West Coast
West Coast Port Dispute Reach Tenative Deal
West Coast Port Dispute Reach Tenative Deal The longshoremen and West Coast shippers have reached a tentative pact that addresses issues relating to pension benefits and arbitration procedures, including technological advancements. The agreement will allow the introduction of technology that would improve the flow of cargo through the West Coast terminals. The entire agreement which was announced late Saturday must be approved by members of the ILWU. Negotiations were guided by Peter Hurtgen, director of the Federal Mediation Conciliation Service. In a statement, the president said: "I am very pleased that labor and management have reached an agreement concerning the West Coast Ports. This agreement is good for workers, good for employers, and it's good for America's economy. I congratulate labor and management for working together to successfully resolve their disagreements and I also commend the efforts of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Peter Hurtgen, for their tireless efforts in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion." The West Coast dockworkers committee will meet on December 9 to address the agreement between West Coast shippers and longshore union workers. If the agreement is met, the six-month negotiation appears would be resolved based on a tentative agreement reached over the weekend and submitted for final approval by the union's oversight committee.
GL Noble Denton Expands MCI Practice
GL Noble Denton Launches Marine Casualty Investigation Operations in Seattle. GL Noble Denton has expanded its Marine Casualty Investigation (MCI) practice in North America by launching operations in Seattle, a primary hub for marine insurance. The new base will allow the company's team of experienced surveyors to meet the growing demand for marine casualty investigations off the West Coast of the US and Canada
P&O Ports Enters
P&O Ports has signed an agreement to acquire two businesses from BCR Marine in Canada for CDN$105 million. The assets concerned are the CASCO container terminal (Centerm) in Vancouver and Canadian Stevedoring, which offers cargo handling services in ports throughout British Columbia. It is P&O Ports' first venture into the Canadian market and its first acquisition on the West Coast of North America. Completion of the transaction is anticipated in the first quarter of 2003.
Courts Order West Coast Ports to Open
West Coast ports which have suffered a work stoppage for over a week, are set to reopen today. Yesterday afternoon, a federal judge issued an injunction to force the ports to reopen. President Bush asked for an 80-day cooling off period in order to attempt to clear the backlog from more than 200 ships loaded with cargo that have been unable to offload shipping containers or take on new cargo. The port closures are "hurting truckers, rail operators ..
Evergreen Changes Pacific Schedules
Evergreen announced changes to its Pacific Coast/ Far East services in order to improve transit times and benefit customer service requirements between Asia and U.S. and Canadian ports and inland points. This week, the U. S. West Coast/Japan, Korea Service (KJW service) which utilizes 1,810-TEU "L" type vessels will call at Los Angeles and Portland on both inbound and outbound legs but will discontinue calls at Vancouver and Tacoma.
Aker Solutions' Drilling Rig Hull Sails Away from Dubai to Stord
The hull substructure for the world's most advanced drilling rig Aker H-6e has started on its 50 days journey from to Stord in . Weighing 16 000 tonnes, equalling 16 000 cars, this is one of the largest drilling rigs to be towed. The hull is constructed by Aker Solutions at Drydocks World's yard and will be towed to Aker Solutions' yard at Stord, situated on the west coast of . There it will be assembled with the topside facility and subject to further construction work
Harland Promoted to VP at Crowley
Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that Bruce Harland has been promoted to vice president of the company's West Coast, Alaska and international contract services. He will remain in Seattle and continue to report to John Douglass, senior vice president and general manager of Crowley's marine services group. Harland, who most recently served as general manager of West Coast, Alaska and international contract services
DHS Announces West Coast Maritime Radiation Detection Project
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) announced the West Coast Maritime pilot program that will provide maritime radiation detection capabilities for State and local authorities in Washington’s Puget Sound and California’s San Diego areas. The three-year pilot program involves the development of a radiation detection architecture that reduces the risk of radiological and nuclear threats that could be illegally transported on recreational or small
Zim Receives New Container Ship
According to Reuters, Israeli shipping firm Zim, a unit of holding company Israel Corp., has received the first of 12 vessels it had ordered to meet an anticipated surge in demand as the global economy recovers. Zim said the new ship, Zim Los Angeles, had a capacity of 8,400 containers, and that a second ship with a capacity of 10,000 containers, Zim Djibouti, would be delivered in two weeks. Zim said the two vessels, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries
Canadian Shipbuilders Predict Busy Times
According to an Oct. 16 report from The Victoria Times Colonist, Canadian unions are pressing a case with federal officials to split contracts three ways between the West Coast, the Maritimes and Quebec. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of military and Canadian Coast Guard work has been announced in recent years. (Source: The Victoria Times Colonist)
E.N. Bisso Selects MarineCFO Software
MarineCFO, a provider of software solutions to the marine transportation industry and a division of Verticalive Inc., announced that E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc., has chosen to implement the full MarineCFO Enterprise software suite, including personnel, pperations, maintenance, and vessel live.
Maris Enhances U.S. ECDIS Expertise
Marine electronics specialist Maris AS has completed an ECDIS (electronic chart data information systems) technical training program to enhance support services covering North America and the Caribbean. The initiative is part of its commitment to the global distribution and service agreement with
Korean Shipyard Delivers Container Ship ‘Hanjin Argentina’
The 3600 TEU container ship, built under the supervision of Navgathi Marine by Hyundai Sambo delivered to Pacific International Lines. Hanjin Argentina is the third of a series of four such vessels ordered by Pacific International Lines of Singapore from the S. Korea shipbuilders.
Two Vessels Grounded off Scotland Coast
Two ships ran aground Tuesday off the west coast of Scotland, according to Herald Scotland. The first vessel, the 87-meter passenger cruise vessel Serenissima, was lodged on sand and gravel at a spot known as the Corran Ledge in Oban Bay Tuesday night as it made its way from Ireland to the port
Damen Deliver Twin-Axe OSV to Marineco
The ‘Marineco Thunderbird’ is UK-based Marineco’s fourth FCS 2610 Twin Axe to join its windfarm support fleet of vessels. Marineco was the first customer to buy one of these vessels nearly two and a half years ago, based on a design for an Offshore and Offshore Wind support
Big Navy Refit Job Begins in San Diego
The Navy's amphibious assault ship 'USS Essex' is dry docked at General Dynamics NASSCO for at least $150 million in repairs and upgrades. USS Essex, which displaces more than 40,000 tons when loaded for combat, is the biggest Navy ship that can fit into dry dock at NASSCO
Braemar SA Recruits for the Future
Braemar (Incorporating The Salvage Association), announces important new additions to its worldwide team of marine surveyors and consultants, as well as the opening of two new locations. In the New York office, John Walker will be joining Braemar SA as Chief Surveyor
Plug In to AMP or Stay Away from California Ports
Come Jan. 1, 2014, the maritime industry in California faces a looming reality: ships must link up to port alternative maritime power (AMP). “Compliance is not optional,” said T.L. Garrett, vice president of Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.
Proceeding Quietly with Vigor
West Coast Shipyard banks on the old adage, “if we build it, they will come.” In a climate of both seemingly fat backlogs and at the same time uncertainty for domestic shipyards, Vigor Industrial is one company that continues to make news in the shipbuilding and repair merger and
NYK Line Launches Tsunami Ship Alert System
Tsunami warnings issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency and other weather service providers will be sent to vessels via NYK's 'e-missions' system. The warnings are intended to allow affected vessels to determine the best course of action through contact with those on shore and use of the
Ship Tunnel Plans for Norway's Stormy West Cape
Plans for a huge tunnel for ships if given approval would be the first such tunnel in the world and could become a major tourist attraction. If approved, reports newspaper Aftenposten, the tunnel will be built at Stad in the county of Sogn and Fjordane on Norway’s west coast
Design Alaska, Art Anderson to Improve Energy Efficiency
Design Alaska, a Fairbanks-based architecture, engineering and surveying firm; and Art Anderson Associates, its naval architecture subconsultant, were recently awarded a contract for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) to investigate potential energy efficiency improvements.
Subsea Installation with IHC Waterhammer
IHC Hydrohammer, part of IHC Merwede, successfully used seawater instead of oil as a drive mechanism for the offshore installation industry. The company has developed and tested IHC Waterhammer technology to prepare it for launch to the market.
Havyard Orders MacGregor Cranes
Two MacGregor cranes will feature on a new subsea IMR vessel being built by Havyard in Norway for diverse deepwater operations off the west coast of Africa. In April, MacGregor, part of Cargotec, signed an order with Norwegian shipyard, Havyard Ship Technology AS
New Subsea Piledriver Uses Seawater
IHC Hydrohammer, part of IHC Merwede has developed and tested a new technology which uses seawater instead of hydraulic oil. This sustainable product development minimises potential oil spill hazards in the marine environment and presents new opportunities for deep-water offshore pile driving