Port of Seattle Bans Facial Recognition for Law Enforcement and Mass Surveillance

The Port of Seattle Commission has voted to permanently prohibit the use of biometric technology — including facial recognition — for law enforcement, security, and mass surveillance purposes by the port and any private-sector entities operating at its facilities. The July 13 vote builds on a moratorium on new biometrics uses that the commission put in place in 2019 until policies could be reviewed and developed. The Port of Seattle, which also operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, has said that it’s the first port authority in the nation to formally limit the use of biometric technology. “No one at a port…
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New Port of Vancouver Overpass Opens

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the body that oversees the Port of Vancouver, has officially opened the Centennial Road overpass on Vancouver’s south shore. The opening of the new overpass marks a milestone for the improvement in the movement of goods to and from the port. Construction of the overpass began in the summer of 2019. On July 4, 2021, it officially opened to container truck traffic in both directions. Coinciding with the opening of the new overpass, additional changes to traffic patterns on port roads were also implemented. The Heatley Avenue overpass temporarily remained open to inbound passenger vehicle traffic only…
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From the Editor: Maritime Piracy

Although it mostly takes place on the other side of the world, maritime piracy can have far-reaching effects for the goods movement industry. When parts of the supply chain are attacked in regions of the world like Asia and Africa, it can lead to disruptions in the Pacific region in the form of vessel delays, ship reroutings and cargo adjustments. But the International Maritime Bureau, which is run by the International Chamber of Commerce, revealed some good news recently: during the first six months of 2021, the Bureau recorded the lowest number of reported piracy incidents for the first half…
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Port of Oakland Gains 2 New First-Call Container Shipping Services

Matson Lines and Wan Hai Lines have each introduced first-call services at the Port of Oakland, meaning the shipping lines are now making their initial U.S. stop the Northern California seaport after sailing from Asia. Taipei-based Wan Hai Lines commenced its new service Aug. 8. Called the AA5, the route links Oakland with three Asian ports: Kaohsiung, Ningbo and Qingdao. This follows the July 27 launch of an Oakland-China first-call service operated by Matson Lines. The new Matson service calls Chinese ports in Ningbo and Shanghai and makes stops in Long Beach and Honolulu after visiting Oakland. According to the…
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Port of Long Beach Officially Completes Ultra-Modern Container Terminal

The Port of Long Beach has ushered in what it is calling “the next era of environmentally sustainable operations” with the completion of the Long Beach Container Terminal at Middle Harbor, which the port calls one of the most technologically advanced cargo facilities in the world. The third and final phase of the years-long LBCT project was officially proclaimed complete during a mid-August press conference at the 300-acre facility. “Developing this terminal has been one of the biggest and most challenging infrastructure projects in our history,” Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero said during the press conference. Equipped…
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Port of Seattle Dismisses Police Chief

The Port of Seattle police Chief Rodney Covey has had his employment terminated by the port following a lengthy investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct, according to an Aug. 13 Seattle Times report. Covey, who had been on paid administrative leave since June 2020 was fired following completion of the investigation, according to two people who spoke to the Times on condition of anonymity. At the time of Covey’s suspension, port officials would not publicly specify the allegations against Covey that led to his being placed on leave. “These are workplace responsibility complaints that are directly related to allegations regarding…
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Shippers Redraw Perimeter of High Piracy Risk Area

Shipping groups have redrawn the perimeters of the so-called High Risk Area covering Yemen and Somalia due to a decrease in Somali piracy. As of Sept. 1, the High Risk Area (HRA) was set to be scaled back to cover the Yemeni and Somali territorial seas and exclusive economic zones to the east and south. The changes were agreed to by the Baltic & International Maritime Council (BIMCO), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO), the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), representing the global…
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U.S. Navy Vessel Participates in West Africa Anti-Piracy Exercise

U.S. Navy expeditionary sea base (ESB) USS Hershel "Woody" Williams was in West Africa in early August to participate in maritime security training along with African maritime security authorities. They participated in a three-day sea training exercise with Nigerian offshore patrol vessels and members of Ghana’s Special Boat Squadron as part of efforts to contain growing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. The USS Hershel “Woody” Williams is the first warship permanently assigned to the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. The U.S. shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation on…
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Ferries Update – The Future is Green

When it comes to the next generation of passenger-only ferries, the future is green. West Coast ship makers are in the process of building vessels that are not only powerful enough to transport people and vehicles, but are constructed with advanced sustainability goals in mind, the kind of impact that can mean cleaner air in the long run. Here’s a look at what’s being built: Building Sea Change The name Sea Change is apropos for a ferry poised to advance the potential commercialization of fuel-cell powered marine vessels globally. Bellingham, Washington-based All American Marine has been at work on that…
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