Friday, August 6, 2021

Port of Long Beach Reports Record July Cargo

The Port of Long Beach posted a record July for cargo volumes last month, according to new numbers released this week.

Long Beach handled 784,845 TEUs last month, 4.2% more than July 2020, the port’s previous record holder for its best July, with 753,081 TEUs.

The port also moved 382,940 TEUs in imports, 1.6% more than July 2020. Meanwhile, the port handled 109,951 TEUs in exports, 20.7% less than the same time last year.

Empty containers last month jumped 22.8%, to 291,955 TEUs, according to port data.

In 12 of the past 13 months, the port has surpassed record cargo volumes, data show. So far in 2021, the port has handled more than 5.5 million TEUs, a 32.3% jump from the same time last year. Officials are attributing the record numbers to ongoing consumer demand.

“Ships arrived last month to move these empty containers out of the harbor and clear valuable terminal space as we handle historic amounts of trade,” said port Executive Director Mario Cordero. “These boxes are a valuable commodity in the overstressed global supply chain. Our loaded exports are likely to rebound this month.”

Port of Grays Harbor Announces Restructuring, Promotions

The Port of Grays Harbor recently announced it has gone through an organization restructuring and promoted several employees.

Randy Lewis is becoming the director of health, safety and environment for the port to reflect the port’s “consideration of environmental, economic and social impacts” for projects, according to the port.

Also: Public Affairs Manager Kayla Dunlap has been promoted to director of government and public affairs and Information Technology Manager Chris Hunt to director of information technology. Alissa Shay has been named general manager of the Satsop Business Park, and Molly Bold to general manager of the Westport Marina in an effort to enhance and upgrade the marina floats and how they are configured.

The port has also said that it’s also seeking a port engineer, contract administrator, and a marine terminal security superintendent.

“The business and functions of the port have grown and continue to change as we adapt to today’s business and regulatory environment,” said port Executive Director Gary Nelson. “I am incredibly proud of our team here at the Port of Grays Harbor and confident these organizational changes and promotions will suit us well in serving our community and ensuring future growth.”

Matson Launches New Vessel Service in Oakland

The Port of Oakland recently welcomed Honolulu-based Matson Inc.’s new vessel route, the CCX Service.

The new service, which started July 27 and will leave China every 3 to 5 weeks, is big for the Northern California seaport because it’s the first time Matson is offering the China-to-Oakland route, which will include stops at Ningbo and Shanghai in China and Long Beach and Honolulu. It’s also the third time this year that Oakland is being introduced as a first-call service.

“The new CCX service reflects exploding U.S. demand for imports from China,” the port said in a statement. “First-call status indicates that importers are targeting Oakland.”

Oakland is already on track to move 2.6 million containers this year, port data show.

“Matson is a big part of the port’s business and we’re gratified that they want to expand our relationship by opening a Northern California gateway to China,” said port Maritime Director Bryan Brandes. “The fact that it’s a first call underscores the importance cargo owners place on Oakland.”

Lynden, LTI, AML Lend Hand to City of Anacortes

When the city of Anacortes was not going to have enough chlorine for treating its regional water system, employees from Lynden Logistics, LTI, Inc. and Alaska Marine Lines recently teamed up to bring it to the city, Lynden revealed Aug. 3.

Lynden Logistics, which has corporate offices in Anchorage and Seattle, traveled from Houston with 21 totes of chlorine, while transport and logistics company LTI brought two loads from California, thanks to Alaska Marine Lines' fiberglass-lined ISO tanks.

“It's a great feeling to know that our assistance averted what could have been a very serious situation for the community drinking water supply,” said Lynden Logistics Logistics Manager Becky MacDonald. “It was a great team effort by all three companies with assistance from Lynden Safety Director Jim Maltby on the bulk loads, Al Hartgraves, Anthony Knapp and the LTI, Inc. crew providing the drivers and quick response, and Alaska Marine Lines providing the tanks.”

Anacortes Mayor Laurie Gere said the city is extremely thankful to Lynden for helping Marathon Refineries with the shortage of sodium hypochlorite.

“This is an amazing community, and the protection of the safe drinking water for our region was a priority for all,” she said. “The city has much appreciation and gratitude for the rapid and generous response.”

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

From the Editor: Maritime Piracy

By Mark Nero, Managing Editor

Although it mostly takes place on the other side of the world, maritime piracy can have far-reaching effects for the goods movement industry.

When parts of the supply chain are attacked in regions of the world like Asia and Africa, it can lead to disruptions in the Pacific region in the form of vessel delays, ship reroutings and cargo adjustments.

But the International Maritime Bureau, which is run by the International Chamber of Commerce, revealed some good news recently: during the first six months of 2021, the Bureau recorded the lowest number of reported piracy incidents for the first half of any year since 1994.

Although reported piracy and armed robbery incidents were at their lowest level in 27 years, risks remain to seafarers and the IMB is cautioning against complacency, since vessels were boarded in 91% of the reported incidents.

Despite the overall decline in reported incidents, violence against crews has continued according to IMB data, with 50 crew kidnapped, three each threatened and taken hostage, two assaulted, one injured and one killed during the first half of this year.

The Gulf of Guinea continues to be particularly dangerous for seafarers with 32% of all reported incidents taking place in the region, according to IMB. The region accounted for all 50 kidnapped crew and the single crew fatality recorded by IMB during the first half of 2021.

And although it’s rare compared to other regions of the world, piracy can happen relatively close to U.S. waters. For example, there’s been a spate of attacks on oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, including a July 19 incident where eight gunmen boarded a platform and ransacked it while holding the crew hostage.

The Mexican government has registered 88 pirate attacks on oil infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico since 2015, including 20 last year. However, the International Transport Workers Federation claims the number is much higher, with its records showing 180 attacks in 2019 alone.

Whatever the number is, there’s no denying that pirate attacks abroad and in North America are a danger to the goods transport industry that needs to be accounted for.

Although the risk of acts of piracy against Neopanamax or ultra-large containerships is not high, the risk against bulk carriers and other smaller goods transport vessels definitely is.

Security experts say that when operating in waters with heightened risk, vessel hardening is a vital part of the ships security defense. A guide to vessel hardening, produced by a collection of oil companies that have been occasional or frequent targets of maritime pirates, can be downloaded for free at https://www.american-club.com/files/files/OCIMF_guidelines_to_harden_vessels.pdf

In addition, the IMB has stated that by reporting all incidents to the Maritime Bureau and regional authorities, seafarers can maintain pressure against pirates, strengthen knowledge-sharing channels and reduce risk to seafarers.

“Reporting piracy and armed robbery incidents is the first line of defense against future attacks,” ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said. “Sustained reporting to IMB will enable governments, maritime response agencies and other stakeholders to establish safer waters for our seafarers and smooth flow of goods throughout global supply chains.”

Managing Editor Mark Nero can be reached at: mark@maritimepublishing.com

New National Ocean Service Director Announced

NOAA veteran Nicole LeBoeuf has been tapped to lead the National Ocean Service as director and will also serve as assistant administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, the agency announced in July.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo appointed LeBoeuf to the role; she had already been serving as acting director since August 2018, and prior to that was named deputy director in December 2016.

“Nicole is well positioned to lead NOAA’s National Ocean Service and to continue its rich history of addressing evolving economic, environmental, and social pressures on our ocean, coasts, and coastal communities,” Raimondo said in a statement.

Before her work in the National Ocean Service, LeBoeuf was chief of Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division of NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, then became its acting deputy director.

Under her tenure, LeBoeuf has led the National Ocean Service in partnership with community, cultural and national conversation leaders on various initiatives, including an effort to designate the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. She also supervised the start of NOAA’s first national rip current forecast model and the formation of a data-sharing agreement with an offshore wind firm, according to NOAA.

“With Nicole at the helm, the Ocean Service established itself at the forefront of technology for disaster preparedness, response and recovery, mapping and charting, hypoxia and harmful algal bloom forecasting, and safeguarding communities from risks such as sea level rise and coastal inundation,” said NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad.

BAE Systems Nets $90.2M U.S. Navy Contract

The U.S. Navy recently awarded BAE Systems a $90.2 million contract to maintain and upgrade the amphibious transport dock USS San Diego.

The work on the 684-foot-long vessel - which is set to start in September at BAE System’s shipyard in San Diego - encompasses the underwater hull, ballast tanks system, amphibious well deck area and upgrades to the living areas for up to 800 mariners and marines. The work is expected to take more than a year to finish.

“The upcoming USS San Diego project is a major event in the service life of the ship, expanding its capability to execute a wide range of naval missions for many years to come,” explained David M. Thomas Jr., vice president and general manager of BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair. “Our team of employees, subcontractors and Navy personnel look forward to ushering USS San Diego into its next phase of fleet readiness. We also recognize the unique and special opportunity to work aboard a ship named for our hometown.”

Port of Los Angeles Extends Public Comment on SCIG Project

The public will now have more time to weigh in on the Southern California International Gateway Project (SCIG) in the Port of Los Angeles.

The port has moved the deadline to Aug. 25 for those interested in submitting comment on the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for a planned BNSF intermodal rail yard facility.

BNSF wants to build a multi-million dollar rail yard facility four miles away from the ports of L.A. and Long Beach, which would divert cargo that would normally travel by truck over 20 miles to the company rail yard in L.A. The move is expected to reduce air emissions in the region.

Feedback can be emailed to ceqacomments@portla.org, with the subject line labeled “SCIG Project.” For questions, contact Lisa Ochsner at the port’s Environmental Management Division at (310) 732-3412.

For more on the project’s environmental documents, visit https://www.portoflosangeles.org/environment/environmental-documents.

Port of San Diego’s Maritime Dept. to Manage Anchorages

The Port of San Diego’s Maritime Department has taken over managing anchorages on San Diego Bay and the port’s Shelter Island Guest Docks at 1401 Shelter Island Drive from the Harbor Police Department.

This move, which took place last month, means new changes to reserving a slip in Guest Docks, including a daily dockage fee increase from $1 per lineal foot per day to $1.19 per lineal foot per day and no more online reservations. Boaters will have to call (619) 400-4744 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily to reserve a slip. They will have to email valid identification and vessel registration to moorings@portofsandiego.org. They can check to see available slips at http://reservations.portofsandiego.org/boating/Index.asp.

The port also offers two 72-hour anchorages and a “Cruiser Anchorage (A9),” which come with no fee to anchor but require a permit. Boaters can get permits online for the La Playa Cove (A1) and Glorietta Bay (A5) anchorages.

For the Cruiser Anchorage, a vessel inspection by Harbor Police is needed for a permit and boaters must go to the Harbor Police substation at 1401 Shelter Island Drive to obtain it. This is available to only non-San Diego County residents.

More information is available at https://www.portofsandiego.org/coming-and-going/boating-san-diego-bay/shelter-island-guest-docks.