Friday, November 13, 2020

Watch Out for Frost Buildup on Moored Ships

U.S. Coast Guard officials in Alaska are asking mariners to remember to clean off buildup of snow and ice from moored vessels, which could cause stability risk and potential sinking, damage and pollution if left unattended.

While out on the water in the winter, mariners should wear proper personal protective equipment such as a life jacket. Mariners should also conduct regular vessel cheks and update owner information with the harbor or marina.

“Ice and snow can clog cockpit drains causing additional weight loads that can push the waterline over scuppers and through hulls,” said Michael Folkerts, boating safety specialist for the 17th Coast Guard District. “A common cause of harbor sinkings are frozen and subsequently cracked through hulls and failed fittings. Winter conditions can be rough on boats, and boaters need to take extra precautions.”

Dredging is Underway at Charleston
Marina Complex

With the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay launching its dredging work at the Charleston Marina Complex near the Point Adams Facility and the Russell Marine fuel dock, mariners should tread carefully as they move in the inner basin and near the outflow pipe in the Marina Complex and within the Coos Bay Harbor.

Dredging, which is expected to take place through the rest of the year, is being done to improve navigability and accessibility within the area. Within the inner basin, orange pencil buoys mark the outflow pipe, which expands into the bay from the marina, and is marked with four large, white floats, the port said.

Mariners should move carefully near the dredge pipe area and should reach out to port dredging crews for more instruction and help in navigation at 541-294-1555 or 541-294-3234.

Port of Everett Welcomes Return
of Pulp Cargo Business

The Port of Everett Seaport recently saw the return of pulp cargo for the first time in 15 years with Westwood Shipping Lines vessels exporting the product through the deep-water port.

The regular pulp export shipments stems from an agreement to move 8,000 tons of the product monthly through 2021, the port said.

The port credits its recent investments in on-dock rail and cargo handling equipment and its long-term partnerships with Westwood Shipping Lines, Jones Stevedoring, BNSF railroad and an ILWU workforce who conducted test shipments for securing the new business.

The port now receives pulp bales on a weekly basis as it travels by rail from BC, Canada and later loaded onto a vessel headed to China.

Matson Posts Latest Numbers

Honolulu-based Matson Inc. posted a net income of $107.5 million for the nine months ending Sept. 30, and consolidated revenue of more than $1.6 billion.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Matt Cox said Matson's businesses continued to perform well in the third quarter despite ongoing challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects.

“Our China service, consisting of the CLX and CLX+ services, was the primary driver of the increase in consolidated operating income year-over-year as a result of strong demand for our expedited ocean services and ongoing challenges in the transpacific air freight markets,” Cox said. “I am confident that we can make the CLX+ a permanent service because of Matson's 15-year track record of operating our industry leading expedited CLX service in the transpacific trade lane, the introduction of our new Alaska-to-Asia Express (AAX) service for Alaska seafood exports to Asia as part of the CLX+ westbound return trip to China, and the likelihood of continued favorable transpacific trade lane supply and demand dynamics going forward."

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

NOAA to Seek Input on AOAs Near SoCal,
Gulf of Mexico

NOAA is asking the public to weigh in on the creation of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in federal waters near Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as suggestions for future AOA sites.

The public will have until Dec. 22 to submit comments.

This announcement comes after the May release of an Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Chris Oliver last month said that growing the nation’s aquaculture industry is critical to expanding and stabilizing the sustainable seafood supply during uncertain environmental and economic times. It provides quality jobs, economic opportunities and a boost in seasonal tourism and commercial fishing.

For more, visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/aquaculture-opportunity-areas.

For questions about the RFI, reach out to Diane Windham, Aquaculture Coordinator, California NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region at diane.windham@noaa.gov.

USCG Cutter Alert Completes Patrol

The 210-foot medium-endurance cutter, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alert, recently returned to Astoria, Oregon, from a 60-day living marine resources patrol that stretched from Humboldt County to the Southern Maritime Border with Mexico.

The crew members, who were there to support the Coast Guard’s Ocean Steward and Ocean Guardian strategic guidance, boarded 38 vessels and reported compliance that resulted in 47 violations. Cutter Alert found 30 safety violations and canceled three commercial fishing vessels that were deemed unsafe. The crew also issued 17 living marine resources violations.

“I’m extremely proud of the Alert crew for their dedication and devotion to duty during our living marine resources patrol off the coast of California,” said Cmdr. Tyson Scofield, the Alert’s commanding officer. “The fishing industry is a vital component of the West Coast economy, and the Coast Guard is ready to keep the industry safe and sustainable. Alert’s first District 11 Living Marine Resources patrol in several years was a resounding success, paving the way for future major cutter operations in the region.”

Area Groups Net Port of Los Angeles Grants

Four organizations were recently awarded grants totaling $209,169 from the Port of Los Angeles’ Harbor Community Benefit Foundation grants program, which funds programs serving Wilmington and San Pedro communities.

“The grants awarded this year are going to an impressive group of organizations with a strong commitment to making an immediate and real impact on the health and sustainability of our port communities,” said Harbor Commission President Jaime Lee. “We look forward to seeing the results of these programs in the months ahead.” Grants include $75,000 to Los Angeles Walks for the Safe Streets Community Promotora Education Program, which seeks to improve air quality and make neighborhoods safer for walkers and those who don’t use vehicles.

They also include $34,169 to Wilmington Community Clinic’s asthma program, $60,000 to South Bay Center for Counseling to turn a vacant lot to an urban community greenspace and $40,000 to Sharefest Community Development, Inc., according to the port.

Port of Everett to Relocate Cranes

Later this month, the Port of Everett plans to move a pair of 100-foot gauge cargo cranes from the upland yard storage to its new home at the newly upgraded South Terminal Wharf.

Crane relocation is expected to happen between Nov. 18 and Nov. 25.

The two 214-foot-tall electric cranes - which the port purchased from Everport Terminal for $1 each and spent about nearly $6 million to transport - were in upland storage to undergo system upgrades before the move to the wharf.

After they are relocated, workers will install the cranes, as well as conduct electrical work and operational testing so the equipment will be ready for service. The cranes should be operational at the terminal by the end of the year, the port said.

“These cranes are a game changer for the Port and our region,” port Chief Operating Officer Carl Wollebek, told PMM back in May. “Putting them into use at our upgraded terminal keeps us nimble and competitive as the industry continues to send larger ships and heavier cargo to our docks.”