News Briefs – Page 8 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

Seattle Propeller Club Chapter Named Port of the Year

The Port of Seattle Chapter of the International Propeller Club has been named the 2022 Port of the Year by the International Propeller Club, which encompasses 83 clubs around the world, including 58 U.S. ports and 25 international ports. The Seattle Propeller Club promotes maritime commerce in the Puget Sound region. “The Seattle Propeller Club was recognized for a variety of accomplishments, but particularly our resiliency and creativity throughout the pandemic to remain active, as well as our recent, strong growth in membership,” Club President Tosca Pinder said. “We were also recognized for our community outreach and support of local…

Performance Team Deploys 1st Deliveries of Electric Drayage Trucks in Southern California

Los Angeles-area logistics company Performance Team has deployed its first Class 8 battery-electric trucks from Volvo Trucks North America in Southern California in response to customer demand for sustainable short-haul warehouse and distribution center operations, the company announced Oct. 6. The Volvo electric trucks are designed to handle local and regional distribution with a range of up to 275 miles on a single charge, Performance Team said, adding that it expects to deploy 126 Volvo Electric trucks in North America by the third quarter of next year. “Customers are looking for more tangible, sustainable options in their supply chain to…

Maersk Orders 6 Additional Methanol-Powered Large Container Ships

A.P. Moller-Maersk announced Oct. 5 that it has ordered a six additional large ocean-going vessels that can sail on green methanol. The vessels will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) with a nominal capacity of about 17,000 twenty foot equivalent containers. They are set to replace existing capacity in Maersk’s fleet. All six vessels are scheduled to be delivered in 2025 and would come with dual-fuel engines able to operate on green methanol. They would eliminate about 800,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually, according to Maersk. “Our customers are looking to us to decarbonize their supply chains, and these…

EBDG, e1 Marine Host Green Energy Education Session

Elliott Bay Design Group, in partnership with clean energy company e1 Marine, recently hosted a half-day educational session in Seattle to present green-energy fuel options for the maritime industry, EBDG revealed Oct. 10. The event brought together more than 100 representatives from across the industry including owners, operators and technical experts, the naval architecture and marine engineering firm said. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA 2nd District) kicked off the event with a welcoming message and an update on state and federal efforts supporting transition to low and zero emission ferries and related infrastructure. EBDG founder and principal John Waterhouse then followed…

World Distribution Services Opens Distribution Facility in Tacoma, Wash.

World Distribution Services (WDS), a Cleveland-based warehouse logistics solutions provider, on Oct. 10 announced the opening of a new 300,000-square-foot Tacoma, Washington distribution facility. The new facility is the company’s first on the West Coast and its fourth new location in less than two years. Fully staffed and operational, the WDS Tacoma facility offers cross-dock and transload services, distribution and fulfillment and e-commerce capability. “With a 36-foot clear height, 46 dock doors, a state-of-the-art warehouse management system and parking for trailers, the new location offers a variety of storage and distribution solutions to the region and acts as a gateway…

Newsmakers

John McCarthy Named CEO of Seaspan Shipyards North Vancouver-based Seaspan Shipyards announced Sept. 20 that the board of directors of its parent corporation, the Washington Companies, has appointed John McCarthy as CEO of the shipyards, effective immediately. He succeeds Mark Lamarre, who assumes a new role as president and CEO of the Washington Companies, following the planned retirement of his predecessor. McCarthy has been a part of the senior leadership team with Seaspan since 2018 and brings more than 36 years of experience in shipbuilding, repair and overhaul and as a senior leader at American and international shipyards. As Seaspan’s…

Port of Long Beach Joins Alliance to Further Zero-Emissions Efforts

The Port of Long Beach in October revealed that it has joined the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), a public-private partnership formed to help capture newly available federal funding to assist in developing a robust renewable hydrogen market in California. The partnership was commemorated Oct. 6 during a launch event at the port’s Administration Building, and was attended by officials from the port, City of Long Beach, the governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the University of California Office of the President, labor organizations, and state and local officials. ARCHES is expected to serve as the lead…

USCG Cutter Steadfast Returns to Astoria, Oregon

After 55 days on narcotics enforcement patrol, the crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Steadfast returned to Astoria, Oregon on Oct. 7. The 210-foot medium endurance cutter traveled over 11,000 miles between Oregon and Central America, doing training, law enforcement, search and rescue and helicopter operations in international waters, the agency said. The crew was deployed with Maintenance Augmentation Team Seattle, Electronic Support Detachment Petaluma and cutter Argus, which is expected to be commissioned soon. During their tour, Steadfast crew members pursued a high-speed, panga-style vessel suspected of smuggling contraband before handing off the case to a partner…

NW Seaport Alliance Again Recognized as a Top Green Supply Chain Partner

For the sixth consecutive year, the Northwest Seaport Alliance has earned the distinction of being an Inbound Logistics Green Supply Chain Partner. The recognition highlights NWSA’s commitment to protecting the environment through proactive and collaborative partnerships with supply chain stakeholders and communities across the Puget Sound. The 75 organizations selected by the publication Inbound Logistics represent various trade sectors, including trucking companies, railroads, shipping lines, freight forwarders and air cargo carriers. These companies are recognized for their commitment to supply chain sustainability and ensuring that their operations are environmentally friendly. The NWSA, which is a maritime operations partnership between the…

POLB Begins Demolition of Gerald Desmond Bridge

Demolition of the Gerald Desmond Bridge in the Port of Long Beach began in July with the removal of the section of the span suspended over the Back Channel, which required a 48-hour closure to all watercraft traffic. The Back Channel was closed to vessels for one weekend, from 6 a.m. July 9 to 6 a.m. July 11, as the bridge’s 410-foot-long suspended span was dismantled and lowered onto a barge. The bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic since its replacement opened in October 2020. Vehicle traffic on the replacement bridge was not expected to be affected by the…