By Karen Robes Meeks
The Shorelines Permits for the Kalama Manufacturing and Marine Export Facility (KMMEF) methanol production plant has been reinstated by a judge, a move that clarifies what needs to be studied in the supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS), according to the Port of Kalama.
Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge James Warning made the reinstatement, allowing the port to focus on revising the Greenhouse gas (GHG) impact analysis while keeping in place the rest of the EIS pending the GHG review.
“We’re pleased the Shorelines Permits are reinstated—this important decision appropriately narrows and focuses the Shoreline Board’s EIS remand order, consistent with what the law requires,” said Port Executive Director Mark Wilson. “Ambiguity about what the law requires, related to greenhouse gas emissions, has been a challenge.”
Northwest Innovations Works, LLC wants to develop and run a natural gas-to-methanol production plant and storage facility on about 90 acres at the port. The project would feature a methanol plant, a gas pipeline lateral, and a new marine terminal.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
APL Guaranteed Delivery Makes First Call
By Karen Robes Meeks
The inaugural APL’s “time-guaranteed” cargo delivery service, Eagle Express X, arrived at the Port of Los Angeles last week.
According to the port, the new weekly service from China to Los Angeles allows for faster transit option, running 11 days from Shanghai and 12 days from Ningbo with attractive origin cutoffs and 100 percent guaranteed space and equipment.
Upon arrival in Los Angeles, containers under this service are loaded onto a reserved smart chassis and sent to a dedicated yard for availability the same day. No appointments are needed to access exclusive EXX gates.
“We’re excited to celebrate the first arrival of APL’s new Eagle Express X service to the Port of Los Angeles,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Given our port’s commitment to customer service, superior infrastructure and a labor force that can adeptly handle a speed-to-market premium service, the Eagle Express X is yet another way that we are responding to the evolving needs of our cargo customers.”
APL will also have “White Glove Customer Service” teams in Asia and Nashville for its North America customers.
“APL is always looking for ways to provide differentiated services for our customers,” said Ed Aldridge, president of APL, North America. “The Eagle Express X is our new initiative, which provides our valuable customers with a cost-efficient air freight alternative for its urgent cargo and a first-class service for its ocean shipments from origin to destination. The customer support for this new expedited service has been both exceptional and exciting.”
The inaugural APL’s “time-guaranteed” cargo delivery service, Eagle Express X, arrived at the Port of Los Angeles last week.
According to the port, the new weekly service from China to Los Angeles allows for faster transit option, running 11 days from Shanghai and 12 days from Ningbo with attractive origin cutoffs and 100 percent guaranteed space and equipment.
Upon arrival in Los Angeles, containers under this service are loaded onto a reserved smart chassis and sent to a dedicated yard for availability the same day. No appointments are needed to access exclusive EXX gates.
“We’re excited to celebrate the first arrival of APL’s new Eagle Express X service to the Port of Los Angeles,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Given our port’s commitment to customer service, superior infrastructure and a labor force that can adeptly handle a speed-to-market premium service, the Eagle Express X is yet another way that we are responding to the evolving needs of our cargo customers.”
APL will also have “White Glove Customer Service” teams in Asia and Nashville for its North America customers.
“APL is always looking for ways to provide differentiated services for our customers,” said Ed Aldridge, president of APL, North America. “The Eagle Express X is our new initiative, which provides our valuable customers with a cost-efficient air freight alternative for its urgent cargo and a first-class service for its ocean shipments from origin to destination. The customer support for this new expedited service has been both exceptional and exciting.”
Oakland Environmental Construction Grants Available
By Karen Robes Meeks
Oakland area residents looking at a career in the environmental construction trades may benefit from a $70,000 grant from the Port of Oakland.
In an effort to meet the future labor demands of port development projects, the port recently awarded the grant to Oakland-based Rising Sun Energy Center, a nonprofit dedicated to aiding low-income adults obtain careers in the construction, energy efficiency, and solar industries.
“The Port is excited to work with Rising Sun Energy Center as we continue to expand our community partnerships to prepare local residents for careers in construction,” said Port of Oakland Social Responsibility Division Director Amy Tharpe. “They specialize in developing a sustainable workforce pipeline into eco-friendly industries.”
The money comes from a project labor agreement stipulation that requires port contractors to pay into a Social Justice Trust fund that nurtures workforce development.
Groups such as Cypress Mandela Training Center, Youth Employment Partnership and the West Oakland Job Resource Center have received about $560,000 since 1999.
“We look forward to working with the Port to provide good-paying local jobs,” said Rising Sun Energy Center Executive Director Jodi Pincus. “Our eco-literacy training will prepare workers for jobs that are currently in demand.”
Oakland area residents looking at a career in the environmental construction trades may benefit from a $70,000 grant from the Port of Oakland.
In an effort to meet the future labor demands of port development projects, the port recently awarded the grant to Oakland-based Rising Sun Energy Center, a nonprofit dedicated to aiding low-income adults obtain careers in the construction, energy efficiency, and solar industries.
“The Port is excited to work with Rising Sun Energy Center as we continue to expand our community partnerships to prepare local residents for careers in construction,” said Port of Oakland Social Responsibility Division Director Amy Tharpe. “They specialize in developing a sustainable workforce pipeline into eco-friendly industries.”
The money comes from a project labor agreement stipulation that requires port contractors to pay into a Social Justice Trust fund that nurtures workforce development.
Groups such as Cypress Mandela Training Center, Youth Employment Partnership and the West Oakland Job Resource Center have received about $560,000 since 1999.
“We look forward to working with the Port to provide good-paying local jobs,” said Rising Sun Energy Center Executive Director Jodi Pincus. “Our eco-literacy training will prepare workers for jobs that are currently in demand.”
Long Beach Master Plan Meeting Scheduled
By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Long Beach will host a meeting to garner feedback for an environmental study of an update to its Master Plan–a document that outlines long-term goals and policies for land use and development.
The master plan was last updated in 1990. This revised version will reflect recent changes in the industry and include previous amendments to the plan.
The August 30 meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, 5870 Atlantic Ave. in Long Beach, Calif., with an open house scheduled for 6 p.m.
Can’t attend the meeting? Send comments on what environmental issues should be tackled in the study by September 10 to Heather Tomley, Director of Environmental Planning, Port of Long Beach, 4801 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach, CA 90815, or to ceqa@polb.com.
Visit www.polb.com/masterplanupdate for more information.
The Port of Long Beach will host a meeting to garner feedback for an environmental study of an update to its Master Plan–a document that outlines long-term goals and policies for land use and development.
The master plan was last updated in 1990. This revised version will reflect recent changes in the industry and include previous amendments to the plan.
The August 30 meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, 5870 Atlantic Ave. in Long Beach, Calif., with an open house scheduled for 6 p.m.
Can’t attend the meeting? Send comments on what environmental issues should be tackled in the study by September 10 to Heather Tomley, Director of Environmental Planning, Port of Long Beach, 4801 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach, CA 90815, or to ceqa@polb.com.
Visit www.polb.com/masterplanupdate for more information.
Friday, August 17, 2018
Coos Bay Rail Bridge Still Down
By Karen Robes Meeks
Efforts by the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay to repair the Coos Bay Swing Span bridge back to rail service continue in earnest.
After choosing a construction firm and steel parts fabricator to finish the needed repairs to the structure and seeing that preliminary construction plans are done, the port is working with contracted engineering consultants on design plans for “a temporary shoring and jacking system…to preserve the surrounding components of the bridge during repairs,” according to the port.
The bridge, a vital link that connects Oregon products to the National Railway Network and the port, has been closed to rail traffic since April following a structural failure. It is expected to reopen this fall.
Efforts by the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay to repair the Coos Bay Swing Span bridge back to rail service continue in earnest.
After choosing a construction firm and steel parts fabricator to finish the needed repairs to the structure and seeing that preliminary construction plans are done, the port is working with contracted engineering consultants on design plans for “a temporary shoring and jacking system…to preserve the surrounding components of the bridge during repairs,” according to the port.
The bridge, a vital link that connects Oregon products to the National Railway Network and the port, has been closed to rail traffic since April following a structural failure. It is expected to reopen this fall.
Port of Grays Harbor Acquires Graving Dock
By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Grays Harbor will soon own a 55-acre property in Aberdeen–the former site of the 520 Floating Bridge Construction project – that will prove advantageous to its operations.
The port won the property – which has sat idle since the 2015 completion of the project – after submitting a $4.52 million bid at a recent auction on the former Pontoon Casting Basin at the Washington State Department of Transportation’s surplus property.
The port commission has given Executive Director Gary Nelson the authority to move forward on the contract, which requires a 15 percent down payment and spans 20 years at 8 percent.
“We are excited to add this strategic piece of property to the Port’s portfolio,” shared Commission President Jack Thompson. “There is no other piece of property on the Harbor with rail access and industrial waterfront adjacent to the port’s existing marine terminal operations. The pontoon site has long been considered by the port as a strategic piece of property to increase the community’s international trade position. By applying the port’s business model of working with private investors to develop sites we are confident the property will be back to generating economic activity for the community soon.”
The Port of Grays Harbor will soon own a 55-acre property in Aberdeen–the former site of the 520 Floating Bridge Construction project – that will prove advantageous to its operations.
The port won the property – which has sat idle since the 2015 completion of the project – after submitting a $4.52 million bid at a recent auction on the former Pontoon Casting Basin at the Washington State Department of Transportation’s surplus property.
The port commission has given Executive Director Gary Nelson the authority to move forward on the contract, which requires a 15 percent down payment and spans 20 years at 8 percent.
“We are excited to add this strategic piece of property to the Port’s portfolio,” shared Commission President Jack Thompson. “There is no other piece of property on the Harbor with rail access and industrial waterfront adjacent to the port’s existing marine terminal operations. The pontoon site has long been considered by the port as a strategic piece of property to increase the community’s international trade position. By applying the port’s business model of working with private investors to develop sites we are confident the property will be back to generating economic activity for the community soon.”
Long Beach Volumes Down
By Karen Robes Meeks
Cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach dropped 4.4 percent last month from the same period last year, according to the latest released numbers.
The port handled 688,457 TEUs last month, a decline port officials claim is caused by shifts in vessel service and the escalation of tariffs that threaten to slow trade activity.
Imports also fell 8.2 percent to 347,736 TEUs and exports were down five percent to 119,747 TEUs.
Even with the latest drop, the port is on track to record its busiest year in history, with cargo movement up 11.3 percent so far–nearly 500,000 TEUs more than the January to July 2017 numbers – for a total of 4.6 million TEUs.
Cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach dropped 4.4 percent last month from the same period last year, according to the latest released numbers.
The port handled 688,457 TEUs last month, a decline port officials claim is caused by shifts in vessel service and the escalation of tariffs that threaten to slow trade activity.
Imports also fell 8.2 percent to 347,736 TEUs and exports were down five percent to 119,747 TEUs.
Even with the latest drop, the port is on track to record its busiest year in history, with cargo movement up 11.3 percent so far–nearly 500,000 TEUs more than the January to July 2017 numbers – for a total of 4.6 million TEUs.
