Port Master News

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced more than $703 million to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory that designed to help improve port facilities through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. Following is the full list of FY 2022 Port Infrastructure Development Grant Awards:ALASKANorth Extension Stabilization Step 1 Project ($68,700,000), Anchorage, AlaskaThe Project will reconfigure and realign the shoreline within the “North Extension” (the area north of the existing general cargo terminals) at the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Beth Rooney has been named Director of the Port Department, taking over for Sam Ruda who is departing to return to the West Coast.A maritime industry veteran, Rooney will assume the role on May 2 following three years as the ports Deputy Director and more than three decades of experience. She has been with the Port Department since 1993.Together, Ruda and Rooney have led the East Coast’s busiest and largest seaport, and third in the nation behind the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.

Ports are economic engines for the regions they serve, and the impact from business activities at the Port of New York/New Jersey runs as big as the area it serves: 46 million consumers in a four-hour radius. The port is an economic giant in and of itself, providing for nearly a half a million jobs, a cumulative $35 billion in personal income and a cumulative $98 billion in business income. Sam Ruda, Director, Port NY/NJ, discusses a record 2019, continued investment in infrastructure…

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it launched eight new patrol vessels to help ensure navigational safety and enhance the protection of the marine environment in the Port of Singapore.Six new 17-meter vessels replace the existing fleet of patrol craft, which had been in service since 2012, plus two new 15-meter patrol launches have been acquired for flag and port state control inspections, to conduct checks on bunkering and private wharves activities, and…

Port of Long Beach (PoLB) informed that the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners voted unanimously to promote Heather Tomley, a widely respected Southern California leader in environmental improvement programs, to Managing Director of Planning and Environmental Affairs for the Harbor Department.Tomley, with the Department since 2005, has served as the Acting Managing Director for the past 12 months while the Port conducted a nationwide search for candidates for the executive position.“Heather has deep experience creating and managing cutting-edge projects that have dramatically improved air quality and earned crucial industry cooperation…

Expansion Strengthens Client Access and Relationship Management.Elliott Bay Design Group proudly announces the opening of its new East Coast office in New York. The office will provide professional engineering and naval architecture services as well as waterfront development expertise to clients on the East Coast and is a springboard for future growth in the region. "This is an exciting time for EBDG and marks a major milestone in our 30-year history," states Christina Villiott, VP of Sales & Marketing.

Sagarmala Programme, an initiative of Government of India to enhance the performance of logistics sector in India, saw the completion of 89 projects, while 443 projects worth USD 5.9 bln are under various stages of implementation and development.SagarmalaProgrammeaims  to promote port-led development with a view to reducing logistics cost for EXIM and domestic trade.Ministry of Shipping, along with the State Governments are striving to increase the overall port capacity to 3500+ million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to cater to the projected traffic of 2500 MMTPA by 2025.Towards this end, 249 port modernization projects have been identified.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) conducted a ferry emergency exercise  to test the readiness of various agencies in responding to ferry mishaps in the Port of Singapore.More than 100 personnel from ten organisations (Annex) took part in the exercise at sea near Kukor Buoy. The exercise scenario involved the evacuation of 72 passengers on-board a domestic ferry after her grounding on a large underwater object.Passengers were then evacuated onto life rafts and a rescue ferry alongside the grounded vessel. A search and rescue operation was also conducted for missing passengers.New to this year’s exercise, MPA trialled the use of smart devices to boost search and rescue efforts.

The Government of Sri Lanka approved loans to develop both the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour and the northern section of the Colombo Port. For the reconstruction of the KKS harbour, a credit line agreement between the Export-Import Bank of India and the Sri Lankan Government was signed. Accordingly, a $ 45.17 million credit line from India will be used to finance the restoration of the KKS Harbour, which is to be transformed into a self-sustainable, commercial harbour. This project is line with the Government’s North-East Economic Corridor concept to develop trade in the northern and eastern ports/harbours. The restoration of the KKS…

The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) has presented its proposals for the master plan for the development of Greece's largest port of Piraeus under “Master Plan of the Port of Piraeus". The compilation of the Master Plan for the development and operation of the Piraeus Port was made according to:  (i) all the Laws and regulations of general implementation, together with all the existing applicable regulatory rules, (ii) the methodology and specifications quoted in the “Specifications of Master Plan” document, (iii) regulations and guidelines for the establishment of Program Design as listed in ANNEX 6.2 of the Concession Agreement 2016. The…

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has stepped up efforts to enhance safety at sea during the year-end festive season. As everyone unwinds during this period, MPA urges the public and all port users to remain vigilant and safe at sea. Typically, the Port of Singapore sees as much as a 15 per cent increase in the number of passengers during the months of November to January. This period coincides with the Northeast monsoon season, which may create unfavourable conditions at sea. Passengers should continue to be mindful of basic safety practices while enjoying the festive mood. MPA has taken additional measures during the festive season to raise safety awareness and ensure that all port users remain vigilant and observe safety rules.

The construction of the new port and logistics hub in Tema will have huge benefits for the Ghanaian economy and the livelihoods of Ghanaian people when opened in 2019. As part of the port master plan, APM Terminals Inland Services Africa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Government of Ghana, and the non-profit road safety organization Amend to ensure port access roads and highways that will handle the inland transportation are safe and able to handle increased traffic flow. APM Terminals Head of Africa Inland Services Peter Jakobsen, based in Ghana, attended the signing ceremony and said, “We wanted to start this…

APM Terminals Vado, Italy Managing Director Paolo Cornetto highlighted the future role of the deepwater APM Terminals Vado facility, now under construction, as a new southern gateway to Central Europe. “We designed our new port around liner customers - and our landside customers – the importers, exporters and truckers - to help them do more business by tapping into the 70 million-member consumer market of northern Italy, southern Germany, Switzerland, Austria and eastern France within an eight hour proximity of our port," he said. "We will offer a fully-automated gate complex – the first of any Italian port - to get truckers in and out faster and safer.

Expansion, modernization and up-gradation of Major Ports in India is an ongoing process to keep the ports abreast with new technologies and also to promote trade and cargo. 62 Public–private partnership (PPP) Projects with an investment of Rs.49,049 crore ($7.1 bn) are under implementation and operation. For the year 2016-17, 33 projects with an investment of Rs.9,845 crore have been taken up. Port Master Plans for 12 major ports have been prepared keeping in view the requirements for cargo handling till 2035. A total of 142 Port Modernization projects have been identified in the Master Plans. These identified projects will be taken up for implementation in phases.

Port Master Plans for 12 major ports have been prepared keeping in view the requirements for cargo handling till 2035. A total of 142 Port Modernization and 30 Port Connectivity projects have been identified in the Master Plans. The objectives of these projects are to promote port led development and to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost effectively and efficient evacuation to and from hinterland. These identified projects will be taken up over the next 20 years (till 2035) for implementation in phases. 3. Creation of dedicated coastal infrastructure i.e. 8. Central Scheme for providing assistance to Major ports and Oil Handling non-major ports under State Maritime Boards/State Govt.

On Thursday, May 19, 2016, the Port of Palm Beach Board of Commissioners agreed to exclude funding for a proposed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lake Worth Inlet navigational improvement project from the port’s Master Plan Update. The ACOE project, along with the economic and environmental backup that accompanied the plan, was published for the port’s review in 2005. As global, regional and state markets; the port’s tenant composition; and the environmental and recreational dynamics surrounding the port have changed, the port’s missions and goals continue to evolve. In discussing the 10-year time span between the study and the Thursday evening decision…

APM Terminals has signed a contract for the delivery of 19 advanced container handlers which will employ advanced diesel/electric power sourcing to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions for Italy’s newest container terminal. Vado, Italy – APM Terminals has concluded a contract with Finnish-based container handling equipment manufacturer Kalmar for the delivery of 19 Hybrid Straddle Carriers for the new 800,000 TEU annual capacity deepwater APM Terminals Vado facility now under construction on northern Italy’s Ligurian Coast. The facility will be the world’s first container terminal to employ an entirely hybrid straddle carrier fleet.

APM Terminals signed an agreement for the construction and delivery of four Ship-to-Shore (STS) Gantry Cranes and 14 Automated Rail-Mounted Gantry Cranes (ARMGs) for the new APM Terminals Vado terminal now under construction on Italy’s Ligurian coast. The new terminal, the first new major port construction in Italy in several decades, is scheduled to open in January 2018 with an annual throughput capacity of 800,000 TEUs, and the ability to handle vessels up to 18,000 TEU capacity. The Italian government is providing EUR 300 million for civil works for the project. APM Terminals is investing EUR 150 million in the new terminal which will create 450 new jobs when operations commence.

APM Terminals (APMT) has purchased Vado Ligure Reefer Terminal in North-Western Italy, near Genoa, from the GF Group. Reefer Terminal has been the largest refrigerated terminal in the Mediterranean for more than 30 years, handles 600,000 pallets a year as well as 275,000 teu. The terms and the price of the deal were not disclosed. Located on Italy’s northwest Ligurian Coast, Vado Reefer Terminal represents an annual throughout capacity of 275,000 TEUs, with 510 reefer plugs, a depth of 14.5 meters, and 465 meters of quay and handles 600,000 pallets of fresh fruit imported into northern Italy and inland European locations. APMT acquired the terminal as part of its Vado port master plan to create new supply chains to markets in Northern Italy, Southern France, Switzerland and Bavaria.

APM Terminals and GF Group are pleased to announce the acquisition of 100% of Reefer Terminal S.p.A. by APM Terminals has been completed today. Terms and price were not disclosed. Reefer Terminal, the largest refrigerated terminal in the Mediterranean for more than thirty years handling 600,000 pallets per year, is also a world-class terminal for the handling of containers (275,000 TEU, 510 reefer plugs, 14.5 meter depth and 465 meter of quay) and general cargo. APM Terminals has acquired the Vado Ligure Reefer Terminal as part of the port master plan to create new supply chains to markets in Northern Italy, Southern France, Switzerland and Bavaria.

Speaking at the 4th Annual Black Sea Ports and Shipping Conference 2015 on May 29th on the subject of Black Sea Ports as agents of economic growth for the region, APM Terminals Poti Deputy Managing Director Joseph Crowley discussed the advantages of Poti Seaport as the prominent gateway for Black Sea, Mediterranean and Central Asian trade. “While recent World Bank economic growth forecasts for the broader Caucasus region have been reduced, APM Terminals is committed to our ongoing investment in Poti Seaport to anticipate and satisfy the future demand potential” said Mr. Crowley, adding “this infrastructure investment into the port will help make future gateway volume growth possible, a major factor in Georgia’s growing presence as a global trading partner”.

The International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has issued the following general advice related to the outbreak of Ebola. Vessels that have recently called in an affected country should contact their local agents prior to arrival at the next ports of call for the latest country specific advice regarding measures taken to avoid the spread of Ebola. ARGENTINA: Pilot companies rendering pilotage services in the River Plate have decided that their pilots will not board any vessel coming from the infected areas (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone) until thirty days since the vessel sailed from last port of the infected areas. BENIN (Port of Cotonou): Vessels must notify the harbour master of the 10 previous ports of call 3 days before ETA.

The Port of San Diego apprises it is to host separate open house events for the public to provide feedback on its long-range vision and 'Integrated Port Master Plan Update' process. The Port of San Diego, the fourth largest in California, is in the midst of developing a 50-year Vision Plan as part of the Port Master Plan Update to help set the course for future land and water uses in San Diego Bay. At each open house, port consultants will present an overview of the Vision process and input received over the last six months during the first-phase visioning effort.