May-June 2023 – Page 2 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

Labor Negotiations Impacting Traffic at West Coast Ports

The months-long contract negotiations between leaders at Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union appear to be strained, and that’s affecting business at the biggest and busiest port complex in North America. Negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement began in May, 2022 between PMA, which represents 70 ocean carriers and terminal operators at 29 West Coast ports and the ILWU, which has tens of thousands of members at over 60 local unions in California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii. The contract covers more than 22,000 dockworkers. The two sides issued a joint press release on Feb.…

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…

Newsmakers

Crowley Names New Wind Services, Government Relations VPs In late March, Maritime and logistics company Crowley appointed Mark Coplen to the role of vice president of project management for Crowley Wind Services, where he’s expected to help advance the company’s growth and market leadership in the offshore wind industry. In his role, Coplen is being tasked with expanding Crowley Wind’s project management capabilities to support customers in its offering of engineering, procurement and construction management for the offshore wind market. He previously served as president of Ventolines, an offshore wind consulting company, and as vice president of AdBm Technologies, a…

Foss Line Service Receives PMA Safety Award

The Pacific Maritime Association in March awarded Foss Line Service with a Zero Injury Rate designation and First Place in Safety at the 75th annual PMA Safety Awards. Accepting the awards on behalf of Foss Maritime were Zach Vetter, the company’s line service manager and Casey Johnson, the line superintendent for Foss Maritime. In 2022, Foss Line Service ensured everyone stayed safe on every single job, the company said in a statement. “I would like to thank our line superintendents for making sure everyone is safe during all our line jobs,” Vetter said. “They work very well with the longshoreman…

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…

Vessel Propulsion Technology: A Look at the Industry

Veteran propulsion technology merges with new innovations. The propulsion technology space is a dynamic and important one for maritime professionals. Technologies with generations of proven success merge and clash with cutting-edge new inventions in a globe-spanning market with players jockeying for position. New opportunities like the wind-farm industry spring up alongside more traditional operations such as oil-spill response vessels and Alaskan tourism. Here are a few things on our radar. Scania Scania USA, a subsidiary of Scania CV AB of Sweden, is an importer for industrial and marine engines in North America and a provider of transportation solutions both on…

Auto Import Business Launches at Port of Portlan

A new auto import business launched at the Port of Portland’s Terminal 6 in early March. At its onset, longshore workers unloaded about 3,100 General Motors vehicles from the ro/ro vessel Dong-A Metis at Berth 601, the majority of which were routed to points in the inland U.S. via rail. Portland has said that it anticipates welcoming four ships each month, bringing about 160,000 GM vehicles through the port each year. “From the longshore workers unloading the ships to the folks moving the imports to rail cars destined for the Midwest, this new business further solidifies the port as a…

TPM: Container Shipping Outlook

Congestion may finally be clearing at seaports and spot and contract rates may be returning to pre-pandemic levels, but some uncertainty remains for the shipping industry as potential challenges loom, panelists said at a Feb. 27 session at the TPM23 and TPMTech Conference by S&P Global Market Intelligence in Long Beach, Calif. At the session “Container Shipping Outlook: Suddenly and Yet Again, It’s a New World,” panelists reflected on the rollercoaster of the last two years and gave their thoughts on what the new normal could bring. The panel included Wan Hai Lines Vice Chairman Randy Chen, Barclays’ Director, Equity…

TPM Panel Tackles Decarbonization

Decarbonizing the supply chain in the coming years will take a collective effort from stakeholders and the robust availability of green fuel to make that happen, panelists said at a Feb. 28 session on “The Route to Carbon-Neutral Shipping and a Multi-Fuel Future.” The panel, which took place during the TPM23 and TPMTech Conference by S&P Global Market Intelligence in Long Beach, Calif., brought together four experts to discuss the industry’s role and challenges in trying to decarbonize operations. Panelists included Julia Bedanova, chief operating officer of Million Dollar Baby, a Los Angeles-based baby and children’s furniture company; Paolo Montrone,…

Study: California Ports a Major Economic Generator for U.S.

A new study prepared by Washington, DC-based economic consulting firm BST Associates concludes that California has evolved into a distribution center for U.S. trade with Pacific Rim nations partly because of its geographic location, but also because such a large portion of the trade is consumed locally. Port directors from across California shared the study with state policymakers on Feb. 15 for Ports Day 2023, annual day of advocacy by the California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA). They were joined by dozens of state policymakers to highlight the impact California ports have on driving the economy forward. “Each year, California…