Csx Lines News

CSX Lines announced the formation of Horizon Services Group, created through the restructuring of the existing organization of CSX Lines. The Horizon system places the entire order-to-cash process online, creating a virtually paperless environment from booking to billing with new information available to all users as it is entered into the system. Utilizing the system, customers will be able to perform quickly and more efficiently a comprehensive array of critical "back-office" functions, including customer service, documentation, e-Business, IT, and other business operating processes. last quarter it reached a landmark of 50 percent of all shipper business booked online.

While the U.S. commercial shipbuilding industry outperformed the U.S. economy between 1992 and 2001, this period witnessed the construction of barely a dozen large ocean going vessels for our U.S. domestic trades with an aggregate cost of not much more than $500 million. In contrast, U. S. national transportation needs for the current decade will require the construction of four to five dozen such commercial vessels which, taken together with the building of smaller vessels to meet our other domestic needs, will involve shipbuilding contracts in excess of $6 to $7 billion. The majority of this work is federally mandated by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or involves the replacement of vessels in our U.S. non-contiguous trades that have reached the end of their useful lives.

While ballast water environmental issues have been news for decades, a renewed focus on the marine industry, specifically the effects ships and boats have on the aquatic environment, is picking up steam and not looking to slowdown. Per an executive order from President Clinton, the U.S. Invasive Species Council is finally getting off the ground, a council which will study the problem and make recommendations regarding treatment. A recent report from the General Accounting Office (GAO-RCED-00-219) found that the U.S. federal goverment spent $513 million in FY ‘99 and will spend $631 million in FY ‘00 for activities related to invasive species.

On August 13-14, the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) is scheduled to consider an industry proposal to upgrade the nation's marine infrastructure. Commending the Council's work, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Most trade analysts agree that international trade will at least double by the year 2020 triggering surface transportation gridlock. As a result, the Council has focused on the use of water transportation and the role our waterway system can play in the solution to our nation's highway and rail congestion. During a meeting, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Long Beach, CA, the…

The NY/NJ Foreign Freight Forwarders and Brokers Association announced that Christopher Koch, president and CEO of the World Shipping Council, will be honored as “2006 Person of the Year” at their annual dinner to be held in New York on January 25, 2006. This recognition is given to someone who demonstrates commitment, contribution and achievement in the international trade, transportation and logistics arena. “We are most pleased to have Mr. Koch as our 2006 honoree,” said Stewart B. Hauser, president of the NY/NJ Foreign Freight Forwarders & Brokers Association. Christopher Koch serves as President and CEO of the World Shipping Council, a trade association representing the international liner shipping industry on public policy issues and public affairs.

MarineSafety International, Inc., in conjunction with the Great Lakes International Marine Training Center at Georgian College, Owen Sound, Ontario, recently completed a joint training venture. Twenty-eight members of the Great Lakes Pilot Association (GLPA) were trained in Bridge Resource Management (BRM) and the operation of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). Five courses with a maximum class size of six were conducted during January, February and March. Training meets the requirements of Transport Canada requirement TP13117 and was audited by members of Transport Canada’s Marine Safety Division. The course consisted of classroom instruction…

the world's largest container ships. long, are expected to be eclipsed by even larger ships in the near future. The Port of Tacoma has a naturally deep harbor that does not require maintenance dredging. Sitcum Waterway, already at 46-48 ft., to a depth of 51 ft. material to be removed over a five- to six-week period. bucket to remove material, which is barged to and deposited at a Department of Natural Resources-approved site in Commencement Bay (approximately 500 ft. in depth). The Sitcum Waterway was dredged to its current depth during 1994 environmental remediation dredging. allowed a 25-acre expansion of the Maersk-Sealand Terminal (APM Terminal) in 1996. container carrier serving Alaska, Hawaii and Guam. The facility boasts 132 acres (53 hectares) and two berths totaling 2,200 ft.

CSX Lines announced today its decision to deploy the Task Assistant™ Quality and Safety package from Ulysses Systems on all 17 vessels and in land-based offices. A detailed review of all major Safety Management Systems (SMS) available to the maritime industry found that Task Assistant was not only the most effective, but could also provide the most significant cost and time savings. "We chose Task Assistant primarily because of its potential to reduce confusion and help focus our crews on the critical, task-specific instructions contained in our Safety Management System," explains Michael Bohlman, Director Marine Services, CSX Lines. CSX Lines currently publish their SMS in pdf format.

Meeting national transportation needs during the current decade should involve a surfeit of new contracts for our domestic shipbuilders. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) mandates double hulls for all vessels engaged in U.S. petroleum carriage. In our non-contiguous trades, renewal programs are needed for the replacement aging container and RoRo fleets. Moving freight containers and trailers on RoRo barges and vessels, and moving people on passenger and passenger-vehicle high speed ferries, provide the obvious solutions to traffic congestion in the population corridors served by at least two of our Interstate highways. Some of these vessel needs are now immediate because of private sector decisions to postpone projects.

Maritime Administrator Captain William G. Schubert highlighted the capabilities of the U.S.-Flag fleet in an effort to respond to allegations that U.S.-flag vessels are not available to ease present cargo congestion in West Coast ports. "Qualified Jones Act vessels are standing by with available tonnage on the West Coast to assist any shipper or carrier in moving cargo forward as necessary," Schubert stated. Schubert added, "The Maritime Administration is carefully evaluating all potential alternatives that would alleviate congestion in the ports, and expedite the delivery of cargo to its final destination. According to the U.S. CSX-LINES - will divert a ship if necessary to pick up cargo in LA to ease port congestion for Oakland or provide other lifts to ease congestion.