With growth in some sectors and softening in others, cargo volumes through Canada’s Port of Vancouver increased by 11% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year, data released by the port in late September show. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s 2023 mid-year statistics, released Sept. 25, show a total of 75.9 million metric tons (MMT) of goods moved through Port of Vancouver terminals between January 1 and June 30, 2023, compared to 68.6 MMT for the same period in 2022. This is the second largest mid-year volume of cargo ever handled by Port of Vancouver terminal operators (the record of 76.4 MMT was set in 2021) and a new record for the bulk sector at 55.5 MMT, following a significant rebound in grain volumes…
More than a dozen port projects in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington are expected to receive a portion of $653 million in Port Infrastructure Development Program funding announced Nov. 3 by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD). The chosen projects are expected to improve the safety, efficiency or reliability of cargo flow and boost port resiliency, the federal agency said. “Modernizing the nation’s port infrastructure is vital to the reinforcement of America’s multimodal system for transporting goods,” MARAD Ann Phillips said. “The advantages of cargo movement on water extend well beyond the maritime domain.” In Alaska, projects include: $421,000 for the 40-acre deep water port development in Wrangell; $8.9 million for the construction of a new small boat harbor in Yakutat; $2.4 million for the Cape Blossom…
The maritime industry exists to move goods and people via the oceans, lakes and rivers. These goods range from breakbulk—such as wheat, coal, gravel—to thousands of containers moving high-value cargo. Unfortunately, cargo theft in the U.S. is a $15 to $35 billion enterprise that affects seaports, airports, trucking companies and shipping companies daily. The cargo thefts are not necessarily focused on high-value goods such as semi-conductors and precious metals, but also on food and beverages. For instance, in the Seattle area, one thief posed as a Safeway employee and attempted to steal more than $700,000 of king crab for resale. More recently in Spain, thieves stole 12,500 gallons of extra virgin olive oil. The thieves loaded about $537,000 of the prime oil into two tanks at night in an operation…
The Northwest Seaport Alliance moved 9.9% fewer cargo containers last month than it did in July 2022, according to data released by the NWSA Aug. 17. The alliance, consisting of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, moved 234,875 TEUs in cargo overall last month. Although full imports inched up 0.2% full exports fell 7.6% between July 2022 and July 2023. “Year-over-year comparisons continue to reflect the pandemic-driven conditions of 2022 and ongoing soft import demand relative to last year,” the alliance explained in a statement. So far in 2023, NWSA moved more than 1.63 million TEUs, a 21.2% year-over-year decrease, with full imports down 25.7% and exports down 4.3%, data show. Year to date, domestic container volumes dropped 2.4% compared to the same time span in 2022. Alaska cargo numbers…
As competition for cargo continues to intensify, so does investment in infrastructure and cargo-handling equipment at seaports across the globe, especially on the West Coast. One of the latest investment efforts has come from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who on July 6 announced more than $1.5 billion in funds aimed at strengthening the supply chain. The funding includes about $450 million dedicated to zero-emission infrastructure, ships and other transportation modes. “These investments—unprecedented in scope and scale—will modernize our ports, reduce pollution, eliminate bottlenecks and create a more dynamic distribution network,” Newsom said in the announcement. Here’s a look at some of what’s happening at various seaports along the West Coast. Port of San Diego This Southern California seaport recently secured a significant financial boost for its National City Balanced Freight…
The Northwest Seaport Alliance saw its biggest container volume month of 2023 last month when it handled 252,232 units, according to data released by the alliance July 19. The NWSA, which is the marine cargo partnership jointly operated by ports of Seattle and Tacoma, also reported a 16.1% increase in June in full imports and an almost 5% jump in full exports last month over May. “Ocean service schedule consistency has improved at the gateway, helping drive the month-over-month improvement,” the NWSA said in a statement. Meanwhile, year-over-year statistics continue to reflect 2022’s pandemic-driven numbers and continued softening of import demand, the port said. Overall container volume fell 18.4% last month over June 2022, with full imports falling 19.9% and full exports dipping by 13.8%. Year to date, total TEUs…
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 of Ridley Island, would be an integrated ecosystem of large-scale bulk and breakbulk transload facilities, intermodal rail yard, and a container storage yard. “The development will create an innovative and…
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 of Ridley Island, would be an integrated ecosystem of large-scale bulk and breakbulk transload facilities, intermodal rail yard, and a container storage yard. “The development will create an innovative and…
Remember California’s Hydrogen Highway? Odds are you probably don’t. Announced with great fanfare in 2004, after 20 years of implementation, California currently has a modest 63 hydrogen fueling stations scattered throughout the state to service about 12,000 hydrogen cars – including three hydrogen stations operating to fuel heavy duty trucks. When was the last time you rode California’s High-Speed Rail? You haven’t. And unless you are under 40 years of age you may never have that opportunity. California’s High Speed Rail Project is an example of the current state of politics in California with elected officials avoiding making the tough decision to either terminate the project or to fully fund it. No one can admit failure – nor is anyone willing to make the massive commitment to ensure its completion. …
The Ridley Island Export Logistics Project at the Port of Prince Rupert “is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects,” a determination recently made by Canada’s federal authorities, the Prince Rupert Port Authority announced March 2. The determination completes the federal environmental review process, a prerequisite that allows federal officials to consider the authorizations necessary to move forward on the project, which consists of “an integrated ecosystem of large-scale bulk and breakbulk transload facilities, intermodal rail yard, and a container storage yard” at the south end of Ridley Island. The project allows for the handling of plastic pellets, cereal grains, specialty agriculture crops, lumber, pulp and other products to be moved from rail into containers for export, the port said. The first phase is expected to create 400,000 TEUs…
