News Briefs – Page 40 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

22 Nov

Container Dwell Fee Again Delayed at LA, Long Beach Ports

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationscontainerdwellfee, pola, polb

Good news for ocean carriers: officials at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have again moved the start date to collect on a fee attached to imports lingering at terminals past their allotted time. The ports announced Nov. 18 that the tentative implementation date of the Container Dwell Fee is now Dec. 16, though this could change depending on how much progress is being made on moving older containers out of congested terminals. Since the start of the pandemic, both ports have seen record amounts of cargo on their docks, leaving ships at anchors and clogging up terminals.…

18 Nov

Prince Rupert Port Authority, Global Ports Holding Seal Cruise Terminal Pact

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsglobalports, portofprincerupert

Global Ports Holding Plc will operate the Northland Cruise Terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert for at least a decade and also operate the port’s shore excursion program, cruise scheduling and passenger services in 2023, the Prince Rupert Port Authority announced Nov. 14. The port authority and Global Ports have inked a 10-year terminal operating agreement that GPH expects to take over operations in 2023. Officials said the move could bolster the port’s presence as a cruise destination, especially on the Canadian west coast and Alaska. “This 10-year agreement signifies the wealth of opportunity that exists in the Alaskan…

18 Nov

Port of LA’s October Cargo Numbers Tumble

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationscargovolumes, pola

The Port of Los Angeles saw its October cargo volumes tumble 25% from the same time a year ago, moving 678,429 TEUs last month, according to new data released by the port Nov. 15. The port saw loaded imports for October down 28% to 336,307 TEUs and loaded exports down 8.7% to 89,722 TEUs when compared from October 2021 to October 2022, according to the new data. Empty containers last month also dropped 25% to 252,401 TEUs year over year. So far this year, the port has moved more than 8.54 million TEUs, down 6% from the first 10 months…

18 Nov

Coast Guard Seeks Public Input on Proposed Seattle Base Expansion

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsseattlebase, uscg

On Friday, Nov. 18, the U.S. Coast Guard has a public meeting scheduled to discuss the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Coast Guard Base Seattle expansion. The meeting is planned for 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Jackson Federal Building’s South Auditorium in Seattle, the agency announced. The goal of the draft statement is to look into possible “environmental and socioeconomic impacts, and identifies related mitigation measures, associated with land acquisition, facility and infrastructure modernization, and continued operation to support current and future Coast Guard missions at Base Seattle,” according to the Guard. The public can view…

18 Nov

October Cargo Volumes Rise at Oakland Seaport

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsportofoakland, TEUs

The Port of Oakland saw its cargo volumes rise 5.9% in October compared to the same time a year ago, handling 145,868 loaded TEUs, according to new data released by the port Nov. 17. The Northern California seaport also reported a 4.8% uptick in loaded exports with 66,408 TEUs and 6.7% jump in full imports with 79,459 TEUs last month compared to October 2021. Even with last month’s cargo gains, it’s “insufficient to reverse the declines from earlier this year,” with long-term indicators forecasting overall declining import cargo numbers, the port declared in a statement. Declining freight rates and high…

15 Nov

USCG Cutter Healy Returns to Seattle

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscutterhealy, uscg

After 17,000 nautical miles and 124 days at sea, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy has returned to its Seattle homeport, the Guard announced Nov. 11. The crew’s journey was considered a historic one as the 420-foot medium icebreaker traveled in high Arctic latitudes and reached the geographic North Pole Sept 30, “only the second time a U.S. surface vessel had reached 90 degrees north unaccompanied,” USCG said. The crew also provided law enforcement presence in the Arctic and the Gulf of Alaska. “It is more important than ever before to provide security and sovereign presence in the Arctic and expand oceanographic…

15 Nov

October Cargo Volumes Down at Port of Long Beach

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationspolb, TEUs

Slowing consumer demand and a growing number of imports shifting to Gulf and East Coast seaports affected the number of containers coming through the Port of Long Beach last month, the port said Nov. 10. About 658,428 TEUs moved through Long Beach in October, a 16.6% drop from the same time last year, with imports falling 23.7% to 293,924 TEUs and exports dipping 2% to 119,763 TEUs year over year. Meanwhile, empties dropped 13.4% to 244,743 TEUs last month compared to October 2021. “The supply chain is returning back to normal and cargo continues to move, so I am optimistic…

15 Nov

Port of Oakland’s Bond Rating Affirmed

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsoaklandseaport, portofoakland

The Port of Oakland’s A+ rating for outstanding senior bonds and A rating for outstanding Intermediate Lien and underlying bank bonds have been affirmed by Fitch Ratings, which also said the rating outlook on all bonds is considered stable, the port said Nov. 14. “These ratings reflect continued commitment to prudent financial management and stability,” port Executive Director Danny Wan said. “They represent great dedication and professional excellence by our port staff and the port board.” The Northern California seaport’s ratings reflect the port's various streams of revenue, which include aviation, commercial real estate, maritime and utilities, according to Fitch.…

15 Nov

Canada’s Port of Vancouver Sees Record Cruise Ship Visits

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscruiseindustry, portofvancouver

This month, the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia wrapped up its cruise season with a record 306 visits -- 6% more compared to 2019 -- marking a positive return after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions halted cruising activities. “It’s been fantastic to see cruise ships and passengers back in town after the two-year pause through the height of the pandemic,” Vancouver Fraser Port Authority President and CEO Robin Silvester said. “This year’s cruise season was an impressive comeback story for a critical catalyst for the local tourism industry.” While this season’s passenger numbers were lower with the slow return to cruise…

11 Nov

Westwood Shipping Lines To Participate in Green Marine Program

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgreenmarine, westwoodshipping

Puyallup, Washington-based Westwood Shipping Lines is the latest company to take part in Green Marine’s environmental certification program geared toward the maritime sector in North America, it was announced Nov. 7. Green Marine President David Bolduc lauded Westwood Shipping Lines’ participation. “Having Westwood Shipping Lines on board further boosts Green Marine's presence among the ship owners with operations on the Pacific Northwest Coast and bodes well for this region's sustainable future,” Bolduc said. “By joining this voluntary initiative, Westwood Shipping Lines is further strengthening its commitment to sustainability by choosing to benchmark its efforts, as well as take part in…