US' MARAD Announces Grants to Boost Supply Chain Efficiency
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded nearly $12 million in grants to eight marine highway projects across the nation under the United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP). The funding will improve the movement of goods along our navigable waterways and expand existing waterborne freight services in Alaska, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin, which will strengthen supply chains and ultimately cut costs for consumers.“Our country has always relied on American waterways to get vital goods where they need to go,” said U.S.
MARAD Awards Nearly $39 Million in Marine Highway Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded nearly $39 million in grants to 12 marine highway projects across the Nation under the America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP). The funding will help expand marine highway services on the United States’ navigable waterways to reduce congestion, alleviate supply chain bottlenecks, and move goods more quickly from ships to shelves.“At a time of record demand for goods, it’s more important than ever to…
Crowley Logistics Adds 400 New Reefer to its Fleet
Florida-based Crowley Logistics has added 400 new refrigerated (reefer) cargo containers to its industry-leading equipment fleet just in time for the peak perishables shipping season beginning in Central America.The additional units, all 40-foot-long, high cubes built to Crowley’s exacting standards, further demonstrates the company’s focus on offering customers the most reliable and efficient equipment in the market. These units have wireless asset monitoring technology, which will provide continuous monitoring of the equipment as it transits from origin to destination, both at sea and over land, to ensure the cold chain is maintained the entire time goods are in transit…
The Jones Act is Good for Puerto Rico -Report
After Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico with devastating force on September 20, 2017, a number of news reports claimed that the Jones Act had severely damaged the Puerto Rican economy, both over time and in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Now a new report examining the role of the Jones Act shipping industry before, in the immediate aftermath of and in the months that followed the hurricane asserts that the Jones Act fleet delivers a dedicated and reliable flow of goods…
FMC: Update Regarding Commission Briefings on the Status of Hanjin Shipping
The status of Hanjin Shipping and the disruptions caused by its bankruptcy to the American shipping community, as well as global supply chains, was examined closely by the Federal Maritime Commission during the closed session of the September 20, 2016 public meeting. Commissioners were briefed by staff from the Office of the General Counsel; the Bureau of Trade Analysis; the Bureau of Enforcement; and the Office of Consumer Affairs & Dispute Resolution Services about a variety of developments related to the insolvency of Hanjin Shipping. Topics addressed included: proceedings in the U.S.
Crowley Continues Fleet Upgrade
Crowley Maritime Corp. is continuing to receive and place into service $32.7 million worth of new cargo carrying equipment. The latest additions include 325, 20-foot chassis and 440 generator sets (gensets) all of which should be received by the end of April and 600, 53-foot (102-inch wide) dry containers along with 400, 53-foot chassis, which are expected by the end of May. These arrivals follow 500, 45-foot (102-inch wide) dry containers and 400, 40-foot high cube refrigerated (reefer) containers which were received at the end of 2015.
Crowley Adds 400 Reefer Containers
Crowley Maritime Corporation’s liner services group has added 400 new refrigerated (reefer) cargo containers to top off its fleet of equipment for service to its perishables customers in Central America and the Caribbean. All of the units are 40-foot high cubes, built to Crowley’s structural and security standards. “Putting these containers into service is part of our continued commitment to maintain the highest quality equipment for our customers just in time for the peak refrigerated shipping season,” said Steve Collar, senior vice president and general manager, international liner services. “Our expert staff continuously evaluates our fleet for its ability to meet the customer’s needs.
Lloyd's Launches 2015 Container Certification Scheme
Lloyd’s Register launched its 2015 Container Certification Scheme today to give a clear and concise set of rules to ensure offshore and onshore containers are safe and certified correctly. Aimed at both manufacturers and operators of equipment in the intermodal industry, the Lloyd’s Register Container Certification Scheme (LRCCS) gives industry the latest requirements for the design, inspection and certification for three main service areas of intermodal equipment: CSC* containers, offshore containers, and tanks for the transport of dangerous goods.
Singapore Budget Sops for Maritime
With a focus on improving maritime business sectors through a series of incentives to raise productivity, innovation, and internationalization the government of Singapore extended a number of its maritime incentives in its 2015 budget. "I will extend the Maritime Sector Incentive (MSI) which promotes the growth of Singapore as an International Maritime Centre," said Tharman Shanmugaratnam Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister in his 2015 budget speech on Monday. Shanmugaratnam stated that the plans were drawn out to extend the current maritime sector incentive (MSI) to accelerate the Singapore maritime sectors' growth. For instances, tax exemptions will be given to companies that qualified for the MSI.
Jones Act Tanker Market to Grow with Oil Production Boom
The Jones Act has been blamed for everything from higher prices of goods and oil to a shortage of rock salt supply in the Northeast during the past winter, but the 94-year-old U.S. federal statute governing the U.S. coastal shipping trades will not be going away anytime soon. The solid status of this deeply entrenched U.S. federal maritime law is reflected in heavy investments by oil, logistics and shipping companies in this lucrative domestic shipping sector. Last December, Kinder Morgan spent nearly $1 billion in its acquisition of its first Jones Act tanker assets when it bought American Petroleum Tankers and State Class Tankers. The market outlook for U.S.- flagged oil tankers remains bright, and some companies are banking on that.
Transportation Club of Tacoma's Person of the Year 2013 – Terry Thomas
The Transportation Club of Tacoma (TCT), the largest Transportation Club Chapter in North America, has chosen Terry Thomas, president and one of the founders of his company PNW Equipment Inc., as their 'Person of the Year 2013'. TCT explain in a brief biography that Terry Thomas, founded his company, PNW Equipment Inc. in 1980, and it has since then become a recognized leader in the design, manufacture, sales and leasing of maritime and intermodal equipment throughout the Pacific Northwest and the Pacific Maritime region which includes Western Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Crowley Adds 537 Refrigerated Containers
Crowley Maritime Corporation’s liner services group has added 537 new refrigerated (reefer) cargo containers to its fleet of equipment in an accentuated effort to serve the growing needs of its produce customers in Central America, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. All of the units received are 40-foot high cubes built to Crowley’s personalized standards. This recent acquisition will expand the fleet by 200 units in anticipation of market growth and will replace another 337 aging units.
Crowley Acquires 500 New 40' Containers
Brings Company Investment in New Equipment for 2011 to more than $23 Million. Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group is continuing to grow and update its equipment fleet to better serve customers with the addition of 500 new 40-foot, high-cube containers. The acquisition adds to the company's already robust equipment fleet of more than 45,000 units, as well as phases out some older containers. The new containers, which have a capacity of 2,700 cubic feet, will be used in all liner service operations in Latin America, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico.
FMCSA – Roadability Rule Published
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued its final rule addressing requirements for intermodal equipment providers (sometimes referred to as the roadability rule). The regulations require providers of intermodal equipment (e.g., shipping container chassis) to register and file with the FMCSA an Intermodal Equipment Provider Identification Report; establish a systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance program to assure the safe operating condition of each intermodal chassis; maintain documentation of their maintenance program; and provide a means to effectively respond to driver and motor carrier reports about intermodal chassis mechanical defects and deficiencies.
AAPA Legislative Policy Council Announces New Actions
Several key actions were taken by the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) Legislative Policy Council (LPC) at its 92nd annual convention being held this week in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. The LPC is comprised of port directors representing each region of AAPA’s U.S. Delegation. Port security continues to be one of the highest priorities for AAPA. Actions taken in this area relate to Federal funding and limited liability. Highlights include the following. · A call for $400 million in Federal funding for the Transportation Security Administrations (TSA) port security grant program in the FY ’05 Federal budget. The FY’04 level is expected only to be $125 million, while the Coast Guard projects the cost to be $1.125 billion in the first year.
Crowley Relocates Within Port Everglades
Crowley Liner Services, the first tenant in Port Everglades developing Southport Container Complex and the largest container volume producer, has agreed to reconfigure its leasehold, a move that is strategically beneficial for both Crowley and Port Everglades. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners has approved a recommendation by the Port Everglades Department to relocate a portion of the current leasehold to the south of Crowley’s current terminal. This action makes a prime parcel of dockside land available for leasing to container businesses through a competitive bidding process already underway. The Port received six responses to its Request for Letters of Interest for a new Southport Marine Terminal Operator.
VISA Extended To 2003
The Maritime Administration (MarAd) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the extension of the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) for an additional two-year period, until February 13, 2001, pursuant to the provision of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended. The VISA program is the principal commercial sealift readiness program of the Department of Defense, and is sponsored by the Maritime Administration. The purpose of VISA is to make intermodal shipping services, intermodal equipment and related management services available to the DoD as required for emergency deployment and sustainment of U.S. military forces.
VISA Extended To 2003
The Maritime Administration (MarAd) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the extension of the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) for an additional two-year period, until February 13, 2001, pursuant to the provision of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended. The VISA program is the principal commercial sealift readiness program of the Department of Defense, and is sponsored by the Maritime Administration. The purpose of VISA is to make intermodal shipping services, intermodal equipment and related management services available to the DoD as required for emergency deployment and sustainment of U.S. military forces.
Trailer Bridge Announces Pricing of Senior Secured Notes
Trailer Bridge, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRBR) announced that it had priced its offering of senior secured notes due 2011 (the ``Notes''). The Notes were priced at a fixed interest rate of 9.25% and investor interest in the Notes resulted in the overall amount offered increasing to $85 million from the initial offering amount of $80 million. Interest on the Notes will be payable semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year. The Notes will be secured by a first priority lien on two roll-on, roll-off vessels, 53’ intermodal equipment and real estate. The offering is expected to close on December 1, 2004. Trailer Bridge expects to receive approximately $81.5 million in net proceeds from the offering of the Notes.
President signs Transportation Act
President George W. Bush signs the Transportation Equity Act, at the Caterpillar facility in Montgomery, Ill., Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005. Joining the President on stage in front row, from left, are Congressman Ray LaHood, R-Ill.; Congresswoman Melissa L. Bean, D-Ill.; Congressman Jim Oberstar, D-Minn.; Congressman Tom Petri, R-Wis.; Senator Kit Bond, R-Mo.; U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.; Congressman Bill Thomas, R-Calif.; and Congressman Bobby Rush, D-Ill. President Bush signed into law the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) – H.R.