By Margaret Bauman A multi- million project to expand the Port of Nome into a deep water facility for private and military needs has been approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers and sent to Congress for consideration of inclusion in the upcoming Water Resources Development Act. The Corps’ Alaska District, in partnership with the city of Nome, produced the Port of Nome Modification Feasibility Study under the authority of Section 2006 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007: Remote and Subsistence Harbors. The Corps’ plan became official on May 29 with the signing event in Washington DC.…

The U.S. Coast Guard announced that it is addressing a recent hydraulic oil discharge in Womens Bay in Kodiak, Alaska. Coast Guard Cutter SPAR crew members were the first to report the discharge that came from a tank that can hold up to about 914 gallons, according to the agency. It is unknown how much oil has been spilled, but the source has been secured and the cause of the spill is being investigated, USCG said. Meanwhile, Kodiak members had been overseeing the cleanup by Choctaw Defense Services, which had been contracted to do the work. Boom systems, absorbent pads, a skimmer…

Oakland’s biggest cranes for loading and unloading massive container vessels will soon be assembled at the Port of Oakland, officials said. The three massive cranes commissioned for $30 million by Stevedoring Services of America for its Oakland International Container Terminal - OICT have traveled all the way from Shanghai-based ZPMC and will replace three older cranes. “There’s no better demonstration of our maritime partner’s faith in the Port of Oakland, than investing in these huge ship-to-shore cranes,” said Port Maritime Director Bryan Brandes. With a lift height of 174 feet above the dock, the new cranes would be able to…

In light of COVID-19’s impact on the seafaring industry, U.S. Coast Guard officials are extending credential deadlines and easing enforcement on certain requirements, the agency announced Dec. 22. Even though extensions are in place, Coast Guard officials are encouraging mariners to meet requirements as soon as possible to avoid lapses, especially since officials anticipate a backlog of processing credentials and course approvals. Mariners should also be aware that expiring merchant mariner credentials can only be extended up to one year. For Merchant Mariner Credentials, national endorsements that expire between March 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 have been extended until…

Matson, Inc. was delivered its second Kanaloa Class combination container/roll-on, roll-off vessel, the Honolulu-based carrier announced Friday. The new 870 foot-long vessel, Matsonia, was one of a pair of Kanaloa Class con-ro ships constructed by General Dynamics NASSCO. It joins sister ship Lurline, which was put into service last January. Both weigh more than 50,000 metric tons, feature an enclosed garage large enough to accommodate about 500 vehicles, plus room for rolling stock and breakbulk cargo. Matsonia and Lurline, as well as Philly Shipyard-built container vessels Daniel K Inouye and Kaimana Hila, are key in Matson’s efforts to modernize its Hawaii service, the company said. "Putting four…

The Northwest Seaport Alliance members recently accepted a $782,482 EPA grant that will help the operator of the South Intermodal Yard in Tacoma, Rail Management Services, to turn its six diesel-powered terminal tractors into battery-electric tractors. This grant will pave the way for the installation of the gateway’s first permanent deployment of electric cargo-handling equipment, said John McCarthy, Port of Tacoma commission president and co-chair of The Northwest Seaport Alliance. “Through our partnership with (Rail Management Services) and Tacoma Power, these upgrades will replace nearly 23,000 gallons of diesel fuel with clean electricity annually, resulting in reductions of diesel particulate…

In November, the Port of Oakland saw a slight uptick of 0.9 percent in imported cargo and a 2.6 percent drop in exports when compared to the same time last year, according to new numbers released by the port earlier this month. The Northern California seaport handled 78,045 TEUs in imports and 79,667 TEUs in loaded exports. So far, the port has moved 197,692 TEUs in overall cargo this year, 0.2 percent uptick from the same time frame in 2019 with 197,360 TEUs, according to the port. While import demand is strong in the U.S., Oakland’s November import numbers were…

The Port of Hueneme has started a one-year pilot program to demonstrate the ability to complete the cold-treatment process of blueberries, the port announced earlier this month. The Southern California port is known for receiving refrigerated produce but by handling the cold-treatment process on-port, the service lowers the cost of moving the blueberries, curbs a significant amount of greenhouse gases and 2.2 million vehicle miles traveled cross-country and helps California and Peruvian farmers, the port said. “This new opportunity is not only a game changer for our blueberry partners, but also will help reduce air emissions across the U.S. and…

The Port of Los Angeles saw a 22 percent jump in cargo year over year when the nation’s busiest seaport moved 889,746 TEUs last month, according to new numbers released Monday. Imports for November were up 25 percent to 464,820 TEUs, while exports dipped 5.5 percent to 130,917 TEUs. Empty containers - many returning to Asia - rose 34.2 percent to 294,010 TEUs last month when compared to the same time last year. More spending by consumers, holiday shipments and warehouse restocking have been driving the increased numbers in recent months, according to the port. “Since August, monthly cargo volume…