Friday, December 11, 2020

Cargo Numbers Up at Port of Long Beach

About 783,523 TEUs came through the Port of Long Beach last month, giving the seaport its busiest November ever, according to statistics released Wednesday.

The port is attributing the demand for PPEs and holiday goods for the latest cargo numbers, which soared 30.6 percent from the same time a year ago. November imports rose 30.5 percent to 382,677 TEUs, while exports fell 5.2 percent to 117,283 TEUs year over year. Empty containers were up 55 percent to 283,563 TEUs.

“Online shopping and PPE purchases are on the rise as consumers continue the stay-at-home lifestyle, but the overall economic outlook is uncertain with another wave of COVID-19 spreading across the country,” said Port Executive Director Mario Cordero. “We’re dealing with the surge in containers by partnering with stakeholders, utilizing a temporary storage yard and prioritizing dual transaction truck trips that balance inbound and outbound cargo flows.”

So far, the port has handled nearly 7.3 million TEUs this year, 4.7 percent more cargo than last year. For more, visit polb.com/statistics.

AAPA Urges Vaccine Priority for Supply Chain Workers

Supply chain workers should be considered for priority access to COVID-19 vaccines, the American Association of Port Authorities and cargo transportation organizations wrote in a letter to federal leaders.

The groups wrote to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, and the Subcommittee on Transport & Safety that giving industry workers access will help prevent supply chain delays.

“Prioritizing vaccinations for freight, rail, port and energy workers will be a key intervention to help keep our critical supply chains operating, and to reinforce the resilience of our transportation networks,” according to the letter.

Over 650,000 people account for the supply chain workforce that moves goods vital to combatting the pandemic, said AAPA President and CEO Christopher J. Connor.

“Their dedication and perseverance has enabled commerce to continue flowing during a time of great risk to their personal health and well-being, ensuring the goods we want and need are available when and where we need them,” Connor said.

Lynden Moves Alaska Bison

Lynden Transport recently helped to deliver three bison bulls from Yellowstone National Park to the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor, Alaska, the company said.

The bulls - which were given to bolster the genetic diversity of the tribe’s herd - journeyed from Montana to Seattle by plane to Anchorage then on a 20-foot container to Homer Spit before riding via boat to Sitkalidak on Kodiak Island.

"Our herd is managed to provide food security for our community of 230 residents and tribal members throughout the state," Cynthia Berns, Vice President of Community Affairs for the Old Harbor Native Corp., told Lynden. “In 2017, DNA testing was conducted on the herd, and it was suggested that we integrate new genes into the herd for long-term health and survival."

She contacted Lynden Transport’s Vice President of Alaska Sales Paul Friese for help.

“This was a very special project," said Friese. "We were happy to be involved and assist the Alutiiq Tribe."

USCG Cutter Polar Star Departs for Arctic

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star crew members recently embarked on its journey from Seattle to the Arctic to support maritime security and enforcement in the area, including the Maritime Boundary Line shared by the U.S. and Russia.

The Polar Star usually heads to Antarctica to annually support Operation Deep Freeze, which involves resupplying stations to help the National Science Foundation, but the mission was cancelled as a COVID-19 safety precaution. The 44-year-old heavy icebreaker will instead conduct enforcement of illegal fishing and be part of Arctic training to help develop new operators, the agency said.

Polar Star is poised to head into the cold, dark Arctic winter to carry out a historic mission,” said Capt. Bill Woitrya, the cutter’s commanding officer. “The ship is ready, and the crew is enthusiastic to embark on this adventure. We will defend U.S. interests in the region, and continue to hone our proficiency to operate in such a harsh, remote environment.”

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Port of Long Beach, Terminal Operators Team
for Two-Way Truck Deliveries

The Port of Long Beach, marine terminal operators, truck drivers and customers are teaming up to raise the frequency of “two-way” truck deliveries, the port announced recently.

In this collaboration, International Transportation Service, Long Beach Container Terminal, SSA Marine and Total Terminals International pledge to coordinate more situations in which a truck can deliver an export and then pick up an import in the same visit. Terminal operators are enhancing their appointment systems to allow more two-way transactions to happen. Trucking companies and drivers also are being encouraged to drop off an empty container before picking up a loaded import.

“Increasing the share of dual transactions will optimize truck deliveries, terminal appointments and chassis availability during this unprecedented time in the Port’s history,” said Port Executive Director Mario Cordero. “We recognize the Port’s unique advantage as Southern California’s gateway for trans-Pacific trade, and we are committed to leveraging those advantages for the benefit of all customers and stakeholders.”

The goal is making sure at least half of deliveries are two-way transactions. Some operators are already surpassing that goal with over 70 percent of moves being dual transactions.

“Working with the marine terminal operators to prioritize dual transactions for our truckers is another example of how the amazing partnerships at the Port of Long Beach work to provide stellar service to our customers,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “We hope this plan will cement our reputation as the Port of Choice for delivering cargo quickly, safely and efficiently.”

IBM to Create Cyber Resilience Center
at Port of L.A.

International Business Machines Corporation will develop and run a Port Cyber Resilience Center at the Port of Los Angeles, the port announced Monday.

Harbor commissioners recently voted on a $6.8 million, three-year contract with IBM to create a “system of systems.” Right now, businesses at the port handle cyber threats on their own. This center would help them work together to alert and combat those threats while maintaining their own data control and security procedures, the port said.

“As our port increasingly relies on data integration to guide its cargo operations and processes, detection and protection against cyber incidents is critical,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “This new Cyber Resilience Center will not only provide the port an early warning system against port-wide cyber attacks, but result in greater collective knowledge and data sharing throughout our entire port supply chain ecosystem.” IBM is honored to partner with the Port of Los Angeles on the center on strengthening its cyber preparedness, said Wendi Whitmore, Vice President, IBM Security X-Force.

“Now more than ever, there’s a critical need for global supply chains to operate securely and undisrupted,” she said. "As the Port of Los Angeles takes these significant steps to strengthen the cyber resilience of its ecosystem, we’re proud it selected IBM’s premier capabilities in threat intelligence, AI and cloud security to help achieve this."

Port of Everett Adds Norton Terminal
to Master Plan

Commissioners at the Port of Everett recently passed the Marine Terminals Master Plan Addendum, Appendix E, which includes the newly obtained 66-acre former Kimberly-Clark mill property, now called Norton Terminal. Norton Terminal will be key to the port’s Mills to Maritime effort to bolster and diversify cargo movement and economic activity in the area.

“This revised plan is ideally suited to leverage the Port’s investments in the South Terminal to market our facilities and our breakbulk niche to other customers and cargoes,” said Carl Wollebek, Chief of Operations for the port. “This additional upland maritime capacity is critical to our ability to go after cargoes that would add jobs and help spur economic recovery in Everett.”

After the site’s environmental remediation is completed by the former property owner, the new terminal is expected to open in 2022 and will mean over 800 direct jobs and millions in state and local taxes, according to the port.

USCG Lends Aid to Alaskan Landslide Incident

U.S. Coast Guard crews have been providing assistance since Thursday when landslides befell the town of Haines, Alaska.

For roughly eight hours, Coast Guard crews scoured a 35-square-foot nautical mile search area.

Station Juneau’s 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew was part of the effort to help.

“The partnerships throughout the multiple organizations involved in the response efforts for this disaster reflect how the Alaskan community comes together in times of need,” Said Capt. Stephen White, commander Coast Guard Sector Juneau. “We offer our condolences to all the residents of Haines who are affected.”

Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa is expected to stay to help with relief efforts and will continue to be in contact with Alaska State Troopers and Haines city officials. An emergency operations center is based at the Haines Fire Hall. For more reach out to EOC PIO Alekka Fullerton at 907-314-2230.