Multimodal Transportation News

Wisconsin Awards $5.3 Million in Harbor Maintenance Grants

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, together with the state's Department of Transportation (WisDOT), announced grants totaling $5.3 million for seven harbor maintenance and improvement projects to promote waterborne freight and economic development.“From the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River, Wisconsin’s unique geography provides our state opportunities to grow our economy and help our businesses reach markets worldwide,” said Gov. Evers. “These grants will help maintain our harbors and ensure our ports are secure and reliable…

US Announces $172 Million to Improve Ferry Service

The Biden-Harris Administration on Friday announced new funding aimed at improving ferry service across the U.S. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced $172.2 million in Fiscal Year 2022 formula funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law improve ferry service and provide more travel options in 35 states and three territories.“Many Americans rely on ferry service as a primary means of travel, making it a critical connection to jobs, healthcare and other daily needs,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville Wraps $24 Million in New Infrastructure Work

The Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville said it has completed $24 million in infrastructure enhancement projects following a $10 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant received in 2015 initiating big changes in Jeffersonville. All projects were completed in 2022.The grant provided partial funding for $24 million in infrastructure enhancements that has added four miles to the port’s existing 11-mile rail network. The projects have enhanced and…

Dredging at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal Complete

The project to deepen 11 miles of the federal shipping channel from the sea buoy to JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal to a depth of 47 feet from its previous depth of 40 feet has been completed. Federal, state, and local leaders joined JAXPORT and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District to celebrate the project's completion.The 47-foot harbor provides the channel depth needed for larger ships to call Blount Island to and from destinations worldwide and allows existing ships calling Jacksonville to carry more cargo on board.

Port Milwaukee Seeks Proposals for South Shore Cruise Dock

Port Milwaukee said it is seeking proposals from prospective tenants for development at its South Shore Cruise Dock.This waterfront five-acre site, located immediately east of the Lake Express High Speed Ferry terminal, is available for development of recreational, entertainment, tourism, cultural, passenger vessel and public access uses. Development could begin as early as September 1, 2022, with execution of a new long-term lease, the port said.The port said it is looking for proposals that incorporate new…

US Offering $225 Mln for Ports Infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for $225 million in discretionary grant funding through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).“America’s ports are a critical part of the Nation’s multimodal transportation network and this Notice of Funding Opportunity provides guidance on how to apply for these grants,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.The Port Infrastructure Development Program supports U.S.

CMA CGM Welcomes 4th LNG-Powered Ship

CMA CGM's Containerships has announced delivery of its fourth container ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the 1,380-TEU Containerships Arctic.After the introduction of its three sister ships, the CMA CGM Group took delivery of the Containerships Arctic, on December 10th, 2019. Once it will have made its way from Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard to Europe, the vessel’s first LNG bunkering will be carried out in Rotterdam. There, it will fuel an approximate of 200 metric tons…

Cosco Completes US$3bn Peru Port Deal

Hong Kong-based international port operator Cosco Shipping Ports has completed the equity transaction of project company responsible for its greenfield subsidiary at the Port of Chancay, Peru.With the equitytransaction of the Project Company was officially completed on 10 May 2019, Port of Chancay became the company’s first greenfield subsidiary in South America and COSCO Shipping Ports plans to developing the port to an important gateway port in South America.In January 2019, Cosco signed a subscription and investment agreement with Volcan to acquire a 60% stake in the facility, which is located 58 kilometres north of the Peru’s capital…

Containerships Receives First LNG-powered Boxship

Multimodal transporter Containerships Plc announced the delivery of its first LNG-powered container vessel, M/S Containerships Nord. She was delivered to Containerships at Wenchong Shipyard, China, on 12.12.2018.A press release from the Finland-headquartered shortsea specialist said that its LNG-story started in 2013, when the decision to build the new environmentally-friendly LNG-powered vessels was taken.LNG is a relatively new fuel source, and these vessels would be the first newbuilds based on this technology to serve regularly European ports and trade, Containerships said.“By taking this decision, we accepted the challenge of building with a new technology.

AAPA Elects William Friedman As 2018-19 Board Chairman

Friedman is Port of Cleveland's President & CEO. At its 2018 Spring Conference on March 20, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)—the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas—elected William D. Friedman, president and chief executive officer for Northeast Ohio’s Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, to serve as the association’s chairman of the board for the 2018-19 activity year that begins in October. Mr. Friedman is slated to be installed as chairman for a one-year term on the final day of AAPA’s 2018 Annual Convention, set for Oct. 7-10, in Valparaiso, Chile. He will assume the AAPA chairmanship from Steve Cernak, chief executive and port director for Broward County, Fla.’s Port Everglades, who began his one-year term on Oct. 4, 2017.

Washington State Christens New Ferry Suquamish

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) christened Suquamish, its fourth Olympic Class auto/passenger ferry, to serve passengers on the Mukilteo/Clinton route beginning in 2019. The christening ceremony was held at Vigor's Harbor Island Shipyard in Seattle, where the new 144-car ferry has entered the final stages of construction and preparation ahead of sea trials starting in mid-2018. In addition to summer operations on the Mukilteo/Clinton route, the new ferry will also serve as a maintenance relief vessel in the winter, filling in when other vessels are out of service.

Ferry Safety and Technology Conference 2017

There is a convergence of new advances in technology for ferries AND quantum leaps in ferry operations in Asia, Africa and North America. Can operating a ferry be made better safer and cheaper? Yes, says technology. What’s exciting about this year’s Ferry Safety and Technology conference, the Third Annual, is the promise of technology – how telematics, affordable sensors, and graphic visualization – enhance safety, and vastly benefit the quality and cost of operations. This isn’t a conference for nerds and geeks – it’s for those of who need to use technology to understand it.

MARAD Grant Boosts Container Barge Efficiency

Container Loading Equipment to Provide Greater Efficiencies for Container on Barge Service Between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The Port of New Orleans and the Port of Greater Baton Rouge will acquire specialized container loading equipment to increase efficiencies to the current container on barge shuttle service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans with a newly announced grant of $1,758,595 from the Maritime Administration (MARAD). "The container on barge shuttle service, operated by Seacor AMH…

US Awards $4.85 Mln for Waterways Projects

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced $4.85 million in grants to six Marine Highway projects along the waterways of 17 states and the District of Columbia. The goal of the Maritime Administration’s Marine Highway Program is to expand the use of U.S. navigable waterways to relieve landside congestion, reduce air emissions and generate other public benefits by increasing the efficiency of the surface transportation system. “These grants will help us take advantage of the economic and environmental benefits of one of America’s most crucial transportation assets – our coastal and inland waterways,” Foxx said. The grants will help expand existing marine highway operations across New York Harbor…

WSDOT Christens New Ferry Chimacum

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) christened Chimacum, the third Olympic Class vessel to join the Washington State Ferries (WSF) fleet. The ceremony took place at Vigor's Harbor Island Shipyard in Seattle, and marked the vessel’s final stage of construction and its preparation for sea trials. In a traditional maritime ceremony, Washington State Ferries Assistant Secretary Lynne Griffith broke a bottle of champagne to officially welcome the new ferry to the fleet. Gov.

POSCO Plans Port Plant at Indiana-Jeffersonville

POSCO, a multinational company headquartered in Pohang, South Korea, and the fifth-largest steel producer in the world, has announced plans to build a wire rod processing center at the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville, creating up to 60 high-wage jobs by 2018. POSCO is South Korea's fourth largest company, behind Samsung Electronics, SK Holdings and Hyundai Motors, and is ranked No. 162 in Fortune's Global 500. "Although we are located on different continents, South Korea and Indiana both share a reputation of excellence when it comes to advanced manufacturing," said Governor Mike Pence. "Having a globally-focused company like POSCO select Indiana to grow its business is a strong endorsement of our state's low-cost…

ICS Deliberate on “Legal Issues relating to Shipping & Ports”

ICS, East India Branch conducted conference on Legal matters pertaining to Maritime Sector prior to joining hands with M/s Hinode Events a Knowledge Partner to serialise this an Annual Conference on Legal Maritime Legal matters. The Branch takes pride to state that "The Ministry of Shipping" &  "The Directorate General of Shipping" have taken the view of the Branch in several legislative matters. Capt.K.G.Ramakrishnan,FICS, Past  Chairman acted as the Convenor for this Conference. Capt. K.P.Rajagopal,FICS(Chairman) welcomed  the  audience, introduced the speakers and Chaired the inaugural session. The Key note speech was delivered by the veteran Barrister at Law Capt.A.K.Bansal, who gave the history of Maritime Law dating back to the ancient times and the journey until the current times.

US to Award $800 Mln in Transport Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is now soliciting applications for the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant program. The FASTLANE program is a new program in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to fund critical freight and highway projects across the country. The FAST Act authorizes $800 million in funding for the FASTLANE program for fiscal year 2016, with 25 percent reserved for rural projects, and 10 percent for smaller projects.

China Marine Giant COSCOCS Strategizes Business

China COSCO Shipping Corp Ltd  (COSCOCS), a new company formed by the restructuring of China's top two shipping firms, was officially established on Thursday (February 18). The Chairman Xu Lirong said his company,now the world's largest bulk vessel and oil tanker operator by fleet size,  is planning to deploy more resources to six new businesses. According to a report in China Daily, the shipping major will focus on logistics, industrial equipment manufacturing, financial and shipping services, investment, and operations linked to the country's "Internet Plus" development program. "New businesses such as multimodal transportation, warehouse network development…

RS Approves Composite Tank Containers

Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) has issued Certificates of approval for tank containers made of polymer composite materials (PCM) intended for transportation of aggressive media. The manufacturers of tank containers are JSC “Research and production corporation UralVagonZavod” / Uralcryomash JSC. Issuance of RS documents is a logical end of one and a half year activity of a group consisting of specialists from JSC “Research and production corporation UralVagonZavod” / Uralcryomash JSC where a series production of PCM containers is expected to be commenced, “STTC ApATech-Dubna” ltd. which is responsible for design of material and structure, Spectransgarant LLC - tank container company-operator and RS.

Indiana Governor Proposes State Add 4th Port

In the 2016 State of the State Address, Governor Mike Pence called on the Ports of Indiana to "vigorously explore" building the state's fourth port in southeastern Indiana. In Tuesday's State of the State Address, Governor Pence said, "Indiana's ports have also been spectacular catalysts for job growth. The Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority created by state legislature in 1961 that operates three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. The three ports include Port…

Pacesetter Award for Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor

The top federal official presiding over the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway presented Indiana Governor Mike Pence with its flagship award today in recognition of an increase in international shipping at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. Chief executives from the Great Lakes shipping community visited Indianapolis Wednesday to meet with Gov. Pence, Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann as well as public and private leaders from Indiana. During the meetings, U.S. Seaway Administrator Betty Sutton presented the "Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award" to Gov. Pence in recognition of the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor's increase in international shipments through the Seaway during the 2014 navigation season. Sutton is the top executive for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, a U.S.

TIGER Grant for Indiana-Jeffersonville Port

The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville will receive $10 million in TIGER Discretionary Grant money to enhance and expand the port's infrastructure. U.S. Maritime Administrator Paul "Chip" Jaenichen joined Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann and port officials for the announcement at the Port of Indiana on Friday. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that 39 projects across the U.S. will receive a total of $500 million in TIGER grant funds, including five port projects totaling $44.3 million. "The awarding of this TIGER Grant underscores the port's goal of increasing maritime commerce through domestic barge service," said Administrator Jaenichen.