May-June 2023 – Page 2 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

Port of LA Signs Collaborative Agreements with Japanese, Swedish Ports

The Port of Los Angeles in mid-March entered into separate Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) with the Port of Tokyo and the Port of Yokohama to collaborate on sustainability and environmental issues. The agreements were signed by Port of LA officials during the weeklong 2023 California Japan Clean Energy Trade Mission summit. The MOUs with the two ports call for cooperation and sharing of best practices on environmental and sustainability initiatives, including the digitation of the supply chain to optimize efficiency and reduce port operational impacts. “The MOUs signed this week between the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Tokyo,…

UWL Opens New Seattle Office, Adds Port Call with Swire

In response to what they say is increased customer demand, 3PL services provider UWL and Singapore-based shipping company Swire Shipping on March 16 announced the addition of a new port call for export refrigerated containers in Busan, South Korea on the Sun Chief Express shipping service. The new port call coincides with a recent adjustment to the Sun Chief Express schedule, which UWL said was made to increase efficiency while also adding the Busan call. The new service rotation is now Seattle – Busan, South Korea – Haiphong, Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam – Seattle. “Many clients have expressed…

From the Editor: Oil Spill Aftermath

The massive oil spill that accidentally dumped tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil in the waters off the Southern California coast in October 2021 may have been cleaned up and forgotten by some, but the ramifications continue to be felt by shipping companies involved in the incident. Case in point: on March 1, the oil pipeline’s owner, Texas-based Amplify Energy, said that it had reached a $96-million settlement with various parties over the spill. The oil company has maintained that as a result of negligent conduct, an estimated 25,000 gallons of crude oil were discharged from a crack…

Container Handling Equipment: 2023 Update

The global container handling equipment (CHE) market is estimated to reach $10.16 billion by 2030, according to Straits Research. The drive to cut emissions, improve efficiencies and keep people safe are some of the top trends that are influencing the market’s effect on ports around the world. The U.S. is forecast to see significant growth with its abundant electric vehicle infrastructure facilities, coupled with government support. While going all-electric is the predominant trend, a variety of new technologies are coming online for CHE uses. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, as part of their San Pedro Bay Ports…

Hawaii Coast Guard Cutter Returns from Oceana Operation

The crew of the Coast Guard cutter William Hart returned to Honolulu Feb. 27 after completing a 42-day patrol in Oceania in support of Operation Aiga. Operation “Aiga,” the Samoan word for family, is designed to integrate Coast Guard capabilities and operations with America’s Pacific Island country partners in order to protect shared national interests, combat IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing and strengthen maritime governance on the high seas. “During the 8,616 nautical-mile patrol, the cutter’s crew conducted operations to counter IUU and strengthened relations with foreign allies,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. On the first port…

Coast Guard Sector Juneau, Contractors Recover Submerged Tugboat

A partly submerged tugboat at the National Guard Dock in Gastineau Channel, Alaska has been recovered, the U.S. Coast Guard revealed on 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…

Port of Prince Rupert Export Logistics Project Moves Forward

The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) said in early March that its Ridley Island Export Logistics Project (RIELP) has reached a significant milestone: receipt of its final determination of the federal environmental effects evaluation review. “Federal authorities have determined … that the Ridley Island Export Logistics Project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects,” the port said in a March 2 statement. “This concludes the federal environmental review process, which is a prerequisite for the federal authorities to consider the required authorizations for the project to proceed.” The export logistics complex, which is planned for the southern end…

TT Club Appoints Two to Senior Positions

In mid-March, London-based International freight and logistics insurer TT Club announced two new appointments to senior positions within the company. Kevin King has been promoted to deputy chief executive officer and Mark Argentieri to chief operating officer (COO) in place of King. The company said that King and Argentieri have both been working closely with TT’s CEO, Charles Fenton, in recent years in order to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities, as Fenton plans to step down from the CEO role at the end of 2023. Beyond then however, Fenton is expected to remain close to the business, after having…

MSC Teams with GCMD to Accelerate Decarbonize Efforts

In mid-March, Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) and the Singapore-based Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) announced the signing of a five-year partnership agreement under which the two parties are combining forces on decarbonization efforts. The non-profit GCMD, which is among the world’s largest bunkering hubs and the second largest container port, aims to help the industry eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by shaping standards for future fuels, financing first-of-a-kind projects, and piloting low-carbon solutions in an end-to-end manner under real-world operations conditions. Geneva, Switzerland-based MSC has 730 vessels and one of the maritime industry’s largest newbuilding orderbook of energy-efficient container ships.…

Maersk, Shanghai International Port Group Sign ‘Green’ Fuel Partnership

A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) announced in late March that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) on strategic cooperation for a Shanghai port methanol marine fuel project. The two parties said they’re joining together to explore green methanol fuel vessel-to-vessel bunkering operation after delivery of over a dozen Maersk green methanol container vessels in 2024. “Maersk has set a net-zero emissions target for 2040 across the entire business, and the delivery and operation of its 19 vessels with dual-fuel engines able to operate on green methanol will accelerate the evolution of climate neutral shipping,”…