City Dock News

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced more than $703 million to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory that designed to help improve port facilities through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. Following is the full list of FY 2022 Port Infrastructure Development Grant Awards:ALASKANorth Extension Stabilization Step 1 Project ($68,700,000), Anchorage, AlaskaThe Project will reconfigure and realign the shoreline within the “North Extension” (the area north of the existing general cargo terminals) at the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska.

Radar confusion and speed cited in ferry groundingWhile the perennial issue of commercial vessel and recreational boat collisions, near misses and allisions with navigational aids are certainly nothing new, in much of  the navigable waters of the United States they are typically associated with the warmer weather of late spring, summer and early fall when privately-owned boats abound on the nation’s lakes, rivers, bays and sounds.But even after the cabin cruisers, sailboats, jet skis…

Initial reports show that the towing industry is adjusting well to the new normal on inland rivers. In fact, it is business as usual for most.July 20, 2018 was a critical date for tow boat operators. That was the deadline for all U.S.-flag towing vessels – over 26 feet, or less if used to assist with transport of oil or hazardous materials – to be in compliance with Subchapter M, the U.S. Coast Guard’s towing vessel safety regulations. It’s been a long time coming. As a regulatory program…

Responders have begun to execute salvage plans for the damaged tanker Carla Maersk, Wednesday, following a collision that occurred Monday in the Houston Ship Channel, the Central Texas Coastal Area Committee (CTCAC) reported. The plans include utilizing high-density foam to suppress any flammable vapor seeping from the punctured tanks. Once the foam is in place, responders will monitor the air for any flammable vapors. If deemed safe, responders will commence the removal of liquid cargo. Once the liquid cargo has been removed and the structural integrity of the vessel has been deemed safe for movement, the Carla Maersk will be moved from the Houston Ship Channel to a safe berthing area. Air and water tests continue to show no public health or environmental concerns, responders said.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the June 2012 allision between bulk carriers Mary Ann Hudson and Star Grip was the pilot’s ineffective handling of the Mary Ann Hudson and his ineffective use of the two tug boats to maneuver the vessel around the Star Grip’s crane arms, which were extending into the navigable waterway. On June 6, 2012, at 0530 central daylight time, the underway bulk carrier Mary Ann Hudson collided with the moored bulk carrier Star Grip while the Mary Ann Hudson was being moved from City Dock 21 to City Dock 29.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a 50-year lease to transform  a 100-year-old pier on the L.A. Waterfront in San Pedro into a world-class urban marine research and innovation center called AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles. The lease agreement – signed between the Port of Los Angeles and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the latter who currently serves as the fiscal sponsor for the AltaSea project – involves approximately 35 acres of land and water at the Port’s City Dock No. 1 site, Berths 56-60 and Berths 70-71. “Public-private partnerships like AltaSea represent an innovative way to encourage investment and redevelopment in our communities,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Today, Governor Bobby Jindal, officials from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), Department of Economic Development and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) joined leaders from the City of Baton Rouge, The Water Institute of the Gulf, Louisiana State University and other coastal research institutes to unveil plans for the establishment of The Water Campus in Baton Rouge. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation has taken the leadership role in master planning a world-class Water Campus to be built just south of the Mississippi River Bridge in downtown Baton Rouge.

Environmental and Project Approvals Advance Visionary Concept. The Los Angeles Harbor Commission today certified the final Environmental Impact Report for the proposed redevelopment of City Dock No. 1 and approved the framework for bringing a world-class marine research center to the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles. The action sets the stage for creation of a state-of-the-art waterfront research institute where leading scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs can collaborate on solutions to today’s marine, environmental and maritime industry challenges.

The three mile portion of the 52-mile Houston Ship Channel that was closed due to an oil spill Sept. 25 opened at 12:45 p.m. Sept. 28 to vessel traffic.  The channel, which was closed between Old Manchester Dock Three and City Dock 27, is open to all daylight operations and limited night time barge operations. The Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service is managing all vessel movement. The Captain of the Port, Capt. Marcus Woodring, determined the oil is contained along the shoreline, making it safe to resume traffic flow through the affected area at a slow speed. Responders will continue to work to recover the remaining oil in the area. The exact amount of oil recovered is unknown, but as of 2 p.m. 23,418 gallons of an oil and water mixture has been recovered.

According to reports, Juneau leaders on continued to move forward with plans for a $50m cruise ship dock improvement plan that would allow two modern ships to dock at the same time by 2010. To do that, Port Director John Stone said some fees will increase dramatically. The city's Docks and Harbors Board is proposing construction of a floating berth in front of the current cruise ship dock that would accommodate two big ships. Use of the city dock now costs a ship 5.5 cents per ton to dock, but paying for the new improvements will boost that to 30 cents a ton. Other fees will change, however, including some going down. As an example, Stone said that means the new 1,868-passenger, 951-foot cruise ship Zuiderdam, which now costs $20,394 to dock in Juneau, would cost $28,233 in 2010.