Port of Oakland Extends Renewable Energy Contract

Port of Oakland Extends Renewable Energy Contract

The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners has extended its contract with East Bay Municipal Utility District to buy renewable energy, a move that gives the port access to renewable electricity for 2.5 more years for tenants and customers within the port, the Oakland seaport said Oct. 21. The port has been buying energy for the last decade under a power purchase agreement. “This helps us to exceed regulatory requirements for renewable sources of electricity for our current and future needs,” Port Utilities Administration Manager Jared Carpenter said. “This is good for our community and continues our valuable partnership with EBMUD.”…
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USCG Cutter Alert Returns From Eastern Pacific Ocean Patrol

USCG Cutter Alert Returns From Eastern Pacific Ocean Patrol

After 68 days patrolling the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Alert (WMEC 630) returned to its Astoria, Oregon, homeport on Oct. 8. During that time, crew members of the 210-foot medium endurance cutter traveled more than 13,700 nautical miles from Oregon to Columbia, providing law enforcement support for various initiatives, including counter-drug missions, search-and-rescue operations and international law enforcement training engagements, according to the Coast Guard. Crew members also approached three Costa Rican fishing vessels and seized 1,440 pounds of marijuana worth $1.4 million.  “Furthermore, during the boarding of the fishing vessel Mujer Gitana, Alert’s crew detected…
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LA, Long Beach Ports Again Delay Container Dwell Fee

LA, Long Beach Ports Again Delay Container Dwell Fee

As progress continues on efforts to remove older cargo from Los Angeles and Long Beach terminals, officials at the two seaports announced Oct. 21 that they will delay the start date to collect on their planned Container Dwell Fee to Nov. 18. All year, both ports have been moving the date for implementing the fee, which would bill ocean carriers $100 for every import that lingers on their docks longer than nine days, rising in daily increments of $100 per container until it is gone from the terminal.    After announcing the fee a year ago, both ports have since…
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LA, Long Beach See ‘Downward Trend’ in Cargo Dwell Time: PMSA

LA, Long Beach See ‘Downward Trend’ in Cargo Dwell Time: PMSA

The amount of time that cargo containers linger at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach appears to be decreasing, according to new data released Oct. 14 by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. The length of time that a container stayed on the docks before leaving by truck was 4.2 days in average in September, trimming the average by nearly a day from 5.1 days the previous month. Meanwhile, the average dwell time for cargo at terminals before departing by rail - while still a high average - was also down in September from the previous month, from 16.5…
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Shipping Companies Recognized for Reducing Vessel Speeds to Protect Whales

Shipping Companies Recognized for Reducing Vessel Speeds to Protect Whales

Over a dozen shipping companies, including MSC, Maersk, Yang Ming COSCO and K Line received awards in September for reducing speeds in and around California waters as part of the “Protecting Blue Whales & Blue Skies” program. A total of 19 shipping companies participated, transiting at 10 knots or less in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Southern California region. The program’s Southern California region extends from Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County to waters near Dana Point, south of the Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports. The “Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies” program is a collaborative effort…
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Long Beach Port Cargo Volumes Dip

Long Beach Port Cargo Volumes Dip

The Port of Long Beach saw its cargo numbers dip last month, a result of concerns about inflation, slowing consumer demand and other factors, according to new data released by the port Oct. 18. The Southern California seaport processed 741,823 TEUs in September, a 0.9% dip from September 2021. Imports fell 7.4% to 342,671 TEUs last month. Meanwhile, exports inched up 1.9% to 112,940 TEUs from the same time a year ago. The port also saw 7% more empty containers year over year with 286,212 TEUs. “Consumers and retailers are concerned about inflation, leading to warehouses filled with inventory and…
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Seattle Port Participates in Pilot Business Program

Seattle Port Participates in Pilot Business Program

Seven community groups will help area small businesses through the Community Business Connector program, a pilot effort funded in part by the Port of Seattle and other cities and led by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and King County, it was announced Oct. 10. As “Connectors,” these groups will receive a one-time award ranging from $30,000 to $40,000 over a 12-month period to help local small businesses recover from the pandemic and nurture their growth. “The pandemic highlighted ongoing challenges faced by small business owners and operators, especially those in our BIPOC communities,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said.…
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U.S., Canadian Coast Guards Participate in Joint Alaska Exercise

U.S., Canadian Coast Guards Participate in Joint Alaska Exercise

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Stratton and Canadian Coast Guard ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier took part in a search-and-rescue exercise Oct. 12 near Point Hope, Alaska. Both crews practiced maneuvers with an unmanned craft that simulated being a ship in need of help, complete with an imitation distress call, according to the Coast Guard. Sir Wilfrid Laurier responded to the call and alerted USCG’s District 17 Command Center, and Stratton, a 418-foot national security cutter, used an aerial drone to find the “distressed” vessel, which was recovered. “Exercises such as this help strengthen our international partnerships and increase our emergency…
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NW Seaport Alliance Names North Star Award Winners

NW Seaport Alliance Names North Star Award Winners

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Industrial Tacoma and drayage provider Campbell’s Trucking have been honored with the 2021 North Star Award winners by the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the alliance announced Oct. 13. Wallenius Wilhelmsen Industrial Tacoma received the Cargo Anchor Award, given to a company whose efforts have bolstered cargo numbers in the NSWA gateway and fostered regional economic growth, according to the alliance. WWIT has seen its machine throughput grow by 25% from 2019-2021, drawing “high and heavy” cargo through the gateway, according to the Seaport Alliance. Last year, the company’s ships called at Tacoma 65 times and carried nearly 50% more…
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Oregon’s Port of Newport Approves Dock Inspection Contract

Oregon’s Port of Newport Approves Dock Inspection Contract

Commissioners at the Port of Newport in Oregon have approved a $117,124 contract with KPFF Engineers to inspect the pilings under the roll-on, roll-off dock at the port’s International Terminal, the port announced Sept. 30. “It’s been 10 years since we’ve looked at these pilings and they aren’t all under cathodic protection, so we want to keep a close eye on them,” Port Director of Operations Aaron Bretz said. “Under that section of dock, there are a lot of pilings packed into a small, concentrated area because it is for a very high-capacity load.” Various tools such as steel samplings,…
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