International Transportation Service News

For three Japanese ocean carriers combining their shipping container business into ONE, the future is bright and it comes in magenta. The future arrives this April. ONE stands for Ocean Network Express, a joint venture of “K” Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and NYK Line that consolidates the three companies’ container shipping units into a single, integrated company. ONE chose the vibrant mix of purple and red to convey the energy and excitement of the new business model with a color that pops amid the muted blue and brown containers crossing the docks. “We’re very excited. We have this moment to combine the best practices of our former companies with new technologies to support our customers,” said Maria Bodnar, Senior Director of Beneficial Cargo Owner Sales for ONE North America Inc.

Ports America is continuing its business growth strategy to increase its West Coast presence through additional investments, services and expansion of its terminal capacity. The latest transaction includes a significant expansion and 20-year lease extension of the Husky Terminal in Tacoma, Wash. International Transportation Service, Inc. (ITS), a joint venture between Ports America and "K" Line, negotiated an extension of its Husky lease with the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) through 2046. Ports America is an equity holder and service provider to Husky Terminal. Included in the lease extension is a planned expansion project of more than $141 million approved by the NWSA, which will enhance the terminal’s capacity and is expected to be completed by July 2018.

A heavy equipment operator, port construction manager, shoe company executive and maritime university student encouraged Long Beach young women to explore careers in shipping industry at this week’s fifth annual Celebrating Women in Trade luncheon. More than 300 people attended the Nov. 17 event, including 160 local female high school students. The educational outreach event, first created during the Port of Long Beach’s 100th anniversary, was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Long Beach Convention Center. During the event, officials awarded the second annual Advancing Women in International Trade Award to Carolyn Martin, a goods movement industry legend who retired in 2014 following a 42-year career with International Transportation Service…

APS Technology Group, a member of the ABB Group and a leading provider of optical character recognition (OCR) and process automation technology solutions for marine and intermodal container terminals, says that that International Transportation Service (ITS) has selected the APS Crane OCR solution for its terminal in Long Beach, Califormia. APS explains that ITS chose its solution to improve system accuracy, resource utilization and ultimately customer service of the terminal. The new Crane OCR system automates the process of identifying and verifying ISO containers loaded and discharged from dockside Ship-to-Shore (STS) gantry cranes with high accuracy, redundancy and unequalled reliability.

KAWASAKI KISEN KAISHA, LTD. (“K” Line) is pleased to announce that “K” Line and Ports America have agreed to form a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing and expanding “K” Line’s container terminal business. International Transportation Service, Inc.（ITS）, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of “K” Line, has operated container terminals in Long Beach and Tacoma for more than 40 years. ITS was the pioneer in providing on-dock double stack rail service to its customers, which enable them to have direct delivery across North America, especially to inland delivery points in the mid-west. The partnership with Ports America, which operates terminals throughout the U.S.…

Last week Commissioner William P. Doyle of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) briefed the full Commission with a report on his work seeking clarity and certainty on the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) as it relates to maritime commerce. Doyle informed the Commission that the Chinese government was expected to clarify its position on the VAT that has confused the shipper and carrier communities. On December 13, 2013, the PRC released Circular 106, which supersedes Circular 37 effective January 1, 2014.

The American Equity Underwriters, Inc. (AEU) 2011 Safety Awards were presented at the annual American Longshore Mutual Association (ALMA) Conference in Grand Cayman on July 30, 2012. The awards are given each year to the best performing ALMA members nationwide and are based on the number of accidents and the severity of accidents for each calendar year. The award is an acknowledgement that these companies are leaders in the most important aspect of business operation – protecting employees from injury or death. This is the one effort that should lead all others as businesses strive for improved results and better performance. Marine Cargo Handling: International Transportation Service, Inc. Marine Cargo Handling: Levin Enterprises, Inc. Marine Cargo Handling: Schaefer Stevedoring, Inc.