Karen Robes Meeks – Pacific Maritime Magazine

26 Sep

Port of Olympia, Executive Director Part Ways

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsportofolympia, rudyrudolph, samgibboney

The Port of Olympia is looking for a new executive director. Earlier this month, the port commission accepted the “separation of service” from former Executive Director Sam Gibboney and on Sept. 20 announced its plans to seek a replacement in the coming months. In the interim, the port has installed 19-year port veteran Rudy Rudolph as acting executive director while a search for a new permanent executive director is conducted. “During this transitional period, the commission is committed to prioritizing and ensuring a seamless leadership transition while maintaining the port’s stability and effectiveness,” according to the port’s announcement. Gibboney became…

26 Sep

Manufacturer Greenbrier Received Orders for 15,300 Railcars in Latest Fiscal Quarter

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgreenbrier

During its fiscal fourth quarter, which ended Aug. 31, transportation equipment manufacturer Greenbrier Companies, Inc. secured orders for 15,300 new railcars valued at $1.9 billion, giving the Lake Oswego, Oregon-based company its highest quarterly order count in almost a decade. The company’s Sept. 21 announcement did not include railcars under any multi-year order activity, Greenbrier said. “The diverse range of orders across railcar types exceeded Greenbrier's expectations for the quarter,” Chief Commercial and Leasing Officer Executive Vice President Brian J. Comstock said, adding that the orders reflect Greenbrier's strength in the North American and European markets. “Order levels are distinct…

26 Sep

Western Maui Wildfire Emergency Response Enters Next Phase

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsglobaldiving, maui, wildfires

The U.S. Coast Guard, Hawaii Department of Health and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources have said they plan to focus on hazard mitigation in their next phase to restore Lahaina Harbor and its adjacent waterways post-Maui wildfires, it was announced Sept. 16. These responders – known as the Western Maui Wildfire Emergency Support Function No. 10 Unified Command – have tapped Seattle-based Global Diving & Salvage to help with removal operations in Lahaina Harbor. Global Diving is being tasked with evaluating the state of the harbor and developing a plan to take out hazardous materials and sunken…

26 Sep

LA, Long Beach, Shanghai Ports Reveal Plan for Green Shipping Corridor

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgreenshipping, pola, polb, shanghai

The ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Shanghai on Sept. 22 announced a Implementation Plan Outline for the first trans-Pacific Green Shipping Corridor. The plan, supported by corridor facilitator C40 Cities, calls for an accelerated effort to lower emissions along one of the busiest shipping routes in the world. Carrier partners such as CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping Lines Co., Ltd., Maersk and ONE have said they intend to start using “reduced or zero lifecycle carbon capable” vessels on the corridor by 2025 and work together to show that the first zero lifecycle carbon emission container vessels are feasible by…

26 Sep

Dwell Times for Cargo Remain Low at LA, Long Beach Ports: PMSA

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsdwelltimes, pmsa, pola, polb

The average amount of time cargo containers remained at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach before being moved along the supply chain remained low last month, according to data released Sept. 20 by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. The average dwell time of cargo lingering at the twin seaports before leaving by truck was 2.89 days in August, slightly lower than the average of 3.08 days in July, the data show. “The August truck dwell time is within the normal range and is an indicator that the supply chain is operating smoothly,” PMSA said. As for rail-bound cargo,…

19 Sep

Reports Show LA, Long Beach Ports Making Progress on Emissions Reductions

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsemissions, pmsa, pola, polb

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach saw significant strides in lowering emissions last year, according to reports recently released by the ports. In Los Angeles, diesel particulate matter dipped 88%, nitrogen oxides fell 62% and sulfur oxides dropped 97% since 2005, the baseline year. In Long Beach, 2022 diesel particulates fell 91%, nitrogen oxides dropped 63% and sulfur oxides plummeted 97% from 2005, according to the port’s annual emissions inventory report. These decreases occurred in 2022, when cargo container volumes rose 36%. This puts Long Beach ahead of its San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan goals…

19 Sep

Crowley, SEACOR Form Joint Venture

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscrowley, fairwaterholdings, seabulktankers, seacor

Crowley Maritime and SEACOR Holdings (through its Seabulk Tankers, Inc. subsidiary) have formed a joint venture called Fairwater Holdings LLC to expand both companies’ capabilities in liquid energy and chemical transportation vessels, operations and services, the companies announced Sept. 13. Fairwater will be a standalone company based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., but would also maintain offices in Seattle and on the East and Gulf coasts. It intends to serve the U.S. market with 20 articulated tug-barges and 11 tankers as well as crewing and technical management for another 21 third-party owned vessels, according to the announcement. “Fairwater marks an important…

19 Sep

U.S. Navy Releasing Leased Acreage to Port of San Diego

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsposd, sandiego, usn

The U.S. Navy has agreed to relinquish its lease of a 3.4-acre site to the Port of San Diego, paving the way for potential commercial and recreational development along the North Embarcadero, the port revealed Sept. 12. The two sides struck a deal on the 1220 Pacific Highway property that the port inherited from the city of San Diego that the Navy has leased since 1949. The lease was to expire in 2049, but the deal allows the port to be able to use the land now for possible development. Under the lease termination agreement, the port would offer $5.75…

19 Sep

Monthly Cargo Volumes Down at Long Beach Port

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscargovolumes, polb, TEUs

Overall cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach last month were down 15.4% from the same time a year ago, signaling a continued shift in consumer spending and overfilled warehouses, according to data released by the port Sept. 13. Long Beach handled 682,312 TEUs in August, with 15.4% fewer imports at 325,436 TEUs, and 23.1% fewer exports with 93,402 TEUs year over year. Empty containers also dropped 12.5% to 263,474 TEUs last month. “We anticipated a modest peak season as our cargo numbers continue to stabilize at pre-pandemic levels,” Port CEO Mario Cordero said. “Over the long term we…

12 Sep

Port of Newport Board Approves Purchase of Crane for Terminal

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsnit, portofnewport, terminalcrane

The Newport International Terminal (NIT) at the Port of Newport, Oregon is expected to get a new rough terrain crane in the coming months to help load equipment onto ships. The port announced Aug. 25 that commissioners agreed to purchase a newer crane to replace an older, smaller crane, which was experiencing more mechanical issues in part because bigger loads are pressing capacity limits,. NIT Facilities Manager Don Moon helped secure a 2021 model “at great savings,” according to a port news release. “The port has found an opportunity to purchase an unused 2021 Grove GRT655L with a one year…