Ocean Terminal News

The United States' largest dredging contractor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation on Wednesday announced the receipt of $107 million in new contract awards along the U.S. East Coast.The awarded dredging work includes: Norfolk Harbor Navigation Improvements Project (Capital, Virginia, $56.8 million), Charleston Lower Harbor Maintenance Dredging Project (Maintenance, South Carolina, $15.4 million), Tampa Harbor Maintenance Dredging 45-Foot Project (Maintenance, Florida, $13 million)…

Savannah-based Colonial Group Inc. has announced a new era of leadership as it prepares to mark a major milestone in the company’s history in 2021.Christian B. Demere (Demere) has been named chief executive officer, succeeding his father, Robert H. Demere, Jr. (Demere Jr.), who had been in the position since 1986. Colonial Group has continued to operate as a privately held business since 1921 through the chairmanships of its founder, Raymond Demere; his son, Robert H. Demere Sr.; and Robert’s son, Demere Jr.“The time has come to pass the torch to the fourth generation,” said Demere Jr.

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has plans for a new container port on Hutchinson Island to increase the capacity of the Port of Savannah, Georgia, USA. The planned expansion will double the port’s annual capacity from 5.5 million TEUs to 11 million TEUs and the facility will be able to handle 2.5 million TEUs of cargo annually The new container port occupy a 200-acre area directly opposite Ocean Terminal in Savannah.GPA executive director Griff Lynch commented: “The market has clearly chosen the Port of Savannah as the south-eastern hub for containerized trade.

Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) announced that the Port of Savannah moved a record 4.5 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in the fiscal year that ended June 30, an increase of more than 305,000 TEUs, or 7.3 percent.“Our ports are firing on all cylinders,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “This success is a testament to the men and women who work throughout our entire supply chain and make a difference for Georgia and the nation every day. Because of their commitment, our factories, farms and logistics providers are creating opportunity and prosperity in every corner of our state.”For the first time ever, GPA handled more than half a million container lifts to rail, growing that number by more than 72,000, or 16.6 percent.

Wednesday, 1 May: Late this afternoon, President Donald Trump met with Congressional leaders from the Senate and House to discuss U.S. Maritime Policy. On the table was the Jones Act. President Trump assured the Congressional leaders that he is not seeking any changes to the Jones Act, nor is he seeking any waivers.“President Trump had the Jones Act matters all under control from the get-go”, said William P. Doyle, CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America. “Mr. Trump is all about jobs and national security — he’s never wavered on this.

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved 14 percent growth in March container volumes, moving 355,208 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit containers. For the fiscal year to date (July-March), TEU container trade grew by 9 percent, or 255,786 additional units for a total of 3.08 million, a new record for Savannah. "Savannah's continued strength is a reflection of our customers' commitment, Georgia's leadership, and the many dedicated service providers, GPA employees and ILA members who come together every day to achieve great things," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "March marked our 17th consecutive month of business expansion thanks, in part…

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved outstanding January results, with double-digit growth across all business sectors and a 26 percent increase in total tonnage. "The Port of Savannah is unrivaled in its connectivity into the heartland of the U.S. and the service excellence that port customers enjoy," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. Lynch credited those supply chain efficiencies for the record 3 million tons of cargo GPA moved in January, up 623,504 tons compared to the same month a year ago. Containerized trade saw strong growth, with 331,468 twenty-foot equivalent units crossing the docks at the Port of Savannah, up 16.2 percent, or 46,167 TEUs. Of that trade, loaded containers accounted for approximately 268,000 TEUs, also a record.

The Georgia Ports Authority marked 12.3 percent container volume growth in December, moving 292,172 twenty-foot equivalent container units, an increase of 32,099 TEUs compared to December 2015, a record for the GPA. Roll-on/Roll-off cargo mirrored that growth, with a 12.3 percent increase (7,000 units) in passenger vehicles and heavy equipment handled at Colonel's Island terminal in Brunswick and Ocean Terminal in Savannah. Georgia's deepwater ports moved 63,967 Ro/Ro units last month.

After being closed last week due to Hurricane Matthew, the Savannah River channel has reopened for commercial traffic Wednesday morning at 7 a.m., with 11 vessels transiting the channel by mid-afternoon, nine of which will be worked at Garden City Terminal and two at Ocean Terminal, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) reported. By the end of the day, the Garden City Terminal was working nine vessels, moving nearly 800 containers per hour, with an anticipated 7,800 container moves for the day.

The Port of New York & New Jersey, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has completed a $2.1 billion Main Navigation Channel Deepening Program in order to facilitate the next generation of larger containerships calling the port following the expansion of the Panama Canal. The Port of New York and New Jersey serves as the gateway to one of the most concentrated and affluent consumer markets in the world. The Main Navigation Channel Deepening Program creates a safe…

As a result of the severe weather, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) said it will close its facilities in both Savannah and Brunswick Friday, September 2 ahead of Tropical Storm Hermine. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency for 56 counties, including Glynn and Chatham counties, where Georgia's deepwater ports are located. The U.S. Coast Guard will restrict vessel arrival and departure starting at 10 p.m. tonight. “Out of an abundance of caution, and for the safety of our employees…

The Georgia and South Carolina Ports Authorities have signed a new joint venture agreement that provides framework for the two states to work cooperatively toward the development of the Jasper Ocean Terminal (JOT), which will be jointly owned and operated by both port authorities. The updated agreement governs the permitting and planning process for the JOT, including the development of terminal design and supporting infrastructure, plans for financing, and execution of the operational decisions required during the permitting process. The JOT Joint Project Office was first established under an intergovernmental agreement signed in 2008 by the previous Governors of Georgia and South Carolina. This new agreement takes effect immediately and continues the work of the JOT.

The Columbia Group of Companies will open a new intermodal chassis depot located in Bayonne, NJ on November 16, 2015. Trac Intermodal will be the first customer to join the depot. Columbia Group, through its affiliates Columbia Container Services and Columbia Intermodal, already operate a first-class off-dock empty container depot and chassis maintenance and repair depot in the Port of New York/New Jersey and a chassis pool and container repair operation in the Port of Boston. Fenimore says that the new depot will be open to all chassis owners and its being developed to provide quality customer service to motor carriers. “The motor carrier community and chassis providers in the Port of New York and New Jersey want an adequate supply of available chassis…

South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) saw strong container volume growth during the first quarter of the 2016 fiscal year, with TEU volumes 9.5 percent higher than the same period last year. SCPA handled 167,549 TEUs last month, an 11.1 percent increase from September 2014 volumes. Since the 2016 fiscal year began in July, SCPA has moved 513,299 TEUs. As measured in pier containers, 289,610 boxes have moved across SCPA docks fiscal year to date. Pier container volume is up 8.6 percent from the 266,741 boxes handled during the same period last fiscal year. "Our growth is indicative of broad-based strength across all market segments," said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome.

As the shipping operator BG Freight Line is set for a new freight service connecting the links, Scotland’s food and drink, chemical and manufacturing industries are looking for a boost. BG Freight Line, wholly-owned by Clydeport owner Peel Ports, has extended its Irish Sea network with a new service connecting Rotterdam, Liverpool, Belfast, Dublin and Greenock. The route, which will also take in Belfast, is expected to prove a boon to businesses in the west of Scotland, by cutting the cost of exports to the rest of the UK, Europe and North America. It follows investment by Peel Ports which in December will launch Liverpool2, the UK’s most centrally-located deep water container terminal…

Historically, ferry masters operating off the west coast of Scotland would have to sail to a port and on arrival visually assess the weather and tide conditions before deciding whether safe berthing alongside the pier or quayside would be possible. This wastes time and fuel, and can causes frustration among passengers, who may see ferries come close to a port, but thereafter depart without berthing when conditions are determined by the ferry Master to be unsafe. These ferries provide a lifeline service to the islands, so the reliability of ferry services is important.

New Orleans based maritime solutions company Technology Associates, Inc. (TAI) informs it has completed its contract for the design and construction of a fast response firefighting vessel delivered to the U.S. Army, in support of U.S. Military Surface Deployment Distribution Command (SDDC) 596th Transportation Brigade (TB), on June 12, 2015. The all-aluminum fast response firefighting vessel, named Port Chicago, measures 75 ft length overall, 20 ft beam, and 10 ft deep. Designed to support the Army's mission of fire protection of the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO)…

The Jasper Ocean Terminal (JOT) board of directors met earlier this week to solidify a budget and work plan for FY2016 as well as review work completed during the 2015 fiscal year. The board approved a 2016 fiscal year budget that includes accomplishing further studies of the site design, sediment, access corridor and channel improvements necessary for the largest containerships, as well as efforts to recruit a third party required for completion of an environmental impact study. Cosponsors Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and SC Ports Authority (SCPA) will each contribute $1.25 million to the FY2016 budget. “This was a watershed meeting for our board,” said board chairman David Posek.

Puerto Rico Ports Authority issues RFP for Marina District. The Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA), a public corporation and government instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the leasing, design, construction, operation and financing of the rehabilitation, improvement and operation of the Isla Grande Dry Dock ("IGDD") in the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the design, construction, financing, and development of a superyacht marina complex. The PRPA is seeking comprehensive proposals from highly qualified developers and operators of luxury marinas and vessel maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.

Port of Savannah container volumes jumped 25.8 percent in April, with a total volume of 335,337 twenty-foot equivalent container units, or an additional 69,000 units. The Georgia Ports Authority also saw strong growth in roll-on/roll-off traffic, moving 77,574 units through Brunswick and Savannah, a 14.1 percent gain. "Across the logistics industry, focus has centered on GPA's ability to handle large volume increases with no congestion," Executive Director Curtis Foltz said. In his report to the GPA Board today…

Queen Elizabeth II will christen P&O Cruises’ new flagship Britannia in Southampton, England, on March 10. She will be accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. The naming ceremony of the new 141,000-tonne cruise vessel will take place at Ocean Terminal in Southampton, England and will be of great national interest. David Dingle, Carnival’s UK chairman, gave the following statement: “We are honoured and proud that Her Majesty will name Britannia almost 20 years after she named the P&O Cruises’ ship Oriana. And in a celebration of all things British Her Majesty will use a sparkling wine from the Wiston Estate Winery in Sussex for the bottle smash moment and naming ceremony.

Crowley Maritime Corporation’s Puerto Rico liner services group has announced that Ken Orben is being promoted to general manager of terminal operations in Jacksonville, Fla., and Karen Dempsey is being promoted to director of port operations in Pennsauken, N.J., effective Jan. Orben, a 27-year Crowley veteran and current director of port operations in Pennsauken, will relocate to Jacksonville and report to John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico services.

The Georgia Ports Authority reported that its terminals in Brunswick and Savannah moved a combined 2.79 million tons of freight in October, a record for the authority. "Strong growth across all key sectors of our business is an indication that our ports are reaching a larger and more diverse customer base," said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. For the fiscal year to date, the GPA has moved 10.28 million tons, up 7.2 percent or 694,045 tons. Savannah's Garden City Terminal handled a record 311…