By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Hueneme received its first shipment of Subaru autos imported from Japan this month, thanks to Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions (WWS) as they brought the business to the Southern California port.
The processing of the new imported cargo will take place at the WWS facility on Hueneme Road at Edison Drive. The move, which allows WWS to better serve regional markets, including Southern California, Nevada and New Mexico, will add 35 new full-time and 25 new part-time local jobs, according to the port.
“WWS has been a long-time customer of the port, and we will continue to work with them to increase opportunity for growth,” said Oxnard Harbor District President Mary Anne Rooney. “The more our customers see these growth opportunities, the more good paying jobs we see being created for our local residents.”
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Grays Harbor Begins Search for Commissioner
By Karen Robes Meeks
The search to fill the Port of Grays Harbor District 2 Commissioner seat left vacant following the sudden passing of Jack Thompson began on Oct. 29.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Nov. 9. Candidates must include proof of voter registration within Grays Harbor County District 2 and proof of residency from the Grays Harbor County Auditor’s Office. Complete application can be submitted by sending an email to district2commission@portgrays.org or delivering it in person to either the port’s main office located at 111 S. Wooding Street, Aberdeen, WA 98520 or to the Westport Marina’s main office located at 326 Lamb Street, Westport, WA 98595.
The commission will meet on Nov. 13 to review candidates’ qualifications. Finalists will be interviewed at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 26 during a Special Commission meeting. The commission is expected to vote to select a candidate on Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. This short-term appointment will run until the next port regular scheduled election in November 2019. At that point, the elected candidate will serve a full-term through Dec. 31, 2023.
Visit portofgraysharbor.com for more information on the commission process and application procedure.
The search to fill the Port of Grays Harbor District 2 Commissioner seat left vacant following the sudden passing of Jack Thompson began on Oct. 29.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Nov. 9. Candidates must include proof of voter registration within Grays Harbor County District 2 and proof of residency from the Grays Harbor County Auditor’s Office. Complete application can be submitted by sending an email to district2commission@portgrays.org or delivering it in person to either the port’s main office located at 111 S. Wooding Street, Aberdeen, WA 98520 or to the Westport Marina’s main office located at 326 Lamb Street, Westport, WA 98595.
The commission will meet on Nov. 13 to review candidates’ qualifications. Finalists will be interviewed at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 26 during a Special Commission meeting. The commission is expected to vote to select a candidate on Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. This short-term appointment will run until the next port regular scheduled election in November 2019. At that point, the elected candidate will serve a full-term through Dec. 31, 2023.
Visit portofgraysharbor.com for more information on the commission process and application procedure.
Matson Announces Dividend
By Karen Robes Meeks
Honolulu-based carrier Matson, Inc.’s Board of Directors recently announced a fourth quarter dividend of $0.21 per common share, which is expected to be paid on Dec. 6 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 8, according to the company.
Established in 1882, Matson Inc. provides services to Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. It also operates services from China to Southern California and to Okinawa, Japan as well as various islands in the South Pacific.
Matson Logistics, founded in 1987, broadens the reach of the company's transportation network throughout the continental US with its integrated, asset-light logistics services.
Honolulu-based carrier Matson, Inc.’s Board of Directors recently announced a fourth quarter dividend of $0.21 per common share, which is expected to be paid on Dec. 6 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 8, according to the company.
Established in 1882, Matson Inc. provides services to Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. It also operates services from China to Southern California and to Okinawa, Japan as well as various islands in the South Pacific.
Matson Logistics, founded in 1987, broadens the reach of the company's transportation network throughout the continental US with its integrated, asset-light logistics services.
Columbia River Sheen Investigation
By Karen Robes Meeks
Members of the US Coast Guard, the Washington Department of Ecology and Oregon Department of Environment Quality investigated what appeared to be a large sheen on the Columbia River.
According to the Coast Guard, the sheen may have originated near Kalama, Wash. It was first discovered by crew at the Temco grain terminal and that of the 193-foot hopper dredge Yaquina.
Boats were deployed to collect samples and track the movement and size of the sheen, which had traveled down the river before reaching Longview and stretched about three miles long.
“The information from both overflights indicates to responders that the source is no longer actively discharging into the river. Responders assessed the oil in the water and determined it is too thin to recover, as well as confirmed it is dissipating,” according to the agency.
The Coast Guard pointed out that area wildlife did not appear to be distressed.
Members of the US Coast Guard, the Washington Department of Ecology and Oregon Department of Environment Quality investigated what appeared to be a large sheen on the Columbia River.
According to the Coast Guard, the sheen may have originated near Kalama, Wash. It was first discovered by crew at the Temco grain terminal and that of the 193-foot hopper dredge Yaquina.
Boats were deployed to collect samples and track the movement and size of the sheen, which had traveled down the river before reaching Longview and stretched about three miles long.
“The information from both overflights indicates to responders that the source is no longer actively discharging into the river. Responders assessed the oil in the water and determined it is too thin to recover, as well as confirmed it is dissipating,” according to the agency.
The Coast Guard pointed out that area wildlife did not appear to be distressed.
Friday, October 26, 2018
Polar Star Out of Drydock
By Karen Robes Meeks
The new and improved US Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star – the nation’s only operational heavy icebreaker – has returned to Seattle, Wash., after six months at Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, California. The 42-year-old icebreaker receive extensive work to its engineering and electronic systems.
Polar Star’s repairs and upgrades will make it ready to support Operation Deep Freeze 2019, the US military’s contribution to the National Science Foundation managed US Antarctic Program, according to the Coast Guard.
“We successfully accomplished an annual dry dock availability valued at over $7.6 million,” stated Lt. Cmdr. Chris Pelar, Polar Star’s engineering officer. “More than 50 work items were completed while in dry dock. We will complete remaining maintenance requirements in Seattle before departing for our upcoming Antarctic deployment.”
Polar Star is a 399-foot, 13,000-ton cutter that can break through up to 21-feet thick ice to clear the way for supply ships to reach Antarctica’s logistics hub, McMurdo Station, Scott-Amundsen South Pole Station and other international bases, according to the Coast Guard.
The new and improved US Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star – the nation’s only operational heavy icebreaker – has returned to Seattle, Wash., after six months at Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, California. The 42-year-old icebreaker receive extensive work to its engineering and electronic systems.
Polar Star’s repairs and upgrades will make it ready to support Operation Deep Freeze 2019, the US military’s contribution to the National Science Foundation managed US Antarctic Program, according to the Coast Guard.
“We successfully accomplished an annual dry dock availability valued at over $7.6 million,” stated Lt. Cmdr. Chris Pelar, Polar Star’s engineering officer. “More than 50 work items were completed while in dry dock. We will complete remaining maintenance requirements in Seattle before departing for our upcoming Antarctic deployment.”
Polar Star is a 399-foot, 13,000-ton cutter that can break through up to 21-feet thick ice to clear the way for supply ships to reach Antarctica’s logistics hub, McMurdo Station, Scott-Amundsen South Pole Station and other international bases, according to the Coast Guard.
Los Angeles Improving On-Dock Rail
By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Los Angeles is moving forward with the Terminal Island Railyard Enhancement Project, which is expected to strengthen on-dock rail operations and cargo flow efficiency.
The expansion seeks to add more than 31,000 linear feet of track and increase the number of storage tracks from six to 11. It will also raise the Pier 400 on-dock rail yard capacity by up to 525,000 TEUs annually – a 10 percent overall capacity increase for the port.
The $34 million project is partially funded through a $21.6 million grant from the State Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 – Trade Corridor Enhancement Program. The remaining $12.4 million will come from the port.
“Expanding this rail yard creates a ripple effect of intermodal efficiencies within the Port of Los Angeles and throughout the entire San Pedro Bay port complex,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “It is a key element of regional and state transportation plans to improve safety and traffic conditions along some of our nation’s most crowded commuter and freight corridors.”
Boosting Pier 400 on-dock rail yard’s use and capacity will mean lowering truck trips to off-dock yards located 11 to 27 miles away from the port. The expanded rail yard has the potential to take an estimated 1,250 truck trips off the road per day by 2040, according to the port.
The Port of Los Angeles is moving forward with the Terminal Island Railyard Enhancement Project, which is expected to strengthen on-dock rail operations and cargo flow efficiency.
The expansion seeks to add more than 31,000 linear feet of track and increase the number of storage tracks from six to 11. It will also raise the Pier 400 on-dock rail yard capacity by up to 525,000 TEUs annually – a 10 percent overall capacity increase for the port.
The $34 million project is partially funded through a $21.6 million grant from the State Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 – Trade Corridor Enhancement Program. The remaining $12.4 million will come from the port.
“Expanding this rail yard creates a ripple effect of intermodal efficiencies within the Port of Los Angeles and throughout the entire San Pedro Bay port complex,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “It is a key element of regional and state transportation plans to improve safety and traffic conditions along some of our nation’s most crowded commuter and freight corridors.”
Boosting Pier 400 on-dock rail yard’s use and capacity will mean lowering truck trips to off-dock yards located 11 to 27 miles away from the port. The expanded rail yard has the potential to take an estimated 1,250 truck trips off the road per day by 2040, according to the port.
Oakland TraPac Adds Night Operations
By Karen Robes Meeks
In an effort to alleviate daytime congestion and speed up cargo delivery, the Port of Oakland’s second biggest terminal, TraPac, is adding a full-service night gates option. Harbor truck drivers can now pick up and drop off between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. Monday through Thursday.
This will replace the twice weekly night gates that only offered freight movers limited transactions.
“We are getting ahead of the demand,” said TraPac Operations Vice President Brian Bauer. “Drivers, cargo owners and carriers associated with TraPac will see improved performance and know we are ready for growth.”
Under the new program, drivers will be able to pick up or drop off import, export and empty containers. Through Oct. 26, appointments to pick up imports will be required. Beginning Oct. 29, appointment will be needed for imports, exports and the return of empty containers. Empty containers can be picked up at any time.
Starting Oct. 29, a $30 fee will be charged on all loaded containers during day and night shifts to offset the cost of expanding hours. Loaded containers departing TraPac by rail will not have to pay the extra fee.
In an effort to alleviate daytime congestion and speed up cargo delivery, the Port of Oakland’s second biggest terminal, TraPac, is adding a full-service night gates option. Harbor truck drivers can now pick up and drop off between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. Monday through Thursday.
This will replace the twice weekly night gates that only offered freight movers limited transactions.
“We are getting ahead of the demand,” said TraPac Operations Vice President Brian Bauer. “Drivers, cargo owners and carriers associated with TraPac will see improved performance and know we are ready for growth.”
Under the new program, drivers will be able to pick up or drop off import, export and empty containers. Through Oct. 26, appointments to pick up imports will be required. Beginning Oct. 29, appointment will be needed for imports, exports and the return of empty containers. Empty containers can be picked up at any time.
Starting Oct. 29, a $30 fee will be charged on all loaded containers during day and night shifts to offset the cost of expanding hours. Loaded containers departing TraPac by rail will not have to pay the extra fee.
