News Briefs – Page 78 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

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…

28 Dec

Port of Everett Longshore Workers Give Back

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

Port of Everett dockworkers recently brought some holiday cheer to their community, donating over 300 wrapped presents to a local school and providing dinners to local charities. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 32 workers helped 18 families and 44 children at Hawthorne Elementary School. This is the second year the union has teamed up with the school on the gift-giving program, something the union started during the pandemic. They also gave more than 100 turkeys and hams to area organizations. “The members of ILWU Local 32 are committed to making a difference in our community,” said Mark Hoekendorf,…

21 Dec

San Pedro Bay Ports’ Container Dwell Fee Again Delayed

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

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach announced Monday that they plan to delay implementing their planned “Container Dwell Fee” until Dec. 27. The news comes as both ports reported a combined 46% decline in the amount of cargo lingering at terminals since announcing the fee Oct. 25. Harbors leaders plan to review the start of the fee again after another week of data monitoring. The fee has been repeatedly put off for a week at a time since November. Ports officials announced the fee in October in an effort to curb the growing stacks of boxes waiting at…

21 Dec

Oakland Harbor Turn Basin Widening Plan Moves Forward

Margaret BaumanNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News

A report on widening the Oakland Harbor turning basins so that bigger container vessels can come to the Port of Oakland is moving forward. The public can weigh in on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District’s draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment until Jan. 31. San Francisco District Commander Lt. Col. Kevin Arnett called the draft a major milestone in an ongoing effort “to catch waves of new ships for the East Bay.” "Back in 2009 we celebrated deepening Oakland Harbor to minus-50 feet to allow for bigger, longer ships, and to ensure the port's benefit…

07 Dec

Austal USA To Assume Lease of Marine Group Boat Works at Port of San Diego

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

Alabama-based shipbuilder Austal USA is poised to take over the lease of Marine Group Boat Works at the Port of San Diego, a move that would allow the company to concentrate on repairing vessels for the U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command and Coast Guard. Port commissioners recently approved the lease, which encompasses a 15-acre site near the U.S. Naval Base San Diego with a new dry dock “designed specifically to handle small surface combatants and other small to medium size ships,” according to the company. “Austal USA’s presence is growing across the United States, and this latest expansion of facilities…