Friday, December 4, 2020

Dredging to Begin in Everett Harbor,
Snohomish River

Mariners should be mindful of the maintenance dredging expected to take place next week in Everett Harbor and Snohomish River.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Everett are partnering on dredging the area’s lower channel and settling basin, which is set to start on Dec. 9, according to the port.

J.E. McAmis of Chico, California, has been contracted by the Army Corps of Engineers to do the work, which involves dredging roughly 65,000 cubic yards of material from the lower channel and about 100,000 cubic yards from the lower settling basin.

Mariners in the area should tread carefully and pass on the marina side of the dredge. They should also be mindful of the rig markings. The work will take place around the clock and is expected to be done by mid-February, the port said.

PNW Mariners: Winterize Your Vessels!

As the season gets colder in the Pacific Northwest, U.S. Coast Guard officials are encouraging mariners to winterize their boats, a move that bolsters boaters’ safety and the maritime community and surrounding environment and lengthens their boats’ longevity.

Poor winterization often results in sunken vessels and oil discharges, the USCG said.

The agency suggests removing extraneous gear and inspecting gear to make sure everything is up to date and working; draining bilge water or fresh water tanks, fittings and lines; getting rid of waste and materials such as oils, chemicals and batteries; disconnecting batteries, closing and securing doors, windows and covers; and double-checking moorings before departing.

“If the boat is taken out of the water, shrink wrapping the vessel is also an option,” according to the agency. “Sealing the vessel is extremely important in preventing capsizing due to heavy rainfall or icing.”

Lynden Delivers “Clinic in a Can” to Alaska

The small Western Alaskan community of Naknek recently received vital medical services, thanks to “Clinic in a Can,” a mobile medical center delivered by Lynden Air Cargo.

“Clinic in a Can” started with a doctor who wanted to reimagine 20-foot containers into emergency clinics for third-world countries, Lynden said. Putting the project together was Ethan Bradford, Lynden Air Cargo's Vice President of Technical Operations.

The clinic was moved from Wichita to Tacoma by Alaska West Express, then shipped to Anchorage, where Lynden Air Cargo got it to its final destination at King Salmon's Camai Community Health Center.

"Protecting workers, Alaskans and our communities during the fishing season and year-round continues to be an important challenge in our state's COVID response," Camai Health Center Executive Director Mary Swain told Lynden, adding that she wants two more clinics for the region. "We received grant money to purchase the mobile clinic, and we can transport it to wherever it is needed most."

AAPA Releases 2021 Series of Maritime Events

In 2021, the American Association of Port Authorities plans to host conferences and events in various in-person, virtual and hybrid options, the organization announced this week.

Health and safety procedures will be followed at AAPA’s events, which include offering hybrid options for its Spring Conference from March 15-18 in Washington, D.C. and its 110th Annual Convention & Exposition from Sept. 26-29 in Austin.

The organization is also hosting seven meetings and training workshops for the maritime sector next year, including:
  • Communications, Administration and Legal Issues Seminar, held virtually Feb. 24-25
  • Marine Terminal Management Training Seminar, held in person April 19-23 in Miami
  • Commissioners Seminar, held in person May 11-13 in San Diego
  • Cruise Seminar, held virtually from June 21-25
  • Port Security Seminar and Expo, hosted in a hybrid format July 13-15 in New York
  • Facilities Engineering Seminar and Expo, hosted in a hybrid format Nov. 2-4 in Savannah
  • Executive Management Conference, held in person Nov. 15-19 in Phoenix
“For 2021, we look forward to convening our industry again in safe and appropriate settings,” said AAPA Membership and Sponsorship Vice President Meredith Martino. “At the same time, we’ll continue to grow our AAPA Anywhere virtual offerings, including by adding virtual elements to in-person events to offer hybrid experiences, where attendees can choose the participation option that’s right for them. Additionally, should pandemic conditions force us to pivot away from individual in-person events, we have the capability to successfully move from in-person or hybrid events to fully virtual events as needed.”

For more, visit https://www.aapa-ports.org.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

TRLMI Debuts New App for Mariners


Mariners will have an easier time tracking their sea time and credentials, thanks to a new app launched Monday by San Diego-based Training Resources Limited., Inc.

Available for free and without populated advertising for Android and Apple mobile device users, the new SeaLog™ app offers mariners text or email alerts, news updates on USCG policy changes, and access to certificates and sea time when mariners are out of cell or wifi range.

TRLMI keeps data in secure servers in the U.S. and does not share data with third parties.

The app is also helpful for company training/HR departments in providing status reports about a mariner’s training readiness, eliminating last-minute crew changes due to expiring credentials.

“Our new SeaLog™ app was designed for mariners so they don’t have to worry about when credentials or training certificates are expiring,” said Dave Abrams, CEO of TRLMI. “The app will provide reminders set up by each mariner, and retains copies of every certificate. SeaLogTM also tracks sea time, and allows the mariner to output a spreadsheet file with the information required by the USCG Sea Service form.”

Port of Everett Offers COVID-19 Recovery Help

The Port of Everett is hoping to offer commercial tenants and subtenants a COVID-19 recovery boost with a third round of funding through its Economic Development Grant for Evolution (EDGE) program.

In this round, which would cover qualifying costs between April 1 and Dec. 31 of this year, the program broadened eligibility requirements to be in step with Washington State’s “Safe Start” Phased Reopening Plan. This now includes “any and all reopening phase(s), business-specific guidance and/or public health recommendation(s)/best management practices to resume or reopen,” according to the port.

Port commissioners in June set aside $50,000 toward the program, which provided up to $5,000 in individual grants. So far, five tenants have been awarded a combined $17,420. The rest of the money will be used in the third round. The grants have been used to help businesses comply with COVID-19 requirements.

Applicants must be a commercial tenant or subtenant on port property and have suffered closure or have been forced to modify because of the pandemic and the state’s stay at home and/or reopening phases. Applicants will have until 5 p.m. on Dec. 21 to submit electronically at www.portofeverett.com/EDGE.

Meeting on Port of Long Beach’s Pier B
Set for Dec. 2

The Port of Long Beach will provide a quarterly update on the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility Program at 10 a.m. on Dec. 2 via virtual meeting.

The facility is a major part of the port’s $1 billion rail program, which when finished will allow the port to move more of the cargo to on-dock rail and away from trucks.

The first tracks should be done in 2024, with more tracks coming in 2030, according to the port. The project is expected to be finished in 2031.

Visit www.polb.com/pierb for more. The meeting will be recorded and available for those who could not attend.

LTI, Inc. Nets Fifth SmartWay Award

LTI, Inc. was recently given its fifth SmartWay Excellence Award by the Environmental Protection Agency. The award honors the company and its Milky Way division as “one of North America’s most efficient and lowest emitting tanker fleets,” LTI, Inc. said.

Lynden Transport also netted a SmartWay High Performer Award for efficiently running its flatbed and reefer fleets and is part of the top 20 percent of U.S. carriers for curbing carbon emissions and receiving top marks in fuel efficiency and other performance factors.

“Fewer than 10 percent of all SmartWay carriers operate fleets efficient enough to make the SmartWay High Performer list for carbon emissions,” according to LTI, Inc.

Company president Jason Jansen said LTI, Inc. is extremely proud of this award.

“Each year we strive to seek ongoing improvement in our operations to continue the reduction of our carbon footprint,” he said. “Our success is due to the continued efforts of our entire staff, especially our drivers. Our ability to operate as one of the most efficient carriers in the nation is a true testimony to the quality and dedication of our entire team to drive continuous improvement

‘Tis The Season

By Dave Abrams, Publisher

New Year’s has always been my favorite holiday of the year (followed closely by the 4th of July). It’s a day all about new beginnings. About putting another year behind us and resolving to do new and better things in the year ahead. It’s a day of celebration without any of the gift giving pressures, and a day that is celebrated by the vast majority of the global population.

When that clock strikes midnight around the world on December 31st, I think there is going to be universal agreement that 2021 holds promise of better things to come. I know most of us are ready to put 2020 in the rearview mirror as soon as possible. Not that it’s been all bad – for example, this year brought the opportunity for me to take the helm at PMM and FN online! I’m a glass half full kinda guy, and I am hopeful that some of the lessons we learned this year will make life easier in the future.

But New Year’s does not get the attention it deserves. This time of year, it’s all about Christmas. ‘Tis the season as they say. And everyone in the Maritime Industry are the unsung heroes of Christmas. Yes, Santa may have his elves putting all those toys together, but let’s face it, Santa outgrew that sleigh long ago, and without the ships and ports transporting goods around the globe, Christmas would not be the same. Over 90% of global trade arrives by ship. We’ve been reporting on various ports on the West Coast having record breaking numbers, which would be news in normal times, but during a global pandemic - wow!

So for all of you who are helping to move cargo this time of year, cheers to you! You are Santa’s real helpers, and we know many of you are staying out to sea longer or putting in much longer days at the port to get the job done. Thank you for making it happen.

Wishing you all a very happy & healthy holiday season! Be safe out there.

You can reach Dave Abrams at dave@maritimepublishing.com