News Briefs – Page 2 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

09 Apr

B.C.’s Port of Vancouver Posts Record Cargo Volumes

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsportofvancouver, VancouverFraserPortAuthority

Buoyed by robust export business, the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia saw record cargo volumes move through its gateway in calendar year 2023, according to data released March 22 by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. Canada’s busiest seaport, which is the third-busiest in North America, processed a record 150.4 million metric tons of cargo last year, a 6% year-over-year growth, despite softer import volumes, port data show. “The record cargo and export volumes moved last year demonstrate that one of the port’s key strengths and competitive advantages continues to be its diversification—both in terms of the commodities it can…

09 Apr

Port of Bellingham Terminates Lease with ABC Recycling

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsabcrecycling, bellinghamshippingterminal, portofbellingham

The Port of Bellingham has ended its lease agreement with ABC Recycling, citing “ongoing concerns about ABC’s ability to comply with the terms of their lease, especially environmental standards,” the port announced March 25. “We are unhappy to lose any employer which supports union labor and family-wage jobs,” Port Executive Director Rob Fix said. “But metal is a challenging cargo which requires expensive engineering controls to protect water quality. While ending a lease is never an easy decision, safeguarding the environment will always remain our top priority.” The company, which began operating at the port in June 2022, had expected…

09 Apr

Aloha Marine Lines Adds New Barge to Fleet

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsalohamarinelines, aml, gunderson, hockema

Aloha Marine Lines has launched its newest barge, Makani Loa, serving customers who are using the bi-weekly barge service between Seattle and Hawaii, the company announced March 27. Built by Portland, Oregon-based Gunderson Marine & Iron, the Makani Loa joins two other Makani Class sister barges, Kamakani and Namakani, that were added in 2020. The barges, designed by Seattle-based naval architectural company Hockema Group, are 438 feet long and 105 feet wide, have a 16,900-ton-deadweight capacity and high binwalls to keep freight secure while curbing the amount of lashing needed for travel, Lynden said. “We take pride in working with…

09 Apr

SSA Terminals, NWSA Complete 2nd Phase of Terminal 5 Modernization

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online NewsNWSA, seattle, ssa, terminal5

The second phase of the Terminal 5 Modernization Program, a key expansion project for trade in the Seattle harbor, is now complete, the Northwest Seaport Alliance said March 29. In a statement, the Seaport Alliance and SSA Terminals lauded the modernization project, which includes 185 acres of capacity for cargo and shore power capability at two berths. The newly upgraded Terminal 5 features two reconfigured berths with six modern super-post Panamax cranes. On-dock rail facilities, with more refrigerated plug-ins, support agricultural exporters and lower truck traffic near the terminal, NWSA said. “The opening of Phase 2 of Terminal 5 marks…

09 Apr

SF Bay Ferry, Partners Commission Latest Vessel

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsauroramarinedesign, ferries, mavrikmarine, sfbayferry

San Francisco Bay Ferry on March 25 welcomed its newest high-speed ferry to its fleet, the m/v Delphinus, which is expected to serve commuters on its busiest route. The ferry is set to operate on the Vallejo route, which carried more than 700,000 passengers over the past year, according to SF Bay Ferry. The Northern California agency reported 2.3 million passengers throughout its system last year. Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) said the new ferry “exemplifies our commitment to meeting passenger needs, with design modifications based on valuable feedback.” “As the Vallejo route continues to lead in ridership within our…

02 Apr

Port of Guam Appeals for Funds to Replace Aging Gantry Cranes

Margaret BaumanNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgantrycranes, portofguam, stscranes

Port of Guam officials, citing national cybersecurity objectives, have appealed to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg for Maritime Administration (MARAD) funds to replace three aging STS (ship-to-shore) gantry cranes. Gantry cranes are usually on wheels or mounted onto a track system. They’re easier and quicker to assemble than other types of cranes, and can be easily moved outside and inside and from site to site where required. Gantry cranes are also more flexible and versatile than overhead cranes, also known as bridge cranes. In addition, they’re self-sufficient and supported by their own A frames. “Our reliance on aging infrastructure, which…

02 Apr

From the Editor: The Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Mark Edward NeroFrom the Editor, News, News Briefs, PMM Online News

During the early morning hours of March 26, a 10,000-TEU capacity containership, the Singapore-flagged Dali, suffered a complete power loss, resulting in the massive vessel crashing into a support beam for the Francis Scott Key Bridge near the Port of Baltimore. The cause of the outage is still under investigation, but the allision resulted in the deaths of six construction workers who had been on the bridge repairing potholes at the time, as well as the total loss of the bridge itself. Part of the 1.6-mile bridge was turned into a twisted heap of metal by the 984-foot Maersk-chartered cargo…

02 Apr

Longtime PMSA President Retires

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsmclaurin, newsmakers, pmsa

After nearly three decades leading the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, the organization’s president, John McLaurin, officially retired March 29. McLaurin, who became PMSA president in 1995, has been a longtime advocate for the West Coast maritime industry, which has seen significant investment in port infrastructure, supply chain modernization and emissions reduction efforts. PMSA itself grew under McLaurin’s tenure, widening and unifying various trade groups in California and Washington under one voice and expanding the organization from an office in San Francisco to three locations in Long Beach, Calif., Oakland and Seattle. “John McLaurin leaves behind a legacy of success and…

02 Apr

Auto, Breakbulk Cargo Service Launches at Seattle’s Terminal 46

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online NewsNWSA, seattle, tacoma, terminal46

Regular auto and breakbulk cargo service at Terminal 46 in the Seattle harbor officially began March 27 with the arrival of the vehicle carrier Triumph Ace. For the Northwest Seaport Alliance, Terminal 46 is a key location for cargo, offering more than 42 acres of laydown space in the Seattle harbor for cargo shippers. Terminal operator Pacific Terminal Services Co. and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 19 are the processors of cargo at the terminal. Port of Seattle Commission President and NWSA Co-Chair Hamdi Mohamed said the alliance is excited to open Terminal 46 for regular service. We appreciate…

02 Apr

Cargo Volumes Up at L.A., Oakland Ports

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

Cargo volumes were up at the Los Angeles and Oakland seaports in February, a sign of stronger consumer spending, according to new data. The Port of L.A. saw a 60% spike in overall cargo year over year in February, when it handled 781,434 TEUs, marking seven straight months of year-over-year increases, according to data released by the port March 18. POLA imports in February rose 64% to 408,764 TEUs, while loaded exports jumped 61% to 132,755 TEUs when compared to the same time last year. Empties also spiked 54% to 239,916 TEUs year over year. Through the first two months…