Baja California Seaports: An Overview

Baja California Seaports: An Overview

The seaports along Mexico’s Pacific coast generally don’t receive a lot of attention north of the border in the United States, but although they’re typically smaller and not as high profile, some of them are as bustling as their counterparts elsewhere in North America. Part of the reason why is the country’s blossoming manufacturing industry. Mexico has 16 international seaports allowing for the expedited arrival and departure of goods. Baja California, a Mexican state south of California, is home to five of those international seaports—Ensenada, Isla de Cedros, Rosarito, Sauzal de Rodriguez and San Felipe—all of which except Isla de…
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Passenger Ferries: Becoming Cleaner, More Sustainable

Passenger Ferries: Becoming Cleaner, More Sustainable

Those in charge of passenger-only ferry design, construction and operations continues to march toward cleaner, more sustainable models and practices. Whether it’s ferries that get commuters to and from work or catamarans that carry researchers to their oceanic missions, West Coast vessel builders and operators are moving people in a way that produces less pollution. That move toward zero emissions is expected to quicken with President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Passed in November, it includes “historic levels of funding,” almost $300 million, to enhance access to ferry service and build greener ferries, according to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).…
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Port of LA Announces Incentive Funding for Zero Emission Trucks

The Port of Los Angeles on Sept. 13 announced the release of $5 million in voucher incentives for zero-emission trucks to operate at the port. This marks the first in a series of incentive programs that will be funded by the port’s recently enacted Clean Truck Fund (CTF). “Our port does more than drive America’s economy forward – it shows the world how environmental stewardship and economic prosperity can go hand-in-hand,” Los Angles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. “As we continue to move record cargo, the need for zero-emission solutions has never been more clear – and working…
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Washington Senator named PNWA’s 2022 Legislator of the Year

Washington Senator named PNWA’s 2022 Legislator of the Year

The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association has named Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) as its 2022 Legislator of the Year. “We are so pleased to recognize the Senator for her steadfast support of freight mobility, maritime and multi-modal infrastructure investment, and efforts to secure federal funding for salmon recovery throughout the Pacific Northwest,” the PNWA said in a Sept. 14 statement. “She has supported a number of regional projects to drive our economy, including improvements and maintenance of our small harbors and jetties, the Washington Coast and Puget Sound, and the deep draft and inland Columbia Snake River System,” the statement continued.…
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San Diego Port Anticipating Its Busiest Cruise Season Since 2010

San Diego Port Anticipating Its Busiest Cruise Season Since 2010

The Port of San Diego’s new cruise season has set sail and business is bouncing back, according to the POSD. This season is poised to be the port’s busiest since 2010 with 140 cruises scheduled, up 45% from 2021, with all sailings at or near full capacity, bringing about 460,000 passengers. San Diego is California’s third busiest cruise port after Long Beach and Los Angeles. “The Port of San Diego’s cruise business is definitely experiencing a rebound and we expect continued growth,” Port of San Diego Chairman Dan Malcolm said. “We’re pleased to be welcoming our cruise customers back to…
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4 Gen Logistics Unveils Zero Emissions Equipment at Port of Long Beach

The Port of Long Beach and industry partners on Sept. 13 showed how one port trucking company is converting to a full zero-emissions trucking fleet three years from now, a decade before the 2035 zero-emissions goal set by the port’s Clean Air Action Plan. The announcement was made at 4 Gen Logistics in the Port of Long Beach, where Electrify America intends to install 60 public charging stations by the end of 2023 to serve its own fleet of electric trucks, as well as other companies’ trucks. 4 Gen also plans to purchase 41 Volvo and 20 Kenworth electric heavy-duty…
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Port of Portland, Timber Coalition Members Awarded $41.4M

Port of Portland, Timber Coalition Members Awarded $41.4M

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded the Port of Portland and its fellow members of the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition (OMTC) $41.4 million to develop and expand Oregon’s emerging mass timber industry. The award, which was announced Sept. 2, and addresses three significant issues across Oregon: a worsening housing crisis; increasing threats of wildfires; and the need to create good-paying jobs in communities recovering from the pandemic. Specifically, the grant supports university research involving the use of mass timber in housing; spur development of a factory by the Port of Portland to produce mass timber housing; fund forest…
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White House Port Envoy and Oakland Officials Meet, Discuss Solutions for Supply Chain

White House Port Envoy and Oakland Officials Meet, Discuss Solutions for Supply Chain

The White House’s Port and Supply Chain Envoy, retired U.S. Army General Stephen R. Lyons, toured the Port of Oakland on Aug. 29 and met with port officials and stakeholders. Lyons has been visiting U.S. ports to address on-going supply-chain issues in America. He toured the Oakland Seaport to take a first-hand look at the maritime operations and learn more about Oakland’s port-terminal activities. Lyons met with Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan and Maritime Director Bryan Brandes to discuss the challenges Oakland maritime officials are facing and continue the federal dialogue to support solutions to goods movement at the port. “I am committed to looking for ways to stabilize the entire…
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Commercial Fishing Vessel Sinks off Washington’s San Juan Islands

Commercial Fishing Vessel Sinks off Washington’s San Juan Islands

The commercial fishing vessel Aleutian Isle sank off the San Juan Islands in Washington state on Aug. 13. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, all five crewmembers were rescued by a Good Samaritan as the vessel sank. The vessel was reported by the USCG to have about 2,600 gallons of diesel fuel onboard, as well as 100 gallons of hydraulic fluid and lubricant oil. After the vessel sank, responders observed a sheen spanning about three miles, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Response and Restoration. OR&R provided trajectory assistance for the spilled oil, as well as…
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A.P. Moller-Maersk Acquires LF Logistics

A.P. Moller-Maersk Acquires LF Logistics

Danish shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk on Aug. 31 announced its $3.6 billion acquisition of Hong Kong-based contract logistics company LF Logistics. As a result of the acquisition, LF Logistics is being rebranded as Maersk. The newly named Maersk is expected to add 223 warehouses to its existing portfolio, bringing the total number of facilities to 549 globally, spread across a total of 9.5 million square meters. “Maersk in Asia has historically been primarily focused on ocean transportation out of Asia and related logistics services,” A.P. Moller-Maersk Regional Managing Director of Asia Pacific Ditlev Blicher said. “With the addition of LF…
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