News – Page 162 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

18 Jun

Oakland Volumes Rise

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online News

Despite trade uncertainties, cargo volumes were up 9 percent at the Port of Oakland last month, according to the port’s latest numbers. The port handled about 85,964 imported TEUs in May, a 4.2 percent increase from the same time last year, and 78,070 exported TEUs, an 8.4 percent jump from May 2018 numbers. Last month marked the third consecutive month of improving import and export cargo volumes for Oakland, which at the moment appears to be bucking expectations of lowered numbers as a trade war between the U.S. and China is ongoing. “Logic tells us that at some point, tariffs…

13 Jun

Long Beach Sees Decline

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online News

The Port of Long Beach saw cargo volumes down 16.6 percent last month to 573,623 TEUs, according to recent statistics. Long Beach handled 290,568 TEUs in imports, a 19.5 percent drop from May 2018, and moved 120,577 TEUs in exports last month, a 15.3 percent decline. Empty containers also fell 11.7 percent to 162,479 TEUs last month. The numbers were challenged by May 2018’s historic high and various factors affecting international trade. “One year into the trade war, escalating tariffs have pushed retailers to order goods early, warehouses are brimming with inventory as a result, and in response, ocean carriers…

13 Jun

Everett Welcomes Public Input

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online News

The Port of Everett is inviting the public to a Strategic Plan Update Open House on June 20 to find out more about its effort to form its vision for the future. Stakeholders attending the open house can learn more about the port’s key initiatives at booths displaying the port’s past, present and future projects, including projects related to the seaport modernization, the Waterfront Place Central mixed-use development, industrial developments at Riverside Business Park, environmental cleanups and a sneak peek of the new Hotel Indigo expected to open this summer. Port officials are also seeking feedback on potential economic development…

13 Jun

LA’s Busiest May

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online News

The Port of Los Angeles reported its busiest May in its port history, handling 828,662 TEUs last month, according to new numbers released Tuesday. That’s a 7.8 percent increase from May 2018 and beats the prior record set in May 2018, when the nation’s busiest seaport moved 796,217 TEUs. Los Angeles also handled 427,789 imported TEUs last month, 5.5 percent more than last May, while it moved 167,357 TEUs of exports, a slight dip of 0.8 percent. Meanwhile, empty containers rose 20 percent to 233,515 TEUs last month compared to May 2018. “I’m extremely pleased with another record month of…

13 Jun

Coos Bay Rail Bridge Repairs Complete

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online News

Repair and rehabilitation work on 37 timber bridge structures along the Coos Bay Rail Line has been completed by Scott Partney Construction, it was announced Tuesday by the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay, which owns and operates the rail line. The Port’s contracted bridge engineering firm, Stantec Inc. will conduct the final inspection of the $2.3 million project, which calls for finding and replacing timber bridge bent caps, installing ballast at timber bridge approaches and surfacing and tamping of track at timber bridges, according to the port. Funding came from an Oregon Lottery-backed bond grant awarded in 2013 to…

11 Jun

June 16 Deadline for Olympia Input

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online News

June 16 is the last day for the public to take the Port of Olympia’s Vision 2050 Survey. Results for the survey will help inform port officials of its priorities in the coming years. Thanks in part to a community-based Task Force, the port has already garnered close to 10,000 comments, allowing the port to develop 10 core goals and 60 possible actions. The survey’s results help will prioritize those goals and actions and form a final plan for the port commission to consider. To take the survey, go to www.portolympia2050.org. Those who participate will be automatically entered into a drawing…

11 Jun

Port of LA Passes Spending Plan

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online News

Harbor commissions at the Port of Los Angeles recently passed a $1.6 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2019-2020. The port says that the spending plan aligns with priorities in its 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, with extra emphasis on sound financial management. “Diligently pursuing the Port’s Strategic Plan objectives while maintaining financially sound management practices is our top priority for this budget,” said Marla Bleavins, deputy executive director and chief financial officer, whose team developed the proposed budget for consideration and approval by the Harbor Commission. The budget will include $144.4 million for capital improvement projects, nearly 59 percent more than…

11 Jun

Everett Salmon Habitat Restoration

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online News

Last week, the Port of Everett and the Port Gardner Bay Trustees have struck a deal that would allow for the investment and restoration of a 338 acre-salmon habitat north of Everett. Now public for a 30-day review and memorialized under a formal Consent Decree with the US Department of Justice, the agreement achieved by the port and the trustees - which include the Tulalip Tribes, Suquamish Tribe, NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Ecology - seeks a “comprehensive settlement for natural resources damage liability from the years of historic industry on Everett’s waterfront.” “The…

11 Jun

Oakland Trucks Turn Faster

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online News

The amount of time it takes a truck driver to get in and out of the Port of Oakland is getting faster. The port said truck turn times at its terminals averaged 62 to 72 minutes, lower than the 92 minutes experienced in January. “It’s an encouraging sign for all of us,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “It indicates that we’re operating more efficiently for the benefit of the global supply chain.” The port credits the faster turn times to measures the port enacted over the last three years, which include adding night shifts to relieve daytime…

07 Jun

New Foss CFO

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online News

Mike Welch, the former Vice President of Finance at Esterline Technologies, has been tapped to be Foss Maritime Company’s new Chief Financial Officer, it was announced Tuesday. “I’m really looking forward to having Mike on our team,” said John Parrott, President and CEO of Foss Maritime. “We were impressed with his work at Esterline and are excited to have him on board.” Welch, who began his career in public accounting at a firm in Detroit before relocating to Washington in 2002, oversaw the financial performance of Esterline’s five business units, a team of almost 40 people and about $350 million…