News Briefs – Page 96 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

01 May

Banks Ending Support for Offshore Drilling in the Arctic

Pacific MaritimeNews, News Briefs

The Switzerland-based UBS Bank has joined several other investment companies in pulling funding and support for new offshore drilling projects in the Arctic, a move that could affect future funding for oil and gas projects in Alaska. A number of US banks, including Wells Fargo & Co, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, have already announced similar policy shifts, stating they were no longer supporting new projects in the region in an effort to tackle climate change. Although major oil companies in Alaska are not too dependent on banks for their projects because they can use their own cash flow, the…

14 Apr

AltaSea to Offer Virtual Education Platform for Homebound Students

Sarah SpanglerNews, News Briefs

By Karen Robes Meeks To help students homebound because of COVID-19, AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is kicking off “Project Blue @Home,” a virtual education platform aimed at providing science-based programming with real-world applications. Project Blue @Home allows students to engage with AltaSea staffers and leading marine science and exploration experts via live video chats, video question-and-answer sessions and pre-packaged lessons. The first video question-and-answer session is scheduled for April 17 and will feature Ocean Exploration Trust founder Dr. Robert Ballard, who located the doomed relic of the Titanic in 1985. Ballard’s 64-meter research vessel E/V Nautilus is based at…

01 Apr

BC Ferries Orders Another Salish-Class

Pacific MaritimeNews Briefs, Propulsion Technology

After receiving its first two hybrid-electric ferries in January from the Damen yard in Romania (see Pacific Maritime Magazine, Feb 2020) BC Ferries expects to receive its fourth Salish-class LNG-fueled ferry from Poland’s Remontowa yard in 2022. The mid-size vessel, which will be able to carry at least 138 vehicles and up to 600 passengers and crew, will replace the 1965-built Mayne Queen which is limited to 58 vehicles and 400 passengers and crew.

01 Apr

AMHS Charters Tour Boat for Ferry Service

Pacific MaritimeNews, News Briefs

The Alaska Marine Highway System was forced to charter a tour boat from Sitka-based Allen Marine to operate several voyages between Juneau and the towns of Kake, Angoon and Tenakee in late February and early March after all but one of the ferry system’s vessels were out of service. Allen Marine had previously supplied one of its boats to transport passengers stranded by the breakdown of the system’s mainline ferry Matanuska earlier in February.

01 Apr

American Countess Enters Service

Pacific MaritimeNews, News Briefs

New Albany, Indiana-based American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) has placed its newest vessel, the 245-passenger riverboat American Countess, in service on the Mississippi River alongside its American Queen and American Duchess. Converted from the 24-year-old casino boat Kanesville Queen by Gulf Island Shipyards at Houma, Louisiana, the vessel makes use of four Caterpillar 3516 diesel-electric generators of a combined 5,760 kW output powering three 650-hp electric drive motors turning three Schottel SRP 330 rudder propellers to give a service speed of 12-knots. In addition, a pair of Schottel 300-kW tunnel thrusters have been installed to enhance berthing and overall maneuverability…

25 Oct

Bellingham Addressing Storm Damage

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News

Over the next several weeks, the Port of Bellingham will be fixing three shoreline areas that were ravaged by a massive storm. Some of the repair will be happening at night during low tide. The work includes “armor rock removal and stockpiling, rubble removal, and rock re-placement along the identified shoreline areas, with some limited asphalt repairs at the Squalicum and Fairhaven locations,” according to the port. Repairs are scheduled to take place from Oct. 22 to Nov. 4 at the Squalicum Location, Nov. 5–14 at the Hilton location, and Nov. 15–30 at the Fairhaven location.

18 Oct

Bellingham Reopens Waterfront Park

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News

After an initial postponement due to rain, the Port of Bellingham has reopened the Waterfront Bike Park to the public. The opening was delayed so that crews could fix unexpected erosion caused by massive rain, repairs that couldn’t be made until the track dried out. The park, a collaboration between the port and Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition, features a large pump track and singletrack sidewalk on an uneven gravel surface in addition to picnic tables, according to the port. The bike park is part of a long-term plan to develop a city park that stretches through the middle of the…

13 Sep

Another Record for LA

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News

The Port of Los Angeles has established a new single-month cargo record for the fifth month in a row, the port announced Tuesday. Last month, the port handled 861,081 TEUs, a 4.2 percent jump from August 2018. It is the port’s busiest August in its 112-year history. Imports rose 4.1 percent when compared to August 2018 reaching 437,613 TEUs. Exports fell 10 percent to 146,284 TEUs, the tenth straight month of decreases. Empties jumped 13.8 percent to 277,183 TEUs. Eight months into 2019 and Los Angeles’ volumes are up 5.7 percent compared to the record year of 2018. “Our strong…

26 Jul

Bellingham Manager Honored by Surrey, BC

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News

The Port of Bellingham’s Economic Development Program Manager John Michener has been selected and confirmed as an honorary director on the Surrey, British Columbia, Board of Trade’s Board of Directors, the port announced earlier this month. It marks the first time an American citizen has served on the board in this role. The port has been a member of the board in an effort to foster relationships with its Canadian border since 2014. The Surrey Board of Trade, which represents an estimated 6,000 members, offers economic opportunity, workplace development and education, international trade, government advocacy, and business connections to businesses…

12 Jul

Bellingham Thoroughfare Reopens

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News

For the first time in more than a century, the public can drive through Bellingham's downtown waterfront, the Port of Bellingham announced Tuesday. Newly open Laurel Street connects to Cornwall Avenue, while Granary Avenue links to Roeder Avenue just south of the Granary Building and connects residents to Waypoint Park, a new public park along the Whatcom Waterway. The access has been created, thanks to a port project that includes new public and franchise utilities, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parking, landscaping and street lighting. The work also paves the way for a mixed-use development along the waterfront. The port expects…