News Briefs – Pacific Maritime Magazine

28 Nov

Dwell Time at San Pedro Bay Ports Steady for Trucks, Down for Rail, Data Show

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

In October, the average length of time that cargo lingered at the Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports before leaving by train remained steady, while average rail-bound cargo dwell time fell, according to data released Nov. 20 by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. The average dwell time for truck-bound cargo last month was 3.21 days, slightly up from the three-day average in September. However, the average dwell time for cargo leaving by rail fell from 6.54 days in September to 5.14 days in October, according to PMSA. Last month, about 9.9% of local-bound cargo stayed for more than five days…

28 Nov

BC Ferries Investing in Bowen Island Terminal Upgrades

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, bowenisland, snugcove

Work to update the aging infrastructure at Snug Cove on Bowen Island in British Columbia is set to start in January, BC Ferries announced Nov. 21. The ferry agency said that it plans to spend about $3.7 million on a terminal life extension project. Slated to start on Jan. 8 and continue through the end of March, the work calls for bolstering and replacing ramp parts and renewing and replacing berth structures including wingwalls and dolphin chains, as well as other updates. The current berth structure is about 38 years old, with the ramp, apron and headframe structures built in…

28 Nov

Port of LA Monthly Cargo Up in October

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscargovolumes, pola, TEUs, zim

For the third straight month, the Port of Los Angeles saw its cargo numbers rise year over year, according to statistics released by the port Nov. 17. Last month, Los Angeles handled 725,775 TEUs, jumping 7% from the same time in 2022, data show. Loaded imports rose 11% year over year with 372,455 TEUs, and loaded exports spiked 35% with 121,277 TEUs when compared to October 2022. Meanwhile, empties dipped 8% to 232,043 TEUs. Statistics show that through the first 10 months of 2022, the port moved more than 7.1 million TEUs, about 16.6% less than the same period of…

28 Nov

USCG Cutter Polar Star Heads to Antarctica for Operation Deep Freeze

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscutter, deepfreeze, polarstar, uscg

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star has embarked on its 27th year in support of Operation Deep Freeze, the Guard said Nov. 16. The cutter has left its homeport of Seattle and headed to Antarctica for Deep Freeze, a yearly joint military effort to replenish the U.S. Antarctic stations supporting the National Science Foundation, which is the U.S. Antarctic Program’s lead agency. Every year, the cutter crunches through ice to create a path that enables fuel and supply vessels to access McMurdo Station, the U.S. Antarctic Program’s logistical hub and the biggest Antarctic station. “Operation Deep Freeze is a…

28 Nov

Guest Column: Giving Thanks

John McLaurinGuest Column, News, News Briefs, PMM Online News

A few days ago, as people dove into a Thanksgiving meal while surrounded by friends and family, seafarers were isolated on board ships at anchor or sailing across the ocean in rolling seas. When dessert was served few, if any, gave thought to the farmers and field workers who labored while working the soil and struggled with the uncertainties of nature to ensure a timely harvest for all of us to enjoy. When people rise on Christmas morning and open up presents, quickly tossing aside wrapping paper and boxes, few will give a thought to the longshoreman who offloaded a…

27 Nov

Vancouver USA Processes Most Subaru Vehicles Ever in October

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newssuburu, vancouverusa

The Port of Vancouver USA set a record for the most Subaru vehicles coming through the seaport last month, according to figures released by the port Nov. 16. About 13,529 Subarus ranging from Crosstrek and Forester to Solterra vehicles moved through the Washington seaport in October, more than the 12,900 Subarus processed in July 2022. “This record-breaking month solidifies the Port of Vancouver USA’s position as the largest gateway in North America for Subaru vehicles,” Port CEO Julianna Marler said. “From the hundreds of local jobs supported by the transport and accessorizing of vehicles, to the dollars that are reinvested…

21 Nov

Port of Seattle Creating Fund to Address Legacy Industrial Pollution

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsenvironmentallegacyfund, pollution, portofseattle

The Port of Seattle is establishing a fund dedicated to cleaning up legacy industrial pollution on its properties, the port announced Nov. 14. Port commissioners have authorized the executive director to create a new Environmental Legacy Fund with property tax revenue to pay for the cleanup of longtime industrial pollution on port property. The port’s currently involved in 18 environmental remediation projects, many of them in partnership with other government agencies and organizations. The new fund, which the port said it intends to launch with $30 million from tax levy money collected annually from King County homeowners, would help pay…

21 Nov

October Cargo Volumes Up at Port of Long Beach

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

For the second straight month, the Port of Long Beach has seen overall cargo volumes rise year over year, according to new statistics released by the port Nov. 15. Long Beach processed 14.7% more cargo last month than it did in October 2022 with 755,150 TEUs. The data showed that imports rose 23.6% to 363,300 TEUs, while exports fell 24.8% to 90,073 TEUs year over year. October empty containers were up 23.3% to 301,777 TEUs compared to the same time last year. The port is attributing the spike to the anticipation of holiday shopping and a continued push to regain…

21 Nov

Glosten, Siemens Choose Vendors for Hydrogen-Hybrid Research Vessel Design

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsballardpower, glosten, scrippsinstitution #researchvessel, siemens

Seattle naval architecture and marine engineering firm Glosten and Germany-based Siemens Energy have tapped British Columbia-based Ballard Power Systems and Georgia-headquartered Chart Industries as the main equipment vendors for the design of what could be the world’s first hydrogen-hybrid research vessel. Glosten announced the news Nov. 14. Last year, Glosten secured a contract to develop a “concept-through-production-level design package” for the CCRV, a vessel that would belong to and run by UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Ballard Power Systems is developing the fuel cells while Chart Industries is providing the cryogenic tank and fuel gas system for a…

21 Nov

Port of Newport Developing Federal Channel Into Commercial Marina

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsarmycorps, marina, portofnewport

The Port of Newport Commission has agreed to invest $1.1 million toward the potential development of a federal channel into the Oregon seaport’s commercial marina, it was announced Oct. 30. The money is expected to be spent on geotechnical exploration and sediment sampling for a proposed channel, as well as plans for a new Port Dock 7 that could handle modern commercial vessels. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying the feasibility of a channel after the port asked the agency to explore the possibility. The agency began the study in 2020 and agreed to share the $950,000 cost…