News – Page 2 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

07 Mar

Vessel Owners Must Report Harassment, Coast Guard Says

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsharassment, uscg

Owners, masters or managing operators of a vessel are now required to report complaints or incidents of harassment and sexual harassment and assault to the U.S. Coast Guard, according to Coast Guard Investigative Service Director Jeremy Gauthier. In a March 1 Marine Safety Information Bulletin Gauthier said recent law changes mandate that the vessel’s responsible entity must report misconduct to the Coast Guard. Bystanders, survivors and others would be able to report incidents through a CGIS Tips App or at CGISTIPS@uscg.mil. There’s also a 24/7 watch that can field sexual misconduct reports through the National Command Center at 202-327-2100. The…

07 Mar

2022 Cargo Volumes Down at Major West Coast Seaports: PMSA Data

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online NewsNWSA, pmsa, TEUs

The U.S. West Coast’s five major seaports collectively saw their total volumes fall in 2022, while total volumes rose at major U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, according to the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association’s latest West Coast Trade Report, released Feb. 23. West Coast’s Big Five – the Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, Port of Oakland and the Northwest Seaport Alliance’s Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma – saw total cargo numbers drop 5.6% (-1,480,468 TEUs), while East Coast ports rose by a combined 3.7% (+989,111 TEUs) and three Gulf Coast ports gained a combined…

07 Mar

Port of Bellingham Purchases 6-Acre Complex

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newslandpurchase, portofbellingham

In an effort to grow its industrial business, the Port of Bellingham has acquired from Fiber Glass Systems, LP a six-acre complex encompassing a half-dozen buildings with about 71,000 square feet of industrial and office area, the port announced Feb. 28. The new complex at 742 Marine Drive is less than a mile away from port land and buildings close to Squalicum Harbor. Built between 1925 and 2008, the property includes 2-ton to 4-ton hoists and 240 v/3 phase and 480 V/3 phase power, the port said. “Expanding industrial areas is a priority for the port,” Port Executive Director Rob…

07 Mar

Coast Guard Sector Juneau, Contractors Recover Submerged Tugboat

Mark Edward NeroNews, News Briefs, PMM Online NewsCoastGuardSectorJuneau, GastineauChannel, Tagish

A partly submerged tugboat at the National Guard Dock in Gastineau Channel, Alaska has been recovered, the U.S. Coast Guard revealed Feb. 28. The Coast Guard contracted salvage firm Melino’s Marine Services to remove the tug by using a barge-and-crane system from Bellingham, Wash. After recovery of the tugboat Tagish, the vessel was secured on the beach at the guard’s dock in Gastineau Channel on Feb. 19, according to the Coast Guard. Contractors then dewatered and defueled the 107-foot tugboat prior to it being dismantled and placed on a barge for final disposal out-of-state. “The Coast Guard’s mission during this…

07 Mar

Port of LA, Swedish Port to Collaborate on Sustainability, Infrastructure, More

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newspola, PortOfGothenburg

The Port of Los Angeles and Sweden’s Port of Gothenburg plan to come together on sustainability, digital and physical infrastructure, trade opportunities and other topics under a newly inked a Memorandum of Understanding, it was announced March 3. Signed at a recent ceremony in Los Angeles, the agreement allows the two seaports to deepen their working relationship and further the conversation on various issues vital to both ports. “Because of the pivotal role that ports play in our global economy, it is imperative that we continue to work together to innovate, modernize and share best practices,” Port of LA Executive…

28 Feb

Centerm Expansion Project Completed at British Columbia’s Port of Vancouver

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscenterm, dpworld, portofvancouver

Work is complete on a project to expand the Centerm Terminal at the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority announced Feb. 21. Done in partnership with terminal operator DP World, the expanded terminal allows Centerm to process 60% more cargo by augmenting its terminal footprint by 15%. The project also reconfigured and extended the container yard, created new modern truck gates, added to the intermodal yard, constructed a new operations facility and improved marine habitat. “The completion of the Centerm Expansion Project marks a new chapter in the 100 year history of our DP…

28 Feb

Coast Guard Seeks Comment on Navigation for Portage Bay Bridge

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsportagebridge, seattle, uscg

The U.S. Coast Guard is asking the public, and mariners in particular, to weigh in on navigation at Portage Bay Bridge in Seattle. The agency has issued a public notice for Washington Department of Transportation’s request to replace the bridge near Lake Union and is looking for vessel and facility owners and operators and others in the maritime community to discuss navigation needs that the proposed bridge project should meet. “This includes but is not limited to mariners' requirements for horizontal and vertical navigation clearances, placement of bridge protective systems, bridge lighting systems and various other safety measures,” the agency…

28 Feb

ILWU, PMA Contract Talks Continue

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsilwu, pma

Talks continue between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, who jointly said Feb. 23 that they “remain hopeful of reaching a deal soon.” Both sides have been negotiating since May 10 for a new agreement that covers over 22,000 dockworkers at 29 ports along the U.S. West Coast. While representatives agreed not to publicly talk about negotiations, both sides emphasized that ports on the West Coast continue to operate. “The parties have reached a tentative agreement on certain key issues, including health benefits, and remain committed to resolving remaining issues as expeditiously as possible,” according…

28 Feb

Container Dwell Time Continues to Drop at LA, Long Beach Ports, PMSA Says

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, Terminal Operationsdwelltimes, pmsa, pola, polb

The amount of time that cargo lingering at the Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports continued to fall in January, according to new data released by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association on Feb. 21. The average dwell time in January was 3.2 days for cargo departing by truck, a drop from the average peak time of 8.4 days in November 2021. Meanwhile, the average dwell time in January for rail-bound cargo was 4.3 days, a decrease from a peak of 16.5 days in August 2022. The new average times are now closer to pre-pandemic average times, PMSA said. During the…

28 Feb

Austal USA Opens San Diego Ship Repair Facility

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsaustalusa, navalbase, sandiego

Austal USA, a Mobile, Alabama-based ship manufacturer, has opened a new ship repair facility near Naval Base San Diego, the company announced Feb. 13. The facility is expected to offer “full-service repair, maintenance and modernization services for small surface combatants, unmanned and autonomous vessels, and auxiliary ships,” according to Austal, which is under contract for 13 military programs. Opening the facility was more than a year in the making. Austal USA finalized a property agreement on the 15-acre site and then, according to the company, spent more than $100 million to make several upgrades, including 678 feet of improved shoreline…