Articles – Page 5 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

West Coast Freight Transport Projects Chosen for Federal Investment

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.…

Coast Guard Urges Preparedness for Hazardous Maritime Conditions

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…

Coast Guard Conducts Compliance Exam at Port of Guam

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.…

Regional Update: California Ports

Data show that in 2023, maritime cargo numbers at most California ports started to stabilize to pre-pandemic levels, and officials have zeroed in on key priorities. Last year, the state’s ports were awarded millions in grant funding for projects focused on infrastructure, the supply chain and environmental goals. Ports kicked off projects, installed equipment and implemented new public programs. For some, cargo volume numbers grew and they prepared to compete for more business. This year is set to continue that momentum as seaports all along the Golden State’s coastline have ambitious plans already in place. Pacific Maritime reached out to…

LA, Long Beach Port Execs Outline 2024 Goals, Priorities

During their annual “State of the Port” speeches in January, the heads of the adjoining Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports outlined their goals and priorities, which include increasing market share, cleaning the environment and developing wind energy. Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka gave his ninth annual “State of the Port” address on Jan. 10 at the POLA’s World Cruise Center terminal. The speech took place as part of a luncheon attended by about 550 community, business and labor stakeholders. The event was sponsored by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. During his nearly 40-minute speech and presentation,…

Marine Construction Update

Whether it’s expanding marinas in Southern California or shoring up the structural integrity of dock structures, West Coast maritime heavy civic engineering and construction companies have been playing a major role in keeping essential marine structures active and growing. And while many of the projects are specific to the West Coast, these firms are also extending their reach to other parts of the U.S. and overseas. Here is a look at some ongoing and planned maritime construction projects being performed by West Coast-based companies. Power Engineering Construction Northern California-based Power Engineering, a major West Coast civil and marine engineering construction…

Maritime Security: 2023’s Attacks, Pitfalls and Impacts

The maritime industry continues to be a target for cyberattacks. In 2023, the industry witnessed increased cyberattacks, with ransomware and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks being the most predominant. We hope to raise awareness about these threats, focusing on the incidents that occurred in 2023, while providing some insights into effective defense strategies. Of note, a useful resource to view a record of global maritime cyberattacks is in the NHL Stenden, University of Applied Sciences Maritime Cyberattack Database at http://tinyurl.com/dejyercr. It’s a free resource that was referred to when preparing this article. Cyberattacks: Financial and Business Consequences An October…

IMO Names New Secretary-General, Senior Management Team

A new secretary-general has been installed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and has announced the members of his leadership team. Arsenio Dominguez became the 10th elected Secretary-General of IMO on Jan. 1. Dominguez, who’s from Panama, succeeded Kitack Lim of South Korea, who was IMO Secretary-General from 2016-2023. Dominguez was confirmed by the IMO Assembly 33rd session, which met in November-December 2023. His initial term is four years, ending Dec. 31, 2027. Dominguez had been director of the IMO’s Marine Environment Division, a post he’d held since January 2022. He joined the IMO Secretariat in 2017 as Chief of…

New Report Reveals Concerning Rise in Maritime Piracy Incidents

The annual Piracy and Armed Robbery Report of the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) released in mid-January has raised concern over the first successful Somali based hijacking since 2017. The IMB’s annual report recorded 120 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2023 compared to 115 in 2022. According to the report, 105 vessels were boarded, nine attempted attacks, four vessels hijacked and two fired upon. Since the number of 2023 reported incidents has slightly increased compared to 2022, the IMB has urged caution for crew safety as the number of crew taken hostage and kidnapped increased…

Panama Canal Update

A few months ago in this space, I wrote a column detailing how the Panama Canal has been affected by drought, and that vessel traffic through the shipping route has been adversely impacted by it. If you missed that column and aren’t familiar with the ongoing situation, here’s a summary: according to climate scientists, Panama experienced its worst drought in over two decades last year, even though the country’s rainy season, which lasts from May through December. Typically, the country experiences anywhere from 8.4 inches to 27.5 inches of rain during the last seven months of the year, but fell well…