work full time through
the end of the year, with Port employment officially ending May
31, 2010. According to the terms, Mr. Farrell and the commission
will set priorities for Farrells focus through the end of
the year, ensuring a smooth transition to new leadership At its
Oct. 1 meeting, the commission approved agreements to bring NYK
Line to Tacoma. Following that meeting, Mr. Farrell initiated the
discussion with commissioners about a transition in port
leadership. Mr. Farrell sent employees an e-mail late Monday to
notify them of the agreement, and he and commissioners are
scheduled to meet with port staff to discuss the transition.
Corps plans dredging project
to maintain Quillayute River
SEATTLE The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports that
maintenance dredging for the Quillayute River will begin in late
October. Nehalem Dredging, based out of Nehalem, Ore., was
awarded a $998,000 contract on Sept. 30. The work is scheduled to
be 24-hours a day, seven days a week over a 90-day period. Up to
80,000 cubic yards of sediment will be removed through hydraulic
pipeline dredging. The Quillayute River was dredged in October of
2007. The clean material will be used for both beach and upland
nourishment. This will take place on the James Island and Rialto
Beaches, as well as, on the tribal land above the beaches. The
marina, which borders the Pacific Ocean, is the prime economic
waterway for the Quillayute Nation. The U.S. Coast Guard
continues to maintain a search-and-rescue operation making the
marina the only emergency point between Grays Harbor and
Neah Bay. The dredging will ensure that the Coast Guard will
operate continuously, allowing unfettered access of their rescue
vessels.
Port of Anacortes nets
Homeland Security grant funds
ANACORTES The Port of Anacortes is pleased to announce the
award of a $575,155 grant from the United States Department of
Homeland Security. The port applied for the grant several months
ago under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Port
Security Grant Program for Infrastructure Protection Activities.
Port of Anacortes Executive Director Bob Hyde praised the work of
Port Director of Operations & Facilities John Hachey and Port
Engineering Office Manager & Contract Grant Administrator
Teri Switalski in securing the grant for the port, noting there
was a great deal of competition for the grant funding. Only six
ports in Washington received funding. The port will use the grant
to fund security improvements at its Pier 2 Marine Terminal
facility, including a camera surveillance system, lighting, gate
improvements, a security guard house, and patrol vehicles.
ATA, Port of Long Beach
reach trucking agreement
ARLINGTON, VA The American Trucking Associations (ATA)
Executive Committee and the Port of Long Beach Harbor
Commissioners have each approved a settlement negotiated between
port officials and ATA and trucking industry representatives. The
settlement is based upon motor carrier registration process,
referred to as a Registration and Agreement, which will replace
the ports Concession Agreement. The settlement is also
expected to end litigation with the Port of Long Beach, however
litigation with the Port of Los Angeles will continue. Both the
Port and ATA emphasized that the new registration apparatus,
which includes an agreement by carriers to provide the port
necessary operating information, will allow the port to strictly
oversee and enforce motor carriers compliance with federal,
state, and port safety, security, and environmental regulations.
In particular, motor carriers registering to operate at the port
must agree to enter all truck and driver information into the
ports Drayage Truck Registry and to equip each truck with
Radio Frequency Identification tag or other technological device
to allow the port to monitor and control truck entry to port
facilities. Motor carriers must also certify, among other things,
that any truck dispatched to the port will comply with all
federal, state, and Port safety, security and
environmental--including the ports Clean Trucks
Program--regulations.
Vessel crews honored
for acts against piracy
NEW YORK The officers and crew of the MAERSK ALABAMA, who
fought off a pirate attack earlier this year, will be represented
by Captain Richard Phillips, Chief Engineer; Michael Perry, and
Bosun William Rios in accepting an Honored Seafarers plaque at
the 40th annual United Seamen's Service (USS) Admiral of the
Ocean Sea dinner on November 13, 2009. The officers and crew of
LIBERTY SUN, who were fired upon and sustained damage from a
pirate attack, but were able to ultimately evade the pirates
without injury near the Gulf of Aden will also be honored.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 19, 2009
Anthony's inks 30 year lease
for Port of Anacortes restaurant site
ANACORTES The Anacortes Port Commission at their regular
meeting of August 20, 2009 authorized the ports Executive
Director to execute a 30 year lease agreement with Mad
Anthonys, Inc., parent company for the Anthonys
restaurant chain, for the portion of the ports west basin
property immediately north of the boat launch at Cap Sante Boat
Haven. Final negotiations were completed on August 25th, and the
lease signed on October 14th. Present at the signing were
Anacortes Mayor Dean Maxwell, City Councilman Brian Geer, City
Planning Director Ryan Larsen and members of the City staff, as
well as Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mitch Everton,
Port Commissioners Pat D. Mooney and Bill Short, and port
staffers. Anthonys will build a new 14,700 square foot
restaurant on the site, facing the Trailer Boat launch and Boat
Haven promenade, and will develop the remainder of the property
behind the restaurant, approximately 42,000 square feet, for
parking. Anthonys has had an ongoing dialog with the port
for several years and recently approached the port in earnest
regarding the possibility of locating a restaurant at the Boat
Haven.
Recovery Act funds pay for
Grays Harbor dredging project
SEATTLE On Sept. 26, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Seattle District, awarded a $1.754 million dredging contract to
Hickey Marine Enterprises, Inc. of Vancouver, Wash., funded by
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The contractor is
using a 21-cubic yard clamshell bucket to dredge 270,000 cubic
yards of shoal materials from the Inner Crossover Channel Reach.
Port of Grays Harbor pilots have indicated that restored Inner
Crossover Channel depths are a high priority and critical to safe
movements of deep draft vessels in the inner harbor. Hickey
Marine started dredging Oct. 12. Completion is expected in
November. The dredged materials will be placed by bottom dump
barge in the existing Point Chehalis open water disposal site
near Westport, Wash.
Canadian Prime Minister announces
funds for Vancouver, BC Trade Area
VANCOUVER, BC Canada's Prime Minister visited Port Metro
Vancouver on October 13th to make a funding announcement. At a
news conference held at the Ballantyne Cruise Terminal, Prime
Minister Stephen Harper announced funding to enhance Vancouver's
South Shore Trade Area. The Federal Government, along with Port
Metro Vancouver, the City of Vancouver, Canadian Pacific Railway
and Canadian National Railway will jointly fund a number of
infrastructure projects, at a total cost of $125 million.
Ship captain sentenced
for pollution violations
WASHINGTON, DC Panagiotis Lekkas, the captain of the cargo
ship, M/V THEOTOKOS, has been sentenced in federal court in New
Orleans to 10 months confinement, the Justice Department
announced. Capt. Lekkas pleaded guilty on July 15, 2009, to one
count of obstruction of justice, one count of violating the Act
to Prevent Pollution from Ships, and two counts of violating the
Ports and Waterways Safety Act. According to the sentence, Capt.
Lekkas will serve the 10-month confinement as follows: six months
in prison, followed by four months in a community confinement
facility in Louisiana. Lekkas must also pay a fine of $4,000. The
sentence requires Capt. Lekkas to depart the United States within
72 hours after release from community confinement and thereafter
be banned from entering the U.S., U.S. ports, or being present
upon a vessel that enters into the territorial waters of the
United States for a term of three years.
Coast Guard, Canadian Navy
holding maritime security drills
SEATTLE The Coast Guard is participating in joint
exercises with U.S. and Canadian naval forces in Washington area
waters during the week of Oct. 18-24, 2009. Naval vessels will be
seen practicing maritime security in and around the Strait of
Juan de Fuca, Wash., and in area coastal waters. Helicopters and
other aircraft may be seen overhead as their crews familiarize
themselves with the unique geography of the region. The exercise
encompasses the training of naval surface assets, command and
control and aviation operations as well as several other
multilateral events. The exercise is designed to strengthen
military-to-military relationships and improve readiness and
interoperability between U.S. and Canadian forces. Some aspects
of the exercise will be visible to the public.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 16, 2009
Vancouver, BC cruise season
finishes with positive numbers
VANCOUVER, BC When Celebrity Cruises MERCURY casted
off from its berth at Canada Place October 12, it was the last
cruise ship to call Vancouver in 2009. Beginning with the arrival
of the BALMORAL on April 24, the 2009 cruise season saw 37 cruise
ships visiting Vancouver, making a total of 257 calls and
bringing approximately 897,000 passengers to the city through the
Canada Place and Ballantyne cruise terminals. This represents a
4.5 percent increase from 2008. In contrast to 2009, Port Metro
Vancouver is projecting a 30 percent decline in cruise passenger
volumes for 2010. Most of the decline can be attributed to ships
leaving the Alaska market as a result of the unfavourable
business and taxation climate in the market.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
extends Port of L.A. lease
TOKYO Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced that
its wholly owned terminal operator TraPac, Inc. (Headquarters:
Los Angeles, California, U.S.) renewed its long-term lease
contract for a container terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. The
signing ceremony for the new contract was held on October 15,
with participation by the Interim Deputy Mayor of the City of Los
Angeles Romel Pascual. Under the new pact, the terminal's total
space will be extended to approximately 226 acres, 1.3 times more
than the current area. The number of berths will also increase
from three to four. New on-dock rail facilities will be
constructed on the terminal site, as well as multilevel additions
to the existing terminal access roads, which will reduce traffic
congestion in and around the terminal. The gate facility and
terminal office will also be relocated to further enhance the
terminal's operating efficiency. Furthermore, the new contract
also includes a provision for shore power to supply vessels
berthed at the port, which will significantly reduce emissions of
environmental hazardous substances such as NOx, SOx, and PM from
the vessels' exhausts, as they will not be required to operate
engines for power purposes.presented, it will reduce it even
further to 33.2 percent.
Freight Transport Index
up for second straight month
WASHINGTON, DC The Freight Transportation Services Index
(TSI) rose 0.7 percent in August from its July level, the second
consecutive monthly increase, the U.S. Department of
Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
reports. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology
Administration, reported that the Freight TSI has now gone four
consecutive months without a decline after dropping in 9 of the
previous 12 months. This is the first four month period without a
decline in the index since 2002. The Freight TSI measures the
month-to-month changes in freight shipments in ton-miles, which
are then combined into one index. The index measures the output
of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of
data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines
and air freight. The August Freight TSI of 96.2 is a 2.7 percent
increase from the recent low of 93.6 reached in April. In April,
the index was at its lowest level since June 1997. The Freight
TSI is down 14.8 percent from its historic peak of 112.9 reached
in May 2006.
Weekly rail carload count
falls nearly 10 percent
WASHINGTON, DC The Association of American Railroads
reports a total of 282,341 carloads for the week ending Sept. 19,
2009, down 9.6 percent compared with the same week in 2008. While
the weekly year-over-year percentage decline was better than for
the previous week ending Sept. 12, 2009, down 19.8 percent, this
week in 2008 was impacted by service disruptions associated with
Hurricane Ike. Regionally, carloadings were down 4.8 percent in
the West and 15.8 percent in the East. Intermodal traffic of
205,137 trailers or containers on U.S. railroads was down 12.4
percent from the same week last year. Container volume fell 6.29
percent and trailer volume dropped 35.5 percent. Fifteen of the
19 carload freight commodity groups were down from last year.
However, chemicals were up 17.4 percent, petroleum products were
up 6.7 percent and farm products (excluding grain) were up
slightly by 3.3 percent. For the first 37 weeks of 2009, U.S.
railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,831,638 carloads, down
18.2 percent from 2008; 6,936,253 trailers or containers, down
16.8 percent, and total volume of an estimated 1.05 trillion
ton-miles, down 17.3 percent. Total volume on U.S. railroads for
the week ending September 19 was estimated at 30.2 billion
ton-miles, off 8.5 percent from the same week last year.
Port of Camas-Washougal
wants public input at meeting
WASHOUGAL The Port of Camas-Washougal invites the
community to attend the upcoming commission meeting scheduled for
October 26 as the board nears a critical decision about the
future of Grove Field Airport. Previously, commissioners voted on
the preferred alternative at the August 17 port commission
meeting that included the relocation of Delp Road and shifting,
widening and extending the runway. The upcoming October 26
meeting will include a presentation by WHPacific that will
provide a description of the findings of the draft environmental
assessment submitted by the port to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA). The FAA's environmental finding, based on
the information in the Environmental Assessment is a critical
step toward federal funding of airport safety improvements. In
addition to discussing the Environmental Assessment, the
commission will discuss the issue of becoming an "obligated
airport" by accepting FAA funding for the proposed
improvements. Grove Field is designated an "essential public
facility" by the state, county and Federal government. The
Port of Camas-Washougal values and encourages input from the
community about this project and other port initiatives.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Washington State Ferries
gives Ok to Todd contract
SEATTLE Washington State Department of
Transportations Ferries Division (WSF) announced Oct. 13,
that it is awarding a contract to Todd Pacific Shipyards to build
two additional 64-car ferries. Todd Shipyards submitted a $114
million bid on October 8 to build two more 64-car ferries. With
the contract award, Todd will begin constructing the second and
third ferries in this new class of vessels. WSF awarded a
contract to Todd to construct the first 64-car ferry in December
2008. That vessel is under construction and scheduled to go into
service on the Port Townsend/Keystone route in late-summer 2010.
The timeline for vessel construction is approximately 20 months
each for the second and third vessels. WSF must exercise the
option to construct the third vessel in the contract, the fourth
overall, no later than May 31, 2011. The fourth vessel would be
either a 64-car ferry or 144-car ferry depending on the
availability of funds. These additional 64-car ferries will be
similar in design to the one currently under construction with
capacity for up to 750 passengers. The next steps include a
signed contract and contract security returned from Todd
Shipyards. Once those documents are received, the state will
issue a notice to proceed with construction.
Port of Bremerton budget
will not increase property tax
BREMERTON Port of Bremerton CEO Cary Bozeman told Port
Commissioners Tuesday he will present a preliminary budget
October 27 that does not include the one percent tax property tax
increase allowed under state law. Mr. Bozeman said his budget
would contain that revision and others in response to feedback
from commissioners and the public on the working document
presented at last week's budget workshop. The staff's initial
budget draft reduced the port's reliance on property taxes for
operating its core businesses from 51 percent to 33.7 percent.
When the actual preliminary budget is presented, it will reduce
it even further to 33.2 percent. The port operates three business
divisions: its airport, two marinas and its industrial and
business parks.
DHS announces funding
for new inspection equipment
WASHINGTON, DC Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced $88 million in American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Non-Intrusive
Inspection (NII) equipmentenhancing border security by
expanding U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) capabilities
to scan commercial traffic for contraband through X-ray and other
imaging technologies. Secretary Napolitano's announcement
includes eight contracts for NII technologies to provide fixed
and mobile detection capabilities for deployment by CBP at and
between U.S. ports of entrypart of the nation's layered and
interconnected border security network. As part of the Obama
Administration's Southwest Border Initiative announced in March,
CBP now screens 100 percent of all rail traffic headed southbound
to Mexico using NII equipment. In awarding ARRA funds, DHS
prioritizes shovel-ready projects that infuse resources into
local economies quickly while meeting critical security needs.
DHS has obligated 63 percent of its ARRA funds through Sept.
30more than $1.7 billion.
Port of Tacoma schedules
next workshop for Spanaway
TACOMA The Port of Tacoma will host a Port 101
workshop Oct. 21 in Spanaway to educate the public about the
port, its history, operations and future development plans. This
is the fifth and final workshop in a series that expanded last
years launch of the program to connect with citizens
throughout the community. The 90-minute workshop will be held
Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Pierce County
Central Maintenance Facility, 4812 196th St. E., in Spanaway. The
public is welcome. No reservations necessary. The workshop
visited Steilacoom, Gig Harbor, Fife and Sumner earlier this
year.
Coast Guard to present
Meritorious Public Service Award
SEATTLE The Coast Guard will present a Meritorious Public
Service Award to Matt Loughran, of Westport, Wash., today, for
his performance rescuing a young man at the Westport Jetty. Rear
Adm. Gary Blore, Commander, 13th Coast Guard District, will
preside over the ceremony at Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor,
Westport. While surfing on Sept. 17, 2009 Mr. Loughran noticed a
young man struggling against severe weather conditions, and with
quick action put himself in danger, swimming into a zone of large
waves and hazardous rocks to assist. He then towed the young man
out of a rip current, through a heavy surf zone and onto the
beach, an effort taking more than twenty minutes. The Coast Guard
Meritorious Public Service Award is given, to recognize
unusual courage in advancing a Coast Guard mission, substantial
contributions to the Coast Guard that produce tangible results
and specific individual accomplishments that provide unique
benefits to the public.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
West Coast ports teaming up
to compete for new business
SEATTLE During a joint commission study session held this
week, the ports of Seattle and Tacoma demonstrated how the two
ports are working together to promote the Pacific Northwest as a
regional gateway for trade. Ports in British Columbia are
competing for U.S.-bound cargo, and expansion of the Panama and
Suez canals offers new possibilities for shippers. As new global
trade routes emerge, the regions major seaports have
implemented long-term competitive strategies to ensure the
states continued success as an efficient, green gateway for
shippers worldwide. Newly-focused collaborative efforts between
the six major West Coast ports are also bearing fruit. The ports
of Seattle and Tacoma have joined with the ports of Long Beach,
Los Angeles, Oakland, and Portland, the BNSF Railway Company and
Union Pacific Railroad to promote the West Coast as the greenest
and most efficient gateway for Asian cargo. Chief executives from
the six ports and the two railroads will travel to the World
Shipping Summit in China next month to showcase the benefits of
West Coast ports to shippers across the globe.
Corps re-opens The Dalles lock
following emergency repair work
PORTLAND The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers re-opened The
Dalles navigation lock at 3 p.m. Oct. 12 after two weeks of
repairs to the downstream gate. The Corps found extensive
cracking on the downstream gate after the lock was inspected
Oct.1. Although the repairs meant the Corps could re-open the
lock, additional work will still be needed, said Col. Steven R.
Miles, Portland District commander. We feel confident about
the repairs, but we will keep an active eye on the gate,
Col. Miles said. Additional sensors were installed to monitor how
the gate functions and dive inspections will be scheduled to
visually check the welding and plate repairs. A second lock
closure may be needed later this year to verify the repairs are
stabilizing the gate, Col. Miles said. Because the gate is
under considerable stress we may need to dewater the lock and
inspect how well the emergency repairs to the lower sections are
holding up. The Corps has been monitoring the downstream
gate at The Dalles for three years and plans to overhaul the gate
during an extended 16-week lock outage in December 2010. During
the outage engineers will remove the gates and replace the parts
that help the gate swing open and closed.
Evergreen Line plans
Europe to Med rate increase
TAIPEI In a continued effort to provide customers with the
same level of services in the Europe to Mediterranean Sea trade,
Evergreen Line plans to bring freight rates to a sustainable and
viable level. In view of this, Evergreen will implement a rate
increase in the trade listed below, as follows: Service Scope :
From Europe to Mediterranean Eastbound Trades. Effective Date :
November/01/2009 (on board date), Quantum per 20' : Euro 50 - USD
75 - GBP 40. Quantum per 40' : Euro 100 - USD 150 - GBP 80. The
increases apply to all cargo and commodities, including reefers
and special equipment.
Annual AAPA convention
set for Port of Galveston
ALEXANDRIA, VA Among the hardest-hit U.S. port cities from
Hurricane Ike last year was Galveston, Texas, which has made a
remarkable recovery since the hurricane's vicious winds and storm
surge caused billions of dollars in damage. As a testament to
Galveston's phoenix-like revival, it will be the site of the
American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) 98th Annual
Convention and Exhibition, Oct. 25-29. Hundreds of seaport and
maritime transportation leaders, industry experts and service
providers from throughout the hemisphere have already registered
to participate in the AAPA convention, which features many of the
seaport industry's key issues and experts. Additional information
about AAPA's 98th Annual Convention and Exhibition, including its
business program agenda, exhibitors and sponsors, is available at
http://www.aapa2009.com/
Reed Smith adding partners
in Washington, DC office
WASHINGTON, DC Reed Smith LLP has announced the addition
of two maritime lawyers to its global Shipping Group. C. Jonathan
Benner and Matthew J. Thomas will join the firms
Washington, D.C. office, as partners, effective immediately. Mr.
Benner was formerly the practice group leader of Troutman
Sanders Transportation Practice in Washington, D.C. and Mr.
Thomas was a member of that group. Their practice focuses on
domestic and international maritime and shipping matters as well
as trade regulation issues incidental to global commerce. In
addition to representing ship owners and managers, container,
tanker and cruise line operators, maritime trade associations,
international marine insurance groups, and investment entities, a
primary element of their practice is the representation of major
U.S. ports and marine terminals in legal disputes concerning
environmental and infrastructure development. The maritime
practice that Mr. Benner headed has been Chambers-ranked in Band
1 for several years.
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Dalles navigation lock
scheduled to re-open today
PORTLAND The Dalles navigation lock is scheduled to
re-open by 6 p.m. today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
announced. The Corps found extensive cracking on the downstream
gate after the lock was inspected last week. Advanced American
Construction, the Corps contractor, has managed an
aggressive repair schedule that includes welding and bolting
plates to stabilize the gate. Despite these repairs, the lock
will require continued monitoring and future repairs. The Corps
will implement a disciplined monitoring plan with additional
sensors and regular dive inspections. The lock will require
significant repairs during a 16-week lock outage scheduled to
begin in December 2010.
Port of Portland gives Ok
to Air National Guard flight plan
PORTLAND Port of Portland will support a request from the
Oregon Air National Guard 142nd Fighter Wing to conduct
continuous descent overhead approach landings with some
restrictions when training at Portland International Airport. The
landing procedure increases pilot safety when landing in combat
situations. During the procedure, F-15 pilots begin their descent
from a high altitude, reduce power and then circle close to the
airport while landing. Last month, the PDX Citizen Noise Advisory
Committee recommended the Port support the militarys
request with the following restrictions: Weekdays only. 9 a.m.-5
p.m. only. South runway only. Weather ceiling of at least 5,000
feet. Minimum of five mile visibility. Two jet maximum formation.
Status reports to committee every six months.
Crowley taps Cosgrove
as ESQA vice president
JACKSONVILLE, FL Crowley Maritime Corporation has
announced that Cole Cosgrove has been named vice president of the
company's Environmental, Safety and Quality Assurance (ESQA)
group working from Crowley's corporate headquarters in
Jacksonville. In his new role, Mr. Cosgrove reports to Susan
Rodgers, senior vice president administration and replaces
Charlie Nalen who has been named general manager, Valdez
operations. As vice president of ESQA, Mr. Cosgrove is
responsible for the strategic leadership of the company's number
one core value "safety" which focuses on individual
safety, security and environmental stewardship. Under his
direction, the ESQA team provides expert support in the
development of corporate wide policies and guidelines to enhance
Crowley's safety culture.
Washington State Ferries
opens ferry construction bids
J, DC The Washington State Department of
Transportations Ferries Division (WSF) reports it has taken
the next step in the process to build new ferries, opening bids
October 8, on a contract to construct up to three new 64-car
vessels. Todd Pacific Shipyards submitted the only bid. Bids were
solicited for construction and delivery of two 64-car ferries
with an optional third vessel. Todds proposed bid price for
the first two vessels in the contract was $114 million. The WSF
engineers estimate is $109.9 million. The timeline for
vessel construction is approximately 20 months each for the first
two vessels. The decision to exercise the option to add the
construction of a third vessel will be made no later than May 31,
2011. WSF intends to award the contract within ten days, after
evaluating to ensure it meets contract requirements.
Coast Guard suspends search
for owner of grounded Bayliner
SEATTLE The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended their active
search for the owner of an 18-foot Bayliner that was found ashore
on a private beach in the vicinity of Totten Inlet near Olympia,
Wash., Sunday. Coast Guard Sector Seattle received a report from
911 dispatch at 4:31 p.m. of the 18-foot Bayliner being washed
ashore. The keys were in the ignition and there were other signs
that show that the vessel was not derelict. At 5:38 p.m. Coast
Guard Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., launched an HH-65C Dolphin
helicopter crew to conduct a search. The Port Angeles Police
Department and the Seattle Fire Department also launched crews to
assist. The Coast Guard contacted the owner listed on the
vessels registration. He stated that he had sold the vessel
approximately one year ago. The helicopter crew performed four
searches over an area of approximately 25 square nautical miles.
Thurston County Sheriffs and the reporting source performed a
sweep of the beach. At 9:01 p.m., the Coast Guard suspended the
search pending further developments. Anyone with information in
this case is urged to contact the Coast Guard at (206) 217-6002.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 9, 2009
Cocaine smugglers nabbed
at Seattle-Tacoma Airport
SEATTLE Officers and detectives from the Port of Seattle
Police Department, in cooperation with the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA), arrested three individuals and
seized 11 kilograms of cocaine last week as part of the largest
drug seizure ever at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Three
suspects were taken into custody immediately and have been
indicted by the U.S. Attorneys Office. On September 30, the
suspects checked-in bags prior to boarding a flight to Alaska.
TSA officers discovered five kilograms of cocaine in one bag
during routine X-ray procedures for all checked baggage and
notified port police. The bag owner was located at the departure
gate and, with the help of airline personnel, was determined to
be traveling with other companions. Further investigation by
police including assistance from Officer Lilly, a member
of the ports K-9 unit - led to the search of two more bags
where an additional six kilograms were discovered. The suspects
have been indicted for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The
penalty is a mandatory maximum 10 years to life in prison and up
to a $4 million fine. The U.S. Attorneys Office notes the
11 kilos of cocaine is one of the largest seizures of its kind in
the region.
Washington State Ferries wins grant
to lower vessel engine pollution levels
SEATTLE The Washington State Department of Transportation
Ferries Division (WSF) has received a $2.3 million federal grant
to retrofit vessel engines to produce fewer harmful emissions.
WSF participated in a national competition for the Federal
Highway Administrations Ferry Boat Discretionary funding
program. This grant will be used to leverage existing funding in
an effort to upgrade existing diesel engines throughout the fleet
to burn less lubrication oil and produce fewer harmful emissions.
WSF also recently received a $2.1 million federal grant as part
of the Puget Sound Regional Council Surface Transportation
Program/Congestion Mitigation Air Quality 2009 regional
competition.
AAPA set to honor
ports/executives at convention
ALEXANDRIA, VA The American Association of Port
Authorities (AAPA), a trade group representing leading seaports
throughout the Western Hemisphere, will present six executives
with a special seaport manager designation and seven ports with
awards for exemplary achievements in environmental improvement,
facilities engineering and information technology at its annual
awards program luncheon on Oct. 28. The awards program is part of
AAPA's 98th Annual Convention (http://www.aapa2009.com/) in
Galveston, Texas, which runs Oct. 25-29. For additional details
on the winners in AAPA's 2009 awards programs, click on
http://www.aapa-ports.org/Programs/content.cfm?ItemNumber=691&navItemNumber=517
Labor Day holiday hits
weekly rail freight numbers
WASHINGTON, DC The Association of American Railroads
reports that freight traffic on U.S. railroads was down during
the Labor Day holiday week compared to the same week last year.
The comparison week from last year, however, did not include the
Labor Day holiday. For the week ended Sept. 12, 2009, U.S.
railroads reported originating 263,349 cars, down 19.8 percent
compared with the same week in 2008. Regionally, carloadings were
down 18.4 percent in the West and 21.8 percent in the East.
Intermodal traffic of 175,813 trailers or containers on U.S.
railroads was down 25.8 percent from the same week last year.
Container volume fell 20.9 percent and trailer volume dropped
43.9 percent. All 19 carload freight commodity groups were down
from last year, with declines ranging from 1.5 percent for farm
products not including grain to 52.3 percent for metallic ores.
For the first 36 weeks of 2009, U.S. railroads reported
cumulative volume of 9,549,297 carloads, down 18.4 percent from
2008; 6,731,116 trailers or containers, down 16.9 percent, and
total volume of an estimated 1.02 trillion ton-miles, down 17.5
percent. Total volume on U.S. railroads for the week ending
September 12 was estimated at 28.2 billion ton-miles, off 19
percent from the same week last year.
MarAd guarantees loans
for New Orleans barge firm
WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of
Transportations Maritime Administration has agreed to
guarantee loans of $40.8 million to enable the Canal Barge
Company, Inc. of New Orleans, LA, to order nine asphalt barges
and 30 open hopper barges. The asphalt barges will be used to
carry home heating products, and the hopper barges will carry
coal for the generation of electricity. All the vessels will be
built by Trinity Marine Group, at its yards in Missouri and
Louisiana. The total cost of the barge construction project is
$46.6 million. The Maritime Administration loan guarantees are
for 87.5 percent of the actual value of the project. Loan
guarantees are not loans, but are roughly the equivalent of
co-signing for a consumer loan. If the transaction proves sound,
then the cost to the federal government is minimal. Based on
shipyard cost estimates, the project will result in 270,000 hours
of work for Trinity Marine. Assuming a 40-hour week, this works
out to a years employment for 130 workers. The Canal Barge
project brings the Maritime Administrations loan guarantee
portfolio to approximately $2.5 billion. The portfolio includes a
variety of vessel types including tankers, tugs, barges, dive
support vessels, drill rigs, ferries, offshore supply vessels,
and container vessels.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Port Townsend dredging work
set to begin this weekend
SEATTLE Dredging will commence this weekend weather
permitting in the Port Townsend federal navigation channel.
American Construction of Tacoma, was awarded the $108,000
contract on Sept. 30. It will remove 2,000 cubic yards from the
navigation channel, which will provide better emergency access by
the U.S. Coast Guard Vessel OSPREY. Disposal of sediment will go
to Port Townsend Dredged Material Disposal site managed by
Washington State department of Natural Resources.
Schnitzer Steel making moves
in self-service auto parts field
PORTLAND Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. has announced it
has completed a transaction to acquire from LKQ Corporation the
assets of six self-service used auto parts facilities and to sell
to LKQ its full-service used auto parts operation. In addition,
Schnitzer is receiving an undisclosed amount of cash. Four of the
self-service operations to be acquired are located near the
Companys Metals Recycling Business export facility in
Portland, with a closing effective October 2, 2009. These four
stores will represent the companys first used auto parts
operations in the Pacific Northwest. The additional two
facilities, the purchase of which will be effective January 15,
2010, will bring to four the number of self-service stores the
company operates in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. All of the
acquired operations will operate under the companys
Pick-n-Pull brand. Greenleaf Auto Recyclers, LLC, the
full-service operation sold, operates 17 full-service parts
stores in nine states. The sale of Greenleaf is also effective as
of October 2.
Crowley Maritime taps Nalen
as Valdez operation general manager
JACKSONVILLE, FL Crowley Maritime Corporation has
announced that Charlie Nalen has been named general manager of
the company's Valdez operation. In his new position, Mr. Nalen
will be responsible for the entirety of Crowley's marine
operations in Valdez including ship assist and escort services
for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company's Ship Escort/Response
Vessel System (SERVS). He will report to Bruce Harland, vice
president of contract services, Alaska and will relocate from
Jacksonville, Fla. to Valdez. Mr. Nalen has held a number of
related positions during his 29 years with Crowley. He joined the
company in 1980 as manager of loss control for Crowley's
California division. In the years that followed, he assumed
positions of increasing responsibility in the risk management and
loss control areas of the corporation.
Port of Astoria reopens
public access to Pier One
ASTORIA The Port of Astoria has announced the re-opening
of Pier One for public access. Due to heightened security
requirements following 911, the Port of Astoria was forced to
close the pier to public access. Port staff has worked closely
over the past year with the Coast Guard to provide a means to
allow access to the pier during periods of inactivity. Pier One
will be open to the public on a daily basis from 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. Pier One may be accessed from U.S. Highway 101/West
Marine Drive in Astoria via traveling north on Portway Street and
following the signs for Pier One. Persons wishing access to the
pier will be required to sign a Hold-Harmless Agreement and agree
to the rules and regulations posted at the facility. The
agreement and rules are available at the ports
administrative office at 422 Gateway Avenue and at the Marina
office located adjacent to the pier.
Port of Tacoma workshop
heading to Sumner October 13
TACOMA The Port of Tacoma will host a Port 101
workshop Oct. 13 in Sumner to educate the public about the port,
its history, operations and future development plans. This is the
fourth in a series of workshops that expand last years
launch of the program to connect with citizens throughout the
community. The 90-minute workshop will be held Tuesday, Oct. 13,
from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Sumner City Hall, 1104 Maple St. in
Sumner. The public is welcome. No reservations necessary. The
workshop will travel to Spanaway on Oct. 21. It visited
Steilacoom, Gig Harbor and Fife earlier this summer.
NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
TSA member carriers set
rate restoration guidelines
OAKLAND As transpacific container lines continue to report
serious financial losses and major service consolidations, member
carriers in the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) have
adopted voluntary guidelines for the upcoming service contracting
season aimed at substantially restoring rates closer to 2008
levels. The guidelines represent an effort not only to reverse a
sharp decline in rates during early 2009, but also to fully
recover volatile equipment and fuel-related costs. At the same
time, carriers are taking their case for rate restoration to the
shippers and regulators well in advance of the 2010 contracting
season. Carriers understand they need a different approach, and
need to work with shippers more closely to help them understand
the challenges facing the industry and the implications for
global trade. Specific elements of the TSA revenue program, to
take effect with renewal of current contracts most of
those over May and June 2010 include: A general rate
increase (GRI) of US$800 per 40-foot container (FEU) for local
West Coast and Group 4 Western coastal states cargo, and US$1,000
per FEU for intermodal and U.S. East and Gulf Coast all-water
cargo, with per formula increases for other equipment sizes. A
$400 peak season surcharge (PSS), effective from August 1, 2010,
to address higher cargo handling, equipment positioning and
contingency planning costs during periods of peak cargo volume.
Full collection of fuel and other accessorial charges.
Crowley making changes
to marine personnel department
JACKSONVILLE, FL Crowley Maritime Corporation has
announced that it has restructured its marine personnel
department to work more closely with its labor relations group.
The move promotes Margaret Reasoner to managing director and
gives her responsibility for developing programs, policies and
procedures specifically for Crowley's vessel personnel. Ms.
Reasoner will report to Steve Demeroutis, vice president, labor
relations. Scott Craig, director West Coast/Alaska, who now
reports to Ms. Reasoner, will continue to have responsibility for
the Seattle, Long Beach, Valdez and Anchorage crewing locations
that service operations from southern California to northwestern
Alaska encompassing more than 70-crewed vessels and 800-plus
mariners. Ira Douglas has been promoted to director East Coast
and Gulf also reporting to Ms. Reasoner. Mr. Douglas will have
day-to-day responsibility for more than 65-crewed vessels and
approximately 1,200 mariners in locations from Lake Charles, La.
to Petty's Island, N.J., including deep sea and towing operations
that encompass tankers, container ships, government and
commercially owned vessels as well as Crowley's new 750 series
ATB fleet.
McKenna, McEllrath presented
Connie Awards at West Coast event
LONG BEACH, CA James McKenna, president and CEO of the
Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), and Robert McEllrath,
president of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union
(ILWU), were presented with Connie Awards by the Containerization
& Intermodal Institute (CII) at the first ever Connie dinner
held on the West Coast. Mr. McEllrath was appointed in 1993 to
the unions Coast Committee, the body that oversees the
Longshore Division contract covering more than 15,000 dockworkers
in California, Oregon and Washington. He has extensive contract
negotiating experience, having served as the representative for
five small ports in the Columbia River area on the Longshore
Negotiating Committee for the 1993 and 1996 contracts and in 1999
he served as co-chair of the negotiating committee for contracts.
In 2000, Mr. McEllrath was elected international vice president
for the Mainland and co-chaired a committee during the 2002 West
Coast longshore negotiations. Mr. McKenna oversees all
operations, including administration of payroll and benefits,
pension and training to the ILWU workforce and PMA staff. Prior
to joining in July 2003, mR. McKenna was chief operating officer
at Horizon Lines (formerly CSX). Mr. McKenna has nearly 30 years
of domestic and international maritime industry experience that
includes overseeing vessel operations, procurement, terminal
operations and labor relations activities. The membership of the
PMA consists of domestic carriers, international carriers,
stevedores and terminal operators that conduct business in
California, Oregon and Washington. Each recipient received a
plaque and traditional Waterford crystal decanter. The Connie has
been awarded since 1972 to honor those who have significantly
contributed to world trade and transportation.
Heroic acts at sea
to be honored at AOTOS dinner
NEW YORK, NY The officers and crews of five American ships
and a seafarer who extinguished a fire on a vessel will he
honored for heroism by United Seamen's Service at the 40th annual
Admiral of the Ocean Sea dinner on November 13, 2009. The AOTOS
honors this year will go to Donald Kurz of Keystone Shipping Co.,
Ron Widdows of Neptune Orient Lines and the United States Coast
Guard, which will receive a special award. The Honored Seafarer
awards will go to the officers and crew of the MAERSK ALABAMA,
who fought off a pirate attack while maintaining control of the
ship 350 miles off the coast of Somalia and whose captain was
taken hostage, April 8-13, 2009. In addition, the officers and
crew of LIBERTY SUN, who were fired upon and sustained damage
from a pirate attack, but were able to ultimately evade the
pirates without injury near the Gulf of Aden on April 15, 2009,
will also be honored. Others are the officers and crew of NEW
YORK WATERWAY rescued 143 passengers from a downed US Airways
plane in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009; the USNS LEWIS
& CLARK eluded a pirate attack by taking evasive action to
prevent a successful attack off the coast of Somalia on May 6,
2009 and the officers and crew of MV MIDNIGHT SUN fought and
extinguished a fire preventing the spread of the fire and the
damage of the cargo on July 15, 2009. The seafarer who will
receive a Mariners' Rosette is Third Mate Victor Manoli III, who
fought and extinguished an on board fire preventing a
catastrophic incident on the SEALAND QUALITY on February 14, 2009
in Charleston, SC.
Port of Tacoma plans
free bus tour for October 23
TACOMA The Port of Tacoma will be offering a free Bus Tour
on Friday, October 23, 2009. The tour will take place from 9:00
a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Space is limited and reservations are
required. Photo ID is required for passengers over 17 years of
age. Children age six and older are welcome. This free tour
departs from the South Hill Park & Ride (Located at 10416
94th Ave E) at 9:00 a.m. and visitors will return to the park
& Ride by noon. Reserve your seat by calling (253) 383-9463
or email us at bustours@portoftacoma.com. For more information,
follow the link at www.portoftacoma.com
NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Dalles navigation lock
remains closed for repairs
PORTLAND The Dalles navigation lock will remain closed for
eight to 10 days as engineers repair the downstream gates, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced. Engineers found extensive
cracking on both sides of the lower portion of the downstream
gate. An aggressive repair schedule began Friday night that
includes welding and bolting plates to stabilize the gate.
The situation is worse than we anticipated, said Col.
Steven R. Miles, Portland District commander. The Corps
team has completed its inspection and we have a team of engineers
and welders working around the clock to repair the cracks.
We understand how important the navigation lock is to the
shippers who transport their goods and commodities on the
Columbia River. Thats why we are working 7 days a week, 24
hours a day until the repairs are done, Col. Miles added.
Despite these repairs, the lock will require continued monitoring
and future repairs.
Hamburg Sud gives report
on state of operations in Samoa
MORRISTOWN, NJ Expressing deep regret and sadness over the
loss of lives and damage to property caused by the recent
earthquake and tsunami in the Samoas, Hamburg Süd is
communicating the following information to its Pacific Island
Service customers: The ports of Apia and Pago Pago are open. The
terminals are fully operational with limited damage reported in
Pago Pago. Damage to containers and equipment is still being
assessed. Hamburg Süd agency offices in Apia and Pago Pago are
open and staff are assisting customers with cargo inquiries.
Company officials and agents are working closely with government
and relief agencies, as well as local charitable organizations,
to deliver needed supplies as quickly as possible. Customers with
questions or concerns are being advised to contact Hamburg Süd
toll-free at 800 833-6638.
Nickelsville residents arrested
for refusing to leave Port Seattle site
SEATTLE The Port of Seattle reports that most of the
residents at the homeless encampment called Nickelsville chose to
leave Port of Seattle property voluntarily September 30,
departing the property peacefully. Twelve homeless advocates
refused to leave in an act of civil disobedience to raise
awareness of the issue, and were subsequently arrested for
trespassing. The arrests were made without incident. The
individuals were processed for identification, issued a written
trespass warning, and released. Encampment organizers announced
shortly thereafter that St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Seattle
would provide a temporary location for the encampment. The Port
of Seattle will store any belongings left behind. Encampment
members were given information about how to reclaim their
property. The public park at Terminal 107 will remain closed
temporarily while the ports maintenance staff conducts
necessary repairs.
Corps extends comment deadline
for application for LNG facility
PORTLAND The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland
District has extended the deadline for public comments on an
application by Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline L.P. and the
International Port of Coos Bay to conduct work in United States
waters. The applicants propose to construct an access channel and
boat slip on the North Spit in North Bend, Ore., an onshore
liquid natural gas import and storage terminal on the bay side of
the North Spit, and a 234-mile natural gas pipeline and
associated infrastructure in Coos, Douglas, Jackson and Klamath
counties. Public Notice NWP-2007-855/2008-592, available on the
Districts Regulatory Branch Web site at
http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/public.asp, describes the
proposal in detail. Comments may now be mailed until Dec. 27 to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ms. Anita Andazola, North Bend
Field Office, 2201 N. Broadway St., Suite C, North Bend, Oregon
97459-2372. Comments may also be emailed to
anita.m.andazola@usace.army.mil. Include the abbreviation
LNG in the subject line. The District will issue or
deny a permit only for those project-related activities that fall
under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction under
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act, and Section 103 of the Marine Protection,
Research and Sanctuaries Act.
Coast Guard trains gunners
at Air Station Port Angeles
SEATTLE The Coast Guard's ports, waterways and coastal
security program in the Pacific Northwest, achieved a new level
of readiness when the air crews and aerial gunners from Group/Air
Station Port Angeles, Wash., completed their final phase of armed
helicopter training evolutions. The air station crews have been
conducting extensive land-based and open-ocean firing range
training and hostile-boat intercept maneuvering drills since the
initial phase of training began in the spring of 2008, when the
air station received the upgraded MH-65C helicopters outfitted
with M-14T rifles and M-240 machine guns. The armed helicopter
capability joins the Coast Guard's existing fleet of armed boats,
cutters, and maritime security boarding teams equipped to prevent
actions that could adversely impact a large number of U.S.
citizens. The armed helicopters add another tool that the Coast
Guard, operating in the Pacific Northwest, can utilize to save
lives as well as protect vital maritime assets.
NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 2, 2009
NYK agrees to new deal
for Port of Tacoma calls
TACOMA A series of three agreements approved by the Port
of Tacoma Commission on October 1 highlight a revised plan in
which NYK intends for NYK vessels to call in Tacoma starting in
July 2012. Although NYK had planned to come to a proposed new,
168-acre terminal on the Blair Waterway, its ships will instead
call at the APM Terminals (APMT) container facility on the
ports Sitcum Waterway. The three agreements approved by the
Tacoma Port Commission are: A new agreement that affirms and
defines the long-term relationship between the port and NYK.
Under this agreement, NYK commits to bring all NYK
independently-operated container vessels bound for the Pacific
Northwest to the APMT container facility at the Port of Tacoma.
This agreement also affirms NYKs commitment to bring its
ships and intermodal rail volumes to Tacoma for a 25-year period,
starting in 2012. A Memorandum of Agreement with NYK, Yusen
Terminal Tacoma, Inc. (YTTI) and APMT, acknowledging their new
business relationship. A formal termination of the existing lease
that called for the port to build a 168-acre facility for NYK on
the Blair Waterway. This action is called a lease termination and
surrender agreement.
Cal. Maritime students
earn Crowley scholarships
JACKSONVILLE, FL Crowley awarded three Thomas B. Crowley
Sr. Memorial Scholarships to California Maritime Academy students
Alesi Alapa, Todd Michel and Sean Sabeh during the
Containerization and Intermodal Institute's Connie Awards
presentation in Long Beach, Calif. Chris Peterson, Crowley's vice
president of marine operations and also a former Cal Maritime
graduate, presented the students with the scholarship awards. Ms.
Alapa, Mr. Michel and Mr. Sabeh were all recognized for their
strong academic records, financial need and for their interest in
a maritime career. Since 1984, Crowley has provided more than
half-a-million dollars in scholarship funding for more than 200
students studying at maritime academies and other select
institutions. In 2006, the program expanded to Central America
and to date has provided financial assistance to more than 20
students in that region.
Holiday hits totals
for US rail freight
WASHINGTON, DC The Association of American Railroads
reports that recent rail traffic gains have slowed in the week
preceding the Labor Day Holiday. For the week ended Sept. 5,
2009, U.S. railroads reported originating 284,715 cars, down 6.7
percent compared with the same week in 2008. Regionally,
carloadings were down 7.1 percent in the West and 6.0 percent in
the East. Intermodal traffic of 201,239 trailers or containers on
U.S. railroads was up 0.2 percent from the same week last year.
Container volume fell 6.5 percent and trailer volume dropped 23.9
percent. Seven of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were up
the same week from last year, with improvements ranging from 2.3
percent for motor vehicles and equipment to 11.4 percent for
chemicals. Of the remaining freight commodity groups, declines
ranged from 5.4 percent for crushed sand, stone and gravel to
46.2 percent for metallic ores. For the first 35 weeks of 2009,
U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,285,936 carloads,
down 18.4 percent from 2008; 6,555,303 trailers or containers,
down 16.7 percent, and total volume of an estimated 988.6 billion
ton-miles, down 17.5 percent. Total volume on U.S. railroads for
the week ending September 5 was estimated at 30.5 billion
ton-miles, off 5.3 percent from the same week last year.
New parking rate scheme
set for Sea-Tac Airport
SEATTLE The parking experience at Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport has becme easier to use. As of Thursday,
parkers are now met with two clear, flat-rate pricing options
General Parking and Terminal Direct. Responding to
feedback from customers, the new program eliminates the Hourly
and Daily designations and the multi-tiered rates, which proved
confusing and difficult to calculate. A new parking option,
called Terminal Direct gives parkers the fastest and most
convenient place to park at the airport the 4th floor with
its direct access to the terminal. The new rates will be simple
and straight-forward, $3 per hour for General Parking, $4 per
hour for the convenience of Terminal Direct on the 4th
floor or sky bridge level. Rates will be clearly posted at the
garage entrances. All parking will be available for short-term or
long-term access. Full day rates do not change, General Parking
remains at $26 per day, with Terminal Direct at $35 per day (the
same rate as the previous Hourly designation).
Road repaving project
to begin near Portland Airport
PORTLAND The Port of Portland reports repaving work begins
Monday, Oct. 5, at the traffic circle on N.E. Mt. Hood Avenue
near the entrance to the economy parking lot at Portland
International Airport. The roundabout will be closed at times
during project work, however, the parking lot will remain open at
all times, and shuttle buses will continue regular service.
Access to the lot, Cascade Station, Frontage Road and the
multiuse bike/walking path will remain open with signs giving
directions around the construction area. Drivers might experience
some delays and are encouraged to drive cautiously and watch for
construction signs. The project, which will replace worn asphalt
with concrete, is scheduled to be complete by mid-November.
NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Foss uses new river route
to deliver turbine to Canada
SEATTLE Foss successfully pioneered a new commercial route
deep into Canada on the Columbia River in August, navigating
through strong currents and shallow water to safely deliver a new
190-ton turbine for British Columbias largest
hydro-electric dam. In 2002, Foss reports it became the first to
use the upper Columbia for commercial navigation, demonstrating
its ability to operate in extreme environments by towing a
135-ton turbine from Coulee City to Trail, B.C. just north of the
boarder. This summers trip was about 155 miles farther
upriver. The voyage took a small convoy up Lake Roosevelt and
then through the river to Northport. After crossing the border,
the boats passed Waneta Dam, where the Pend Oreille river flows
into the Columbia, then traveled stretches of the narrow river
below, between and above the Arrow Lakes before arriving in
Shelter Bay, where the turbine was unloaded at a ferry landing.
It was carried from there over land to the hydro plant by a prime
mover. The journey into Canada was the last leg of a long trip
for the turbine. It was manufactured in Brazil and arrived by
ship in Vancouver, Wash., and Foss towed it aboard the barge 185
C-3 to Pasco with the tug Lewiston. From there, a Prime Mover
moved it over land to Coulee City.
Some Nickelsville residents
refuse to leave Port of Seattle site
SEATTLE Port of Seattle officials expressed regret that
some members of the homeless encampment known as
Nickelsville have thus far refused to leave port
property voluntarily. The group set up the encampment on port
property without permission and has been at the public park
illegally for 69 days. The groups presence violates city
land use and shoreline codes as well as prohibitions against
camping and lighting fires within the City of Seattle. In
addition, the Port of Seattle does not have the authority to
provide land for housing or housing purposes. Nickelsville
organizers and residents have been given multiple warnings that
if they did not leave by September 30th, they would be subject to
arrest for trespassing. Many residents are choosing to leave,
seeking help from resources offered throughout the county.
Encampment organizers issued invitations Tuesday to other tent
cities across the region to join with them in choosing to be
arrested to send a political message about the larger issue of
homelessness in the community. While the port respects the right
to civil disobedience, encampment members have been asked
repeatedly to leave voluntarily. The port has repeatedly stated
that the Terminal 107 public park is not an appropriate location
for housing or an encampment. Independent of the numerous code
violations, there are not acceptable human services and hygiene
facilities and lacks access to public transportation.
Inspection forces closure
of The Dalles navigation lock
PORTLAND The Dalles navigation lock was closed Tuesday for
an unscheduled inspection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
announced. Engineers noted irregularities in the downstream gate
operation that need to be investigated. As a result, the Corps
closed the navigation lock to river traffic and it will remain
closed until an assessment is completed. A previously scheduled
extended lock outage will occur in December 2010, when major
repairs to the gates are planned. The Dalles Dam is part of a
system of navigation locks that ships more than 12 million tons
of commodities between Portland, and Lewiston, Idaho. It began
generating hydroelectric energy after its completion in 1957.
Tsakos inks time charters
for pair of suexmax tankers
ATHENS Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited has announced a
two-year time charter extension with profit sharing up to a
maximum level with the same charterer, for the 2002-built double
hull suezmax tanker DECATHLON. TEN also announced a three-to-six
month time charter for the 2006-built suezmax tanker ARCHANGEL
through the initiation of a relationship with an international
oil major. Prior to this new charter, the ARCHANGEL was operating
in the spot market. Assuming the minimum rate on the DECATHLON
and the minimum duration on the ARCHANGEL, the charters should
generate gross revenues in excess of $17.5 million. Should the
ARCHANGEL charterer exercise its option for an additional 90
days, the total gross revenues could grow by another $2.5
million, providing up to $20 million in cash flow contribution.
Following this charter extension, TEN's fixed employment,
including pool vessels, for remainder of 2009 and 2010 operating
days, is revised upward to 67 percent and 52 percent,
respectively.
Panama Canal Authority
extends cost reduction program
PANAMA CITY The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced
that it will continue until April 30, 2010 a program that
provides short-term cost reduction and greater flexibility to its
Reservation System. The program, which consists of temporary
measures designed to help mitigate the impact of the economic
crisis on the canals clients, was the result of
consultations with customers and was initially introduced June 1,
2009 for four months ending September 30. Upon request of its
customers and the Round Table of International Shipping
Associations, the ACP has agreed to extend the program. The two
primary components of the temporary measures are: A redefinition
of ballast (ships without passengers and cargo) for full
container vessels transiting the canal; and, Modifications to the
Reservation System to increase flexibility and reduce fees.