Bruce Fenimore News

Columbia Coastal Transport, an East Coast container barge operator, said that its Vessel Security Plan was approved by the US Coast Guard.. This approval remains valid for five years, and insures the company’s compliance with the final Maritime security requirements mandated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002. “Columbia Coastal is among the first companies to date that have had their Vessel Security Plans approved by the US Coast Guard,” said Bruce Fenimore, president of Columbia Coastal. “This indicates not only our commitment to serve our customers without interruption, but also to the ports and terminals that we call on a regular basis.

Pictured is Columbia Coastal Transport’s newest barge, Columbia Boston, just after its launching at VT Halter Marine’s facility in Pascagoula, Miss. Columbia Coastal Transport, LLC, a container feeder barge operator, announced the arrival of its newest container super-barge, Columbia Boston, into service this month. The 912-TEU barge is sister to Columbia Elizabeth, which was put into service four years ago and is one of the largest container barges ever built. Columbia Boston…

Columbia Coastal Transport, LLC, a container feeder barge operator, announced the arrival of its newest container super-barge, Columbia Boston, into service this month. The 912-TEU barge is sister to Columbia Elizabeth, which was put into service four years ago and is one of the largest container barges ever built. Columbia Boston, named for one of 11 ports that the company serves on a regular basis, will be available to transport empties, full container and project cargoes moving between ports on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. "This is the second super-barge we've built for the new millennium," said Columbia Coastal president, Bruce Fenimore. Built by VT Halter Marine Inc., based in Pascagoula, Miss., Columbia Boston is a 343 x 94 x 21-ft.

As heads of state gather in Panama for Dec. 14 ceremonies in advance of the transfer of the Panama Canal on the Dec. 31, the small Caribbean nation of 2.8 million prepares to step out of Washington's shadow. Since the U.S.S. Nashville guaranteed Panama's independence from Colombia in 1903, the U.S. has maintained a military garrison in Panama and kept administrative control of the canal it built across the isthmus. For decades, Panamanian nationalists rallied to the cry of "one flag, one territory," calling the 10-mile (16 km)-wide U.S.-controlled Canal Zone a "stake through the nation's heart." But when that stake finally comes out at noon on Dec. 31 and the 50-mile (82 km) waterway passes to Panama's control, it will wake up to the challenge of full nationhood.

U.S.-flag container feeder barge operator, Columbia Coastal Transport added Columbia Elizabeth — one of the largest container barges ever built — to its fleet. The 912 TEU barge, which was christened in Portland, Ore., is ready to transport empties, full container and project cargoes moving between the U.S. west coast, gulf coast and eastern seaboard ports. Completing the 5,900-mile journey from the west coast to the eastern seaboard through the Panama Canal, the vessel is expected to enter service in early January. Constructed by Gunderson, Inc., the 343 x 94 x 21 ft. (105 x 29 x 6 m) deck cargo barge is specially fitted to carry 20-, 40- and 45 ft. ISO containers, including reefers.

The ownership of Columbia Coastal Transport, a container barge operator on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, announced the addition of two new companies to its Columbia Group of Companies. Palmer Industries, Inc., a logistics company in Port Newark, has been acquired and will be named Columbia Container Services at a grand opening ceremony to take place on July 1, 2003. Also added to the Columbia Group of companies is Columbia Intermodal, a full container trucking company based in Port Newark. Principals of the newly acquired companies include Bruce Fenimore, President, Greg McGinty, Managing Director and John Armstrong, Vice President.

Columbia Coastal Transport has announced the promotion of Joseph Villa to vice president operations effective immediately where he will be based in the Liberty Corner headquarters and will report directly to Bruce Fenimore, president of Columbia Coastal. Villa joined Columbia Coastal in October of 1999 as General Manager Operations. Prior to that, he had 18 years of varied operations experience acquired with Sea-land Service, Inc. where he last served as Marine Operations Manager in Port Everglades, Florida. During his tenure with Sea-Land, Villa held increasingly responsible management positions in operations, gaining experience in terminal operations, equipment control, rail and marine operations. Mr.