News – Page 156 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

14 Apr

Port of Seattle Offers Rent Relief to Tenants

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks Maritime and landside tenants are getting some help from the Port of Seattle, which is offering rent deferments through July for businesses and moorage fee deferments through June, the port announced Monday. “We are taking relief actions port-wide starting this month, including foregoing evictions, to aid our tenants in weathering this unprecedented crisis,” said Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck. Relief will be given to those affected by COVID-19 and its economic impacts. Those seeking relief will have to show impact and need. “The Seattle Port Commission has heard clearly from many of our customers…

14 Apr

Port of Long Beach Nets Grant for Railroad Project

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration recently awarded a $14.5 million grant to the Port of Long Beach toward its “Terminal Island Wye Track Realignment” railroad project. The $40 million project, which will consist of building new tracks and upgrading a triangle-shaped rail junction where long trains can be turned and staged, is expected to help improve safety, curb train idling, get trains in and out of the port more quickly and support the port’s effort for more on-dock rail and better access to two bulk terminals near Pier T, which will fund the rest…

14 Apr

Port of Oakland’s March Cargo Numbers Drop

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks Overall cargo volumes at the Port of Oakland were down 11 percent last month compared to March 2019, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to weaken international trade, according to new numbers released by the port Monday. The port – which continues to operate amid a shelter-in-place order by Alameda County because it’s deemed critical infrastructure in the battle against COVID-19 – saw March imports fall 10.3 percent, exports go down 5 percent, and empty containers tumbled 23 percent. The new numbers reflect the trend happening among West Coast ports – many of which are reporting lower…

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…

10 Apr

Port of Los Angeles Cargo Numbers Plummet

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks The Port of Los Angeles saw cargo volumes plunge 30.9 percent to 449,568 TEUs compared to the same period last year, its lowest amount of monthly cargo since February 2009, according to numbers released Wednesday. Imports for March also dove 25.9 percent to 220,255 TEUs, exports fell 23.8 percent to 121,146 TEUs and empty containers tumbled 44.5 percent to 108,168 TEUs year over year. For the first quarter of 2020, volumes have fallen 18.5 percent compared to 2019. In a recent video update, Port Executive Director Gene Seroka said cargo volumes would be soft and that…

10 Apr

COVID-19 Affects Port of Long Beach March Cargo Numbers

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks With growing coronavirus concerns prompting nearly two dozen canceled sailings in the first quarter of 2020, container volumes fell 6.4 percent in March at the Port of Long Beach, according to the figures released Tuesday. Long Beach handled 517,663 TEUs, down 6.4 percent from March 2019, while imports dipped 5 percent to 234,570 TEUs and empty containers fell 21 percent to 137,652 TEUs. Meanwhile, exports rose 10.7 percent to 145,442 TEUs when compare to the same period a year ago. “The coronavirus is delivering a shock to the supply chain that continues to ripple across the…

10 Apr

Port of Seattle Temporarily Halts Construction Projects

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks In order to finish reviewing and updating jobsite safety plans to protect against COVID-19 spread, the Port of Seattle announced that it will temporarily stop approximately 20 construction projects from April 9 to April 13. Northwest Seaport Alliance projects are not affected by the temporary pause, the port said. Contractors were required to turn in updated safety plans by March 27 to show how they would apply public health recommendations that minimize COVID-19 spread at their job sites. According to the port, contractors have already enacted a number of health recommendations such as social distancing and…

10 Apr

Port of Olympia Offers Tenants Relief

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks Effective immediately, the Port of Olympia is offering 90 days of relief to tenants affected by COVID-19, thanks to a recent decision by port commissioners to temporarily suspend issuing notices of default, late fees, and penalties for nonpayment of rents immediately. The port originally published the resolution being in effect for 60 days but has since updated that number to 90 days for real estate leases and liveaboard moorage, or until the commission terminates or extends the time period. Under the resolution, Swantown Marina vessel owners who use their vessel as their main home and have…

07 Apr

Port of Portland Continues to Operate

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks As vital infrastructure to the region, Port of Portland marine terminal facilities will stay open for operations while Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s Stay Home, Save Lives Executive Order is in place. The port’s marine terminals remain open and operational, as they continue to help move critical goods in and out of the region. According to the port, “While the port has seen some declines in auto imports and exports, its bulk marine facilities—which handle grains, potash and soda ash—are experiencing normal export numbers.” South Korea shipping company SM Line continues to call at Terminal 6 weekly,…

07 Apr

Port of Oakland Lauds Dockworkers

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks Days before annual Western Hemisphere Ports Day, Port of Oakland dockworkers were honored by the port for their dedication to the movement of goods amid the COVID-19 health crisis. “Ports including Oakland have been declared essential infrastructure and must keep operating for the public good and the future of trade,” said Port Maritime Director John Driscoll. “That couldn’t happen without the waterfront work force that keeps cargo moving. Dockworkers, truckers, all of those on the front line of the supply chain have earned our sincerest gratitude.” While a shelter-in-place order is in effect in Alameda County,…