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October, 2007

NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

APL taking delivery of new
'ocean-capable' 53-foot boxes

SINGAPORE — APL has announced its latest innovation: 53-foot ocean containers that the company says could significantly alter the U.S. import market. The Singapore-based carrier said it will take delivery of the world’s first ‘ocean-capable’ 53-foot boxes November 7. The first units will be deployed as a weekly service on APL’s premier South China to Los Angeles service. The creator of outsize containers in the 1980s, APL said its latest innovation – premium big-box service on a regular, weekly basis - has the potential to make a significant difference to the economics of Transpacific trade. The 53-foot container has become fundamental to domestic intermodal transportation in the U.S. But to date, other than for occasional cargo lifts when repositioning new containers from Asia to the U.S., 53-foot boxes haven’t been strong enough to endure the rigors of ocean transport. Instead, importers ship cargo to the U.S. West Coast in 20, 40 or 45-foot boxes, then trans-load – or transfer – their shipments to 53-foot containers at U.S. ports for truck or rail transport to the final destination. APL is looking to change all of that. The new, reinforced 53-foot boxes are built specifically for international trade and designed to withstand ocean voyages. That means cargo can now be transported from factories in Asia all the way to U.S. store doors without trans-loading.


Corps sets closure schedule
for Columbia/Snake navigation locks

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will temporarily close several of its navigation locks at dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers in November to make repairs and conduct maintenance. Five dams between The Dalles, Ore., and Lewiston, Idaho, will close to river traffic next week. The days and hours of closure vary by location:
The Dalles Lock and Dam at Columbia River Mile 191 -- Closed from 7 a.m., Nov. 5, through 7 p.m., Nov. 12
The Dalles Dam will also be closed between lockages Nov. 1 to allow divers to clean the stoplog sills in preparation for the above closure. Although the Nov. 1 closure is between lockages, delays of up to one hour may occur depending on the conditions encountered.
McNary Lock and Dam at Columbia River Mile 292 -- Closed daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 5 through Nov. 12
Lower Monumental Lock and Dam at Snake River Mile 41.6 -- Closed daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 5 through Nov. 9
Little Goose Lock and Dam at Snake River Mile 70.3 -- Closed from 6:30 a.m., Nov. 5, through 5 p.m., Nov. 12
Lower Granite Lock and Dam at Snake River Mile 107.3 -- Closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nov. 5, and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nov. 6 through Nov. 9
The Corps coordinates navigation lock closures with inland shippers and cruise lines to achieve minimal impact to the various industries that use the locks. Public notices and other navigation lock information is available on the Portland District Web site at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/s/nl/home.asp. Information for Walla Walla District’s navigation locks can be found online at http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/html/offices/op/t/navdata/default.html.


Schnitzer Steel breaking records
with fiscal year 2007 numbers

PORTLAND — Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. has reported net income for the fiscal fourth quarter and year ended August 31, 2007 of $38 million and $131 million, respectively, and earnings per diluted share of $1.28 for the quarter and $4.32 for the fiscal year. These results reflect record sales levels for the sixth consecutive year. The company generated consolidated revenues of $2.6 billion for fiscal 2007, an increase of $718 million, or 39 percent, from $1.9 billion in fiscal 2006. All three of the company's operating divisions exceeded previous highs in revenues on both a quarterly and annual basis.


Railroads call for movie maker
to post suicide hotline number

WASHINGTON, DC — America's freight railroads have joined with one of the nation's leading suicide prevention groups in urging Warner Bros. to help prevent suicides on the railroad tracks. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports a new movie released by the studio, “Rails and Ties,” portrays the heartbreaking story of a woman who dies by suicide on railroad tracks. Tragically, incidents like the one portrayed in the movie occur all too often. The leading cause of railroad accidents occurs simply because many people don't understand the inherent dangers of being on or around railroad tracks, including the fact that it takes a freight train more than a mile to come to a complete stop. Many of these railroad accidents are, unfortunately, suicide attempts. Jerry Reed, executive director of the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA (SPAN USA), notes that 60 to 90 percent of all suicides are associated with a mental illness and/or substance use disorder. Sadly, two-thirds of people with mental disorders do not seek treatment. “There is a national hotline (1-800-273-TALK) for those who struggle with mental health concerns,” Mr. Reed said. “Warner Bros. can provide a great service to the public by displaying the national suicide hotline phone number as part of the introduction to the movie now in theaters and as the movie goes to DVD. 1-800-273-TALK is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a 24-hour toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in crisis.


Crowley donation will create
Marty Johnson '88 Leadership Program

GLEN COVE, NY — Crowley Maritime Corporation has presented a $250,000 check to the Webb Institute, a college of naval architecture and marine engineering in Glen Cove, N.Y., to establish a leadership program in the name of former Crowley employee Marty Johnson, class of ’88, who passed away last year while on company assignment. The donation which was formally presented by Crowley’s Ed Schlueter, vice president vessel management services, will allow the Webb Institute to fund what it’s calling the Marty Johnson ’88 Leadership Program. The college will obtain a professional evaluation of its current leadership programs in order to identify areas for enhancement to further position Webb Institute as an authority in producing leading naval architecture and marine engineering professionals.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 29, 2007

Port of Vancouver, BC
closes expanded cruise season

VANCOUVER, BC — When the MERCURY sets sail on November 2nd, it will mark the end of the longest cruise season in the Port of Vancouver BC's history. With the passenger count an estimated 960,000, a 14 percent increase over 2006, and the number of sailings up by eight percent to 275, this year marks a turning point after four years of declining passenger volumes. The increase in passengers has been mainly attributed to Celebrity's MERCURY cruise ship choosing Vancouver as its homeport for the season, and BC's growing tourism industry. Preliminary results of the 2007 Alaska passenger survey conducted by VPA and Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) also indicate that cruise passengers are extremely satisfied with their overall experience at the port's cruise terminals. Ninety five percent of passengers were satisfied, awarding the port with an exceptional 4.6 rating out of 5, up from 4.5 in 2005.


Dredging set to begin
at Port of Olympia entrance

OLYMPIA — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, may begin maintenance dredging in the Port of Olympia as early as today. Manson Construction of Seattle will be removing approximately 101,000 cubic yards of material in order to ensure safe navigation in the Federal channel. The dredged material will be disposed of in the Anderson-Ketron disposal site. One of the Seattle District’s primary missions is to maintain and improve the navigation channels and harbors in the Pacific Northwest. Dredging is necessary to maintain America’s waterborne commerce and defense capability.


Panama Canal Authority
releases fiscal year metrics

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced its operational metrics for the 2007 fiscal year (FY 07). Fiscal year 2007 Canal Waters Time (CWT), dropped 7.4 percent, compared with FY 06 – to 27.84 hours from 30.05 hours. In fiscal year 2007, the ACP set a canal record by transiting 313 million Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tons (from 298 million PC/UMS tons in FY 06). This five percent increase represents a difference of 15 million more PC/UMS tons over last year. Total transits increased 3.7 percent to 14,721 in FY 07 from 14,194 in FY 06. Additionally, the canal saw a rise in transits of vessels 900 feet or more in length. Transits by these vessels increased 11.4 percent – to 1,794 transits from 1,610 in FY 06. The official accident rate dropped to 0.68 accidents per 1,000 transits from 0.70 accidents per 1,000 transits in FY 06. An official accident is one in which a formal investigation is requested and conducted.


Crowley Maritime taps Jackson
as procurement vice president

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced that Matt Jackson has been promoted to vice president of procurement, replacing Mike Lucero who will retire at the end of this year. In his new position, Jackson remains domiciled in Jacksonville and reports to Susan Rodgers, senior vice president, administration. Mr. Jackson is responsible for all materials management and purchasing for the corporation. He also oversees facilities development and travel. Reporting directly to Jackson are Cal Sweep, director of facilities development; John Azzo, who is transferring to director of materials management East Coast; Alun Jones, director of materials management West Coast and Vern Johnson, administrator of contracts. While equipment purchasing and leasing will remain with the purchasing department, intermodal pricing, detention and demurrage, and equipment administration will move under Bob Rousseau, who was promoted to vice president of intermodal last week.


Port of Portland rerouting
Terminal 6 traffic pattern

PORTLAND — The Port of Portland reports all vehicle traffic departing Terminal 6 is temporarily being routed through the bypass lane and secondary radiation portal monitor (RPM) at the west end of the terminal due to construction at the marine terminal. The alternate routing is expected to remain in effect until Friday, November 2. The temporary routing will facilitate additional construction work planned for the outbound OCR/RPM lane during this period.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 26, 2007

Port of Seattle CEO
adding new staff member

SEATTLE — In the first new staff announcement since taking over as Port of Seattle CEO, Tay Yoshitani has announced that Kurt Beckett will join the port November 1st as the external affairs director. Mr. Beckett comes to the port after serving as chief of staff for U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell since 2004 and her deputy chief of staff since 2001. He previously worked for Congressman Norm Dicks for nearly 10 years, most recently as district director. Mr. Beckett is a graduate of the University of Washington.


Truck tonnage index
sees gains during September

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 1.5 percent in September, after falling 0.8 percent in August. The not seasonally adjusted index fell 10.6 percent from August to 107.4. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the tonnage index rose to 111.6 (2000 = 100) in September. Despite September’s sequential increase, tonnage was down 2.3 percent from a year earlier. Year-to-date, the tonnage index was 2.2 percent lower than during the same period in 2006. Trucks hauled 10.7 billion tons of freight in 2005. Motor carriers collected $623 billion
or 84.3 percent of total revenue earned by all transport modes. ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 10th day of the month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.


US rail freight traffic
has down week

WASHINGTON, DC — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was down compared with the same week last year during the week ended October 11, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight totaled 336,565 cars, down 1.0 percent from last year, with loadings down 1.7 percent in the West and down 5.0 percent in the East. A total of 242,681 trailers and containers were loaded during the week, down 3.2 percent the comparable week last year. Container volume was down 2.4 percent while trailer loadings were off 6.1 percent from last year. Total volume was estimated at 35.6 billion ton-miles, up 0.3 percent from the comparable week last year. Among individual carload commodities, grain was up 14.0 percent from last year, nonmetallic ores showed a 6.8 percent gain from last year while nonmetallic minerals had a 6.4 percent gain. On the downside, farm products excluding grain dropped 22.5 percent; lumber and wood products fell 20.2 percent and coke showed a drop of 13.9 percent from last year. Cumulative volume for the first 41 weeks of 2007 totaled 13,308,758 carloads, down 3.1 percent from 2006; 9,510,185 trailers or containers, a drop of 2.0 percent; and total volume of an estimated 1.38 trillion ton-miles, down 1.6 percent from last year.


US Merchant Marine Academy names
new Engineering Department head

KINGS POINT, NY — Dr. David J. Palmer of Seaford, Long Island, NY, has been named head of the Department of Engineering at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). He will lead a department that prepares academy midshipmen for the U.S. Coast Guard-administered license examination in engineering and trains them as marine engineers. Dr. Palmer, a 1991 USMMA graduate, has been a member of the federal maritime school’s faculty since 1995. He most recently served as the academy’s assistant academic dean and as an associate professor teaching engineering classes.


Mitsui to outfit seafarers
with improved life jackets

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced it will introduce a new type of life jacket for seafarers, developed in cooperation with KOA KAKO Co., Ltd., a life jacket manufacturer. This new type of inflatable life jacket offers superior mobility and fit. It also integrates a compact, lightweight and portable radar reflector that ensures faster detection of seafarers overboard and adrift on the open sea. The life jacket is made of an improved micro prism reflective material that offers six times the reflective performance set by international standards. This U.S.-developed material also improves safety and visibility when seafarers are working on deck, and in case they go overboard. The life jacket has a detachable protective cover that is easy to replace in case of damage or deterioration. The reinforced life jacket protective cover is made of nylon instead of polyurethane to improve resistance to abrasion.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 25, 2007

Port of Vancouver, USA
nets AAPA advertising award

SEATTLE — The Port of Vancouver USA has been presented with an Award of Merit from the American Association of Port Authorities for its 2006 community advertising series, which featured seven port tenants and what those tenants do. The series also highlighted information about how each tenant and the port benefit the community economically. The port’s agency of record is CoatesKokes of Portland, which created the ads after conversations and interviews with port and tenant employees. While ports across the nation entered the contest, the Port of Vancouver was one of two ports to win for its ad series. The Port of Portland was also recognized for its 2006 ad series. The Port of Vancouver, USA has a history of being recognized for its advertising, having won several national awards from AAPA, including 2005.


Longtime WSF executive
announces plans to retire

SEATTLE — Washington State Ferries (WSF) CEO, W. Michael Anderson, has announced his retirement after 34 years of service. Mr. Anderson began his career in 1973 as a ticket seller. Rising steadily through the ranks, he was tapped in 2004 for the top post by then-Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald. Prior to appointment as CEO, he served as director of operations. The nation’s largest ferry system, WSF carries over 24 million passengers and 11 million vehicles annually. Last year WSF completed 99.6 percent of its scheduled trips with an on-time record of 94 percent. Mr. Anderson will serve until late December, 2007, after which he will explore opportunities in the marine transportation industry.


Marine Insurance Association of Seattle
accepting scholarship applications

SEATTLE — The Marine Insurance Association of Seattle (MIAS) has announced that it is accepting applications for three $5,000 scholarships available to students with an affiliation with MIAs accepted into a school of higher education. Preference will be given to those applicants intending to study marine/insurance related fields. Applicants must have a grade point of 2.5 or better, be a full time student and have a responsible motor vehicle driving record. Applicants must also present a completed application, two letters of recommendation (one personal and one professional) and a copy of their last grade transcript or G.E.D. certificate. A scholarship application is available on the MIAS website at http://www.miaseattle.org/scholarship.htm. The due date is Wednesday, December 5th for all applications. If you have any questions, contact Connie Zener at connie.zener@zurich.com or 206.346.2637 or Marion Stevenson at Marion.S.Stevenson@marsh.com or 206.613.2460.


Port of Seattle completes
two shipping terminal projects

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle recently completed two projects that immediately increase the port’s capacity to handle international cargo more efficiently. The port completed construction of a new concrete bridge between Terminals 25 and 30. With the bridge, the area can now be used as one contiguous 70-acre container terminal. The T-30 portion of the combined terminal facility, which has been leased by Stevedoring Services of America, will be completed and ready for use in 2009. Terminal 25 is currently used by Matson Navigation. In order to improve shoreline habitat near the terminal, specific lighting was installed for the fish habitat surrounding the facility. Improvements at the port’s Terminal 18 facility also reached a significant milestone. In September, the second of three project phases was completed. In this phase, the waterside dock apron was considerably strengthened and now is able to support additional 100-foot gauge crane rails. Such rails are necessary for super post-Panamax cranes: cranes able to span new container ships that are 22-containers wide. When construction on Terminal 18 is complete, the facility will have four active container berths. Completion is scheduled for September of 2008.


Workers find what may be explosives
at Cape Dissapointment Coast Guard base

SEATTLE — Authorities are investigating what appear to be explosives in the cliff face above Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco, Wash. Contractors working on rock removal at the base found bore holes with extruding wires and what could be explosives in a cliff face above the station. Crews from the Washington State Police bomb squad inspected the area Monday and estimated the devices may be World War II era explosives. The Coast Guard National Motor Lifeboat School and other Coast Guard barracks at Station Cape Disappointment have been evacuated and relocated to a different area on base. According to the Coast Guard there is no impact to the emergency response capabilities at Station Cape Disappointment and there is no danger to the public. Cape Disappointment State Park and the lighthouse remain open. Future Coast Guard plans are to verify the existence of explosives and remove the ordnance if any are found.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Crowley Maritime changing
West Coast leadership structure

SEATTLE — Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced that it is combining the company's operations and commercial responsibilities for its West Coast marine services unit into one group under the leadership of Chris Peterson, who has been promoted to vice president, West Coast services. Mr. Peterson will now oversee all West Coast marine operations, contract services and ship assist and escort services. Reporting to Mr. Peterson under this new structure are Scott Hoggarth, who was promoted to general manager of ship assist and escort; Paul Vidal, director of engineering; Jim Van der Veen, director of contract services; Scott Craig, manager of marine operations; Jim Penny, manager of marine operations and Russell Luttman, port captain. A 21-year Crowley veteran, Mr. Peterson most recently served as general manager, West Coast services. He joined Crowley in 1986 following his graduation from California Maritime Academy and has since served in several seagoing and shore side positions, including master, port captain and director of West Coast operations. With his promotion to general manager, Mr. Hoggarth is now responsible for ship assist and escort services and West Coast contract services, which includes the tug dispatch function and the sales team consisting of: John Geary, Conrad Notton, Mike Gasparo, and Dean Yamada.


Port of Vancouver, USA Commission
Oks land exchange, eminent domain use

VANCOUVER, USA — At its regular meeting October 23, the Vancouver Port Commission voted to authorize staff to move forward with two recommendations. The commission first authorized Executive Director Larry Paulson to execute a land exchange agreement with the City of Vancouver. The exchange allows the port to assist the city in its goal to exchange land with the Humane Society of Southwest Washington so the Humane Society can build a larger facility in East Vancouver. By completing the exchange, the port released a reversionary clause that was written into the sale agreement with the Humane Society in the 1980s, when the non-profit animal shelter was given a portion of its current property from the port. The port released its reversionary interest in approximately 0.401 acres located in the northerly portion of 2121 St. Francis Lane in Vancouver, in exchange for approximately 0.966 acres located adjacent to current port tenants TriMac Panel Products and Tesoro Fuel. The residual acreage of approximately 0.565 acres has an assessed land value of $61,527.50. The port will pay the city for the residual balance at the completion of the transaction. The commission also authorized a declaration of the need to acquire real property by means of eminent domain. While the port is in negotiation to purchase property from the Lafarge Northwest cement facility on West Fifth Street in Vancouver, staff needed authorization from the commission to use eminent domain in a worst-case scenario. The property is needed by the port to be used as right of way and a construction easement for the port’s West Vancouver Freight Access project. The property is located between the existing Lafarge facility and the Columbia River. The West Vancouver Freight Access project is related to public use and the public interest requires the acquisition of this property. While the port needs to be legally prepared, its preference is to negotiate a settlement in every case. Government entities, if they do use eminent domain, are required by law to pay fair market value for property acquired through the process. In order to achieve the goals of the WVFA project, the port needs to acquire the Lafarge property to obtain the rail corridor that is required. The port is preparing to move forward with segments of the West Vancouver Freight Access project that require the acquisition of this property take place in accordance with Washington Department of Transportation requirements.


Customs' ACE program
sets record during September

WASHINGTON, DC — A record $1.04 billion in duties and fees was collected in September by U.S. Customs and Border Protection through the Automated Commercial Environment monthly statement and payment feature. Since the inception of the ACE monthly statement process in July 2004, CBP has collected $17 billion in duties and fees. Currently, 42 percent of duties and fees are collected via ACE. The ACE monthly statement feature simplifies the payment of duties and fees for importers and brokers, streamlines accounting procedures, and provides reporting and trend analysis capabilities. ACE is the commercial trade processing system being developed by CBP to enhance border security and expedite legitimate trade. For more information on ACE and monthly payment processing, visit the CBP Modernization website or send an e-amil to CBP.CSPO@dhs.gov. ( Ace CBP Modernization )


Two executives to be honored
with 2007 Connie Awards

NEWARK, NJ — The Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII) will present the 2007 Connie Awards this year to James J. Devine and Raymond P. Ebeling. Each recipient will be honored for his significant influence in containerization in world trade and transportation at an industry-wide luncheon on Monday, December 10, 2007 to be held at The Newark Club, Newark, NJ. Both also started their maritime careers at Sea-Land Service Inc., the carrier that refined containerization, the concept that redefined international transport and ushered in the era of globalization as we know it today. Mr. Devine, president and CEO of New York Container Terminal, formerly known as Howland Hook, has been a driving force for the innovation, modernization and expansion of the 180-acre terminal on Staten Island in New York Harbor and New York State's only major container facility. Over the last five years Mr. Devine has worked closely with both the Port Authority of NY/NJ and New York City Economic Development Corporation to expand the berth, revitalize the Staten Island rail connection and introduce new state of the art container handling equipment, including four post Panamax Liebherr container cranes. Mr. Ebeling's career in international transportation started at Sea-Land and then led to Sea-Train Lines, which is now out of business but has been credited with developing innovative approaches including the methodology known as intermodalism-called 'minibridge' and 'landbridge' connections in the formative days. He returned to Sea-Land and represented the company in Washington.


Lewis and Clark event scheduled
for Bonneville Lock and Dam

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a series of educational displays and events celebrating the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery at Bonneville Lock and Dam on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28. The displays and events will be at the Bradford Island Visitor Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The displays and events will highlight some of the Corps of Discovery's adventures in the Columbia River Gorge in October 1805 en route to the Pacific Ocean. On Oct. 27, re-enactor Jon Carlson will share what life was like for the men of the Corps of Discovery. Carlson will also make artifact replicas available for touching and viewing. For the young and the young at heart, the visitor center will present the puppet show "On We Go," on Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The center will also show films about Lewis and Clark in the main theater on Oct. 27 at noon, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Events on Oct. 28 include the film "Confluence of Time and Courage," at 11 a.m., and a ranger talk, "Then and Now: Lewis and Clark and Changes in the Columbia Gorge," at noon and 2 p.m. Guest speaker Richard Cassidy will also present "Lewis and Clark on the Columbia River," on Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. A variety of plants and replicas of artifacts from or discovered by the Lewis and Clark expedition will be on display throughout the weekend. Bonneville Lock and Dam's Bradford Island Visitor Center is located off Exit 40 on Interstate Highway 84. For more information, visit www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/b or call (541) 374-8820.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 22, 2007

Vancouver USA Port Commissioners
will look at pair of action items tomorrow

VANCOUVER, USA — The Vancouver USA, Port Commission will take up two action items at its regular meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 23, beginning at 9:30 a.m., in the Commission Room at Port of Vancouver headquarters (3103 NW Lower River Road in Vancouver). The meeting will also be televised live on CVTV, channel 21. The commission is expected to authorize a land exchange with the City of Vancouver that will benefit the Humane Society of Southwest Washington, the city and the port. In the exchange, the Humane Society will get five acres of property in East Vancouver, while the city will get the industrial property near the port where the Humane Society is currently located. The port sold a portion of the current shelter property (.401 acres) to the Humane Society in the 1980s with a reversionary clause written into the sale agreement. Port staff, under the direction of the commission, has been working with the city to facilitate the exchange, and the port has waived its reversionary clause. In exchange, the port will receive property currently owned by the city that provides rail access to port tenants TriMac Panel Products and Tesoro fuel. The commission will also consider approving a resolution that authorizes staff to acquire a segment of property at the LaFarge Cement facility on the Columbia River waterfront by eminent domain to be used as right of way and construction easement for the port’s West Vancouver Freight Access project. The property is located between the existing LaFarge facility and the Columbia River. The West Vancouver Freight Access project is related to public use and the public interest requires the acquisition of this property. The port will be negotiating with LaFarge to purchase the needed property, but the authorization to use eminent domain is a requirement for the acquisition of right of way. While the port needs to be legally prepared, its preference is to negotiate a settlement in every case.


Matson plans to increase
fuel related surcharge

OAKLAND — As a result of record high prices for fuel related costs, Matson Navigation Company has announced that it is raising its fuel related surcharge in its Hawaii and Guam/CNMI services by two percentage points, from 24 to 26 percent, effective December 2, 2007. “We are experiencing record highs in fuel related costs that are being driven by unprecedented demands for oil in the world market,” said Dave Hoppes, senior vice president, ocean services. “These costs comprise a large component of operating costs for the transportation industry, and are unavoidable expenses for transporting goods, both on land and at sea. The recent spikes have been unusually dramatic in an already volatile period, and are anticipated to continue through the end of the year. We will continue to monitor fuel costs and adjust the fuel surcharge accordingly. This marks the first adjustment we’ve made to our surcharge in four months. Fuel costs have increased over 10 percent since our last adjustment.” Matson provides ocean transportation, intermodal and logistics services. Matson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. of Honolulu.


Coast Guard Sector Seattle
busy with drifting vessels

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard reports 13 vessels broke loose from their anchorages last Thursday due to high winds and storms that passed through the Puget Sound region. Coast Guard Sector Seattle responded to each case to ensure the vessels were not a hazard to navigation and no pollution entered Puget Sound. In one case the Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Center here detected the bulk carrier NURTEN ANA was dragging anchor in Commencement Bay. The Coast Guard coordinated a tug to assist the drifting vessel. The NURTEN ANA's propellers were fouled with logs and debris and the crew could not stop the vessel's drift. The tug WENDELL FOSS kept a tow line on the disabled vessel until the debris could be removed and the vessel could be anchored. The Coast Guard is requiring the vessel to conduct an underwater survey to inspect for any damage. Vessel owners should ensure they secure their vessels for heavy weather. This includes doubling up lines and ensuring that bilge pumps are operating correctly. When the heavy weather passes owners should check their vessels for damage and flooding.


Crowley Maritime helps deliver
University of Puerto Rico solar house

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group recently transported the University of Puerto Rico's solar house from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Jacksonville, Fla. This unusual shipment is ultimately bound for Washington D.C. where it will serve as the university's entry into the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon competition. Crowley was able to accommodate the shipment and its three -axle expandable double drop trailer which together measured 72 feet long, 8 feet 6 inches in width and 13 feet in height . In addition, Crowley also provided two 53-foot trailers to transport parts and components for the house.


Portland Shipping Club prepares for
annual Children's Shopping Spree

PORTLAND — Volunteers and donations are needed for the Portland Shipping Club's Annual Children's Shopping Spree, Saturday, December 1, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at Kmart, 12350 N.E. Sandy Blvd, in Portland.. Help make Christmas bright for children in local area shelters. Those who have participated in the past say the joy and delight of the chidren wa a wonderful reward and a real reminder of the true spirit of the season. For more information, contact Janna Holm at 503-220-2092 or holm@pdxmex.com


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 19, 2007

Tacoma Port Commission
Oks purchase of two properties

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma Commission has approved the purchase of two forested properties in Northeast Tacoma, preserving almost 60 acres of open space. Purchase of the properties, known as Julia's Gulch and Storey Pit, will maintain a buffer between the Port of Tacoma's industrial activities and Northeast Tacoma neighborhoods. The port reports that the 31-acre Julia's Gulch, purchased from Woodworth & Co. for $2 million, involves a first-of-its-kind partnership among the port, City of Tacoma and Cascade Land Conservancy. Funds for the property came from several sources, including a $245,000 coastal land conservation grant, $300,000 from the city's open space fund and the $1.5 million the city paid the port to settle cleanup costs at a former municipal landfill on the port's Gog-le-hi-te II habitat restoration site near the Puyallup River. The entire 31-acre Northeast Tacoma property on the east side of Commencement Bay will remain open space through a $45,000 stewardship agreement with Cascade Land Conservancy. While discussing the potential purchase of Julia's Gulch with the port, owner Woodworth & Co. proposed selling an additional 36-acre parcel, known as Storey Pit, farther north on Marine View Drive. Port commissioners also approved the $4.8 million purchase of Storey Pit. About six or seven acres of the site are suitable for development, and the remaining 29 acres of the site are expected to join Julia's Gulch as open space. The two property purchases total almost 60 acres of natural habitat and buffer between the industrial Tideflats and Northeast Tacoma neighborhoods.


Western lumber production
hits skids during 2006

PORTLAND — A swoon in U.S. home construction reduced Western lumber production in 2006, the first decline in five years, according to final production figures prepared by Western Wood Products Association. With housing starts decreasing by nearly 13 percent during the year, Western lumber production slipped to 17.98 billion board feet, down seven percent from the previous year. The estimated wholesale value of the lumber was $6.8 billion, compared to $7.7 billion in 2005. WWPA compiled the final industry totals for 2006 following its annual survey of more than 210 mills operating in the continental West and Alaska. Oregon remained the largest lumber producing state in the country and fared better than other Western states. Sawmills in Oregon produced 7.03 billion board feet of lumber valued at $2.5 billion. The volume was down 5.4 percent from the previous year. After reaching a 76-year high in 2005, lumber production in Washington declined 10.5 percent to 5.13 billion board feet – the steepest drop for all Western states. The estimated wholesale value of the state’s production was $1.88 billion. Mills in California produced 2.59 billion board feet valued at $1.19 billion in 2006, a 3.6 percent decrease from the year earlier.


US rail freight traffic
up/down during week

WASHINGTON, DC — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was mixed compared with the same week last year during the week ended October 6, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight totaled 336,315 cars, down 0.3 percent from last year, with loadings up 2.0 percent in the West but down 3.2 percent in the East. A total of 242,871 trailers and containers were loaded during the week, down 3.2 percent the comparable week last year. Container volume was down 2.0 percent while trailer loadings were off 7.0 percent from last year. Total volume was estimated at 35.5 billion ton-miles, up 1.1 percent from the comparable week last year. Among individual carload commodities, metallic ores were up 16.5 percent from last year while nonmetallic minerals showed a 10.4 percent gain and grain rose 5.3 percent. On the downside, lumber and wood products fell 16.1 percent; coke declined 15.9 percent and primary forest products fell 13.6 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 40 weeks of 2007 totaled 13,044,193 carloads, down 3.2. percent from 2006; 9,267,504 trailers or containers, off 2.0 percent; and total volume of an estimated 1.34 trillion ton-miles, down 1.7 percent from last year.

OOCL christens
new container vessel

SEOUL — OOCL has announced on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 the christening of its third in the line of sixteen 4,578-TEU vessels, ordered with Samsung Heavy Industries since 2004. The new vessel has been named the m.v. OOCL HOUSTON by sponsor Tania Martin-Dowd, the wife of Stephen Dowd, vice president infrastructure for the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. The OOCL HOUSTON will be deployed on the Asia-Australia AEA 1 service. The port rotation is: Kaohsiung / Hong Kong / Shanghai / Shekou / Hong Kong / Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane and back to Kaohsiung in a 35-day round trip.


AAPA Facilities Engineering Seminar
scheduled for Nov. 7-9 in San Diego

ALEXANDRIA, VA — If you're looking for a unique group of professionals who design, plan, manage, maintain, secure, finance and repair seaport facilities, you're likely to find them at the American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) Facilities Engineering Seminar, Nov. 7-9, in San Diego. In addition to keynote presenters and expert panelists covering topics ranging from freight congestion to disaster avoidance, the seminar will include a trade show exposition of engineering service and product providers demonstrating the latest advances in port infrastructure and operations. More information about AAPA's Facilities Engineering Seminar and Exposition is available at http://www.appa-ports.org/ (click on the "Programs & Events" tab) or by calling AAPA's Ed O'Connell at 703-684-5700.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 18, 2007

Port of Anacortes earns praise
from Washington State Auditor

ANACORTES — The Anacortes Port Commission received a letter of congratulations last week from Brian Sonntag, Washington State Auditor, for the port’s “exemplary record of no audit findings for the last 10 years.” In addition to the commission and staff overall, Mr. Sonntag extended particular appreciation to Bob Hyde, executive director; Chris Johnson, director of finance & administration; Sheila Iturriaga, accounting manager, Bob Elsner, director of planning, projects & environmental affairs; John Hachey, director of operations & facilities; Becky Darden, project manager; and Julie Johnson Lindsey, office administrator. Mr. Sonntag closed his letter by saying, “Our Office views its relationship with the port as a model for other entities in our state.” The letter will be framed for viewing in the Commission Meeting Room of the port’s Main Warehouse Building.


Oregon freight forwarder
pleads guilty in DOD case

WASHINGTON, DC — An Oregon-based freight forwarder pleaded guilty to rigging bids and allocating shipments for its role in a conspiracy involving its participation in the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) program for shipping the household goods of military and civilian DOD personnel between the United States and foreign countries, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Criminal charges were filed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va. against Lift Forwarders Inc. (Lift). Under the terms of a plea agreement, Lift pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to restrain trade, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, and agreed to pay a $140,000 criminal fine. Lift is the eighth company to be charged in the Department's investigation into anticompetitive and fraudulent conduct related to the DOD International Through Government Bill of Lading (ITGBL) program. Criminal fines in excess of $12 million have thus far been imposed on seven companies.


Railroad accidents decline
during first seven months of '07

WASHINGTON, DC — Railroads reported the fewest train accidents in more than a decade for the first seven months of 2007. US railroads experienced 263 fewer train derailments and collisions during the first seven months of 2007 — a 15.2 percent reduction — compared to the same period last year. If the trend continues through the end of the year, 2007 will see the railroads' lowest accident rate ever — 3.19 per million train miles — according to preliminary data released by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). In addition, highway-rail grade crossing accidents declined by 7.3 percent; and grade crossing fatalities were down by 11.2 percent. The railroads' train accident rate, which tracks the number of accidents per million train miles, was 10 percent lower than the current full-year record of 3.54 accidents per million train miles established in 1997. Specifically, the number of derailments declined by 14.3 percent and train-to-train collisions fell 12.1 percent. Further, the FRA's data revealed that the two leading causes of train accidents - human error and track issues - declined 12.5 percent and 11.1 percent, respectively. Incidents caused by equipment failure fell by 11.3 percent and by signal problems declined by 36.0 percent.


Diana Shipping works deals
to purchase pair of vessels

ATHENS — Diana Shipping Inc. has announced that it has signed two Memoranda of Agreement with unaffiliated third parties for the purchase of two Capesize dry bulk carriers, MV THALASSINI NIKI and MV THALASSINI KYRA to be renamed MV SALT LAKE CITY and MV NORFOLK respectively. The THALASSINI NIKI is a 2005 built Capesize vessel of 171,810 dwt and the THALASSINI KYRA is a 2002 built Capesize vessel of 164,218 dwt. The agreed-upon prices for the THALASSINI NIKI and THALASSINI KYRA are US$140 million and US$135 million, respectively. The THALASSINI NIKI is chartered as of September 28, 2007 to Refined Success Ltd., guaranteed by Cosco (H.K) Shipping Co Ltd. for a period of minimum 59 to maximum 61 months,
at a daily rate of US$55,800 less five percent commission. The THALASSINI NIKI is expected to be delivered to the company on or about November 30, 2007. The THALASSINI KYRA is chartered to Corus UK Ltd. as agents on behalf of Corus Staal B.V. for a period of minimum 59 to maximum 61 months, at a daily rate of US$74,750 less 3.75 percent commission. The charter period for THALASSINI KYRA is expected to commence upon delivery of the vessel to the company on or about February 6, 2008. The employment of both vessels is anticipated to generate approximately US$225 million of gross revenues for the minimum scheduled period of the charters.


Nominations being accepted
for Globe/Marco Polo awards

TACOMA — The World Trade Center Tacoma (WTCTA) has announced the 15th Annual Globe Awards Dinner and Auction. The event is scheduled for Thursday, February 7, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Tacoma's Hotel Murano. The WTCTA is accepting nominations for the Globe Award and Marco Polo Award. The nomination categories are: GLOBE AWARD -- This award honors a business or an individual that contributes to our community's international status through trade participation. MARCO POLO AWARD -- This award recognizes a small or medium sized business for first time success and accomplishments in international trade. Nominations must be submitted by November 1. For a nomination form, go to http://www.wtcta.org/ and look in the Upcoming Events section. Keynote speaker for the event is Scott Carson, executive vice president, The Boeing Company, president and CEO, Commercial Airplanes. Cost for the event is $100 for WTCTA members, $125 for non-WTCTA members and $950 for a table of 10.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 17, 2007

US Barge celebrates delivery
of first completed barge

PORTLAND — Portland-based U.S. Barge christened its first barge, the HO`OMAKA HOU on October 16. A ceremony marked the delivery of the barge to customer Young Brothers, Ltd., of Hawaii. Ho`omaka Hou means "new beginning" in Hawaiian -- a name with special meaning as U.S. Barge celebrates its first completed barge. The christening event also celebrated the success that U.S. Barge has seen over the course of its first year of business. Since 2006, U.S. Barge has directly added 200 family-wage manufacturing jobs to the Portland area. The company is delivered the HO`OMAKA HOU as phase one in its multiple barge contract with Young Brothers. U.S. Barge is co-owned by Oregon Iron Works, Inc. and Vigor Industrial LLC.


Port of Vancouver, USA
receives clean audit report

VANCOUVER, USA — A favorable review has been filed by the Washington State Auditor’s Office on accountability and financial statements for the Port of Vancouver USA's 2006 fiscal year. The annual audit, required by state law, looks into the port’s financial areas, legal compliance, and its internal controls. Both reports issued following the review – released on September 28, 2007 – found the port in full compliance with state laws and its own policies. The audit also found that the port’s financial statements fairly represented the port’s fiscal activities. The review of port financial statements and other required financial information examined: revenues, expenditures, long-term debt, and cash and investments, as well as the overall presentation of the financial statements. The State Auditor also evaluated the port’s accountability for managing public resources in the areas of lease/property revenues, billings and account receivables, payroll benefits, and travel. According to the published report, the financial statements for the audit period fairly represented the financial position of the Port of Vancouver including changes in financial positions and cash flows, as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and conformed to generally-accepted accounting principals. The auditor’s review of port internal control processes over financial reporting and operations noted no matters considered to be material weaknesses.


Washington governor taps Hammond
as new Transporation Secretary

OLYMPIA — Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has announced, after a national search, the appointment of Paula J. Hammond as secretary for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Ms. Hammond has served as the Interim Secretary since August. With the appointment, Ms. Hammond becomes responsible for managing WSDOT and its nearly 7,000 employees. WSDOT, which became a cabinet agency in July 2005, maintains 7,000 miles of highways and 3,300 bridges and tunnels, including the longest and widest of the world's first floating bridges. WSDOT also operates Washington State Ferries — with 29 boats that carry over 27 million passengers. Ms. Hammond graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and is a professional engineer. In her 28 years with WSDOT, she has worked in all areas of the department’s capital delivery, operations and policy programs. Prior to taking this position, Ms. Hammond served as WSDOT’s Chief of Staff since April 2001.


Eight Fast Sealift Ships
now working for MSC

WASHINGTON, DC — Eight Fast Sealift Ships are being transferred from the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command to the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration. Fast Sealift Ships are currently the fastest cargo ships in the world, capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots. They are capable of sailing from the U.S. East Coast to Europe in just six days and to the Persian Gulf via the Suez Canal in 18 days, thus ensuring rapid delivery of military equipment in a crisis. Combined, all eight Fast Sealift Ships can carry nearly all the equipment needed to outfit a full Army mechanized division. Custody of the U.S. Navy Ships ALGOL, ALTAIR, ANTARES, BELLATRIX, CAPELLA, DENEBOLA, POLLUX, and REGULUS was transferred to the Maritime Administration on October 1, 2007. The ships will be maintained in a five-day readiness status in the Ready Reserve Force, able to activate within 120 hours from notification and be ready for sea. Full title to the ships will be transferred to the Maritime Administration October 1, 2008. The Maritime Administration maintains the Ready Reserve Force fleet, located throughout the country, in a reserve status in the event that the Department of Defense needs these ships to support the rapid, massive movement of military supplies and troops for a military exercise or large-scale conflict. The ships are managed by commercial companies and crewed by civilian merchant mariners. With the addition of the eight Fast Sealift Ships, there will be 52 ships in the RRF.


Alaska/Horizon airlines open
'Future' check-in at Sea-Tac Airport

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air opened the first phase of their $18 million Airport of the Future check-in facility on October 16, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The patented design, which replaces traditional ticket counters with islands of check-in and bag-check areas, is expected to reduce passenger wait times. The facility is now open to Alaska Airlines customers and will be open to Horizon Air customers in early 2008. To mark the occasion, an Alaska Airlines million-mile frequent flier ceremonially destroyed a traditional ticket counter using a sledgehammer, before becoming among the first customers to check in for a flight using the new facility. Alaska Airlines introduced the Airport of the Future design in 2004 at Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska. The project cut in half the average check-in time there.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 15, 2007

British Columbia labor unions
send agreement failure letter

VANCOUVER, BC — On October 10, 2007, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Locals 500, 502, 505, 508 and 519 representing dock-side longshore workers in British Columbia sent a letter to the Minister of Labour informing him that the union and employer have failed to reach a collective agreement. The Minister can now appoint a conciliator, who will have 60 days to meet with both parties and prepare recommendations that the Minister may take back to both sides. No strike or lockout can occur within 21 days of the Minister receiving the report from the conciliator. As a result, no labour disruption can occur before January 2008. The Vancouver Port Authority reports it will work closely with government throughout this process and will keep customers informed. As more information becomes available in coming weeks, the VPA will post updates on http://www.portvancouver.com.


Port of Seattle
going with new logo

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle has unveiled a new logo for the organization – the fourth in the organization’s 97-year history. The new design features three horizontal lines representing land, sea and air as well as the port’s three divisions – aviation, real estate and seaport. Employees chose the new logo in a recent vote. The new design was the clear winner over the two other logos presented, receiving 67 percent of votes cast. In keeping with sustainable practices, the port will transition to the new logo as business cards, letterhead and signage need to be replaced through attrition. Electronic communications will reflect the change immediately.


First four ports online
with Secure Freight Initiative

WASHINGTON, DC — Southampton Container Terminals, United Kingdom, Port Qasim, Pakistan (both managed by DP World) and Puerto Cortez, Honduras have become the first seaports to implement the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) as of October 12 by scanning all maritime containers destined for the United States for nuclear or other radiological materials. These ports fulfill the requirements set out in the Security and Accountability For Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006, which establishes a program that couples Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) and radiation detection technology. Data from these systems is then provided to U.S. officials at U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center for analysis. Four additional ports are also scheduled to become operational for Phase I of the project and will provide scanning on a limited capacity basis: Singapore’s Brani terminal; Busan, Korea’s Gamman terminal; Hong Kong’s Modern Terminal and Salalah, Oman.


Oregon AFL-CIO members back
Bradwood Landing LNG terminal

SEASIDE, OR — At its annual statewide convention, members of the Oregon AFL-CIO voted overwhelmingly to endorse the proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal near Astoria, Oregon. “We need to support opportunities for family wage jobs with good benefits, which is why we’re supporting Bradwood Landing,” said Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council Executive Secretary John Mohlis. “NorthernStar’s commitment to the building trades and union labor in general has been impressive. They recognize the quality and commitment of our skilled workers and want them to be a part of their project which will create new opportunities to support local working families.”


Portland Airport adding
new valet parking service

PORTLAND — Portland International Airport travelers will have a convenient, new parking option beginning today, with the launch of the Gold Key Valet parking service. Gold Key Valet will allow travelers to drop off their vehicles in front of the airport terminal building, and pick up their vehicles at the same location when they return from their trip. New signs will guide travelers to the Gold Key Valet drop-off booth, located on the “departures” roadway. There, the traveler simply turns over the vehicle key, and provides flight and contact information, so the vehicle will be ready when the traveler returns from the trip. Gold Key Valet will cost $30 per day, and compliment other parking options available in the economy and long-term parking lots and the short-term parking garage. Reservations are not required, and vehicles are stored in a safe and secure lot. Gold Key Valet joins a host of airport parking improvements, including current construction of a new, second parking garage that partially opens in 2009, and fully opens in 2010. Other improvements include a new parking guidance system now serving motorists in the existing parking garage, and an automated parking payment system called “Quick Pay,” serving travelers in the existing parking garage and long-term parking lot.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 12, 2007

Port of Bremerton breaks ground
on new Kitsap SEED Project

PORT ORCHARD, WA — Today, the Port of Bremerton will have a ground breaking ceremony for the Kitsap SEED Project (Sustainable Energy and Economic Development). The Kitsap SEED project is a multifaceted program centered on a clean technology business park to be located on port property southwest of Bremerton including a business incubation program for this rapidly growing business sector. A second facet of Kitsap SEED is a sustainable business practices program for park tenants and those in the wider Kitsap and Puget Sound community. When built out, the 75-acre site will grow to one million square feet
of building space with 2,000 workers. The architectural firm chosen for the SEED project, Mithun of Seattle, gave a presentation in Silverdale this week at the sixth annual Clean Tech Summit of the West Sound Technology Professionals Association. Mithun is a national leader in green-build and clean technology integration and has project experience internationally. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum building standards are targeted. SEED’s goals include designing and integrating a range of resources that allow businesses to most efficiently realize the benefits of co-location, advanced technology facilities and community resources. SEED will showcase sustainable development and innovative business operating practices. Pioneer companies at SEED’s business park will inhabit office space that demonstrates and promotes their technologies.


NOAA vessels to moor
at Port of Seattle terminal

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle has announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will moor vessels in Seattle this winter. The agency announced that its ships will be docked at the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 30 facility, which is leased and operated by Cruise Terminals of America. The vessels will moor at the facility from November through March of 2008. NOAA’s Marine Operations Center – Pacific has been located on Fairview Avenue East on the shore of Lake Union since 1963. In July of 2006, two piers on the property were damaged in a fire. Since that time, the federal research agency has moored its four vessels at Sand Point, on Lake Washington, and at Federal Center South on the East Duwamish Waterway. The agency was considering temporary moorage sites outside of Seattle for the coming winter, and the Port of Seattle worked with NOAA to find local moorage for the vessels. The Terminal 30 site is close enough to NOAA’s Sand Point facility to be practical and large enough to allow moorage of up to two vessels at once. (While only two vessels can moor at a time, up to four overall may moor at T-30 during the course of the contract.) The terminal also has paved areas that can be used for parking as well as for staging equipment and gear.


US rail freight carload totals
see declines during September

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. railroads originated 1,340,285 carloads of freight in September 2007, down 11,536 carloads (0.9 percent) from September 2006, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. U.S. railroads also originated 963,278 intermodal units in September 2007, a decrease of 24,625 trailers and containers (2.5 percent) over September 2006. Five of the 19 major commodity categories tracked by the AAR saw U.S. carload increases in September 2007 compared to September 2006. U.S. intermodal traffic is not included in carload figures. Commodities showing carload gains in September 2007 included chemicals (up 7,669 carloads, or 6.7 percent, to 121,901 carloads); coal (up 6,533 carloads, or 1.1 percent, to 575,331 carloads); and grain (up 6,195 carloads, or 6.9 percent, to 96,009 carloads). Commodities showing carload decreases in September 2007 included metals and metal products (down 7,761 carloads, or 13.5 percent, to 49,811 carloads); crushed stone, sand, and gravel (down 5,241 carloads, or 5.6 percent, to 88,523 carloads); and lumber or wood products (down 3,233 carloads, or 16.5 percent, to 16,342 carloads). In the third quarter, total carloads on U.S. railroads fell 1.6 percent (67,740 carloads) to 4,276,484 carloads. Carloads of chemicals rose 3.8 percent (14,562 carloads), while grain carloads rose 4.3 percent (12,422 carloads). Carloads of crushed stone and gravel fell 8.2 percent (24,954 carloads) in the third quarter; carloads of metals and metal products were down 12.0 percent (22,425 carloads); and carloads of lumber and wood products were down 16.1 percent (10,791 carloads). For the first nine months of 2007, total U.S. rail carloads were down 426,513 carloads (3.2 percent) to 12,707,878 carloads. U.S. intermodal traffic was down 101,458 trailers and containers (3.2 percent) in the third quarter and was down 178,842 trailers and containers (1.9 percent) for the first nine months of 2007 to 9,024,633. Total volume for the first 39 weeks was estimated at 1.31 trillion ton-miles, down 1.7 percent from 2006.


Electric Boat winds Navy deal
for nuclear submarine services

GROTON, CT — GThe U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat two contract modifications worth a total of $53.5 million for nuclear submarine modernization and planning yard services and support. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Under a $37.3 million modification, Electric Boat will continue operating the New England Maintenance Manpower Initiative (NEMMI) at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. Specifically, Electric Boat will provide a wide range of overhaul, repair and modernization services in support of nuclear submarines, floating dry-docks, support and service craft and other platforms and equipment at the submarine base. About 270 Electric Boat employees are involved in the work. Additionally, Electric Boat will provide reactor-plant planning yard services for nuclear submarines and support yard services for moored training ships under a separate $16.2 million contract modification.


Coast Guard Petty Officer
earns top enlisted person honor

SEATTLE — Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Sadie Jones, a native of Kitsap County, was awarded the Integrated Support Command (ISC) Seattle's Enlisted Person of the Quarter. Petty Officer Jones recieved the award during a ceremony Sept. 26 at ISC Seattle. While serving in the ISC Comptroller Division's Procurement Branch, Petty Officer Jones distinguished herself with an outstanding track record for customer service and professionalism. Petty Officer Jones was recognized for processing over 106 complex government contract purchases, she also served as the point-of-contact for processing all fleet logistics for all of the Coast Guard's capital ships at the ISC. Petty Officer Jones excelled at these complex, time demanding tasks while managing day to day office duties. The Enlisted Person of the Quarter is awarded to Coast Guard personnel who stand out, not only in performance of duty, but in attitude, leadership, professional knowledge, initiative, community service and human relations.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 11, 2007

Greenbrier nets order
to build railcars for GE

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — The Greenbrier Companies and the Rail Services division of GE Equipment Services have announced an agreement under which Greenbrier will manufacture 11,900 tank cars and covered hopper cars for Rail Services over an eight-year period. As part of the agreement, Greenbrier will install GE's proprietary VeriWise(TM) RAIL fleet management technology on the railcars during the manufacturing process. The majority of the railcars will be tank cars, and the agreement marks Greenbrier's entry into the tank car manufacturing market in North America. Initially, Greenbrier will produce 30,000-gallon non-coiled, non-insulated tank cars, which are used to transport ethanol, methanol and more than 60 other commodities. Greenbrier plans to develop and produce other general-purpose tank cars in coming years. The agreement provides for flexibility in car type mix to meet future market needs and fluctuations. Under the agreement, delivery of the first 3,400 railcars is expected to commence in the third calendar quarter of 2008, with completion expected by the first half of calendar 2011. Deliveries beyond this first group of railcars are subject to fulfillment of certain competitive conditions. GE's VeriWise RAIL solution generates information about a railcar's location and the environmental conditions inside it for customers, who can use the information to enhance safety and security, improve shipment delivery cycles and increase the productivity of their fleet operations.


Freight index posts gain
during month of August

WASHINGTON, DC — The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.4 percent in August from its July level, rising after two consecutive monthly declines, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports. The August rise was only the second in the past five months. At 108.9, the freight TSI is down 3.7 percent from its peak of 113.1 achieved in November 2005 and up 0.6 percent from its recent low of 108.3 in November 2006. The freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by the for-hire freight transportation industries. The index consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight. For the first eight months of 2007, the freight TSI was up by less than 0.1 percent. The freight TSI had been down 0.3 percent through the first seven months of the year but the August increase of 0.4 percent turned the index slightly positive for the first eight months. The small increase kept the TSI from recording its third decline in the past five years for the first eight months of the year.


New Northwest Airlines flights
will link Portland with Amsterdam

PORTLAND — Northwest Airlines has announced new nonstop Portland-Amsterdam service scheduled to begin March 29, 2008. Northwest’s new service will connect Portland International Airport (PDX) and the Pacific Northwest to more than 80 destinations throughout Europe, Africa, India and the Middle East via the Northwest/KLM hub at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Northwest’s Portland-Amsterdam service will also provide connections to dozens of destinations beyond PDX via partner airlines Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Northwest will utilize fuel-efficient Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the Portland-Amsterdam route, which offer 32 seats in World Business Class and 211 economy class seats.


Eric Russell announces plans
to leave position at Port of Everett

EVERETT — Eric Russell, the Port of Everett’s properties and development director, has left the port to take a new position at Vulcan Inc. as manager, finance in the company's Real Estate division. During his time at the port, Mr. Russell's responsibilities at the port included covering the transformation of Biringer Farm into a wetland conservation bank, marketing and managing the Riverside Business Park and the North Marina Redevelopment, which is the largest project the Port of Everett has ever undertaken. The North Marina Redevelopment, named Port Gardner Wharf, is a 65-acre mixed-use redevelopment of the Everett waterfront. It transforms a former underutilized industrial site into a mixed-use waterfront neighborhood. Mr. Russell earned Bachelor of Science degrees in both Business and Accounting from Central Washington University, and is a Certified Public Accountant. In March of 1996, Mr. Russell was hired as the port's senior accountant and information services manager and later promoted to the director of properties and development. Mr. Russell has also earned the State Finance Officer’s award 10 consecutive years in a row. Before coming to the Port of Everett, Mr. Russell worked as a financial analyst for five years with the state of Washington. He is a native of Everett, Wash., and graduated from Everett High School in 1979.


Crowley executive named VP
of Puerto Rico Shipping Association

SAN JUAN — Jose Francisco Nazario, Crowley’s finance director in Puerto Rico, was elected vice president of the Puerto Rico Shipping Association during a recent meeting in Puerto Rico. Mr. Nazario was previously secretary of the organization and is an official member of the association’s Silver Anchor Club. mR. Nazario, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a major in accounting from the University of Puerto Rico, has more than 26 years of experience in the maritime industry. Through his involvement with the association, he remains committed to achieving the association’s main objectives, which are to study and solve the common issues that affect the stevedoring and shipping companies, its agents and suppliers doing business in Puerto Rico. Crowley and its predecessor company have been serving the Puerto Rico market since 1954, longer than any other carrier in the trade.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Vancouver USA port board
Oks TCE cleanup change order

VANCOUVER, USA — The Vancouver Port Commission has authorized Executive Director Larry Paulson to sign a change order to the contract for TCE Cleanup that includes design and construction services for the pump-and-treat system at the former Swan Manufacturing Company site. The port executed a contract with Parametrix, Inc., in December, 1997 to address trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination at the former Swan Manufacturing Company site. The port entered into an Agreed Order in 1998 with the Washington Department of Ecology to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study of the contamination site. Excavation of the contaminated soils was completed in 1999. Investigations to determine the extent of contamination at the site and evaluation of groundwater cleanup technology at the source have been ongoing. The objective of the change order to the contract with Parametrix is to support port efforts including, design, permit and overseeing construction of the groundwater pump-and-treat system at the Swan Manufacturing site, manage the environmental obligations associated with the Cadet facility, and provide oversight of environmental investigation and cleanup activities being completed by NuStar Energy. The Change Order increases the contract by $2,736,900 for a new contract total not to exceed $11,611,843 and expires December 31, 2008. TCE costs for 2007 include $2.75 million which includes consulting, lab costs, chemicals and Dept. of Ecology reimbursement. So far, approximately $2.1 million has been spent.


Freightliner changing name
to Daimler Trucks North America

PORTLAND — Freightliner LLC has announced the upcoming change of its corporate name to Daimler Trucks North America LLC, effective January 7, 2008. In parallel, the shareholders of the former DaimlerChrysler AG approved a corporate name change to Daimler AG at a special meeting on October 4. Freightliner LLC has been a part of Daimler AG or one of its predecessor companies since 1981. A new Daimler logo was unveiled in Stuttgart and in Daimler business units worldwide, underscoring the company transformation which commenced with the divestiture of the former Chrysler Group (now Chrysler LLC) on August 3. At the same time, the name of the former DaimlerChrysler Truck Group was changed to Daimler Trucks. Freightliner LLC, soon to be Daimler Trucks North America, manufactures, distributes, and services products under the nameplates Detroit Diesel, Freightliner Trucks, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Mercedes-Benz engines and transmissions, Sterling Trucks, Thomas Built Buses, and Western Star Trucks.


Andreas Udbye leaving
World Trade Center Tacoma

TACOMA — Andreas Udbye has left the post as Executive Director of the World Trade Center Tacoma to pursue other opportunities. Staff, colleagues, and friends of the World Trade Center Tacoma wish Andreas well in his next community-based endeavors. Mr. Udbye, who has held this position since April 0f 2001, was instrumental in steering the World Trade Center Tacoma through the period following 9-11 and the recession of 2002-2003. He implemented the move to downtown Tacoma and modernized and grew many of the center's programs and services to better serve the international trade community. He forged working relationships with federal and state agencies, other trade associations and the educational sector. He crafted joint operating agreements with the World Affairs Council of Tacoma, and entered into cooperation with major trade organizations in China and India. He organized and led as many as ten trade missions to Asia. Mr. Udbye is frequently used as a guest speaker and lecturer at various events and college classes. He was certified in 2005 as Washington State's first "Certified Global Business Professional", a newly created professional designation. Mr. Udbye, who is originally from Norway and is now a U.S. citizen, will continue to reside in the Tacoma area with his family. He expects to continue his career in the international trade sector, and will stay on as an active member of various non-profit boards.


Corps continues program
to redistribute Caspian terns

PORTLAND — A program to redistribute the world's largest breeding colony of Caspian terns and reduce their consumption of juvenile salmon is moving forward, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced. The avian predation program aims to reduce the number of young salmon consumed by terns in the Columbia River estuary and substantially improve the survival of fish listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The Corps and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service previously determined that redistributing terns from the estuary's East Sand Island to alternative nesting locations in the western region is the most biologically sound method to alleviate predation impacts on salmon migrating to the Pacific Ocean. This redistribution is also expected to benefit the terns by reducing the potential risk of exposing a large segment of the regional tern population to catastrophic events such as predators, storms and disease. This colony comprises about 70 percent of the terns' western region population. The redistribution project includes environmental documentation and detailed work plans for the development of Caspian tern nesting sites at six locations over the next five years. Three sites are in Oregon and three are located in San Francisco Bay. The Corps anticipates construction of the first site at Fern Ridge Lake in Oregon to begin in late 2007 with completion in early 2008.


Cunard Line announces plans
to construct QUEEN ELIZABETH

VALENCIA, CA — Cunard Line has announced that it has ordered a new 92,000-ton liner, to be named QUEEN ELIZABETH, scheduled to enter service in the autumn of 2010. Cunard, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of the new 2092-passenger ocean liner, which will be built at Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard at an all-in cost of approximately $700 million. The vessel will be the second largest Cunarder the company has ever built.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 8, 2007

Northwind Marine builds boat
for East Coast fire/rescue work

SEATTLE — Another of Northwind Marine’s 30-foot Argus class fire and rescue boats has headed east from Seattle. This boat was built for Virginia Beach, Virginia, where fire, rescue and police departments watch over an extensive complex of waterways, marinas and other facilities in the Hampton Roads area of Chesapeake Bay. A spokesperson for the Virginia Beach department pointed out that the community maintains 19 fire stations, 12 rescue squads and a variety of marine operations teams. The Virginia Beach fire and rescue teams can also be called on to assist surrounding communities under inter-community agreements. The boat is also available for use in the east coast intracoastal waterway which passes close to the community as well. The Argus class vessels built by Northwind Marine are supplied for fire fighting and search and rescue missions involving both marine and onshore operations. The boats offer 1000-gpm pumping capacity for fighting marine fires with monitors and other types of nozzles and up to 3000-gpm when operating as a water supply source or provisioning shore equipment. The boat has an overall length of 30 feet with a maximum beam of 9 feet 6 inches and a dead rise angle of 18 degrees. The boat is propelled by a pair of 200-hp Mercury Optimax outboards. Northwind has built a number of 30-foot Argus and other sized fire, search and rescue boats over the years that are in service not only in the U.S., but internationally. The boats range in size from 19 to 60 feet.


Port Tracker report
sees drop in container moves

LONDON — Traffic at the nation’s major retail container ports dropped below last year’s levels late this summer, and the peak monthly volume for 2007 is now
expected to fall slightly below last year’s peak, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Global Insight. Ports surveyed were expected to handle 1.52 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) of container traffic in August, a figure that would have broken the record high of 1.51 million TEU set in October 2007, which was also the peak monthly figure for 2007. Actual volume, however, came in at 1.46 million TEU, up 1.5 percent from July but down 1.4 percent from August 2006. September 2007, which was expected to tie September 2006 at 1.48 million TEU, is now estimated at 1.46 million, down 1.9 percent from a year ago. October is traditionally the peak month of the year as retailers rush to stock shelves for the important holiday season. This October was previously forecast at 1.54 million TEU, but is now forecast at about 3,300 TEU short of last year’s 1.51 million TEU. All U.S. ports covered by Port Tracker – Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma and Seattle on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast – are all currently rated “low” for congestion, the same as last month.


Evergreen Line to begin
new Asia/Med service

TAIPEI — Evergreen Line will commence a new weekly service -- AEM (Asia-East Mediterranean Service), effective November 7, utilizing seven 2500-3000 3500 TEU vessels. Ports of call on the 49-day rotation are as follows: Shanghai-Ningbo-Nansha-Hong Kong-Tanjung Pelepas- Haifa-Limassol - Piraeus- Istanbul-Tanjung Pelepas-Shanghai. Evergreen Line had in September run an ad-hoc sailing in the Asia/Eastern Mediterranean trade and will run another two ad-hoc sailings in October to cope with demand in the region. Evergreen Line will also use the AEM service to connect with feeders serving other ports in the East Med and Black Sea.


Cutter STEADFAST
earns Coast Guard award

SEATTLE — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter STEADFAST earned the Coast Guard Battle "E" award for combat readiness while training in San Diego this summer. The crew of the vessel attended annual training designed to assess the effectiveness of shipboard training teams, as well as the their ability to safely operate the ship in a myriad of training exercises. These exercises involved grading the crew and command on their teamwork and proficiency in firefighting, damage control, seamanship, first aid, weapons and machinery casualty control. To prepare for this evolution, the crew spent long hours conducting their own drills, studying manuals, and repairing parts in a pre-training evolution known as the Command Assessment of Readiness and Training (CART). This assessment enables the crew to ensure that the cutter is ready to perform in the training procedures required during final evaluation. The STEADFAST is a Reliance Class cutter, one of 14 in the Coast Guard fleet and one of only three based on the West Coast. the vessel was commissioned in 1968 and has been homeported in Astoria since January 1994. The cutter earned the nickname "El Tiburon Blanco," or "White Shark" from drug smugglers while based in St. Petersburg, Fla., for its notoriously effective law enforcement operations in the Caribbean. The STEADFAST was the first cutter to be awarded the gold marijuana leaf, indicating one million pounds of marijuana seized.


Boeing engineers to speak
at PDX noise committee meeting

PORTLAND — Senior engineers with The Boeing Company will present details of their approach toward building and testing quieter airplane features at the Oct. 11 Portland Airport (PDX) Citizen Noise Advisory Committee meeting. The 15-member citizen committee and its technical advisory members will meet from 6-8 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Gresham City Hall at 1333 NW Eastman Parkway. The meeting is open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend. During this special 2-hour presentation, Boeing engineers will report on the company’s results of several large test programs to reduce aircraft noise heard by the communities, as well as the results of a major noise technology program known as the Quiet Technology Demonstrator QTD 2. Details about the development of low-noise operational procedures known as tailored arrivals and continuous descent approach will be discussed. CNAC is the Port of Portland's official forum for working with the public on issues related to airport noise. CNAC’s representatives come from across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. Eleven of CNAC’s members are appointed by various city and county jurisdictions; four representatives are appointed by the Port to help maintain geographic diversity on the committee. Technical assistance is provided by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Oregon Air National Guard. All CNAC meetings are open to the public and include time for public comment. Gresham City Hall is wheelchair accessible and located just off the TriMet MAX light rail Blue Line.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, October 5, 2007

Port of Longview director
named AAPA board chairman

NORFOLK, VA — Port of Longview Executive Director Kenneth B. O'Hollaren has been formally installed as the American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) Chairman of the Board for 2007-2008. Mr. O'Hollaren accepted his new chairmanship duties at a membership meeting in Norfolk, during which the entire slate of 2007-2008 officers were inducted as part of AAPA's 96th Annual Convention activities. Mr. O'Hollaren has served as the Longview port's executive director since January 1988. He joined the port in 1980 as assistant operations manager, later becoming the assistant to the executive director. Prior to joining the port, he worked in Portland as operations manager for Overseas Shipping Company and Evergreen Line.Mr. O'Hollaren is presently chairman of the Interstate Columbia River Improvement Project, a bi-state coalition of ports organized to deepen the Columbia River navigation channel. In addition to AAPA, he serves on the board of the Cowlitz Economic Development Council. In his role as board chairman, Mr. O'Hollaren will also serve as AAPA's U.S. Delegation chairman for 2007-2008.


Lloyd's Register trust gives grant
to US Merchant Marine Academy

LONDON — The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust (LRET) has demonstrated its commitment to maritime training and safety at sea with a donation to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) on Sept. 29. The LRET’s award of $375,000 represents the largest corporate grant ever received by the USMMA Alumni Foundation, as well as the first ever award in North America by the Trust. The grant will help underwrite both simulator training at the Academy for shipping liquified natural gas, and a distance learning graduate marine engineering program. The LRET, which is based in London, was established in 2004 to support advances in transportation, science, engineering and technology education, training, and research worldwide for the benefit of all. The Trust also funds work that enhances the safety of life and property at sea, on land, and in the air.


US rail freight total
sees gains during week

WASHINGTON, DC — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was up from the corresponding week last year during the week ended September 22, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Carload freight totaled 339,266 cars, up 0.2 percent from last year, with loadings up 4.7 percent in the West but down 5.4 percent in the East. A total of 249,840 trailers and containers were loaded during the week, down 2.5 percent the comparable week last year. Container volume was down 1.0 percent while trailer loadings were off 7.5 percent from last year. Total volume was estimated at 35.5 billion ton-miles, up 1.4 percent from the comparable week last year. Among individual carload commodities, chemicals were up 6.9 percent from last year while grain registered a 5.1 percent gain and coal rose 3.1 percent. On the downside, the AAR reports coke was off 20.9 percent; pulp, paper and allied products declined 13.8 percent and lumber and wood products were off 11.6 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 38 weeks of 2007 totaled 12,362,319 carloads, down 3.3 percent from 2006; 8,771,389 trailers or containers, off 1.9 percent; and total volume of an estimated 1.27 trillion ton-miles, down 1.8 percent from last year.


US, Australia eye
new open-skies deal

WASHINGTON, DC — Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Vaile MP, and US Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, have confirmed each country’s commitment to further strengthen the aviation relationship between them, and announced their intention to liberalize aviation relations by initiating bilateral discussions to conclude a comprehensive open-skies aviation agreement. Existing open-skies arrangements between the two countries are limited to cargo services. A commitment now to hold talks with the goal of bringing the benefits of open skies to the passenger market would permit air carriers to determine the frequency of their air services, the routes they wish to serve, and the prices they wish to charge, without governmental interference. The commitment to these discussions recognises that the liberalization of international air services, in parallel with the existing bilateral commitment to aviation safety, is a key driver for both countries’ economies, providing the ability to strengthen and expand their already strong trade and tourism links. Mr. Vaile and Ms. Peters have agreed that their respective aviation officials will meet before the end of this year to commence discussions. Agreement on the detailed terms of an open-skies air services agreement is expected in early 2008.


Puget Sound Partnership
opening Tacoma office

TACOMA — Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has announced that the Puget Sound Partnership will open an office in the City of Tacoma’s Urban Waters marine research center on Thea Foss Waterway. The satellite office will operate in close proximity to Tacoma’s environmental services division labs and UW-Tacoma research labs. Locating Puget Sound Partnership facilities alongside local, academic and private Puget Sound restoration efforts will encourage collaboration and lead to intellectual and technological marine research developments. The work to restore the Thea Foss Waterway and the economic opportunity that has resulted from that clean up effort is an example that the Puget Sound Partnership wants to replicate throughout the region. The office and laboratory will be located on the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway. When completed in June 2009 Urban Waters will include a 100-foot dock to allow for water-monitoring vessel research. The City of Tacoma is pursuing the highest level of LEED certification for the facility.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, October 4, 2007

Transport worker ID program
to begin in Wilmington, Delaware

WILMINGTON, DE — On October 16, port workers, longshoremen, truckers and others at the port of Wilmington, Del., will become the first workers in the nation to enroll in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. The program ensures that any individual who has unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities and vessels has received a thorough background check and is not a security threat. The announcement of the enrollment date was one of a number of details about the program released by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard. Other developments include the release of the next 11 ports where enrollment will begin in November, publication of an updated port site list with additional enrollment locations, and a revised final rule that lowered the credential fee to $132.50. The Port of Tacoma is scheduled to begin the enrollment process in mid-November.


Crowley taps Demeroutis
as labor relations director

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced that Steve Demeroutis has joined the company as director, labor relations. He is domiciled in Jacksonville and reports to Jerry Dowd, vice president, labor relations, in Seattle. Mr. Demeroutis is responsible for all labor relations activities for the East Coast terminal operations including grievance handling, negotiations contact administration, compliance resolution and relationship building with Crowley's union representatives and personnel. Mr. Demeroutis has more than 15 years of experience in labor relations including his most recent position as vice president, United Inland Group of the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots. He has an extensive background in labor negotiations and conflict resolution and has developed a reputation in the maritime industry as a true professional with the highest integrity. Mr. Demeroutis served as a trustee for several different employee health and benefits plans and has conducted educational seminars for the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. He received his Master's license in 1986 and sailed as Master and First Class Pilot with the Washington State ferries.


CBP reaches 2007 goal
of 58 container security ports

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that it has reached its fiscal year 2007 goal of initiating Container Security Initiative operations at 58 oversees ports to target and pre-screen maritime cargo containers destined for U.S. ports. CSI addresses the threat to border security and global trade posed by the potential for terrorist use of a maritime container to deliver a weapon. CSI proposes a security regime to ensure all containers that pose a potential risk for terrorism are identified and inspected at foreign ports before they are placed on vessels destined for the United States. CBP’s Container Security Initiative, launched months after the terrorist attacks of 2001, is a cooperative effort with host country governments to identify and screen high-risk shipments before they leave participating ports. More than 85 percent of all cargo containers destined for U.S. shores originate in or are transshipped through 58 CSI ports in North, South and Central America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.


Genco shipping selling
GENCO TRADER for $44 million

NEW YORK — Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has announced that it has reached an agreement to sell the GENCO TRADER, a 1990-built Panamax vessel, to SW Shipping Co., Ltd. for $44 million less a two percent brokerage commission payable to a third party. The company expects to realize a net gain of approximately $26 million from the sale of the vessel in the first quarter of 2008. The delivery of the GENCO TRADER is expected to take place upon the expiration of the vessel's current time charter between January 1, 2008 and March 20, 2008.


New World Alliance members
plan to add Med/Black Sea service

TOKYO — The New World Alliance (TNWA) - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), APL, and Hyundai Merchant Marine, Co., Ltd. (HMM) - Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd and United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) have announced a new Asia-East Mediterranean / Black Sea service, named "EBX"(East-Mediterranean / Black Sea Express). From early November, 2007, the EBX service will deploy eight vessels (among which three will be operated by MOL, two operated by APL and one each operated by Hanjin, HMM, and UASC) ranging from 2,500-2,700 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) on a weekly service operating on a 56-day rotation calling: Shanghai (Sun / Mon) -- Hong Kong (Wed / Wed) -- Yantian (Wed / Thu) -- Singapore (Sun / Mon) -- Damietta (Sat / Sun) -- Istanbul (Tue / Thu) -- Constanza (Fri /Sat) -- Illychevsk (Sat / Mon) -- Izmir (Thu / Fri) -- Damietta (Sun / Sun) -- Jeddah (Wed / Thu) -- Singapore (Sun / Mon) -- Shanghai.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, October 3, 2007

American Commercial Lines closes
Elliott Bay Design Group deal

JEFFERSONVILLE, IN — American Commercial Lines Inc. has announced that it has closed the previously announced agreement to acquire the assets of Elliott Bay Design Group, Ltd. (EBDG) a naval architecture and marine engineering firm. EBDG is located in Seattle and has recently opened a second office in New Orleans, Louisiana. The new company, Elliott Bay Design Group LLC, will continue to provide naval architecture, marine engineering and production support to its many customers in the commercial marine industry, while also providing ACL with expertise in support of its transportation and Jeffboat shipyard businesses. American Commercial Lines Inc., headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana, is an integrated marine transportation and service company operating in the United States Jones Act trades, with approximately $940 million in annual revenues and approximately 2,750 employees as of December 31, 2006.


Greenbrier works deal with GATX
to operate Mexican railcar facility

CHICAGO — GATX Corporation and The Greenbrier Companies have announced that GATX completed a long-term lease of its Tierra Blanca, Mexico railcar maintenance services facility to Greenbrier's rail services business unit, Gunderson Rail Services "GRS." Additionally, GRS has entered into a long-term maintenance service agreement with GATX and will operate the Tierra Blanca shop to repair and service railcars for GATX and other customers in Mexico. GATX owned and operated the Tierra Blanca maintenance facility since 1994 when it was purchased from the FNM Railroad. The facility resides on 34 acres of land and offers full service tank car and general freight car repairs including cleaning, painting and lining. GATX operates a fleet of approximately 6,000 railcars in Mexico.


Panama Canal Authority
announces new records

PANAMA CITY — The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced that the canal has broken one annual record and set two new single-day records. The waterway surpassed its annual mark of transiting 300 million Panama Canal tons for the first time in canal history; broke the record for the transit of Panamax ships – the widest vessels to cross the canal; and, set another record in total Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tonnage transit in a single day. Additionally, the canal tied its record for the transit of “super” vessels, ships measuring 91 feet or more in beam. The new transit record of 25 Panamax vessels set on Wednesday, September 19, breaks the previous mark of 24 set in July 2003. Contributing to the new record were 10 bulk carriers, six container ships, three vehicle carriers, three tankers, two roll on/roll off vessels and one container/breakbulk ship. On that same day, a record 1,113,682 PC/UMS tons transited the waterway; this breaks the record of 1,072,353 set on May 6, 2007. On September 20, for the first time in canal history, the waterway surpassed its annual mark transiting 300 million Panama Canal tons, well above the 296.1 million tons reached in the previous year. The canal tied its March 2006 and June 2006 transit record for “supers” when 27 of these ships traversed the canal on September 19. Due to their wide beams (width) and length overall, supers have greater limitations and require more resources and time to transit the waterway.


Corps awards contract
for La Push dredging work

SEATTLE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces that an Oregon company was awarded a million-dollar contract to dredge a water highway in La Push, Wash. Portable Hydraulic Dredging of Eagle Creek, Ore. received the award in the amount of $1,196,000 to dredge 58,000 cubic yards between Oct. 15 and Dec. 1, barring any weather delays. The U.S. Coast Guard maintains a search-and-rescue operation in Quillayute Marina, which borders the Pacific Ocean, making them the only emergency point between Gray’s Harbor and Neah Bay. The dredging will ensure that the Coast Guard will operate continuously, allowing unfettered access of their rescue vessels. The marina is also an important asset to the Quileute Tribe. Their reservation is an 800-year-old Indian fishing village, which relies heavily on the marina and its access to the ocean. The clean dredge material will be used for beach nourishment on Rialto Beach. Beach nourishment is the placement of the material on or near the beach, usually to renourish an eroding beach.


Crowley vessels net CSA award
for no environmental accidents

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation's continued focus on environmental preservation and protection was recently recognized by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) in Washington, DC, with environmental excellence awards for 26 ships, which are owned and/or operated by Crowley subsidiaries. The awards ceremony recognized companies with vessels that had achieved a record of two or more years of no recordable environmental incidents. Crowley companies, including Crowley Liner Services, Crowley Petroleum Services, Marine Transport Lines and Marine Transport Management, surpassed this benchmark with a combined total of 152 years of environmental excellence among its recognized vessels. The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA), founded in 1917, is an organization that represents 30 U.S. based companies who own, operate and/or charter U.S. and foreign-flag ocean-going tankers, container ships, dry bulk vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades and companies that maintain a commercial interest in the operation of such oceangoing vessels.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, October 1, 2007

TOTE enters into new lease
for expanded Port of Tacoma facility

TACOMA — On September 28, the Port of Tacoma Commission approved a restated lease with Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. (TOTE) that calls for a redeveloped Blair Waterway terminal for TOTE's Alaska cargo business. Under the lease, which runs through 2034, the port will redevelop the TOTE terminal that will be up to 72 acres (29 hectares) in size, allowing TOTE to meet the growing Alaska market for decades to come, said Port of Tacoma Commission President Dick Marzano. TOTE's opportunity for growth is due to the port's recently announced agreement with NYK Line to build a 168-acre (68-hectare) facility for container terminal operator Yusen Terminal Tacoma Inc. (YTTI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NYK Line. Portions of TOTE's existing, 47-acre (19-hectare) terminal will be incorporated into the NYK terminal. Construction on the $104.3 million TOTE Terminal is scheduled to begin in 2009 and be complete in 2011. YTTI construction will start in 2010 and be complete by mid-2012. TOTE operates a roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) service between the ports of Anchorage and Tacoma, moving 53-foot highway trailers directly on and off the vessels. This service allows for fast, efficient cargo distribution throughout Alaska. TOTE first began calling in Tacoma in 1976, when port management and the local longshore workforce together marketed Tacoma's advantages to TOTE executives. Three decades later, more than 70 percent of all waterborne commerce between the lower 48 states and Alaska is handled through the Port of Tacoma on vessels operated by TOTE and Horizon Lines, the Port of Tacoma's other Alaska carrier.


Two new commissioners
named to Portland port board

PORTLAND — Today marks the official start date of the newest Port of Portland Commissioners, Diana A. Daggett and Peter Bragdon. Last month, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski announced their appointment and both appointees were confirmed by the Oregon Senate on September 13. Ms. Daggett is the America Region Director of Corporate Affairs for Intel Corporation, where she has held various positions since 1997. She currently serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Columbia Willamette, and formerly served on the boards of the Portland Business Alliance, Westside Economic Alliance, and the American Electronics Association Oregon Council. Mr. Bragdon is the Vice President and General Counsel for Columbia Sportswear Company. He oversees the law department, corporate responsibility department, and customs and trade department. Prior to taking his current position, he served as Chief of Staff to Governor Kulongoski. He is on the board of the Portland Public Schools Foundation and Associated Oregon Industries. The confirmation of Daggett and Bragdon to the nine member commission follows the recent addition of Paul A. Rosenbaum in May. At that time, Governor Kulongoski also appointed Judi Johansen as commission president. Ms. Daggett and Mr. Bragdon replace Junki Yoshida and Grant Zadow who served on the commission for 12 years and eight years respectively. Current members of the Port Commission are: Commission President Judi Johansen; Paul A Rosenbaum, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Rentrak; Steve Corey, a Pendleton attorney and sheep rancher; William D. Thorndike, president, Medford Fabrication; Ken A. Allen, executive director of AFSCME Council 75; Bruce A. Holte, a longshoreman with the ILWU; and Mary F. Olson, president of Norris, Olson & Associates.


Crowley Maritime upgrading ships
in Caribbean islands service

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group is enhancing its Caribbean islands service beginning this week with the addition of two new, bigger, faster container ships - the Eclips and Ocean. Each ship offers about 200 more TEUs of capacity and twice the number of reefer plugs - about 160 - than the Sea Gale and Sea Cloud, the ships they are replacing. Running at about 18.5 knots, the new ships are about two knots faster, which should result in even better transit times and schedule integrity.


Trade between NAFTA partners
rises during month of July

WASHINGTON, DC — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 10.5 percent higher in July 2007 than in July 2006, reaching $61.8 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 (RITA), reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico fell 11.1 percent in July from June. 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 90 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 July was up 49.3 percent compared to July 2002, and up 91.7 percent compared to July 1997, a period of 10 years. Imports in July were up 104.0 percent compared to July 1997, while exports were up 77.6 percent.


Satellite tracking system planned
for US/Mexico trucking project

WASHINGTON, DC — All Mexican and U.S. vehicles participating in the ongoing cross-border trucking demonstration project will be required to participate in a satellite-based vehicle tracking system under a plan being developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the government of Mexico’s Secretaria de Communicaciones y Transportes (SCT). In May, the two countries agreed to explore satellite technology as an enforcement tool for the cross-border trucking demonstration project. FMCSA has announced in FedBizOpps its intent to issue a contract to provide satellite terminals for the near real-time tracking of commercial trucks traveling throughout the continental U.S. and Mexico as part of the cross-border trucking demonstration project. The systems will be installed at no cost to the participating trucking companies – it is not required on U.S. trucking companies operating solely within the U.S. The vehicle tracking system will incorporate a global positioning system and wireless technology to accurately determine a vehicle’s position, and will be used to monitor hours of service, cabotage violations (the point-to-point shipping of domestic loads within the U.S.) and date and time of international and state crossings. Vehicles will be tracked by vehicle number and company – no driver information will be collected or tracked.