Delaware River Ship Arrivals Continue Gains in 2016
Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay President Dennis Rochford has announced the tristate port vessel arrival statistics for the first six months of 2016. “On top of last year’s increase in vessel arrivals over 2014 activity, we continue to see steady growth through the first six months of 2016,” Rochford said. According to Maritime Exchange records, 1,234 ships arrived at Delaware River port facilities compared to 1,127 arrivals for the same six-month period last year, a 9.5% increase in vessel activity throughout the port.
Funding Secured for Project to Deepen the Delaware River
Dennis Rochford, president of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, announced that President Obama’s FY17 proposed budget includes $33 million for the Delaware River Deepening Project. In addition to the Administration’s funding, an additional $22 million was included for the project in the FY16 Army Corps of Engineers' current fiscal year work plan. This combined funding of $55 million, and a 35 percent match from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will move this project toward completion by the end of calendar year 2017. Completing the project allows the Delaware River regional port community to take full advantage of expected opportunities due to the expansion of the Panama Canal.
Industry Looks to RAMP Act to Meet Dredging Needs
Silt accumulation and dredging that's been postponed for years have prevented the full use of U.S. waterways and ports, maritime industry leaders said last month. Hundreds of U.S. ports and harbors are meant to be maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to foster navigation. But many of the country's channels are not kept at their authorized depths, and last year the backlog of needed dredging projects swelled. Meanwhile, just over half the fees charged to shippers through the federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are spent on maintenance and operations…
Rochford, Himber to Receive SCI Awards
The Seamen’s Church Institute of Philadelphia and South Jersey announced that Dennis Rochford and Lisa B. Himber will be honored at its annual Spirit of the Port luncheon March 30. Rochford is president and Himber is vice president of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, a nonprofit trade association. This is the first time two people have been honored in the same year, said the Rev. James D. Von Dreele, SCI’s executive director and chaplain to the port. “Our selection committee wanted to honor both Dennis and Lisa for their individual work in the maritime community -- Dennis for his long contributions to port development and Lisa for her important role in enhancing port security,” Von Dreele said. The award luncheon activities will begin with a reception at 11:30 a.m.
Maritime Exchange Urges Bush to Repeal Tariffs on Steel Imports
The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, in a coordinated effort with business leaders and local longshore unions, today called on President Bush to repeal the Section 201 tariffs imposed on steel imports in March of last year. This action was taken following the release of the International Trade Commission (ITC) report on the effects of the steel tariffs on domestic steel-consuming industries and domestic steel producers. In a letter to President Bush, Maritime Exchange President Dennis Rochford, cited the adverse economic impact these tariffs have had on the tri-state regional port complex. "Steel ship arrivals will drop from 210 last year to 150 by the end of this year.
Industry Leaders Elected To ABS Membership
Sixty-Nine prominent shipping industry executives have been elected as new members of ABS. In addition, Rear Admiral David L. Brewer III, Commander, Military Sealift Command, U.S. Navy, was appointed as a member. This brings the ABS worldwide membership to 803. The members, each eminent in their maritime field of endeavor, provide broad governance and oversight of ABS. Members are drawn from various sectors of the marine, offshore and related industries worldwide. M.A. Marcelo P. S.A. Ghazi A. Al-Ibrahim, President, Mideast Shipmanagement Ltd. Giovanni Barbaro, Owner, Pietro Barbaro S.p.A. S.p.A. Giuseppe Bottiglieri, Managing Director, Bottiglieri Di Navigazione, S.p.A. Jae Cheol Byun, President, JSM International Ltd. Dr. Mauro Fernando Orofino Campos, President, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.
Rep. LoBiondo: How Can We Prevent Another Oil Spill?
Chairman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-2) precides over a hearing into the cause of the recent oil spill on the Delaware River. Chairman LoBiondo heard testimony from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Departments of Environmental Protection from both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the Maritime Exchange from the Delaware Bay and River, and the New Jersey Audubon Society. Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-2), Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee…
Rep. LoBiondo Hails Enactment of SAFE Ports Act
U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02), Chairman of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hailed the enactment of the SAFE Ports Act and to discuss port security at local Delaware River Ports. Rep. LoBiondo was joined by Joseph Balzano, CEO of the South Jersey Port Corp. as well as Dennis Rochford, President of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay. "I am very pleased to be at the Port of Camden today to talk about this important new port security law.� said Rep. LoBiondo. Require those in charge of security at our nation�s ports (Facility Security Officers) to be American citizens. Require the Coast Guard to conduct unannounced periodic inspections of U.S.
