Friday, September 11, 2020

Port of Los Angeles Unveils New Data Tool

Port of Los Angeles officials recently debuted a new tool that they hope will make data more accessible to its supply chain partners so they can better prepare for incoming cargo.

Through “The Port of Los Angeles Signal,” a port service powered by Wabtec’s Port Optimizer, the seaport will begin sending out and publishing key dashboard data, such as the number of shipments coming to L.A. over a three-week period. The data — sent to stakeholders and updated every week on www.portoflosangeles.org and the port’s Twitter and LinkedIn accounts — is categorized by type of container and includes details on whether those containers will be moved by rail or truck once it arrives in Los Angeles.

“We’re giving all of our partners — railroads, chassis providers, truckers, warehouse operators and others in the supply chain — a three-week look at cargo coming into Los Angeles,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “This planning tool will help make our partners more nimble and efficient, especially during volume surges like we are currently experiencing. This is the forward visibility our stakeholders have requested and we are proud to deliver it.”

Harbor Trucking Association CEO Weston LaBar said HTA applauds the port’s ongoing efforts to bring visibility and transparency to the supply-chain.

“The HTA has been a vocal advocate for using data as an advanced planning and forecasting tool,” he said.” These efforts will help further that cause by providing advanced notification and visibility through the Port Optimizer, which will help facilitate much needed efficiencies we all desire.”

Nine of the port’s top 10 carriers currently add data into the Optimizer.

Proprietary information won’t be shared, the port said.

For more, visit http://volumes.portoptimizer.com and https://track.portoptimizer.com.

USCG Cutter Munro Returns
from Three-month Duty

After three months and 15,000 miles, crew members of the 418-foot Legend-class national security cutter U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro came back to its Alameda homeport Monday.

During that time, the crew was in the Bering Sea for 37 days, making sure that mandates for fisheries were being followed between Alaska and the U.S. and Russia maritime border.

They boarded 11 commercial fishing vessels as part of U.S. fishery and safety enforcement, patrolled the Aleutian Islands and the maritime border to ensure that foreign fishing vessels did not enter U.S. waters and participated in a joint border patrol with a Russian Border Guard vessel.

Munro also took part in an at-sea-only version of the Rim of the Pacific 2020 exercise from Aug. 17-31 near the Hawaiian Islands, where the cutter performed “formation steaming exercises, communications drills, maritime intercept operations and live-fire training alongside partner nations,” according to the agency.

"This has been an extremely rewarding patrol," said Munro's Commanding Officer Capt. Blake Novak, adding that this was Munro's first Alaskan patrol. “It was an incredible opportunity to patrol as far north as the Arctic Circle to protect our borders and natural resources, and then transition to leveraging our DOD partnership with RIMPAC exercises. Conducting two distinctly different missions within the same deployment is what makes the Coast Guard unique and why I chose this service.”

Novak said that while COVID-19 has posed a challenge, the cutter was able to establish processes to maintain readiness and operate safely.

Munro's success is attributed to the young women and men that make up our diverse crew,” Novak said. “While we have enjoyed our time at sea, and are proud of our accomplishments, we are excited to return home to our loved ones."

YM Triumph visits Tacoma Terminal

One of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation's newest vessels, the YM Triumph, recently made its first visit to a North American seaport when it arrived at Husky Terminal in Tacoma.

The Aug. 27 arrival of the 1,090-foot-long and 158-foot-wide vessel signals a big moment for the Northwest Seaport Alliance and Husky Terminal, which welcomed YM Triumph – its largest to date – to the terminal’s newly expanded pier. Husky Terminal recently completed a $266 million reconfiguration project that expands its footprint into Blair Waterway with a 2,960-foot-long pier that could accommodate two mega container ships at the same time. The terminal also has eight super-post-Panamax cranes with an outreach of 24 containers and a lift height of 165 feet, according to NWSA.

With its 12,690-TEU capacity and 1,000 plugs for accommodating refrigerated containers, YM Triumph joins its sister YM Truth as part of THE Alliance’s trans-Pacific PN2 service that began in July. The rotation encompasses ports in Singapore, Laem Chabang in Thailand, Cai Mep and Haiphong in Vietnam, Yantian in China, Tacoma, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Tokyo and Kobe in Japan.

Port of Everett, Everett Ship Repair Commit to Five-year Lease

Everett Ship Repair is committing to five more years at the Port of Everett.

Port leaders recently authorized its chief executive officer to enter into a five-year lease agreement with the maritime service company, which is an Ice Cap Holding, LLC subsidiary and sister company to Nichols Brothers Boat Builders.

The agreement allows Everett Ship to stay at its current space at the port, which encompasses the north side of Pier 3 and the 3.5-acre site nearby. The agreement also features a pair of five-year options and requires Everett Ship to extend its services to support DDG-class military ships, according to the port.

Everett Ship’s arrival at the port in October 2019 brought the largest submersible barge to service at the waterfront since World War II, signaling the return of major commercial and military shipyard services to Everett.

Everett Ship had a temporary lease with the port while the company worked to build its presence and workforce and acquire the regulatory permits and certifications needed to operate.

“We are pleased at the opportunity to continue to build on our strong partnership with Everett Ship Repair, and to work collaboratively in providing a range of key maritime services and repair options, all aimed at supporting a strong economy, keeping our region competitive, growing maritime jobs and furthering our support of national defense,” said Port COO Carl Wollebek.

Everett Ship Repair CEO Gavin Higgins said the company appreciates the port’s help and support in getting the new operation started.

“Locating at the port brings additional services and jobs to the area,” Higgins said. “We are working with the technical schools and colleges to integrate the apprenticeship program we have developed at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders to support the job growth.”

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Alaska Marine Lines Widens Hawaiian Footprint

Alaska Marine Lines has widened its footprint in Hawaii with the recent expansion of its fleet and barge service and a location move, the company announced.

Over the summer, the marine transportation company (doing business as Aloha Marine Lines in Hawaii) acquired a pair of Gunderson Marine-built cargo barges - the Kamakani built in 2008 and the Namakani built in 2016 – from Oregon-based Sause Bros., which ended its Oregon-to-Hawaii barge service in March. To take over that service, Alaska Marine Lines secured the two cargo barges, now Alaska Marine’s biggest vessels with an overall length of 438 feet, a width of 105 feet and a payload of 16,869 tons, according to the company. The barges are also equipped with 22-foot-tall cargo bin-walls and an internal ballast system.

Aloha Marine Lines also moved out of Pier 29 in Honolulu and took over the former Sause Bros.’ Pier 5 location at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor in Kapolei.

“Our new location is much closer to our high-volume customers in the industrial park area of Kapolei which will offer more delivery efficiencies to our Hawaii customers,” Jake Maenpa, the company’s vice president of sales, said in a statement.

Port of Redwood City Cargo Tonnage Falls 21 Percent from a Year Ago

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors have dented cargo numbers at the Port of Redwood City, which saw cargo tonnage drop by 21 percent from 2.65 metric tons in Fiscal Year 2018-2019 to 2.1 metric tons in Fiscal Year 2019-2020, the port announced Aug. 31.

The port has taken a financial hit of about 6 percent as a result of the lowered cargo volume, seeing gross revenues drop from $9.3 million to $8.7 million from the previous fiscal year.

Like other seaports, Redwood City is not immune to the impact of COVID-19, which has resulted in canceled sailings and lowered demand for consumer goods. Government mandates are also affecting the numbers, according to the port.

“Most of this decline took place in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, which tells us it is a direct result of the statewide mandates impacting the construction industry due to COVID-19,” said Port Board Chairman Ralph A. Garcia. “Prior to that, we were on track for our third record-breaking year in a row with cargo movement.”

Port officials remain positive that the drop in numbers will be temporary, adding that cargo is back up to about 80 percent of pre-pandemic volumes.

“Despite the market’s reaction to this pandemic, the port is in an enviable position in that we’re not having to tap our reserves or reduce operational levels,” said Port Executive Director Kristine A. Zortman. “Still, we are keeping a close eye on global conditions and will be adjusting things as needed as we continue to monitor this turbulent time.”

Foss Maritime Announces Website Update

This week, Foss Maritime unveiled a new and improved website that it hopes will help customers and vendors better navigate www.foss.com and give them a better understanding of the marine services they offer.

The newly enhanced site done in collaboration with Aukema & Associates of Seattle features more resources for customers, more information of Foss’ offerings and the markets and regions it serves and a new look at its Tow Bitts News blog.

“Foss has evolved in the past many years, as have our service offerings,” said Jeff Horst, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing. “The new site is a reflection of our growth and the changes at Foss. The updated website is part of a larger effort to tell the Foss story; not just our nearly 135-year history, but who we are now, and how we continue to expand and improve.”

The website offers a deeper look at Foss’ various services, including harbor services and shipyard building, repair and maintenance and marine transportation and logistics.

It also highlights the company’s marine engineering and naval architecture services, which encompass project management, consulting, inspection and feasibility studies.

Beyond global services, the improved site also has a region-specific section for customers based in Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Alaska and the Gulf Coast. Those customers can now conveniently access those pages for information about Foss services in their area and who to contact.

“It’s been an exciting time at Foss,” Horst said. “With more ASD 90 tugs on the horizon, the expansion of our service offerings, and an ever-increasing ability to take on the world’s most complex transportation and marine engineering projects, it was time that our website represented the company’s full capabilities.”

Oakland Marine Terminal Reports Major Air Pollution Reductions

Terminal operator Stevedoring Services of America at the Port of Oakland saw diesel emissions drop 95 percent by upgrading its 1,000-horsepower diesel engines with those that run on 142-horsepower diesel electric hybrid models, the port announced Aug. 24. Upgrading to the hybrid model has resulted in a decrease of 1,200 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually from each crane, as well as a 93 percent reduction of diesel fuel usage.

“Retrofitting our rubber-tire gantry cranes to battery power produced remarkable results,” said Ken Larson, crane manager at SSA Marine’s Oakland International Container Terminal. “We’re impressed with the huge drop in emissions from equipment that we regularly use on the marine terminal.”

This is the first project of its kind at SSA terminals, the Port of Oakland’s biggest terminal operator, the port said.

Richard Sinkoff, the port’s director of Environmental Programs and Planning, said the project fits ideally in the port's Seaport Air Quality 2020 and Beyond Plan and hopes it will serve as a model for other marine terminals to follow.