United States West Coast News

Maersk Line has opened a new transpacific service between Asia and the United States West Coast.   The first sailing is scheduled for September 15.   "We are responding to increased demand in the Transpacific," says Klaus Rud Sejling, Head of Maersk Line's East-West Network.   The service will be calling Yantian, Shanghai, Busan and Los Angeles/Long Beach.   It will have six vessels with a capacity of 4,000 TEU per week deployed. The service will be part of the 2M network.   (Reporting by Annabella Pultz Nielsen)

Delayed restart of Exxon refinery draws down inventories. Valero and BP among traders shipping jet from Asia to U.S. Asian jet fuel shipments to the United States West Coast region could pick up this month as a prolonged cut in throughput at a California refinery is drawing down inventories, traders said on Wednesday. Arbitrage economics to ship jet fuel from North Asia to the U.S. West Coast are now profitable, so there would be an increase in spot jet fuel cargoes on that route over the coming weeks, they said. Demand from the U.S. helped push up Asian jet fuel margins to a one-week high on Wednesday. An explosion in February that shut the gasoline-making unit of Exxon Mobil's Torrance 149,500 barrels-per-day (bpd) refinery near Los Angeles reduced throughput at the refinery.

The American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) and the European Shippers’ Council (ESC) call upon all parties involved to reach an agreement as soon as possible to overcome congestion in ports across the United States West Coast which seems to be at an all-time high. According to ESC press release, hundreds of long shore workers are suspending vessel loading and unloading operations at U.S. ports, beginning on January 13th, because employers said they wanted to clear cargo from congested yards. The ports claim the International Longshore and Warehouse Union is creating work slowdowns at the ports by withholding skilled crane operators to gain leverage in contract talks.

On July 1st, 2013 Harley Marine Service’s new Z-drive tractor tug, the M/V Robert Franco arrived in Southern California. This 100’x40’ tractor tug will enter the ship assist and tanker escort market for both Millennium Maritime and Harley Marine Services in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. The M/V Robert Franco was built with the most technically and environmentally advanced equipment available. This tug features Tier III engines and cold ironing/shore power capabilities. It also marks the second Tier III engine on a ship assist/escort tug boat…

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders has launched the first of two tractor tugs they have contracted with Harley Marine Services. The new tugboat will be delivered to Harley Marine Services in mid April 2013. The Tractor Tug, a Jensen Maritime of Seattle, Washington design, is ABS load line certified. It has two Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines coupled to the Rolls Royce z-drive system and it is also equipped with two Cat C9 generators. The propulsion package will produce over 90 tons of bollard pull with a combined horsepower of 6,770, giving the tug exceptional pulling power and maneuverability. The vessel is outfitted with Mackay Marine Electronics, Technicold by Northern Lights HVAC system, two Markey winches, one forward for ship assist and one aft for towing and a Smith Berger tow pin aft.

Following quickly on the heels of an overseas investment deal in Marseilles, Cammell Laird (Holdings) has increased its involvement in the overseas repair and conversion industries by taking a $7.7 million (49%) equity stake in a new holding company along with United States' West Coast shiprepairer Cascade General. This deal has an option for Cammell Laird to take a controlling interest within the next two years. The deal will allow the new company to purchase the repair facility (freehold and docks) at Portland, Oregon, the largest single repair facility on the U.S. West Coast. The facility is currently owned by Portland Port Authority and operated by Cascade General.

Twelve U.S. lawmakers asked that President Bill Clinton, who has only two days left in office, re-impose a ban on exports of Alaskan crude oil in order to protect consumers on the United States' West Coast from high gasoline prices. In a letter to Clinton, the lawmakers cited recent news reports that BP Amoco exported Alaska North Slope crude to reduce supplies on the West Coast and raise oil prices in the region. The lawmakers making the export ban request include Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith of Oregon, Barbara Boxer of California and Patty Murray of Washington. The lawmakers said secret oil company documents show that BP shipped Alaska crude to Asia even though the company earned less profit on the exported oil than it would have if it sold the same oil in West Coast markets.