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September, 2008

NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, September 29, 2008

NOL makes binding offer
for Hapag-Lloyd box business

SINGAPORE — NOL has confirmed it has submitted a binding bid to acquire the Hapag-Lloyd container shipping business. NOL submitted its bid to acquire Hapag-Lloyd to the company's owner TUI AG on September 26, 2008. Any agreement would be subject to the acceptance of the bid by TUI, regulatory approvals and shareholders' approval. NOL remains bound by strict confidentiality undertakings, which legally restrict the company's ability to share information, and the details of the NOL bid remain confidential.


Coast Guard taps Bollinger
for new Fast Response Cutter

WASHINGTON, DC — Coast Guard Commandant, Adm. Thad W. Allen, and other Coast Guard senior leaders have announced the award of an $88 million contract to Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., for the design and construction of the Fast Response Cutter, Sentinel-Class patrol boat. The 153-foot cutter, which will be capable of speeds of more than 28 knots, will be built at Bollinger's shipyard in Lockport, La. According to the Coast Guard, this is a firm, fixed-price contract with an economic price adjustment. The approximate maximum value of this contract, if all options are exercised for a total of 34 patrol boats, is $1.5 billion over a period of between six and eight years.


Sperry Marine supplying
bridge systems for new tankers

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Sperry Marine business unit has been selected by Novorossiysk Shipping Company (Novoship) to supply integrated bridge systems (IBS) for 10 new tankers being built in Korea and China. The newbuilds include four 112,000 deadweight ton (dwt) tankers at Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea and six 156,000 dwt tankers at Nantong Rongsheng in China, for delivery in 2008-2009. Each of the ships is being fitted with a complete navigation suite that includes radars, electronic chart display and information system, digital adaptive autopilot, steering controls, gyrocompasses, voyage data recorder, automatic identification system and other associated sensors and systems. All equipment meets or exceeds International Maritime Organization (IMO) performance standards.


Crowley extends lease
for Puerto Rican terminal

SAN JUAN — Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group and the Puerto Rico Port Authority have announced the signing of a new lease that will keep Crowley at its Isla Grande terminal for up to 20 years and allow for multimillion-dollar investment by the company in terminal infrastructure to grow its business and offer even better service to customers. The contract extends Crowley's terminal lease for at least 10 years, to, if options are exercised, up to 20 years, with the term running through September 2028. Crowley and its predecessor company have been serving the Puerto Rico market since 1954, longer than any other carrier in the trade.


Trucking firm's Portland office
helps employees in long run

PORTLAND — On October 5, seven Con-way employees will run the Portland Marathon. And because their company is committed to wellness, they didn't have to pay the $90 entry fee or buy a running shirt - Con-way covered the details. For this national trucking firm, wellness is a major platform for success. This month it expanded its wellness program that is improving the health and fitness of its employees while reducing workplace injuries and related costs. The 900 workers at Con-way's Portland campus have a free on-site gym, locker rooms and showers, access to an instructor who provides individual and group sessions, and indoor and outdoor bike storage. This translates into a workforce that is healthy, energized and more productive.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, September 26, 2008

Port of Seattle talking with
possible rail corridor operator

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle has announced that it will begin negotiations with GNP/Ballard for freight service operation on the northern portion of the Eastside rail corridor. GNP/Ballard, a partnership between Byron Cole, who operates the Ballard Terminal Railroad, and Tom Payne, owner of GNP Railway, will pay the port for use of the land, which runs from Snohomish and Woodinville. The Port of Seattle is acquiring the corridor from BNSF, who selected the short line operator. Any contract between the port and GNP/Ballard will not be finalized until the transfer of the corridor is complete. The port is acquiring the corridor from BNSF for $107 million. King County will contribute $2 million toward the purchase price in return for an easement for trail development on the southern segment of the corridor. The Surface Transportation Board is expected to grant approval in the fall of this year. The port will then begin a public process to gain input on how King County citizens would like to see the rail corridor used.


Crowley Maritime expanding
liner services equipment fleet

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services equipment fleet is continuing to grow this year with the acquisition of $21 million worth of containers, chassis, refrigerated containers, trailers and generator sets. Part of the order - 600 45-foot (102-inch wide) dry containers and chassis - is currently being received in Jacksonville and immediately deployed in the company's Puerto Rico, Caribbean and Latin America services for the benefit of customers. In all, Crowley is acquiring 600 45-foot (102-inch wide) dry containers, 600 45-foot chassis, 120 40-foot high-cube and 40 20-foot standard refrigerated containers, 150 45-foot flat bed trailers, 50 mafi trailers and 274 generator sets in 2008. The refrigerated containers, gensets, flatbeds and mafis were received earlier this summer.


US rail freight traffic
on downside during week

WASHINGTON, DC — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off during the week ended September 13 in comparison with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Total volume was estimated at 34.6 billion ton-miles, down 1.7 percent from the comparable week last year. Carload freight in the week totaled 329,836 cars, off 2.4 percent from last year. Volume was down 0.6 percent in the West and 5.0 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 236,877 trailers or containers, down 6.1 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was off 5.4 percent while container traffic was down 6.3 percent. Eighteen of 21 carload commodity groups were down from a year ago. Loadings of motor vehicles and equipment fell 25.1 percent while lumber and wood products were down 18.4 percent and primary forest products were off 16.2 percent. On the upside, metallic ores gained 20.1 percent from last year while coal rose 7.0 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 37 weeks of 2008 totaled 12,035,176 carloads, up 0.1 percent from 2007; 8,266,065 trailers or containers, down 2.0 percent; and total volume of an estimated 1.25 trillion ton-miles, up 1.2 percent from last year.


DOT eyes Evergreen
as new China air service

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed to name Evergreen International Airlines as a new all-cargo entrant in the U.S.-China aviation market. Evergreen, if granted final authority, will operate six round-trip flights per week to Shanghai from New York with additional traffic stops in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Columbus, OH. The U.S.-China aviation agreement concluded in May 2007 permits the United States to name a new all-cargo carrier to begin service in the market on March 25, 2009. Kalitta Air and TradeWinds Airlines, in addition to Evergreen, applied for the 2009 all-cargo rights.


Crystal Cruises earns
Line of the Year award

TOKYO — Crystal Cruises Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NYK Line, is the recipient of an industry recognition in the U.K., the Travel Trade Gazette's Cruise Line of the Year Award for cruise operators in the category of less than 75,000 UK passengers. This award, sponsored by the Travel Trust Association, was presented on September 10 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Companies on the shortlist for the recognition included Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Hurtigruten, NCL, and Oceania Cruises. The Travel Trade Gazette is a weekly publication that has been in print for over 50 years.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, September 25, 2008

ATA Truck Tonnage Index
falls during month of August

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 1.6 percent in August, marking the largest month-to-month drop since March of this year. Additionally, the index fell 0.9 percent in July, a downward revision from the 0.3-percent drop reported Aug. 26. In August, the seasonally adjusted tonnage index equaled 113.6 (2000 = 100), its lowest level since November 2007. The not seasonally adjusted index decreased 3.4 percent to 115.0 in August. The seasonally adjusted index was 2.6 percent higher compared with August 2007, marking its tenth consecutive year-over-year increase. The gain was more than one percentage point lower than the improvement in July. Year-to-date, the index was up 3.4 percent compared with the same period in 2007. Tonnage contracted 1.7 percent and 1.5 percent in 2006 and 2007, respectively.


The Dalles Lock/Dam
closed for repairs today

PORTLAND — The navigation lock at the The Dalles Dam will close to river traffic today, Sept. 25 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. to allow divers to remove structural steel debris from the downstream navigation lock approach channel, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced. The Dalles Lock and Dam visitor center will remain open during the lock closure. The visitor center is located at Seufert Park on the Oregon shore off exit 87 of Interstate 84. The Dalles Lock and Dam is located 192 miles upstream from the mouth of the Columbia River, two miles east of the city of The Dalles, Ore. The dam extends 1.5 miles from the Oregon shore to the navigation lock on the Washington shore. Public notices and other navigation lock information are available on the internet at: https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/s/nl.


Crowley Maritime taps Atkinson
as government contracts vice president

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced that Steve Atkinson has been appointed vice president of government contracts and business development for Crowley's technical services business unit. In this new position, Mr. Atkinson will report to Steve Collar, senior vice president and general manager, and will be domiciled in Jacksonville. One of his first tasks will be to develop a business plan to expand Crowley's presence in the government's professional services segment. Mr. Atkinson is a 22-year veteran in the government services arena having served most recently as director of government programs for Stanley Security Solutions. He has experience in managing a government sales force and has worked with a full range of government contracts. He led his former company in the establishment and implementation of U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) contracts and teaming arrangements, including product offerings, ancillary services contracts, national customer service and sales training.


TOP Ships eyeing
sale to Greek shipowner

ATHENS — TOP Ships Inc. has announced that it has entered into an exclusivity agreement with an affiliate of George Economou, the Greek shipowner, providing for the exploration by such affiliate of the possible acquisition of the company at a potential price of $6.00 per share. The exclusivity agreement expires on October 8, 2008. The exclusivity agreement also provides that the company has agreed to reimburse such affiliate's out of pocket expenses, up to $1.0 million, in certain circumstances.


Coast Guard wants information
on mayday call received Monday

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard responded to a mayday call received at 7:03 p.m. in the vicinity of Budd Inlet, Wash., Monday. The caller's broadcast said 'mayday, mayday, mayday.' Coast Guard Sector Seattle replied to the distress call but did not receive a response. The Coast Guard's Rescue 21 system, which is designed to essentially take the ‘search' out of search-and-rescue, only received one navigational line of bearing as a result of the call. A rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles was launched to search the area in which the call came from. The search produced negative results. A Thurston County, Wash., marine unit along with a Port of Olympia, Wash., official also conducted a search with negative results of a vessel in distress. The Coast Guard requests that anyone having any information of this mayday call to contact Coast Guard Sector Seattle at 206-217-6001, Thurston County Sheriff's Department or their local law enforcement agency.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Workers go on strike
at Oak Harbor Freight Lines

SEATTLE — Teamsters at Oak Harbor Freight Lines in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho walked off the job September 22, in response to what the union says is hostile efforts by company representatives to bully and intimidate workers. Oak Harbor Freight Lines, one of the largest trucking companies on the West Coast, provides time sensitive delivery services to some of the largest companies and government agencies in the country including the Gap, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), Safeway, Siemens, Georgia Pacific, McKesson, Owens & Minor, JC Penney, Honda, GM & Chrysler Parts, Urban Outfitters, Whirlpool, and the State of Washington. Union officials report the National Labor Relations Board is investigating several labor law violations committed by the company including coercing and threatening employees, as well as making unlawful changes to working conditions.


Port of Bremerton in line
to receive DOC grant dollars

PORT ORCHARD — The Port of Bremerton has received word that the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has approved the port’s application for a grant award in the amount of $2.58 million to construct a new clean technology business development building at the port’s Olympic View Business and Industrial Park on SR 3 southwest of Bremerton. The building will be designed to house a small business incubator program to serve the clean technology business sector and assist with commercialization of green products and services. The port commission will be considering the acceptance of the grant offer at an upcoming meeting.


Emergency Functional Exercise
scheduled for today in Seattle

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard along with several other local, state and federal agencies and Argosy Cruises will stage an emergency Functional Exercise (FE) response drill today at Pier 66 in downtown Seattle. The FE will commence at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude at 12 p.m. The FE is designed to further improve inter-operability between the first responders, maritime industry incident commanders. The purpose of the FE is designed to identify participating agencies' roles and responsibilities within the established Unified Command structure at the Joint Harbor Operations Center and conduct a live waterborne-rescue operation on Elliot Bay. Participants in the drill include: Coast Guard; King County Sheriff's Department; Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; Washington State Patrol; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Argosy Cruises; Seattle Police Department; Port of Seattle Police Department; Seattle Fire Department; Port of Seattle Security; and Bainbridge Island Police Department.


US steel imports
down during August

WASHINGTON, DC — The International Trade Administration reports that preliminary data released September 23, show that overall steel imports in August 2008 decreased 19.3 percent from July 2008. The change in August’s total amount of steel imports was due to a decrease in imports for all product categories. The most significant decreases were in blooms, billets and slabs (-42.23 percent), line pipe (-35.5 percent) and cold rolled sheet (-26.5 percent). Stainless imports also decreased by 14.89 percent overall due to a significant decrease in cold rolled sheet and blooms, billets and slabs. July 2008 imports of steel mill products were down 11.33 percent compared to July 2007.


Construction changing traffic flow
near Portland International Airport

PORTLAND — Lane restrictions and a detour are planned beginning this evening near Portland International Airport. The changes will nearly complete the widening of Northeast Airport Way by a lane in each direction between Northeast 82nd Avenue and the airport terminal building. Weather permitting, Airport Way will reduce to one lane at times between approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday and 5 a.m. Thursday. During that same time, motorists will need to follow a detour route when traveling from northbound 82nd Avenue to westbound Airport Way. Motorists are encouraged to access westbound Airport Way via I-205 during that time to avoid the detour. Other work will continue through Friday, however, at least two traffic lanes will remain open at all times. Motorists, and especially motorcyclists, are cautioned to drive slower, as pavement may be uneven; watch for detour signs and important information on over-the-roadway signs. TriMet MAX light rail service and all airport parking lot shuttle buses will operate as scheduled. Following the road work, landscaping in the roadway median through the end of October will complete the project and have little impact on motorists.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, September 22, 2008

Corps informs Port of Seattle
that dredging violations resolved

SEATTLE — The Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, notified the Port of Seattle Sept. 17 that the over-dredging permit violation has been resolved for their Terminal 30 and 91 projects. The Corps reviewed information provided by the port and port contractors and determined that the compliance problem could be resolved by accepting the as-built conditions and adding revised special conditions to the permit. Special conditions added included a $10,000 payment to an organization that performs environmental restoration work in Puget Sound. According to the Corps, payment was made to People for Puget Sound for restoration work in Puget Sound. Another requirement was for additional documentation and meetings describing how the port would avoid over-dredging during this year’s work.


Schnitzer Steel buying
Puerto Rican scrap firm

PORTLAND — Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ponce Resources of Salinas, Puerto Rico (Ponce). Ponce is engaged in the business of collecting, processing, and selling ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal and operates at four locations in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The acquisition is expected to close during Schnitzer's fiscal first quarter of 2009. Terms of the transaction were not announced.


Pierce County works with WSDOT
to continue current ferry service

SEATTLE — Pierce County and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) agreed Thursday, Sept. 18 on a plan to ensure continuous ferry service for both the state’s Port Townsend/Keystone route and the County’s route from Steilacoom to Anderson and Ketron islands. Pierce County’s ferry, the STEILACOOM II, has been leased to WSDOT since February. The county will honor the lease through its expiration in August 2009, allowing the STEILACOOM II to continue operating on the Port Townsend/Keystone route. The CHRISTINE ANDERSON, Pierce County’s other ferry, will continue service between Steilacoom and Anderson and Ketron islands. WSDOT is moving forward to build two new 64-car ferries for the Port Townsend/Keystone route. Advertisement for potential bidders started on Sept. 10, and a bid opening is scheduled for Nov. 6.


DOT plans projects
to ease border congestion

WASHINGTON, DC — Drivers and freight shippers will experience less delay at U.S. border crossings in California, Texas and Washington thanks to a U.S. Department of Transportation effort to prioritize and accelerate projects that ease border congestion, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced. At the southern border, San Diego’s Otay Mesa East Port of Entry project will create a new port of entry and a 2.7-mile, four-lane highway that links to the existing California highway system to provide more capacity for traffic through the region. In Laredo, Texas, the East Loop Bypass Project will build a new rail bridge across the border and new rail bypass around the city, adding rail capacity and improving safety. At the northern border, in Blaine, Wash., the Cascade Gateway Expanded Cross-border Advanced Traveler Information System project proposes to provide real-time border-crossing wait-times and other travel information through a combination of technologies.


Customs returns artifacts
to Mexican Consulate General

SAN BERNARDINO, CA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have returned two centuries-old artifacts, one believed to date back to 200 BC, to the San Bernardino, Calif., consulate general of Mexico. They were illegally imported into the United States in 2004. Two Los Angeles CBP officers representing the CBP Portland, Ore., field operations office presented the artifacts to Acting Consul General Jeremias Guzman Barrera during a ceremony at the San Bernardino County Museum. The artifacts, described as a Teotihuacan Funerary Mask and Statuette, are believed to be from a north central Mexican region that has been emptied of many of its ancient artifacts primarily due to the increase in illicit trade.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, September 19, 2008

Ceremony marks opening
of IKEA's Tacoma distribution center

TACOMA — IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, has officially inaugurated its state-of-the-art northwest distribution center, now fully operational near Tacoma. The ceremony included Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, local government officials, and IKEA representatives, as well as the raising of the U.S., Swedish and Washington flags, and a traditional Swedish log-sawing ceremony, which brings good luck to a new home. Constructed on 65 acres at the Frederickson Industrial Area in unincorporated Pierce County, Wash., this 646,000-square-foot distribution center represents the first phase of a project by the Swedish company that eventually can expand to more than one million square feet. Ultimately, this IKEA distribution center will employ about 125 coworkers and provide property tax revenue for local governments and schools.


Bradwood Landing LNG site
receives FERC approval

PORTLAND — On a 4-1 vote, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved a certificate order for the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas receiving terminal which will be built at the former Bradwood mill site, 20 miles east of Astoria, Oregon. Developed by NorthernStar Natural Gas, Bradwood Landing is the first U.S. West Coast LNG terminal to receive approval from FERC. The certificate order, which authorizes construction and operations, is conditioned on Bradwood completing the permit process with Oregon state agencies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Army Corps of Engineers. FERC granted Bradwood Landing pre-filing status on March 7, 2005. At three years and six months, FERC’s consideration of Bradwood Landing ran more than a year longer than any previous LNG project and reflects the agency’s detailed and in-depth review. In addition, Bradwood Landing expects to secure the balance of permits within the next several months.


Corps changing plans
for Willamette dredging project

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has suspended work on the Willamette River Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) pending the outcome of the Portland Harbor Superfund Clean-up investigation. The Willamette River DMMP is a long-term plan for continued maintenance of the existing federal navigation channel. Over the past several years, the Corps has completed or worked on a number of studies related to this project, with dredging originally anticipated to commence in 2009. At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency has overseen studies of the Portland Harbor Superfund site; a cleanup remedy for the Harbor site is expected from EPA in 2010. With many decisions still to be made by EPA on harbor-wide cleanup, the Corps has decided to suspend development of the long-term maintenance plan at this time. The lack of maintenance dredging in the last ten years presents a hazard to navigation and impacts access to Willamette River terminals and berths. Therefore the Corps is planning an interim dredging action that will address one significantly shoaled site at Post Office Bar at river mile 2. The permitting process required for this action will ultimately determine the appropriate disposition of dredged material, but it is anticipated that the material will be placed upland in an existing approved material handling location, such as those used for recent terminal and berth dredging projects. Work has begun on an Environmental Assessment of this project; a draft of which is expected by early 2009.


Series of storms affect
US rail freight traffic numbers

WASHINGTON, DC — At least partly because of weather-related issues (Hurricane Gustav at the beginning of the week and Tropical Storm Hanna later in the week), freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off during the first week of September in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Both this year's week and the comparison week from last year included the Labor Day holiday. Total volume was estimated 32.0 billion ton-miles, down 3.3 percent from the comparable week last year. Carload freight in the week totaled 306,340 cars, off 3.5 percent from last year. Volume was down 1.7 percent in the West and 6.1 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 200,876 trailers or containers, down 3.4 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was off 2.8 percent while container traffic was down 3.5 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 36 weeks of 2008 totaled 11,705,340 carloads, up 0.2 percent from 2007; 8,029,188 trailers or containers, down 2.9 percent; and total volume of an estimated 1.2 trillion ton-miles, up 1.3 percent from last year.


Horizon Lines making payment
on revolving credit facility

CHARLOTTE, NC — Horizon Lines, Inc. is making a voluntary payment of $12.5 million on its revolving credit facility. The debt payment follows a similar voluntary payment of $10 million made during the second quarter, and reduces borrowings on its $250 million revolving credit facility to $157.5 million. "We continued to generate solid cash flow in our third quarter, which ends this coming Sunday, and we have elected to use some of the cash to continue to pay down debt," said Michael Avara, senior vice president and chief financial officer. "Our company is ending the quarter with strong corporate liquidity and continues to operate very comfortably in compliance with our credit facility financial covenants. We currently plan to continue to pay down debt in the fourth quarter." Horizon Lines will report third-quarter results on October 24, 2008.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, September 18, 2008

Port of Seattle holding
third runway open house

SEATTLE — The public is invited to a Port of Seattle community open house to learn more about Sea-Tac Airport's new, third runway. The runway opens to commercial service on November 20th and the open house will give the public the opportunity to ask questions connected to the runway's operation: From noise contours to flight patterns. The open house will be held on September 25th at Boulevard Park Presbyterian Church just north of Sea-Tac Airport . The public is urged to stop by anytime between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Experts will also be on hand to discuss a variety of other Airport topics and projects including:
Efforts taken by the airport to protect and enhance our environment
Current and upcoming property acquisition and relocation projects
The airport's Comprehensive Development Plan
Job opportunities at the airport
Programs that reduce aircraft noise
Development projects planned in the surrounding communities and
The mission and goals of the port's new Office of Social Responsibility.


Convetion bans certain
anti-fouling paints on ships

LONDON — An international convention banning the use of organotins and other harmful substances in anti-fouling paints applied on ship hulls entered into force on September 17, 2008. The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention) was adopted on October 5, 2001 by IMO and the terms for its entry into force (ratification by 25 states representing 25 percent of the world's merchant shipping tonnage) were reached last year. The convention has, to date, been ratified by 34 states, with a combined 52.81 percent of world merchant shipping tonnage. Under the convention, ships are not permitted to apply or re-apply organotin compounds which act as biocides in their anti-fouling systems; ships either shall not carry such compounds on their hulls or external parts or surface or, in the case of ships that already carry such compounds on their hulls, will have to apply a coating that forms a barrier to prevent them leaching from the underlying non-compliant anti-fouling systems. The convention also establishes a mechanism to evaluate and assess other anti-fouling systems and prevent the potential future use of other harmful substances in these systems. The convention applies to ships flying the flag of a party to the convention, as well as ships not entitled to fly their flag but which operate under their authority, and to all ships that enter a port, shipyard or offshore terminal of a party. It applies to all ships, including fixed or floating platforms, floating storage units (FSUs) and floating production storage and off-loading units (FPSOs).


US Merchant Marine Academy
works deal with Peruvian school

KINGS POINT, NY — The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, in the spirit of international cooperation, has extended its hands across the sea by recently signing a pledge of cooperation with the National Merchant Marine School in Peru. The two-page Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) lays the foundation for short-term student and faculty exchanges, sharing information regarding curriculum, training and methods of instruction, and exploring cooperative research programs in the fields of nautical science and marine engineering. The MOU, which recognizes that both the U.S. and the Peruvian schools share mutual interests in maritime education and training, was signed by Vice Adm. Joseph D. Stewart, Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and by Captain Luis E. Lopez Vinatea, Director of the National Merchant Marine School in Peru.


US firms participating in
trade mission to Mongolia

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Commerce Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade Michelle O’Neill kicked off the first U.S. trade mission to Mongolia, September 15-19, 2008. The trade mission is organized by the North America-Mongolia Business Council (NAMBC) and is hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar. Ten U.S. companies are having a chance to explore new opportunities in this emerging market and will gain firsthand market experience through meetings with key government officials and potential business partners.


Seattle Corps members
support hurricane relief

SEATTLE — More than 20 local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees deployed from Seattle District to join the 800 Corps employees supporting response and recovery operations after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Sixteen of the employees deployed to Texas to serve on the Corps’ Commodities Planning and Response Team, which is responsible for providing ice and water. With the loss of electricity in most of the affected areas, the Seattle team supplies these critical assets to the community at various sites set up throughout the region. Two employees deployed to Louisiana, where they will work as quality assurance representatives on the Corps’ “blue-roof” mission. The “blue-roof” mission provides temporary plastic roofing to residences to protect against further weather damage following a storm. The remaining five employees deployed to Department of Defense and Army command posts — U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colo., and U.S. Army North in San Antonio These posts serve as the Department of Defense’s and Army’s central command hubs for homeland defense and civil support operations. As part of the federal government’s unified response, the Corps of Engineers continues to assist the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency by coordinating and organizing a range of public works and engineering-related support.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Expansion project impacts
Bellingham Airport parking

BELLINGHAM — The Bellingham International Airport is undergoing a parking lot expansion project that affects the number of parking spaces available in the main parking lot, which is located across from the passenger terminal. Due to the limited number of spaces, the airport has opened a new overflow parking facility south of the passenger terminal. Free shuttle service is available to/from this lot. Departing passengers are recommended to arrive at the airport approximately two hours prior to their flight departure time. Use caution for construction activity along the airport roadway and in the main parking lot. Areas have been signed and barricaded to delineate construction zones. Vehicles parking in areas designated for construction may be towed to the overflow parking lot or to an alternate location within the main parking lot. Signs have been posted in the main terminal and at the parking lot exit booth helping customers locate towed vehicles.


Washington Ferries holding
series of public meetings

SEATTLE — WSDOT Ferries Division invites the public to a series of public meetings beginning Sept. 24 in Bremerton. These meetings build on information presented to the public in June/July 2008 and will focus on the development of the ferry system’s long-range plan. Information presented at the meetings will include funding challenges, operational strategies, and route specific packages. The public comments received at the meetings will help inform the ferry system’s draft long-range plan due out mid-November. The public meeting schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 6:30-9 p.m. -- Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside, 100 Washington Avenue, Bremerton
Thursday, Sept. 25, 6-8:30 p.m. -- South County Senior Center, 220 Railroad Avenue, Edmonds
Thursday, Oct. 2, 6:30-9 p.m. -- Bainbridge Island Commons, 402 Brien Drive
Monday, Oct. 6, 11:40 a.m.-3:40 p.m. -- aboard San Juan inter-island ferry (departing Friday Harbor at 11:40 a.m.)
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 5-7:30 p.m. -- Fort Casey State Park, Auditorium B, 1276 Engle Rd., Coupeville
Monday, Oct. 13, 6:30-9:00 p.m. -- McMurray Middle School, Multi-Purpose Room, 9329 SE Cemetery Rd, Vashon Island
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 6-8:30 p.m. -- City Council Chambers, 4480 Chennault Beach Rd., Mukilteo
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 6-8:30 p.m. -- Fidalgo Center, 1701 22nd St., Anacortes
Thursday, Oct. 16, 6:30-9 p.m. -- John Sedgwick Junior High School, 8995 SE Sedgwick Rd., Port Orchard


TSA opens TWIC centers
across United States

WASHINGTON, DC — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that all Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) fixed enrollment sites are open and ready for worker registration. Port and longshore workers, truckers and others nationwide are now able to enroll in the Department of Homeland Security's TWIC program at any one of the nearly 150 sites. The TWIC program's goal is to ensure 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. Workers are able to pre-enroll for TWIC online at www.tsa.gov/twic or the Coast Guard's Homeport site, http://homeport.uscg.mil. Pre-enrolling speeds up the process by allowing workers to provide biographic information and schedule a time to complete the application process in person. This eliminates waiting at enrollment centers and reduces the time it takes to enroll. For more information about TWIC and a complete list of enrollment sites, visit the TSA Web site at www.tsa.gov/twic.


OOCL opening office
in Gdynia, Poland

HONG KONG — OOCL has announced it will establish its own office, OOCL (Poland) Limited Sp.z o.o, based in Gdynia, to develop its business in Poland. The effective date will be October 1, 2008. The Country Manager for OOCL in Poland will be Leszek Walkusz. Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. Headquartered in Hong Kong, OOCL is one of the world's leading container transport and logistics service providers, with more than 280 offices in 58 countries.


Union reaches new deal
with Norfolk Southern Railway

NORFOLK, VA — Norfolk Southern Railway Company and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have reached a new agreement that will continue to link engineer compensation to company performance through 2014. The BLET has participated in such a bonus program since 1996. The new agreement covers approximately 5,000 engineers and provides each engineer the opportunity for an annual bonus payment based on company financial and service performance metrics and, for the first time, his or her work availability in the previous year. Other highlights of the agreement include annual wage increases totaling 19 percent from 2009 through 2014, enhancements to the BLET's 401k plan, increased incentive pay for weekend/holiday work, reduced employee costs for the BLET disability plan, and increased pay for engineers who assist in training new engineers. The annual wage increases average approximately 3.2 percent per year. Eligible engineers will receive up to two lump-sum payments: a signing bonus of $1,200 by Dec. 1, 2008, and a lump-sum bonus payment of $3,500 by Jan. 1, 2009.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, September 15, 2008

Port of Vancouver, USA
sponsoring business symposium

VANCOUVER, USA — The Port of Vancouver will host Economy in Motion, a symposium on the movement of goods, job creation, and attracting and retaining business in the Pacific Northwest, Executive Director Larry Paulson announced. The event, set for Friday, September 26, 2008 at the Vancouver Hilton, is scheduled for 7:30-11 a.m. Congestion, fuel costs and workforce accessibility are influencing business productivity and jobs generation. As a trade-reliant region, this area’s response to these issues will determine its ability to attract and retain business and jobs. Economy in Motion will bring national experts and local business leaders to Vancouver to share their perspectives on how the region’s transportation system affects the bottom line, and determines where and how businesses locate and thrive.


Crowley taps Michael Roberts
as vice president/general counsel

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced that Michael Roberts, a Washington, DC attorney specializing in legislative and regulatory issues involving the maritime industry, has rejoined the company as senior vice president and general counsel. He will be domiciled in Jacksonville and report to Crowley Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President Bill Pennella. Mr. Roberts worked as a corporate attorney and as Crowley's vice president of government relations from 1991 to 2000. He has spent the last eight years in private practice in Washington, DC, most recently as a partner with Venable LLP, one of The American Lawyer's top 100 law firms. While there, he represented Crowley and a number of other clients involved in international trade and transportation. Mr. Roberts becomes a member of Crowley's senior leadership team, and will have overall responsibility for the company's legal and policy affairs. Art Mead and Alan Twaits, both vice presidents and general counsel for Crowley, will report to Mr. Roberts.


Alaska Airlines announces
capacity cuts for winter schedule

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines has announced it is reducing capacity eight percent compared to a year ago, effective with its winter schedule starting Nov. 9 and continuing into 2009. The reduction in capacity (available seat miles) represents 15 percent fewer departures. As a result, Alaska Airlines is reducing its work force by nine percent to 10 percent. Alaska Airlines, which operates a fleet of 111 Boeing 737s, is trimming its schedule in four ways: Canceling low-demand flights on Saturdays and holidays; Reducing flights -- typically one roundtrip a day -- in high-frequency markets, including Seattle-Bay Area and Seattle-Southern California; However, the carrier will fly one more daily Seattle-San Francisco and Seattle-Los Angeles roundtrip than it did a year ago; Operating certain flights between Portland, Ore., and the Bay Area with 70- to 76-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jets and Q400 turboprops flown by Horizon Air instead of larger Boeing 737s flown by Alaska; Ending seasonal service on three Mexico routes, as previously announced, between San Francisco and Cancun, Mazatlan and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. Alaska Airlines continues to serve these destinations nonstop from Los Angeles, and operates a daily seasonal nonstop flight between Seattle and Cancun. The carrier also ended service between Portland, Ore., and Orlando, Fla., and between Vancouver, B.C., and San Francisco on Aug. 24. Alaska Airlines continues to fly two daily roundtrips between Seattle and Orlando.


Coast Guard team boards
smugglers' semi-submersible craft

WASHINGTON, DC — A U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment embarked aboard the USS MCINERNEY, seized a stateless, self-propelled, semi-submersible vessel Saturday with seven tons of cocaine aboard about 350 miles west of Guatemala in the waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The 59-foot, steel and fiberglass, self-propelled, semi-submersible (SPSS) craft was detected by a U.S. Navy aircraft. The aircraft vectored the USS MCINERNEY to a position near the SPSS whereupon two small boats were launched from the MCINERNEY. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment 404, under the cover of darkness, boarded the SPSS from the MCINERNEY's small boats, surprising the smugglers. When the smugglers realized the Coast Guard was on the deck of the SPSS, they reversed the engines at a high speed in an attempt to throw the boarding team into the sea. The smugglers also attempted to scuttle the SPSS but complied with orders from the boarding team to close the valves that were flooding the SPSS. "This was the most dangerous operation of my career," said Lt. j.g. Todd Bagetis, officer in charge of Coast Guard law enforcement detachment 404.


MOL testing new paint
designed to save fuel

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) hasannounced test results showing the benefits of a heat-shielding paint that can save fuel, reduce CO2 emissions, and reduce long-term vessel maintenance costs. The Technology Research Center in MOL's Technical Division completed a yearlong test of heat-shielding paints from 10 manufacturers. Along with group company M.O. Engineering Co., Ltd., MOL applied a test coating of the highest-rated paint to the deck of a large ferry. The test confirmed that the paint effectively reduced temperatures inside the ferry and saved electricity by reducing the load on the vessel's air conditioning system. The heat-shielding paint used for the test helps block heat generated by sunlight. In addition to improving passenger and crew comfort, boosting air conditioning efficiency, and cutting CO2 emissions, the paint is durable and weatherproof, and will cut ship maintenance costs. The paint is already used on land for buildings, large bridges, factories, tanks, plants, warehouses, vehicles, and railroads.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, September 12, 2008

Bradwood Landing LNG facility
reports on projects affect on seals

PORTLAND — In a filing made with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Bradwood Landing reported that noise from dredging and pile driving associated with construction of its liquefied natural gas import terminal will be temporary and non-lethal, and is expected to have a negligible impact on seals. The protective measures proposed by Bradwood Landing include:
Shutting down in-river construction activities if pinnipeds (seals) are spotted within a 50-foot radius; The use of an enclosed bubble curtain and other sound-attenuating measures that would be employed during impact installation of steel piles; and Establishment of safety and buffer zones (for injury and disturbance respectively) based on acoustic attenuation calculations from modeling and adjusted based on actual sound level measurements.


US rail freight traffic
down during month of August

WASHINGTON, DC — Both carload and intermodal freight were down slightly during August on U.S. railroads, in comparison with the same month last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. U.S. railroads originated 1,340,387 carloads of freight during the month, down 6,125 carloads (0.5 percent) from August 2007. U.S. railroads also originated 941,500 intermodal trailers and containers in August 2008, 16,040 units (1.7 percent) fewer than August 2007, the AAR said. Commodities showing carload gains in August 2008 included coal (up 29,552 carloads, or 5.2 percent, to 603,229); metallic ores (up 5,252 carloads, or 18.8 percent, to 33,172), and chemicals (up 4,178 carloads, or 3.4 percent, to 126,342). Commodities showing carload declines in August 2008 included motor vehicles and equipment (down 27,174 carloads, or 33.0 percent, to 55,126); crushed stone, sand, and gravel (down 8,859 carloads, or 10.3 percent, to 77,245); and coke (down 7,397 carloads, or 31.9 percent, to 15,794). All told, seven of the 19 major commodity categories tracked by the AAR saw U.S. carload increases in August 2008 compared to August 2007.


NYK returns to index
of socially responsible firms

TOKYO — NYK has once again been selected for the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), one of the major indexes for socially responsible investment. NYK has been included in this index since 2003. The DJSI World—developed jointly by Dow Jones & Company, a U.S.-based publisher of business and financial news and information, and the SAM Group, a Switzerland-based company that conducts assessments of corporate sustainability—is regarded as an important benchmark for investors concerned about corporate social responsibility and corporate sustainability. This year, 320 of the 2,545 companies analyzed, including 36 of the 300 Japanese companies examined, were selected for the index.


Thomas B. Crowley Jr.
to receive Mystic Seaport honor

MYSTIC, CT — Thomas B. Crowley Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation, will be honored with Mystic Seaport’s third annual America and the Sea Award at a dinner held at the Rainbow Room in New York City, October 29. The annual award recognizes an individual or organization whose contributions to the history, arts or sciences of the sea best exemplify the American spirit and character. Mr. Crowley began his role as CEO of the family business in 1994 at the age of 27. Under his leadership, the company’s annual revenues have exceeded $1.5 billion and the corporation has become one of the largest United States flag marine transportation companies, the leading container shipping line in Latin America and the Caribbean Basin and the world’s largest tug and barge operator. With corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, FL, the worldwide diversified maritime company has expanded to more than 4,100 employees and operates a fleet numbering more than 210 vessels. Mr. Crowley continues to develop the business his grandfather founded in 1892, focusing on the corporation’s expertise on water while also maximizing opportunities for growth in new areas of business.


Empty APL containers
become work of art

SINGAPORE — APL, the container shipping business of Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), has helped create an innovative connection between the cargo container and the world of art. The Containart Pavilion is a temporary building constructed from 150 of APL's 20-foot containers and 34 10-metre recyclable paper tubes. It is the brainchild of renowned Japanese architectural artist, Shigeru Ban. By employing marine containers and giant paper columns to form its walls, he has created a recyclable structure, which will house some major artworks as part of the second Singapore Biennale. The Biennale is the city-state's premier contemporary visual arts festival and was first held in Singapore in 2006. The event is organized by the National Arts Council and features the works of more than 50 artists and art collectives from around 36 countries located at sites all over Singapore. The Containart Pavilion, which is located at Marina Bay near Singapore's central business district, will house an exhibition of contemporary art until November 16 . Once the project ends, the containers will return to service in the world’s shipping lanes.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, September 11, 2008

Port of Portland pleased
with TSA cash for PDX project

PORTLAND — The Port of Portland has thanked the Transportation Security Administration for pledging $60 million to make security screening for checked bags more convenient and comfortable for travelers at Portland International Airport. When completed in late 2010, the system will move screening equipment out of the airport ticket lobby and behind the scenes, simplifying the bag screening process for travelers and creating more space and comfort in the ticket lobby. The system will also provide additional screening capacity and flexibility, and enhance security. With the new system, travelers will simply give checked bags to airline representatives at ticket counters, and bags will travel on conveyor belts out of the ticket lobby and through screening equipment enroute to aircraft loading. Currently, travelers must carry their bags from ticket counters to bag screening machines located in the ticket lobby. The $104.3 million construction project will impact approximately 65,000 square feet of terminal building. Construction began earlier this year and involves careful planning and coordination to lessen impacts for travelers and businesses. The project is a partnership involving the port, TSA and PDX airlines. The airlines will provide additional funding for the project, and the TSA will also provide the high-speed bag screening equipment.


Chris Peterson earns
Thomas Crowley trophy

SEATTLE — Chris Peterson, vice president of west coast services for Crowley Maritime Corporation's Pacific/Alaska region, was awarded a 2007 Thomas Crowley trophy, the company's highest honor, at ceremonies in Seattle. Created 20 years ago, the Thomas Crowley Trophy award honors employees with outstanding performance, whose dedication, leadership, initiative and productivity most clearly reflect those of the company's founder. The trophy, a limited edition, bronze sculpture depicting young Thomas Crowley as he ferried goods to and from ships on San Francisco Bay in the early 1890s, is a tribute to the founder of the company as well as the winners of the award. Tom Crowley, Jr., chairman, president and CEO, presented the award at the ceremony, which was attended by about 50 area employees. Mr. Peterson began his career with Crowley in 1986 sailing out of Seattle as a second mate on a tugboat. He was promoted to port captain in 1993, relocated to San Francisco and began his shore side career with Crowley. Two years later, Mr. Peterson relocated to Houston and started working in the commercial sector as an account executive for marine contract services. After a series of promotions in the commercial sector, he was promoted to general manager and moved to the Pacific Northwest in late 2002 to concentrate on Crowley's outside towing and marine contract services. He was appointed director of marine operations in 2005, and vice president of West Coast services in 2007, which gave him operational and commercial responsibility for ship assist and tanker escort services as well as Crowley's contract services.


Trucking association calls for
review of ports' concession plans

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations (ATA) will seek immediate review of U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder’s denial of ATA’s request for a preliminary injunction against the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to halt implementation of their concession agreements. The decision was based on pleadings and a September 8 hearing in United States District Court for the Central District of California, during which ATA Deputy Chief Counsel Robert Digges Jr. reiterated that ATA opposes the concession agreements but supports the ports Clean Truck Programs, including the phased retirement of older trucks from the port operations and their replacement with newer, cleaner vehicles. The port concession agreements that ATA opposes are simply not needed to meet the ports environmental goals, the association says..


Panama Canal Authority
nets Moody's credit rating

PANAMA CITY — For the first time ever, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) received an investment grade rating from one of the world’s top credit rating agencies. Moody’s Investors Services has issued the ACP an A2 credit rating. This “A” rating classifies the ACP as “upper-medium grade and subject to low credit risk,” and reaffirms Panama’s growing presence in the global marketplace. Moody’s Investors Services is one of the leading independent companies in credit ranking and risk analysis. Its rankings are used by international investors to analyze the conditions of more than 100 countries, 12,000 companies and 29,000 public institutions.


California rail line boats
all low-emission locomotives

LOS ANGELES — Pacific Harbor Line, Inc. has said that it has completed renewal of its locomotive fleet, becoming the first all low-emission railroad in the nation. All PHL locomotives now meet or exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's stringent "Tier 2" standards to reduce air pollutants. In addition to consuming less fuel, particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions have been cut by at least 70 and 46 percent, respectively, according to PHL President Andrew Fox. PHL ran the last of its older non-low emission (pre-Tier 0) locomotives in May 2008. The $30 million project enabled PHL to replace its fleet with 22 low- emission locomotives, beginning in May 2007. The costs were shared by PHL, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and California's Carl Moyer Program, which is administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Pacific Harbor Line is an affiliate of Anacostia & Pacific Company, Inc. (www.anacostia.com) and began operations in 1998 providing railroad switching services to the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and also dispatching all BNSF Railway and Union Pacific trains within the ports. PHL maintains 75 miles of track owned by the two ports and serves nine on-dock intermodal terminals, plus numerous carload customers.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Everett Port Board Oks
building consolidation plan

EVERETT — On September 9, the Port of Everett Commission voted 2-1 to approve the consolidation of port staff into the soon-to-be remodeled Marine Sales and Repair Center (MSRC) building that is located within the Port Gardner Wharf development. Currently, port staff are spread out over numerous locations and with this decision, the locations will be greatly reduced. By minimizing the amount of staff locations, it is anticipated to save the port in excess of $100,000 annually in operating expenses. This decision came after the Everett Port Commission authorized the design contract with Everett-based Gary Parkinson Architects for the addition and remodel of the MSRC building last month.


Report finds container ports
to see slowdown for rest of 2008

WASHINGTON, DC — Cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is now expected to decline six percent in 2008 compared with 2007 as the nation’s slow economy continues to prompt merchants to carefully manage their inventories, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Global Insight. Volume is projected to total 15.5 million Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units for the year, compared with 16.5 million TEU in 2007. The estimate is down from 15.8 million projected in August, which would have been a 4 percent decline from 2007. Cargo volume each month this year has been below the same month last year, and is expected to continue to be below last year’s levels in each remaining month. Year-over-year increases previously expected in October and December are no longer anticipated. One TEU is one 20-foot container or its equivalent. U.S. ports surveyed handled 1.32 million TEU in July, the most recent month for which actual numbers are available. The number was up 2.6 percent from June but down 8.3 percent from July 2007.


Evergreen joins Wan Hai
in joint Asia service

TAIPEI — Evergreen Line and Wan Hai Lines have announced a joint service agreement covering ports in Japan, Taiwan and the Philippine Islands. Commencing September 12 from Hong Kong. The new service will replace Evergreen Line's existing NSE route, which covered North and Southeast Asia. The weekly service will use three vessels of 1200-TEU and will have a 21-day rotation. Wan Hai will contribute two vessels and Evergreen one. Ports of call will be Osaka, Kobe, Shimizu, Yokohama, Tokyo, Keelung, Taichung, Hong Kong, Manila, Hong Kong, Shekou and Xiamen.


Congressman sets hearing
on Coast Guard diversity

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, (D-Md), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, will convene a hearing of the Subcommittee to examine diversity in the U.S. Coast Guard, including the recruitment, promotion, and retention of minority personnel. The hearing will examine diversity at all levels of the service, including in enrollments at the Coast Guard Academy, and accessions from all sources to the Coast Guard’s officer corps and enlisted ranks.


ATA praises president
to plan to fund Highway Trust

ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations has said it is encouraged by the Bush Administration’s recent announcement that it is now supporting legislation that would move $8 billion into the Highway Trust Fund to keep it solvent. ATA also urged Congress to quickly approve legislation to fix the Trust Fund, which is expected to move into the red this month. “Now that Secretary Peters has announced the withdrawal of a veto threat over the Highway Trust Fund emergency funding legislation, I urge Congress to act as quickly as possible to authorize the transfer of these critical funds,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “The stark reality facing our nation is that we have neglected our infrastructure for far too long and the bill is coming due. Current revenue streams are failing to keep pace with infrastructure need.” The Highway Trust Fund had been projected to run into deficit during the 2009 fiscal year. However, a reduction in vehicle miles traveled has sharply reduced federal income for infrastructure projects.


NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, September 8, 2008

Boeing workers decide
to go on strike over weekend

SEATTLE — Boeing has issued the following statement after mediated talks with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers concluded without reaching agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement, covering nearly 27,000 employees mainly in Washington, Oregon and Kansas: "Over the past two days, Boeing, the union and the federal mediator worked hard in pursuing good-faith explorations of options that could lead to an agreement. Unfortunately the differences were too great to close," said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The IAM has called for a strike to begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. Boeing operations in Washington, Oregon and Kansas will remain open. Employees who are not represented by the IAM are expected to report for work as normal. During the work stoppage, Boeing will support its customers and their airplanes in service. The company will continue delivering airplanes that were completed prior to the strike, and will continue providing customers with spare parts. Boeing does not intend to assemble airplanes during the strike.


Sundial Marine completing
world's largest hover barge

TROUTDALE, OR — Sundial Marine Construction and Repair Inc. is putting the finishing touches on construction of the world’s largest hover barge and the last of eight petroleum barges. Sundial is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tidewater Holdings Inc. The construction of the world’s largest hover barge – the first to be built in North America – was commissioned in 2007. The barge will transport ore on the Taku River across both Alaska and Canada for a Canadian mining operation. The hover barge is constructed with low-temperature steel to protect against the cold Canadian climate and measures 200 feet in length and 85 feet in width. It can haul more than 400 tons of cargo through water, over ice, and the 16 miles of uneven terrain inland. The barge still requires a tug because it is not self-propelled. Sundial began construction in February 2008 and remains on schedule to deliver the barge by the end of 2008. Simultaneously, Sundial is completing the last in a series of eight double-hull petroleum barges for the U.S. Navy. Sundial bid and was selected as the preferred vendor on the project in late 2003 to construct three barges with an option to complete five more. After delivering the first seven between 2004 and 2007, Sundial is expected to deliver the eighth and final unit before the end of 2008.


Port of Anacortes taps Behan
as new accounting manager

ANACORTES — The Port of Anacortes welcomes Carly Behan to the Finance & Administration team. A local resident and Certified Public Accountant, Ms. Behan brings extensive financial and government auditing experience to the Accounting Manager position. A former Manager with Ernst & Young, Ms. Behan received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, emphasis Accounting, graduating Magna Cum Laude from San Diego State University. She will begin her duties in September, replacing Sheila Iturriaga who has accepted a senior accounting position with the City of Redmond. Ms. Behan joins a dedicated department, under Director Chris S. Johnson. The port received a letter of commendation from the State Auditor’s office last year for achieving ten consecutive years without any audit findings.


Port Metro Vancouver
nets short sea shipping funds

VANCOUVER, BC — Port Metro Vancouver reports it is pleased with the announcement by Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway) James Moore of up to $20.9 million in federal funding under the Asia Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative Transportation Infrastructure Fund for five short sea shipping projects and two road projects in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. This funding is part of a potential $43.5 million joint investment with private sector transportation service providers and municipalities in the region. Short sea shipping is the marine transport of cargo between points that are relatively close to one another, such as along rivers and coastlines and represents one of the most promising opportunities for growth in a reliable and sustainable transportation system.


Portland Airport noise committee
sets meeting for September 11

PORTLAND — Members of the Portland International Airport Citizen Noise Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Sept. 11 at Portland International Airport to hear an update on the North Runway Extension project and learn the status of the Environmental Assessment, among other topics. Fletcher Hunt, Port of Portland development project manager, will provide an update on the status of the Environmental Assessment, which is following National Environmental Policy Act requirements. The Environmental Assessment covers issues such as air quality, noise, water quality, compatible land uses, and wildlife. The Environmental Assessment also examines whether there are other reasonable alternatives to the proposed action such as non-development alternatives, different runway lengths, and includes a "no-action" alternative. The project has offered numerous opportunities for input from community members and interested parties. The 15-member committee meets from 6-8 p.m. at the airport, 7000 NE Airport Way, in the St. Helens conference room. Committee meetings are open to the public, and include time for public comment. CNAC is the port’s official forum for working with the public on issues related to aircraft noise. Representatives come from across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. Eleven members are appointed by various city and county jurisdictions, and 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. People with special needs are asked to contact the port for accommodations at 503-460-4073.


NEWS BULLETIN
Friday, September 5, 2008

Port of Portland eyeing
new runway for Hillsboro Airport

PORTLAND — Port of Portland is beginning an Environmental Assessment of a proposed new runway, which would run parallel to the existing main runway, at Hillsboro Airport. Learn more about the project from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 in the auditorium of the Hillsboro Civic Center at 150 E. Main Street in Hillsboro. The 2005 Hillsboro Airport Master Plan calls for the construction of an additional runway at the airport dedicated exclusively to small general aviation aircraft. Currently, take-offs and landings of aircraft—referred to as operations—at Hillsboro Airport are near capacity; continued growth is expected in the upcoming years. The proposed parallel runway will allow small single- and multi-engine aircraft to take-off and land while existing business and corporate jet aircraft use the current longer and wider runway. Simultaneous arrivals and departures would reduce wait times both on the ground and in the air as planes queue up to land. The Environmental Assessment for the parallel runway project is expected to take 18 months. The project will also analyze the impacts of the relocation of the airport’s helicopter landing pad. This pad is currently located in the area of the proposed parallel runway.


Crowley helps US soccer team
play qualifying match in Cuba

JACKSONVILLE, FL — ESPN viewers will get the chance to see history this weekend when the U.S. national team plays the Cuba national team in a 2010 World Cup qualifying game in Cuba. The event, which marks the first time the U.S. national team has played on the island since 1947, will be covered thanks to the teamwork of Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services personnel in Jacksonville, Guatemala, Barbados, Port Everglades and Cuba, who were responsible for the successful transportation of the ESPN television production equipment for LeBlanc Enterprises, a transportation and logistics company specializing in the media and entertainment fields. The transportation of ESPN's equipment to Havana is the third in a series of moves Crowley has handled for coverage of the 2010 World Cup qualifying games. In June, Crowley transported the production equipment, which includes a 40-foot state-of-the-art mobile production trailer and a 20-foot container filled with generators and other support equipment needed for complete coverage of the games, to Barbados; last month the equipment was transported to Guatemala and then returned to Port Everglades in anticipation of the Cuba trip. The equipment arrived in Cuba on Wednesday. The qualifying game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6.


US rail freight traffic
posts dip in weekly numbers

WASHINGTON, DC — Overall traffic was down slightly on U.S. railroads during the week ended August 23 in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports. Total volume was estimated 35.1 billion ton-miles, up 0.3 percent from the comparable week last year. Carload freight in the week totaled 334,821 cars, dropping 0.6 percent from last year. Volume was up 1.3 percent in the West but down 3.3 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 230,437 trailers or containers, slipping 3.1 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was off 2.0 percent while container traffic dropped 3.5 percent. Seven of 19 carload commodities were up from a year ago. Metallic ores lead the pack up 47.9 percent from last year while waste & scrap materials weighed in with a gain of 12.1 percent and the “all other carloads” category posted as 15.8 percent gain. On the negative side, coke posted a decline of 34.2 percent, motor vehicles and equipment were down 31.4 percent, and lumber and wood products fell 21.0 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 34 weeks of 2008 totaled 11,056,960 carloads, up 0.3 percent from 2007; 7,588,231 trailers or containers, down 2.9 percent; and total volume of an estimated 1.146 trillion ton-miles, up 1.5 percent from last year.


Roadwork brings restrictions
to intersection near Portland Airport

PORTLAND — Temporary travel restrictions are scheduled for the intersection of Northeast Airport Way and 82nd Avenue, near Portland International Airport, on the weekends of Sept. 5-8 and Sept. 12-15. The restrictions are necessary for lane widening and pavement rehabilitation. The closures begin at 10 p.m. on those Fridays and end by 4 a.m. on those Mondays. Airport Way inbound to the PDX terminal and outbound from the terminal to I-205 will remain open in both directions. However, restrictions to regular turn lanes from Airport Way onto 82nd southbound and from 82nd onto Airport Way westbound will occur, so officials strongly recommend that drivers avoid 82nd Avenue at Airport Way. Cars and trucks coming from I-205 to access 82nd Avenue via Airport Way may want to use alternate routes, depending on their destinations. Drivers are cautioned to drive slower, especially motorcycles, because pavement may be uneven. Please watch for detour signs and important information on over-the-roadway signs. The project will not disrupt TriMet MAX light rail service, and all parking lot shuttle buses will still operate.


Cook Islands accepted
as newest IMO member

LONDON — The Cook Islands has become the latest member of IMO following the deposit, on July 18, 2008, of an instrument of acceptance of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization, as amended, with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. With the accession of the Cook Islands, the number of IMO Member States stands at 168, with a further three Associate Members. Since the Cook Islands is not a Member State of the United Nations, its application to join IMO required the approval of two-thirds (112) of the current IMO membership. The Cook Islands applied to join IMO in 1999 and the 112th letter of acceptance was received by the IMO Secretariat on July 15, 2008.


NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, September 4, 2008

Emergency response exercise
scheduled for Bellingham Airport

BELLINGHAM — The Port of Bellingham and many community partners will conduct a full-scale airport emergency response exercise at Bellingham International Airport from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. The purpose of the disaster exercise is to test and evaluate the preparedness and capabilities of the Bellingham International Airport and local response agencies. Although most of the drill will be staged within the airport boundaries, members of the public may see smoke, numerous emergency vehicles and unusual airport activity during the drill. The five-hour exercise, including more than 150 local volunteers and emergency responders, will evaluate coordination between agencies, mass-casualty response, public information dissemination, victim and family care, security and communications.


Microplastics workshop set for
University of Washington Tacoma

WASHINGTON, DC — Experts from the United States, Australia, Japan, Netherlands and the United Kingdom will gather at the University of Washington (UW) Tacoma Sept. 9-10 for the first-ever international workshop on the pervasive problem of microplastics in the marine environment. The workshop is sponsored by UW Tacoma and NOAA. The workshop will focus on the occurrence of plastic debris in the world’s oceans and waterways, the effects of microplastic on the environment, and the effect that microplastic may have on the global cycling of pollutants. Some 40 scientists are expected to attend and contribute research findings. Researchers will also discuss the relationship between microplastics and persistent organic pollutants, including PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) banned from manufacture and use in the late 1970s and early 1980s. There is increasing concern that plastic marine debris may concentrate other pollutants and further harm marine life when ingested. UW-Tacoma and NOAA will publish the results from this workshop along with a review of what is currently known about these topic areas.


Grand Alliance switching to
Cagliari for Mediterranean hub

TOKYO — The Grand Alliance (GA) has announced its transshipment hub will be changed from Gioia Tauro to Cagliari International Container Terminal (CICT), in southern Sardinia, Italy, from mid September 2008. Customers using the EU2 and AEX services will benefit from this change, due to a lack of congestion at Cagliari. As a result, schedule reliability will be enhanced, helping the GA to better meet customers' needs. The Grand Alliance, formed in 1998, is an integrated consortium in global container shipping.


First Alaskan trucking company
named to SmartWay parthership

ANCHORAGE — Lynden Transport has announced it has joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership, becoming the first and only Alaska-based trucking company to qualify. Lynden Transport received the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) highest score of 1.25, or "Outstanding," in the Shipper Index Factor which assesses fuel and fleet efficiency and environmental performance. The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a collaboration between the U.S. EPA and transportation companies to voluntarily improve fuel efficiency and reduce air pollution from freight transport. Partners with high scores are already utilizing most of the commercially available fuel saving strategies and evaluating the latest emerging technologies. Partners with scores of 1.25 are awarded the honor of displaying the SmartWay Transport Partner logo, the EPA's symbol of superior fuel efficiency and environmental performance.


Coast Guard/Port of Astoria
hosting open house and dance

SEATTLE — Coast Guard Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., and the Port of Astoria are hosting a free open house Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Astoria Regional Airport in Warrenton, Ore. The event is open to the public and will include demonstrations and exhibitions by Air Station Astoria, Station Cape Disappointment, Wash., Aids to Navigation Team Astoria, Maritime Security Team Seattle, the Oregon Army National Guard, the Oregon Air National Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and others. As part of this event, the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce will host a dance in Air Station Astoria's main hangar Friday, Sept. 19, beginning at 7 p.m. The semi-formal event will feature live music, cash bar and hors d'oeuvers. Tickets are on sale for anyone age 14 and older at both the Astoria and Warrenton Chambers of Commerce for $15 per couple, and $10 per person. Please call 503-325-6311 for ticket information. Babysitting will be provided during the dance by the Astoria Children's Museum in downtown Astoria from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. The cost for babysitting for Children's Museum Members is $8 for the first child and $5 for each additional sibling. Non-members are required to pay $10 for the first child and $8 for each additional sibling (snack provided for all kids). In addition, Pig'n Pancake will sponsor a $6 pancake breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, September 20 in the parking lot of the Runway Cafe at the Astoria Airport. The proceeds will benefit programs and scholarships for children. Parking is free for all events.


NEWS BULLETIN
Wednesday, September 3, 2008

New air service to begin
linking Coos Bay/Portland

NORTH BEND, OR — The Coos County Airport District has announced, along with Governor Ted Kulongoski's office, the start of SkyWest United Express non-stop service to Portland International Airport (PDX) from Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH) on Oct. 12. This announcement culminates successful negotiations initiated by the district in partnership with the Oregon Commercial Air Service Coalition formed by Governor Kulongoski. Partners also include the South Coast Development Council, local state legislators, Senator Joanne Verger and Representative Arnie Roblan and the Congressional Delegation with special thanks to Congressman Peter DeFazio. In addition, several key local businesses such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and Sause Bros Ocean Towing have been instrumental in helping to achieve the goal of continued commercial air service to Portland.


WTSA member carriers
change bunker charge guidelines

OAKLAND — After a comprehensive internal review that included feedback from customers, The Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) has revisited, and made changes in how it calculates, guideline bunker fuel surcharges in the U.S.-Asia freight market. WTSA member shipping lines have adopted a simpler, more transparent formula for dry cargo which eliminates a number of variables that made the formula more complex; distinguishes between bunker fuel-related costs for West Coast port-to-port and East Coast all-water services; and narrows the formula tiers – the threshold fuel prices that trigger surcharge increases and the amount of those increases – to ease the impacts of monthly adjustments. WTSA member shipping lines intend to implement the new formula effective October 1, 2008 in their tariffs and in service contracts going forward, for dry cargo moving from all U.S. origin locations to all Asian destinations. A separate guideline covering refrigerated cargo will be finalized and announced shortly, to take effect on November 1, 2008.


Hamburg Sud changing
Oakland container terminal

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Hamburg Süd has announced that its Pacific Coast-Australia/New Zealand vessels will begin calling the TransBay Container Terminal in Oakland, CA, effective September 10, with the arrival of the HANSA FLENSBURG (V 758 – PNW Service) and the CAP DELGADO (V988 – PSW1 Service. Final calls of company vessels at SSA Terminals are effective with the September 3 call of the CAP SARAY(V 987 PSW Service). Company officials expressed thanks to SSA for their past service. Customers with specific questions about these changes and the impact on their cargoes are encouraged to contact their Hamburg Süd sales or customer service representative.


Burlington Coat Factory
taps Mitsui as logistics partner

TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced that Burlington Coat Factory, a U.S. retailer of apparel and family furniture which operates more than 390 stores nationwide, has selected MOL Consolidation Service Ltd. as their logistics partner and consolidator/forwarder in whole Asia region including China, Vietnam, India and Pakistan as a means to streamline their import logistics from origins to their final distribution centers in the U.S. Burlington Coat Factory implements this program in support of its plan to expand their number of stores in U.S. MOL Consolidation Service Ltd. has been selected for its ability in cargo management with a strong management team, superior IT tracking and EDI services as well as various support of value-added services such as origin cargo inspection, barcode labeling, scanning, etc.


Alaska Airlines now running
only Boeing 737 aircraft

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines has completed its transition to an all-Boeing 737 aircraft fleet with the retirement of its last MD-80 series airplane, part of a two-year plan to increase the airline's operational efficiency and improve fuel conservation. The 737-800 burns 850 gallons of fuel per hour, versus 1,100 gallons per hour by the MD-80. A common fleet type also will result in lower costs for maintenance, training and flight crew scheduling. As the airline's last MD-80 circled Mount Rainer in a symbolic final flight, it was joined in the sky by a newly delivered and specially painted Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 airplane, dubbed the "Spirit of Seattle" in tribute to the airline's now all-Boeing fleet and unique hometown partnership with the airplane manufacturer. The airline has firm commitments for an additional eight Boeing 737-800s through 2008, which will bring its fleet to 116 Boeing 737 aircraft.