News Briefs – Page 48 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

07 Jan

USCG Completes Marine Safety Task Force Effort in Alaska

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Task Force (MSTF) recently completed work bolstering security and relationships in Western Alaska and the Arctic, visiting 95 remote communities, monitoring six fuel-to-shore transfers and inspecting 128 fuel storage facilities, 470 commercial fishing vessel exams and five gold dredge exams in 2021. First initiated in 2019, the task force’s main goal is to advance public safety and marine environment protection efforts year-round. The task force is already planning for the 2022 summer surge season, with a focus on deepening relationships with Alaska communities. “Tribal and municipal governments throughout rural Alaska often have…

07 Jan

New Port of Oakland Attorney Named

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operations

Assistant Port Attorney Mary Richardson was recently named the Port of Oakland’s new port attorney, taking over for the retiring Michele Heffes. In her new role, Richardson will oversee the port’s staff of lawyers, legal assistants and secretaries and advise on contract talks and other legal issues related to the port. For the last 13 years, Richardson has been involved in the legalities of some of the port’s biggest projects, including talks to construct Cool Port and the Seaport Logistics Complex and grant funding that would allow for shore power at marine terminals. “Mary has been involved in every important…

04 Jan

From the Editor: New Year’s Resolution

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

As we all get into the swing of 2022, I’d like to wish you a very happy and prosperous new year. I truly hope that this turns out to be a wonderful year for all sectors of the maritime goods movement industry, including shippers, BCOs, 3PLs, longshore workers, boat builders, tug operators, drayage firms, etc. Due to the pandemic, the past couple of years have been tough on some of the above sectors, as COVID has shaken up the entire world. Even as we’ve managed to get things back on the right track, obstacles keep popping up. But these things…

04 Jan

Port of Los Angeles Considering Dwell Fee for Empties

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operations

Ocean carriers could be fined for empty containers that dwell for nine or more days at marine terminals at the Port of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Harbor Commission is expected to consider the fee at its Jan. 13 board meeting. If approved, the fee would go into effect Jan. 30, and would charge ocean carriers $100 for every empty that lingers at terminals beyond nine days, rising in daily increments of $100 per empty until it’s removed. The fee is similar in nature to an import container dwell fee that Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach jointly…

04 Jan

Dwell Times at San Pedro Bay Ports Remain High, PMSA Says

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operations

The amount of time an import stays on the docks at the San Pedro Bay ports before leaving by truck increased in November, according to new data from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. The average dwell time for containers leaving terminals by trucks last month was 8.37 days, notably higher than October’s 7.64-day average. Meanwhile, the average dwell time for containers leaving the ports by rail fared better last month, with dwell times improving from an average of 3.9 days in October to 3.5 days in November, according to PMSA data. “The pandemic-related surge continues, the overall supply chain remains…

04 Jan

Port of Alaska Wins Lawsuit Against MARAD

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operations

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims in December ruled in favor of Anchorage in its lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) concerning the Port of Alaska, which the municipality operates. In a legal matter that had been pending before the court for seven years, the federal claims court found that MARAD breached its contract with Anchorage by failing to provide design, construction and project management services free of defects for the port’s intermodal expansion project. The project was in the works for more than a decade and originally expected to be completed by 2011. It first…

04 Jan

Port of Oakland Looking to Open Off-Terminal Container Yard

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operations

Looking to improve the movement of agricultural exports through the Port of Oakland, the port is teaming up with federal and state agencies to provide more yard space and equipment, bring back export vessel calls, and more. Oakland said that it plans to open and run a 25-acre off-terminal container yard to allow exports to come off chassis and be temporarily stored so they can be quickly picked up, as well as access to equipment to facilitate quicker turn times. “The goal is to provide relief to agricultural exporters who are facing shortages of export capacity and skyrocketing logistics costs,”…

28 Dec

Port of LA Forecasts Record Year

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operations

The Port of Los Angeles is on the verge of achieving a record year for cargo volumes. By the end of 2021, the nation’s busiest seaport expects to move roughly 10.7 million TEUs, shattering a 2018 record by about 13%, according to new data released by the port. Imports are poised to reach a record 5.5 million TEUs, the data show. The record comes despite Los Angeles’ decreasing cargo numbers for November. Overall volumes dropped 8.8% to 811,460 TEUs from November 2020, with half of the 86 container ships coming to the port with less than 5,300 TEUs. “Smaller vessels…

28 Dec

TTSI Receives Battery-Electric Trucks for San Pedro Bay Pilot Program

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News

Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) pilot trucks have been delivered to local trucking firm Total Transportation Services, Inc. by Nikola Motor Co., furthering efforts to bring a zero-emissions fleet to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. “Nikola committed to make its first Tre BEV deliveries in Q4 2021 and it is a big honor to celebrate this milestone with our partner, TTSI and dignitaries who are committed to advancing zero-emission transportation solutions to reduce truck emissions in port operations,” said Nikola CEO Mark Russell. “TTSI has significant sustainability goals, and we are pleased to help them achieve their vision.” About…

28 Dec

Port of Seattle Leaders Reflect on State of the Port

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operations

In a recent annual State of the Port address that was held virtually due to the pandemic, Port of Seattle leaders reflected on this year’s efforts to restore operations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and plans to move forward on significant infrastructure projects. “I am pleased to report that the state of the port is strong thanks to clear direction, clarity of our mission, strong efforts by our resilient staff, and the effective partnerships with the community and industry,” said port Executive Director Steve Metruck. “Looking back, we can confidently say that this year we made progress in…