PMM Online News – Page 2 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

19 Nov

Oakland, Anchorage Ports Awarded A Combined $100M for Improvement Projects

Mark Edward NeroNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News#portofalaska, grants, marad, portofoakland

On Nov. 15, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced plans to invest nearly $580 million in 31 port improvement projects across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including projects at the Anchorage, Ak. and Oakland, Calif. seaports. “America’s ports are essential to our nation’s supply chains, and thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, we have projects underway all across the country—from Long Beach to Milwaukee to Monroe—that are making it possible for our ports to move more goods each year and keep costs down for families,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “With the investments…

19 Nov

Silverback Marine Awarded DoD Contract for Truckable Tractor Tug

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsebdg, silverbackmarine, tractortug

Tacoma-based custom aluminum boat building company Silverback Marine has secured a multimillion-dollar Department of Defense contract for its new OX series truckable tractor tug, which is expected to be delivered in late 2025, the company announced Nov. 7. Silverback Marine teamed with Darley Defense, a family-run Illinois-based supplier of material support and training to the DoD, to win the contract. Designed collaboratively with Seattle-based Elliot Bay Design Group, the tug would feature two Cummins diesel motors, Schottel Z Drives and Arcosa deck equipment and winches, according to Silverback. “The core purpose of this mini tug is to bring real, useable…

19 Nov

Rail-Bound Cargo Dwell Times Up at LA, Long Beach Ports Amid Volume Increases, PMSA Data Show

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsdwelltime, pmsa

The average time that cargo lingers at the Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports before being moved out by train increased from September to October, according to data released Nov. 14 by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. Rail-bound cargo dwell time in October was up to 9.86 days, a half-day longer than September’s average, a reflection of higher demand for intermodal cargo in the second half of 2024, according to PMSA. While the average dwell time for rail-bound rose from September to October, PMSA pointed out that this uptick was the slowest monthly rate since June when the peak shipping…

19 Nov

Additional Training for U.S. Coast Guard Recommended by GAO

Margaret BaumanNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgao, training, uscg

A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office recommends updates in training for the U.S. Coast Guard for emerging missions demands, such as Arctic operations, cybersecurity and modernizing its training efforts. Meeting the mission demands requires enhanced skills and training for the Coast Guard workforce, the GAO said in a report published online Oct. 30. The Coast Guard currently carries out varied duties, including Arctic patrols, cybersecurity and trying to stop illegal fishing in the Western Hemisphere. Its training command delivered over 400 unique training courses to more than 23,000 Coast Guard students in fiscal year 2023. While the Coast…

19 Nov

Marine Group Boat Works, Fifth Avenue Landing Activated as New Foreign Trade Zone

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsfifthavenuelanding, ftz, mdbw

San Diego marine construction and repair firm Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW) and the Fifth Avenue Landing marina are now the city’s newest Foreign Trade Zone activation, it was announced Nov. 12. A Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) is a customs territory that expedites and encourages foreign commerce and other purposes. In an FTZ, both foreign and domestic merchandise may be admitted without being subject to formal U.S. Customs and Border Protection entry procedures and payment of duties. Foreign Trade Zone No. 153, which includes 11 operators secured under the U.S. Customs and Border Protection direct supervision, is considered the only FTZ…

12 Nov

Maritime Institute Acquires Compass Courses

Mark Edward NeroNews Briefs, PMM Online Newscompasscourses, maritimeinstitute

San Diego-based training provider Maritime Institute announced Nov. 4 that it’s acquiring Edmonds, Wash.-based based Compass Courses. The acquisition is expected to close by Dec. 1, and training programs are anticipated to begin in Edmonds next month. Compass Courses provides training to mariners throughout the Pacific Northwest, providing service to the commercial fishing, cargo and passenger transportation industries that drive the regional economy. “Compass Courses has an outstanding reputation as a training provider that really cares about their mariners,” Maritime Institute CEO Dave Abrams said. “Adding Compass Courses facilities, staff and great instructional team to our organization will allow us…

12 Nov

Centerline, EBDG Partnering on Mobile Power Barge

Karen Robes MeeksNews Briefs, PMM Online Newscenterline, champ, ebdg

Two Seattle-based maritime industry businesses say they’re teaming on a series of “barge-based clean power solutions” for ports that lack the traditional infrastructure for shore power. Marine energy transportation firm Centerline Logistics announced Oct. 30 that it has entered into a partnership with marine engineering and naval architecture firm Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) to build and launch what they’re calling the Clean Harbor Alternative Mobile Power (CHAMP) barge. The firms are expected to announce fleet locations and deployments next year for EBDG's patent-pending floating platform, which could potentially lower vessel emissions by as much as 93% when vessels idle…

12 Nov

New Young Brothers Barges to Enter Service in December

Karen Robes MeeksNews Briefs, PMM Online Newsbarges, hawaii, hockema, youngbrothers

Hawaii-based inter-island freight company Young Brothers’ first new barges in nearly two decades are expected to enter service in December, the company said Oct. 3. The announcement follows the recent christening of the barges -- named Kalohi and Nāulu -- which are part of a more than $45 million investment by the company to bolster its inter-island shipping service efficiency, capacity and reliability. The barges were custom-designed by Washington-based naval architecture firm Hockema Group and constructed in Louisiana by Conrad Shipyard. The 286-foot-long Kalohi was built to support smaller ports such as Kaunakakai (Moloka‘i) and Kaumalapau (Lāna‘i). “As the only…

12 Nov

Port of Stockton Awarded $110 Million by EPA for Green Initiatives

Karen Robes MeeksNews Briefs, PMM Online Newsepa, grants, portofstockton

The Port of Stockton has secured the biggest federal grant in its history. The Central Valley seaport announced Nov. 4 that it has secured more than $110 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Clean Ports Program. The funding was won with help from Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Rep. Josh Harder (D-Stockton) and private sector partners such as SSA Marine, Stockton Soda and Marathon Petroleum. “This grant propels us closer to our decarbonization goals, drastically reduces our environmental impact and supports regional economic vitality by providing new workforce development opportunities and cleaner air for our community,” Port…

12 Nov

Guam Port to Replace Aging Gantry Cranes

Margaret BaumanNews Briefs, PMM Online Newsgantrycranes, portofguam

Port Authority of Guam directors have authorized a multi-step bid process to replace the port’s aging gantry cranes, the port authority announced in a Nov. 3 newsletter. The board’s action authorized Port General Manager Rory J. Respicio to issue an invitation for a bid structured to procure up to three new gantry cranes, contingent on funding. This would allow the port flexibility to initially acquire one, two or three cranes that meet rigorous specifications, including cybersecurity measures and storm resilience to withstand Guam’s extreme weather conditions, the report said. According to the announcement in the newsletter, the port’s current cranes,…