Articles – Page 54 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

West Coast Labor Talks: An Update

In an era marked by tariffs, a pandemic and a war in Ukraine, those in the maritime industry are bracing for a new disruption to an already strained supply chain: upcoming contract negotiations between West Coast longshore workers and their employers. During a March 1 session at the TPM22 Conference, GSC Logistics Inc. President David Arsenault and Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy for the National Retail Federation, pondered what hot-button topics could be discussed at the upcoming talks between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU), and how shippers…

Captain’s Corner: Off to Sea

Off to Sea Considering the limited pool of qualified and experienced U.S. mariners to fill job vacancies as of late, I felt there would be no better time than the present to write this piece. The result of this shortage has given way to some incredible employment opportunities for brand new, entry-level sailors. With that being noted, recently I have encountered some very basic, yet valid questions by these “greenhorns,” and it made me think back to my very first trip to sea. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what to expect, what to do once…

Singapore-based Keppel O&M Completes Autonomous Vessel Development

Singapore-based Keppel Offshore & Marine announced in April that it has achieved several industry ‘firsts’ with the successful completion of its maiden autonomous vessel project. Capable of autonomous vessel navigation as well as collision detection and avoidance, the Maju 510 tug, owned and operated by Keppel Smit Towage, is the first vessel in the world to receive the Autonomous Notation from ABS classification society, according to Keppel O&M. “The tug is the first in South Asia that can be remotely operated by joystick control,” Keppel said in a statement. “It can be controlled from the shore command center with a…

Panama Canal Looks to Simplify Toll Structure

As part of what it says is its commitment to improve customer experience and reflect the growing value of the waterway, the Panama Canal Authority in April issued a proposal for a new simplified toll structure that the Authority says would “provide price stability for customers in years to come.” It would also, the Authority said, offer customers “predictability, establishing tariffs well in advance allowing them to plan their business decisions accordingly.” The proposed toll structure will reduce the number of tariffs from 430 to less than 60, with the simplified system minimizing unnecessary complexity and facilitate transactions by eliminating…

Russian Tankers Turning Off Tracking to Evade Sanctions: Reports

Russian tankers carrying chemicals and oil products have been concealing their movements since the invasion of Ukraine, which maritime experts say could be in attempt to evade sanctions imposed after the invasion. Various reports, including by business news outlet Bloomberg, say that Russian oil tankers have averaged 12 “dark activities” a week since the invasion of Ukraine, which is more than double the usual rate, according to predictive intelligence company Windward AI. “Going dark” is a term used to describe when vessels turn off their tracking systems. By turning off its location data, a ship can obscure its final destination…

Hydrofoil Survey Boats Keep Grain Ships Moving on the Columbia River

For the last year, West Coast shipping news has been dominated by the huge assortment of container ships waiting to unload Asian imports in southern California, but the spotlight may eventually turn to a very different cargo—American wheat for export. This vital commodity rarely attracts much attention, but the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine are expected to reduce the world grain supply significantly this year. The USA and Canada each supply around 14% of the wheat on the world market in a typical year, while Russia exports 18% and Ukraine 8%. The loss of any of this grain could have…

From the Editor: War & Maritime

As you surely know by now, in late February, Russia significantly escalated what had been an ongoing conflict by launching a full-scale invasion into one of its neighboring countries, Ukraine. And although the conflict is taking place on the other side of the world, some of its effects have definitely impacted the West Coast maritime industry. For those keeping track, here’s some of the major ways in which the industry has reacted to and been affected by the conflict. In early March, union longshore workers up and down the coast, in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, said they were refusing…

Grays Harbor, Wash. Labor Leader Sworn Into Federal Maritime Commission

Longtime Grays Harbor, Wash.-area labor leader Max Vekich is the newest member of the Federal Maritime Commission. Vekich, nominated by President Joe Biden in June, was sworn in on Feb. 15 for a commission term that expires June 30, 2026. Port of Grays Harbor Commission President Tom Quigg congratulated Vekich on his appointment to the five-member commission. “Having someone at the table that understands the role that small and large ports play in trade will be valuable,” Quigg said. “International trade is the cornerstone of our mission at the port, and we have no doubt that Max’s leadership and decades…

BC Ferries Names Sixth Island Class Ferry

In a nod to the ‘Namgis First Nation, BC Ferries has named its newest Island Class vessel Island Gwawis. The name was announced at Victoria’s Point Hope Maritime, at an event which also drew representatives from Damen Shipyards and the Province of British Columbia. Gwawis, which translates to “raven of the sea,” honors the ‘Namgis First Nation and the “cultural connection between the original mariners of the coastal waters and the communities the vessel will soon serve,” according to BC Ferries. As the sixth and last in the Island Class series vessels to join the fleet, Island Gwawis is expected…

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Creates Temporary Storage for Empties

To bolster its regional and Canada’s supply chains, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is establishing a temporary storage site for empty shipping containers in Richmond, the port authority announced Feb. 25. The news comes months after torrential rains shut down the rail service that linked the port to the supply chain for eight days. Situated on Portside Road at the end of No.8 Road in Richmond, work on the temporary site started in January and is expected to be fully completed in early March and remain in service until July, the port said. “As partners throughout the Port of Vancouver…