The Port of Olympia in January embarked on a significant environmental initiative with the launch of a research vessel in Budd Inlet. As required by the Department of Ecology, the primary focus of the venture is to investigate and address harmful legacy pollutants, including dioxins and furans, in the Inlet’s sediment. Between January and March, the research vessel, equipped with high-tech technology and a team of experts will, according to the port, “meticulously sample the sediment for later laboratory analysis to identify the extent of the pollutants and develop a comprehensive plan for their removal.” The proactive approach, the port…
The U.S. Department of Transportation on Jan. 25 awarded funding to 11 projects through the fiscal year 2023-24 National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program, including two projects in the Pacific Northwest and one in Southern California. The Mega program funds large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. Congress established the program in 2021 through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and dedicated $5 billion to the program over a five-year period. The most recent awards were the second round of funding, worth roughly $2 billion.…
Due to recent strong winds through coastal waters and high surf conditions with large breakers that have created hazardous conditions, the U.S. Coast Guard recently urged mariners and members of the public in the Pacific Northwest to take precautions to ensure their safety. The Guard’s safety tips for mariners and the public include: Stay informed: Stay updated with the latest weather forecasts and advisories. Monitor National Weather Service forecasts for Washington and Oregon. Monitor port restrictions and bar reports by visiting weather.gov. Secure boats: Owners should ensure their vessels are properly secured or relocated to a safe location. Double-check mooring…
U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam conducted a Certificate of Compliance (COC) examination on the MSC Bellissima, a 1,036-foot cruise ship flagged out of Malta, at the Port of Guam on Jan. 3. “This examination underscores the U.S. Coast Guard’s role in maritime safety and its integral part in bolstering local commerce and tourism, which are lifelines of the island’s economy,” the Guard said in a statement. “This is our first cruise ship exam since 2018 and the largest since the Norwegian Joy in 2016,” Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Thomas, an inspector with U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, said.…
The Port of Prince Rupert moved 23.5 million tons of cargo in 2023, 5% less than 2022’s volumes, the Port Authority revealed in January. This marks a third straight year of volume declines for the British Columbia seaport. The decline, according to the Prince Rupert Port Authority, reflects challenges of shifting global shipping routes, soft demand for imports, and competition with other North American trade gateways for discretionary cargo. “However, despite the decline in volumes, significant milestones were reached in 2023 that support the evolution of the trade gateway to become more competitive, resilient, and sustainable in the near and…
On Dec. 4, the Coast Guard published a Request-for-Information (RFI) pertaining to vessel response plans (VRP) for western Alaska. VRPs are developed in order to prepare for an oil spill and have to detail both the equipment and resources carried on a vessel as well as shoreside assistance that can quickly respond. This is a new effort focused on developing distinct response plan criteria for the Western Alaska and Prince William Sound Captain of the Port zones. The criteria must include minimum response times, improvements to wildlife response and consideration of prevention and mitigation measures. Taken together, the Western Alaska…
Coast Guard Captain Named POLB Security Director The Port of Long Beach’s harbor commission in late January approved the appointment of U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Ryan Manning as the port’s security director. Manning, currently Captain of the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach and Commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, is joining the POLB following his retirement at the end of March. In his present role, Manning leads a team of 550 active duty, reserve and civilian personnel and a 750-member volunteer auxiliary workforce. This team facilitates regional partnerships and conducts federal maritime safety, security, law enforcement and environmental…
A ship that Maersk is calling the world’s first large methanol-enabled container vessel was named Ane Mærsk during a late-January ceremony in the shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea. The vessel is named after Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, the chair of the A.P. Moller Foundation and A.P. Moller Holding. Ane’s eldest granddaughter served as godmother and christened the vessel by breaking a champagne bottle over the bow. The Ane Mærsk is the first of Maersk’s 18 large methanol-enabled vessels that’s scheduled to be delivered between 2024 and 2025 and is the world’s second methanol-enabled container vessel,…
International shipping companies Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd in January announced that they’re joining forces to form a new network, which they’re calling Gemini Cooperation. “Together we aim to develop a new best-in-class network starting in February 2025. This partnership will be a strong match as we have a shared ambition and commitment to deliver quality,” the shippers said in a joint statement. “Through our combined fleets, our aspiration is to offer unrivalled schedule reliability, a far-reaching global network with competitive transit times and a reduced carbon footprint,” the statement continued. Gemini Cooperation, which launches Feb. 1, 2025 and would comprise a…
Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm Glosten and Siemens Energy announced Nov. 14 that they’ve chosen Ballard Power Systems and Chart Industries as the primary equipment vendors for their design of what could be the world’s first hydrogen-hybrid research vessel. The vessel, known as the CCRV, is currently in the design phase and is set to be owned and operated by the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. British Columbia-based Ballard Power Systems is providing the fuel cells which will help power the vessel, and Georgia-headquartered Chart Industries is providing the cryogenic tank and fuel gas…