By Karen Robes Meeks
UC Berkeley systems expert Kevin Fong is the Port of Oakland’s new IT Director.
The 30-year tech veteran in systems management replaces Acting IT Director Kyle Mobley, who will go back to his position as Aviation Information Technology Manager at Oakland International Airport.
Fong served as IT Director for University Development and Alumni Relations at UC Berkeley, where he worked for 13 years.
“Kevin’s expertise covers the gamut from systems infrastructure development to cloud computing,” said Port of Oakland Acting Executive Director Danny Wan. “That background, coupled with his public-sector experience at a great university, makes him a good fit for the Port."
Friday, November 16, 2018
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Matson Reports Higher Income
By Karen Robes Meeks
Matson, Inc. recently reported $41.6 million in net income in its third quarter, higher than $34.1 million posted in third quarter 2017.
"Our performance in the quarter was in line with our expectations with Ocean Transportation results approaching the level achieved last year and continued strong execution across all service lines in Logistics,” said Matson's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Matt Cox. “We are pleased to see the exceptional performance of our Logistics segment for the quarter and year-to-date. For the quarter within Ocean Transportation, we saw a favorable rate environment in China and continued strong performance from SSAT, but we also faced unfavorable timing in fuel surcharge collections relative to fuel cost increases and lower volume in Alaska primarily due to a weaker-than-expected seafood season."
Cox said Matson expects its businesses to continue to perform well in the fourth quarter.
“(A)nd, as a result, we are raising our outlook for Ocean Transportation and maintaining our outlook for Logistics,” Cox said. “For the full year 2018, we expect Ocean Transportation operating income to be modestly higher than the level achieved in 2017. For the full year 2018 in Logistics, we are maintaining our higher outlook for operating income given the strong trends across all service lines."
Matson, Inc. recently reported $41.6 million in net income in its third quarter, higher than $34.1 million posted in third quarter 2017.
"Our performance in the quarter was in line with our expectations with Ocean Transportation results approaching the level achieved last year and continued strong execution across all service lines in Logistics,” said Matson's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Matt Cox. “We are pleased to see the exceptional performance of our Logistics segment for the quarter and year-to-date. For the quarter within Ocean Transportation, we saw a favorable rate environment in China and continued strong performance from SSAT, but we also faced unfavorable timing in fuel surcharge collections relative to fuel cost increases and lower volume in Alaska primarily due to a weaker-than-expected seafood season."
Cox said Matson expects its businesses to continue to perform well in the fourth quarter.
“(A)nd, as a result, we are raising our outlook for Ocean Transportation and maintaining our outlook for Logistics,” Cox said. “For the full year 2018, we expect Ocean Transportation operating income to be modestly higher than the level achieved in 2017. For the full year 2018 in Logistics, we are maintaining our higher outlook for operating income given the strong trends across all service lines."
Hybrid Tug for Foss
By Karen Robes Meeks
A Dolphin Class tugboat from Foss is expected to begin servicing in Alaska this week. Foss is transferring the Bering Wind tugboat – formerly the Campbell Foss – from Long Beach, California, to Cook Inlet Tug & Barge in Anchorage this month.
Two Series II Caterpillar engines and twin Rolls Royce US 205 FP Z drives power this tugboat, giving her more than 135 tons of pulling power, according to Foss. “The addition of the Bering Wind to our Anchorage based fleet of tugs will improve our current level of service in the Port,” said Ben Stevens, president of Cook Inlet Tug and Barge. “It will also ensure safe port operations can be conducted during the anticipated Port revitalization project which will commence in spring of 2019.”
Built in 2005 by Foss, the tugboat was one of first in the industry to be outfitted with hybrid power in 2011.
“We are extremely proud of the role that this ground-breaking vessel has had in our fleet – it has been one of the gems of our operations,” said John Parrott, CEO of Cook Inlet Tug and Barge parent company Foss Maritime. “We are very excited to see her becoming a vital part of the Alaska maritime economy.”
A Dolphin Class tugboat from Foss is expected to begin servicing in Alaska this week. Foss is transferring the Bering Wind tugboat – formerly the Campbell Foss – from Long Beach, California, to Cook Inlet Tug & Barge in Anchorage this month.
Two Series II Caterpillar engines and twin Rolls Royce US 205 FP Z drives power this tugboat, giving her more than 135 tons of pulling power, according to Foss. “The addition of the Bering Wind to our Anchorage based fleet of tugs will improve our current level of service in the Port,” said Ben Stevens, president of Cook Inlet Tug and Barge. “It will also ensure safe port operations can be conducted during the anticipated Port revitalization project which will commence in spring of 2019.”
Built in 2005 by Foss, the tugboat was one of first in the industry to be outfitted with hybrid power in 2011.
“We are extremely proud of the role that this ground-breaking vessel has had in our fleet – it has been one of the gems of our operations,” said John Parrott, CEO of Cook Inlet Tug and Barge parent company Foss Maritime. “We are very excited to see her becoming a vital part of the Alaska maritime economy.”
Seattle Sees More than a Million Cruise Passengers
By Karen Robes Meeks
For the second straight year, the Port of Seattle has surpassed the 1 million mark for cruise passengers.
The port, which began serving the cruise industry two decades ago, saw more than 1.1 million revenue passengers enter its cruise terminals this year. It beats last year’s number of 1.07 million revenue passengers.
The number of passengers is expected to swell in 2019 with the arrival of the Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas, which carries 4,180 passengers.
“This year, Port of Seattle is proud to celebrate our 20 years of serving the cruise industry, while also handling over one-million passengers for the second year in a row,” said Commission President Courtney Gregoire. “This continued growth points to a bright future for cruise in Seattle, and we are proud that each homeported cruise vessel brings approximately $2.7 million for our local economy. Through innovation and collaboration, we continue to work with our partners to make this the greenest port in the nation.”
For the second straight year, the Port of Seattle has surpassed the 1 million mark for cruise passengers.
The port, which began serving the cruise industry two decades ago, saw more than 1.1 million revenue passengers enter its cruise terminals this year. It beats last year’s number of 1.07 million revenue passengers.
The number of passengers is expected to swell in 2019 with the arrival of the Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas, which carries 4,180 passengers.
“This year, Port of Seattle is proud to celebrate our 20 years of serving the cruise industry, while also handling over one-million passengers for the second year in a row,” said Commission President Courtney Gregoire. “This continued growth points to a bright future for cruise in Seattle, and we are proud that each homeported cruise vessel brings approximately $2.7 million for our local economy. Through innovation and collaboration, we continue to work with our partners to make this the greenest port in the nation.”
Oakland Expecting Container Record
By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Oakland is closing in on its third consecutive year of record imported container volume this year, despite the escalation of tariffs between the US and China.
Oakland, which plans to release its October numbers this week, says its imports are up 2.7 percent from 2017 and is seeing a 5 percent spike in imports from China this year.
How long the growth will continue was a point of discussion with the port’s Efficiency Task Force, a gathering of 40 trade and transportation leaders that meet quarterly.
The group, which met last week, surmised that the cargo volumes could fall by January. The trends of late – the crowded warehouses, the additional voyages to Transpacific routes and reported of record cargo growth since summer along West Coast ports – may mean shippers are pushing up orders in advance of new tariffs on imported Chinese goods that may take effect in January.
Other factors, such as strong US economy and peak season push to stock shelves for the holidays, also come into play.
“Imports are a good story, but the reason for the growth is still something of a mystery,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “We suspect frontloading is part of the answer.”
The Port of Oakland is closing in on its third consecutive year of record imported container volume this year, despite the escalation of tariffs between the US and China.
Oakland, which plans to release its October numbers this week, says its imports are up 2.7 percent from 2017 and is seeing a 5 percent spike in imports from China this year.
How long the growth will continue was a point of discussion with the port’s Efficiency Task Force, a gathering of 40 trade and transportation leaders that meet quarterly.
The group, which met last week, surmised that the cargo volumes could fall by January. The trends of late – the crowded warehouses, the additional voyages to Transpacific routes and reported of record cargo growth since summer along West Coast ports – may mean shippers are pushing up orders in advance of new tariffs on imported Chinese goods that may take effect in January.
Other factors, such as strong US economy and peak season push to stock shelves for the holidays, also come into play.
“Imports are a good story, but the reason for the growth is still something of a mystery,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “We suspect frontloading is part of the answer.”
Friday, November 9, 2018
Healy Wraps Up Arctic Mission
By Karen Robes Meeks
US Coast Guard Cutter Healy crewmembers recently finished their second mission of its Arctic West Summer 2018 deployment.
About 100 of Healy’s crew and 30 scientists and engineers left Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on Sept. 14 to learn more about stratified ocean dynamics in the Arctic for the Office of Naval Research. Understanding these environmental factors may help better predict ice coverage in the region.
The Healy, a 420-foot icebreaker homebased in Seattle, Washington, was made for these kinds of missions.
“The Healy is the only vessel we operate as a country that can get us this far into the ice,” said Dr. Craig Lee of the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington, Seattle. “If we wanted to come this far up north, we need to have an icebreaker. For the Arctic, the Healy is the only choice other than chartering a vessel from another country.”
US Coast Guard Cutter Healy crewmembers recently finished their second mission of its Arctic West Summer 2018 deployment.
About 100 of Healy’s crew and 30 scientists and engineers left Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on Sept. 14 to learn more about stratified ocean dynamics in the Arctic for the Office of Naval Research. Understanding these environmental factors may help better predict ice coverage in the region.
The Healy, a 420-foot icebreaker homebased in Seattle, Washington, was made for these kinds of missions.
“The Healy is the only vessel we operate as a country that can get us this far into the ice,” said Dr. Craig Lee of the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington, Seattle. “If we wanted to come this far up north, we need to have an icebreaker. For the Arctic, the Healy is the only choice other than chartering a vessel from another country.”
Everett to See Federal Funds
By Karen Robes Meeks
Two major infrastructure projects that are key to the Port of Everett’s Seaport Modernization efforts received a financial boost, thanks to the Port Commission’s $5.949 million approval of the Federal Rail Rehabilitation Improvement Financing Loan with the US Department of Transportation Build America Bureau.
According to the port, the now-completed Terminal Rail Improvements Phase II and the Cargo Transit Shed Relocation Project increase the port’s on-terminal rail footprint from 9,200 lineal feet to 12,500 lineal feet and provides nearly 40,000 square feet of covered warehouse space for rail loading.
“Completing critical infrastructure upgrades like this will better position the Port and its facilities to handle the larger vessels and heavier cargoes and other opportunities on the horizon,” Port Commission President Glen Bachman.
US Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee praised the port’s work in getting the funding.
“I’ve been proud to work with the Port of Everett to secure federal investments to ensure the Port continues to meet the demands of the 21st century economy, and I’m thrilled to see the federal government bring even more resources to the table,” Murray said. “This investment will help complete vital modernization projects and support an important economic hub in Washington state.”
Two major infrastructure projects that are key to the Port of Everett’s Seaport Modernization efforts received a financial boost, thanks to the Port Commission’s $5.949 million approval of the Federal Rail Rehabilitation Improvement Financing Loan with the US Department of Transportation Build America Bureau.
According to the port, the now-completed Terminal Rail Improvements Phase II and the Cargo Transit Shed Relocation Project increase the port’s on-terminal rail footprint from 9,200 lineal feet to 12,500 lineal feet and provides nearly 40,000 square feet of covered warehouse space for rail loading.
“Completing critical infrastructure upgrades like this will better position the Port and its facilities to handle the larger vessels and heavier cargoes and other opportunities on the horizon,” Port Commission President Glen Bachman.
US Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee praised the port’s work in getting the funding.
“I’ve been proud to work with the Port of Everett to secure federal investments to ensure the Port continues to meet the demands of the 21st century economy, and I’m thrilled to see the federal government bring even more resources to the table,” Murray said. “This investment will help complete vital modernization projects and support an important economic hub in Washington state.”
