News – Pacific Maritime Magazine

19 Nov

Oakland, Anchorage Ports Awarded A Combined $100M for Improvement Projects

Mark Edward NeroNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News#portofalaska, grants, marad, portofoakland

On Nov. 15, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced plans to invest nearly $580 million in 31 port improvement projects across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including projects at the Anchorage, Ak. and Oakland, Calif. seaports. “America’s ports are essential to our nation’s supply chains, and thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, we have projects underway all across the country—from Long Beach to Milwaukee to Monroe—that are making it possible for our ports to move more goods each year and keep costs down for families,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “With the investments…

19 Nov

Silverback Marine Awarded DoD Contract for Truckable Tractor Tug

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsebdg, silverbackmarine, tractortug

Tacoma-based custom aluminum boat building company Silverback Marine has secured a multimillion-dollar Department of Defense contract for its new OX series truckable tractor tug, which is expected to be delivered in late 2025, the company announced Nov. 7. Silverback Marine teamed with Darley Defense, a family-run Illinois-based supplier of material support and training to the DoD, to win the contract. Designed collaboratively with Seattle-based Elliot Bay Design Group, the tug would feature two Cummins diesel motors, Schottel Z Drives and Arcosa deck equipment and winches, according to Silverback. “The core purpose of this mini tug is to bring real, useable…

19 Nov

Rail-Bound Cargo Dwell Times Up at LA, Long Beach Ports Amid Volume Increases, PMSA Data Show

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsdwelltime, pmsa

The average time that cargo lingers at the Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports before being moved out by train increased from September to October, according to data released Nov. 14 by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. Rail-bound cargo dwell time in October was up to 9.86 days, a half-day longer than September’s average, a reflection of higher demand for intermodal cargo in the second half of 2024, according to PMSA. While the average dwell time for rail-bound rose from September to October, PMSA pointed out that this uptick was the slowest monthly rate since June when the peak shipping…

19 Nov

Additional Training for U.S. Coast Guard Recommended by GAO

Margaret BaumanNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgao, training, uscg

A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office recommends updates in training for the U.S. Coast Guard for emerging missions demands, such as Arctic operations, cybersecurity and modernizing its training efforts. Meeting the mission demands requires enhanced skills and training for the Coast Guard workforce, the GAO said in a report published online Oct. 30. The Coast Guard currently carries out varied duties, including Arctic patrols, cybersecurity and trying to stop illegal fishing in the Western Hemisphere. Its training command delivered over 400 unique training courses to more than 23,000 Coast Guard students in fiscal year 2023. While the Coast…

19 Nov

Marine Group Boat Works, Fifth Avenue Landing Activated as New Foreign Trade Zone

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsfifthavenuelanding, ftz, mdbw

San Diego marine construction and repair firm Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW) and the Fifth Avenue Landing marina are now the city’s newest Foreign Trade Zone activation, it was announced Nov. 12. A Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) is a customs territory that expedites and encourages foreign commerce and other purposes. In an FTZ, both foreign and domestic merchandise may be admitted without being subject to formal U.S. Customs and Border Protection entry procedures and payment of duties. Foreign Trade Zone No. 153, which includes 11 operators secured under the U.S. Customs and Border Protection direct supervision, is considered the only FTZ…

05 Nov

Washington Foundation, Seaspan Invest in Maritime Training Center Project

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsseaspan, washingtoncompanies, washingtonfoundation

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and shipbuilding company Seaspan have made a $5.26 million donation to the creation of a training center in British Columbia dedicated to marine trades education and workforce development, the North Vancouver, B.C. shipbuilder announced Oct. 31. The Trades Training Centre, as it is to be known, is planned to be built at Camosun College’s Coastal Centre in Esquimalt, B.C., near Victoria Shipyards, and would include modern classrooms and adaptable shop spaces, according to the announcement. “This investment will ensure the next generation of skilled tradespeople are supported and ready to meet the future challenges…

05 Nov

LA, Oakland Ports Awarded Zero-Emission Project Grants

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgrants, pola, portofoakland, zeroemissions

The Los Angeles and Oakland seaports have received massive grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Clean Ports Program to help both seaports advance their zero-emission goals, it was announced Oct. 29. Los Angeles netted an “unprecedented” $412 million grant, which is expected to fund almost 425 pieces of battery electric, person-operated zero emissions cargo-handling equipment. Equipment funded by the grant includes 337 yard tractors, 56 top handlers, 24 heavy duty forklifts, more than 300 chargers, 250 drayage trucks and an auto terminal vessel shore power AMP connection, according to the announcement. The grant also sets aside $50 million…

05 Nov

NWSA Honors Maritime Industry Companies with North Star Awards

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsnorthstarawards, NWSA, OceanNetworkExpress

Five maritime industry companies have been honored by the Northwest Seaport Alliance’s North Star Awards for their contributions to the gateway and the region in 2023, it was announced Oct. 24. Ocean Network Express received NWSA’s Ocean Carrier of the Year award for “handling the most container volume and experiencing the largest year-over-year volume increase of all ocean carriers calling at the Seattle-Tacoma gateway, demonstrating its commitment to operational excellence and growth,” according to the announcement. The Importer of the Year award went to Harbor Freight Tools, which is creating a new 782,773-square-foot facility in Frederickson, Wash. The facility’s expected…

05 Nov

Port of Vancouver Planning for Record-Breaking Cruise Season

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscruises, cruising, portofvancouver

The Port of Vancouver’s Canada Place cruise terminal expects to break its previous passenger record by more than 80,000 passengers during the 2024 cruise season, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority revealed Oct. 28. From March 11 to Oct. 29 of this year, the terminal had an estimated 327 visits from cruise ships and 1.32 million passengers for a year-over-year growth of 7%, which if confirmed, would break last year’s passenger record. Canada Place experienced six of its all-time 10 busiest days for passengers this season, including its second busiest on record April 29 when nearly 20,000 passengers moved through the…

05 Nov

USCG Commissions Fast Response Cutter Florence Finch in Seattle

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsfrc, ucgc, uscg

On Oct. 24 at U.S. Coast Guard Base Seattle, the Guard commissioned the Florence Finch, the agency’s 57th Fast Response Cutter and the second of three planned FRCs expected to be homeported in Astoria, Ore. Florence Finch crew members are expected to operate mainly in the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Columbia River. This FRC, made for various missions such as search and rescue, patrolling fisheries and other security activities, is named after Filipino-American Florence Ebersole Smith Finch, who was part of the World War II resistance. During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, she…