February 2022 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

From the Editor: New Year’s Resolution

As we get into the swing of 2022, I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year. I truly hope that this turns out to be a great year for all sectors of the maritime goods movement industry, including shippers, BCOs, 3PLs, longshore workers, boat builders, tug operators, drayage firms, etc. 2021 was actually booming for some sectors in the industry, in particular a number of ports and terminal operators, which experienced record cargo movement. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the past couple of years have been tough on other sectors during COVID, which has shaken up the entire…

Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam Resumes Port of San Diego Service

On Dec. 23, Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam cruise vessel returned to service from the Port of San Diego, becoming the second Holland America ship to resume service in the city since the industry-wide pause due to COVID-19. Zuiderdam joins Koningsdam, which resumed San Diego service on Oct. 10. Holland America Line now has six ships cruising again in the Caribbean, Mexico and along the Pacific Coast of the U.S. “San Diego is an important homeport for us, and we are excited to have two ships back in full-time operation here,” Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha said. “We are proud…

Robert Allan, Svitzer Reach Tug Design Agreement

Vancouver, BC-based naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd. has reached a tug design agreement with global towage operator Svitzer for a vessel that they say incorporates several unique elements and combines them in a safer, more efficient package. The pact was announced by the companies in early December. “This tug is a game changer,” Svitzer COO Ingrid Uppelschoten Snelderwaard said. “Our customers expect us to deliver…environmentally friendly towage services at a competitive price and it is our passion to think out of the box and deliver innovative solutions to meet these expectations. I am proud that we are able to…

3 Companies Indicted, Accused of Negligence in Southern California Coastal Oil Leak

Members of the Orange County shoreline cleanup and assessment team conduct cleanup operations near Corona Del Mar State Beach Park in California, on Oct. 6, 2021. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Janessa Warschkow. A federal grand jury in mid-December indicted three companies involved in a large oil leak that disrupted Southern California maritime trade and resulted in a weeks-long cleanup. The three companies, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, are Amplify Energy Corp., Beta Operating Co. LLC—a wholly owned subsidiary of Amplify doing business as Beta Offshore—and San Pedro Bay Pipeline Co., another subsidiary of…

BAE Provides Zero-Emission Propulsion for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry in Bay Area

Electric propulsion provider BAE Systems has installed a zero-emission propulsion system in the first U.S. hydrogen fuel cell powered marine vessel, the Sea Change, which is set to operate in the San Francisco Bay Area. UK-based BAE revealed in late November that it has provided its HybriGen Power and Propulsion system to hydrogen technology company Zero Emission Industries for integration on the Sea Change. The vessel is equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell power package, provided by Zero Emission Industries, that is comprised of 360 kW of Cummins fuel cells and Hexagon hydrogen storage tanks with a capacity of 246…

EPA Fines Container Ships Over Permit Violations in California

A Mediterranean Shipping Company container ship operating in California that was found to have violated U.S. Environmental Protection Agency inspection, monitoring and reporting regulations has been assessed penalties totaling more than $66,000, the EPA said. The MSC Aurora, which sails under the flag of Panama, was found to have violated EPA’s Vessel General Permit (VGP) issued under the Clean Water Act (CWA). From November 2016 to July 2021, the MSC Aurora failed to conduct required routine visual inspections for 11 voyages to Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland seaports, according to a November statement issued by the EPA. The MSC…

Seaspan Corp. Secures Financing for 70-Vessel Newbuild Program

Independent containership owner and operator Seaspan Corporation has secured the last of its financings for its full 70 vessel newbuild program, including three vessels recently delivered, the company announced Jan. 5. The proceeds from the financings total about $6.9 billion and are to be drawn throughout construction of the newbuild program to fund a total investment of about $7.6 billion, the company said. Proceeds from the financing total about $1.4 billion and will be used to finance 10 15,000-TEU LNG dual-fuel newbuild vessels, according to Seaspan. “We have now concluded binding financing arrangements for our full newbuild program, solidifying our…

CMA CGM Finalizes Majority Purchase of Fenix Marine Services

French shipping company CMA CGM Group has finalized an agreement to become the sole owner of the Fenix Marine Services container terminal in Los Angeles, the company said Jan. 5. Under the agreement, which was initially announced in November, CMA CMM is acquiring 90% of the company from EQT Infrastructure III for an estimated $2.3 billion. The shipping company previously held a 10% stake in the terminal, but now has sole ownership and said that it plans to take over the operations of the facility with the goal of improving its service quality and invest in increasing container yard and…

Calif. Gov. Proposes $2.3 Billion in Goods Movement, Supply Chain Bottleneck Reductions in New State Budget

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 10 proposed allocating $2.3 billion for supply chain investments in the new state budget, with the funds earmarked to help address congestion and bottlenecks. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, California ports saw significant decreases in trade with record breaking impacts. But demand rose as consumers grappled with adapting to a new world that revolved around remote work and virtual learning. The surge in cargo has created unprecedented challenges across the state’s coast. Over the past decade, the federal government has invested roughly $11 billion in the eastern Gulf coast ports, but only $1…

POLB Receives $52M Rail Grant

The Port of Long Beach has been awarded a $52.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to help fund development of an on-dock rail support facility, the port revealed in late December. The facility, now under construction at the port’s Pier B, is expected to enable the seaport to move more cargo by train, thereby improving efficiency and lessening environmental impacts. The project encompasses about 171 acres in the Harbor District. The existing Pier B rail facility serves as a storage and staging area for trains. The facility is primarily used by Pacific Harbor Line,…