Avalon Freight Services Redefines the Shortsea Shipping Formula
Anything but business as usual, trusted partners operate innovative, environmentally correct and cutting edge equipment – in a decidedly niche trade. A new freight service began operation in southern California this past April. For the businesses and residents of Catalina Island who depend on freight from the mainland, this new service aims to provide the safest, fastest, quietest, most efficient, eco-friendly and state-of-the-art freight transportation in the island’s history. Customers will also benefit from the use of unique and innovative tonnage built specifically for this niche trade.
Two Maritime Veterans Create Avalon Freight Services
Avalon Freight Services co-founded by Greg and Tim Bombard and Harley Franco, will debut freight service on Friday, April 1, 2016. Currently scheduled to operate a minimum of five days a week, year round, the company will transport freight from Berth 95 in San Pedro and the Pebbly Beach freight facility in Avalon. In addition to scouring the country seeking the best Landing Craft and Tug and Barge systems, the new company will provide the safest, fastest, quietest, most efficient…
Catalina Express Moves to New San Pedro Terminal
The only ferry service serving Santa Catalina Island from mainland USA ports shifts its San Pedro, California facility. Cataline Express is moving to a new San Pedro passenger terminal close to the old one and it will be open for service in time for the summer season. The multi-million dollar project in cooperation with the Port of Los Angeles includes an upgrade of the adjacent passenger parking. The terminal will retain its address of Berth 95, known as the Catalina Sea and Air Terminal. Service by boat to Catalina originated from the Wilmington/San Pedro area in the 1800s. The current Berth 95 was built in 1966 and was originally the port for the Catalina Steamer.
Navy Rejects
The Navy rejected safety experts' recommendations that U.S. submarines be required to use "active" sonar before surfacing to avoid collisions like the one that sank a Japanese trawler off Hawaii. Active sonar sends out ping-like signals that bounce off objects and detects their range. Passive sonar uses a device called a hydrophone to amplify noises in a broader area. Contrary to a 1990 National Transportation Safety Board recommendation, commanding officers have complete discretion to decide which system to use under the circumstances, the Navy said. "We don't have a requirement to use active sonar," said Lt. Cmdr. Cate Mueller, a Navy spokeswoman at the Pentagon.
