John Driscoll News

U.S. marine terminal and logistics company Enstructure announced Monday that it has acquired Richardson Companies, a terminal and logistics company with primary operations in  Port Houston and the Port of Mobile.Richardson handles a diverse mix of breakbulk cargoes, including steel products, forest products, and project cargo. The company operates approximately one million square feet of industrial warehousing in Houston, Baytown, Freeport, and Mobile.Following the acquisition…

The commanding officer of a U.S. Coast Guard cutter has been permanently relieved of duties following a grounding incident in August.On August 26, Capt. Marc Brandt had been temporarily relieved as commanding officer of USCGC James (WMSL 754) pending the results of an investigation into an onboard mishap. The investigation found that on August 8, James ran aground while underway causing damage to the cutter. No personnel were injured.The Coast Guard announced Monday that Vice Adm.

The commanding officer of USCGC James (WMSL 754), has been temporarily relieved of duties following an onboard mishap, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Friday.Vice Adm. Kevin Lunday, commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, effected the relief due to a loss of confidence in Capt. Marc Brandt’s ability to command the cutter in wake of the mishap, in which no personnel were injured. Brandt has been temporarily assigned to Coast Guard Atlantic Area.Lunday appointed Capt. John Driscoll…

Longtime shipping industry executive Bryan Brandes has been named Maritime Director at the Port of Oakland. The port said today he was selected following a nationwide search. Brandes, a 25-year maritime veteran, replaces John Driscoll who left to manage the Alabama State Port Authority.Brandes will lead a staff of 20 responsible for one of the nation’s 10 largest container seaports. Oakland’s Maritime Director oversees everything from facilities management to real estate negotiations.“Bryan is coming in at a crucial time for us and we’re eager to put his skill and industry experience to work…

A longshore laborer at the Port of Oakland reportedly fell to his death from the deck of a containership at berth in the early hours on Tuesday.The International Longshore and Warehouse Union confirmed that the accident victim was one of its members. The port said the fatal accident was under investigation by local authorities.“This is a tragedy that strikes everyone very deeply,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “The waterfront is a tightly knit community and if a member of that community succumbs…

San Francisco Bay-based container ship facility Port of Oakland said its containerized import volume jumped 7.3 percent last month over January 2019 totals.Exports were up, too, the Port said, lifting hopes for recovery from a U.S.-China trade war. One question remained, however: would concern over the fast-spreading coronavirus dampen trade growth?“It’s possible,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “The uptick in January was encouraging but we’re hearing from shipping lines that cargo volume could moderate over the next few months.”Oakland’s year-over-year import volume increase in January followed three straight months of decline, the Port said. Exports rose 3.3 percent in January, up for the fourth straight month. The Port said consumer demand – both in the U.S.

The container ship facility located in the San Francisco Bay, Port of Oakland 2019 container volume decreased 1.8 percent from 2018. The Port attributed the decline to fewer empty containers but said loaded import and export containers were at a record high.Oakland handled the equivalent of 2.5 million 20-foot containers (TEUs) in 2019 versus 2.55 million in 2018. The Port attributed the dip to a 13 percent drop in empty container handling.On the other hand, export volume increased 3.7 percent last year, the Port said. Imports were up 1 percent. As a result, the Port set a record for loaded containers in 2019 with 1.9 million TEUs. The Port broke a 2018 record of 1.86 million loaded TEUs. The Port said the results were promising given a China-U.S.

The Port of Oakland is a major container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay, said that its loaded container volume from January through September increased 3.1 percent compared to the same period in 2018.The Port said that despite a dip last month, loaded exports are outpacing last year’s numbers.Loaded imports are up 3.5 percent and loaded exports are up 2.7 percent compared to the same January-September period in 2018.The Port attributed this growth to continued demand for imports of goods to satisfy the demand from consumers in the strong regional economy of Northern California. Export volumes also continue to grow as U.S.

The Port of Oakland’s refrigerated exports have jumped 20% in past year. The Port said it handled 119,756 20-foot containers of refrigerated exports from August 2018 through July 2019. That was up from 99,740 in the same period a year ago."The figures reinforce Oakland’s position as the largest exporter of refrigerated cargo in containers among U.S. ports," said a press release from the container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay.“Our business partners are investing to meet increased overseas demand for U.S. farm goods,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “When you couple their expertise with our infrastructure…

The container ship facility in the San Francisco Bay Port of Oakland said that peak season has begun with growth in containerized cargo volume. The Port reported that import loads increased 3.1 percent last month compared to August 2018. Exports rose 1 percent. Empty container shipments declined 14 percent.The Port said it handled the equivalent of 88,323 20-foot loaded import containers last month. That made it Oakland’s busiest August ever for inbound loads. Export volume was 75,080 containers, the Port said. It pointed out that export totals have now risen year-over-year for six consecutive months.The Port attributed August cargo increases to a pair of influences: Continued strong U.S.

The Port of Oakland, a container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay, said that July was the busiest in the Port’s 92-year history for containerized import cargo. According to the Port, it handled the equivalent of 90,598 20-foot import containers in July. It was the first time ever that Oakland import volume had crossed the 90,000-container threshold in a single month.The total surpassed the Port’s old monthly record of 87,207 containers set in June 2018, it said.July import volume was up 7.5 percent from the same period a year ago. The Port attributed the gain to strong U.S. consumer demand.“This is the fourth-time import volume has increased in the past five months,” pointed out Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll.

Uncertainty clouds the peak season container shipping outlook with more threatened tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S. looming, said the Port of Oakland.However, the container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay, added that here’s no uncertainty about handling the annual August-November cargo rush.“The Port is operating efficiently, ships are getting in-and-out on time and cargo is moving without delay,” said Maritime Director John Driscoll. “We don’t see that changing in the coming months.”The Port said it wouldn’t project volume for shipping’s traditional highwater mark when imports increase to support holiday merchandising. It advised, however, that Oakland marine terminals where ships load and unload are reporting uninterrupted operations.

The San Francisco Bay container ship facility Port of Oakland said that  its containerized export volume  increased in the first half of 2019 thanks to China’s neighbors.Port data released today showed double-digit export volume percentage increases through June 30 to South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Trade with those three nations alone offset a 17 percent drop in exports to China, the Port said.Exports to China have dropped by the equivalent of 14,000 20-foot cargo containers this year, the Port said. China is Oakland’s largest trading partner. On the other hand, shipments to South Korea are up 10,000; Japan 7,000; and Taiwan, 3,000.The trade numbers indicate that Oakland exporters are countering the effects of Chinese tariffs imposed on U.S. shipments.

Bigger ships are challenging the Port of Oakland with never-seen-before container volumes. The Port said today that vessels on average load and unload the equivalent of 1,767 20-foot boxes each time they visit here. It’s the highest container move count in Port history, up 9 percent from 2018 and 50 percent over 2009.The Port said higher move counts result from shipping lines consolidating more cargo on bigger ships. It added that bigger loads test the Port’s cargo-handling capacity…

Containerized export volume at the Port of Oakland spiked last month, again turning trade war logic on its head.The Port said that exports, primarily to Asia, were up 8.4 percent compared to May 2018 totals. Imports were up, too, climbing 4.2 percent over last year.According to a release from the port, it handled the equivalent of 85,964 20-foot import containers in May. Exports totaled 78,070 containers.Oakland has now reported improved year-over-year import and export performance for three straight months. The trend contradicts analyst warnings of trade declines in the face of an ongoing U.S.-China tariff skirmish.“Logic tells us that at some point…

The Alameda County Transportation Commission has received $12.45 million from the California Transportation Commission for the implementation of the Freight Intelligent Transportation System (FITS) program at the Port of Oakland.FITS includes 15 freight technology demonstration projects designed to address traffic management, security systems and roadway improvements at the Oakland seaport. The funding comes from California Senate Bill 1 funds.The Port said FITS will reduce congestion and improve traffic flow for truckers who haul cargo containers in and out of Oakland. It will also update security systems and provide a common communication platform for first responders…

Bulk shipping operations could soon return to the San Francisco Bay's Port of Oakland for the first time in 20 years. The Port said  it’s negotiating with a Canadian building materials shipper to transport sand and gravel here.The Port’s governing Board yesterday authorized talks with Vancouver-based Eagle Rock Aggregates. The firm seeks a vessel berth along with 20 acres of adjacent land at the Port’s Outer Harbor Terminal.Eagle Rock would use the property as a base for distributing sand and gravel for Bay Area construction sites. The firm said it wants a 15-year lease for one berth on Outer Harbor. Eagle Rock would ship sand and gravel from British Columbia to produce concrete for Bay Area builders.Oakland is one of the busiest container seaports in the U.S.

SSA Terminals, the operator of Oakland International Container Terminal, submitted last week a $30 million order for three 300-foot-tall gantry cranes, which are expected to be delivered in 18 months.The cranes will go to Oakland International Terminal on Oakland Estuary and will become the tallest on the West Coast, port officials said.The project aims to prepare the port to handle the world's largest container ships, which can be up to 1,300 feet long and carry nearly 23,000 cargo containers. The containers can be stacked up to 12-high above deck on the largest vessels, officials said.“This demonstrates the faith that business partners have in Oakland as a trade gateway,” said Port Maritime Director John Driscoll.

Port of Oakland’s container terminal operator, TraPac, concluded a USD 67 million waterfront expansion in January 2019 as it opened a new vessel berth to arriving container ships.The milestone signals completion of a two-year project at Oakland’s second-largest terminal that has nearly doubled TraPac’s footprint from 66 to 123 acres; boosted its fleet of ship-to-shore cranes from four to seven; and added a third 1,400-foot-long dock for berthing mega containerships.“We are grateful to dockworkers, truckers, carriers, cargo owners and all of our stakeholders for working with us during this buildout,” said TraPac Operations Vice President Brian Bauer.

The Port of Oakland reported a record-setting 2018 in cargo movement, on account of an expected spike in imports aimed at beating new tariffs on goods shipped from China.According to data released by the port, it handled the equivalent of 2.55 million 20-foot containers last year. That was up 5.2 percent from 2017 volume. It was the second straight year of record volume in Oakland, the Port said.According to Port figures, 2018 import cargo volume increased 5 percent while exports declined 3.5 percent. The volume of empty containers returned to origin destinations for future import loads increased 19.7 percent."Multiple influences were at work in 2018 shaping cargo flows, including a China-U.S.

The Port of Oakland had its busiest November ever for imports in 2018, shattering an 11-year-old record. The Port said today that it handled the equivalent of 83,364 loaded 20-foot import containers last month. That beat the old November record of 76,902 containers set in 2007. November imports were up 15 percent over the same period in 2017.The Port attributed the increase in cargo volume to continued strong U.S. consumer spending. It added that importers are rushing cargo into the U.S. in case new tariffs are imposed next year in the ongoing trade war with China.“We’re encouraged by our latest cargo statistics,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll.

A U.S.-China tit-for-tat over tariffs hasn’t dampened cargo volume growth at the Port of Oakland. In fact, the Port is on track for its third straight year of record container volume in 2018, stated the Port authorities.But can it last? That’s the question supply chain experts pondered this week at the quarterly meeting of the Port’s Efficiency Task Force. Forty trade and transportation executives ranging from longshore labor representatives to cargo owners gathered to discuss trade dynamics. Their consensus: cargo volume is spiking right now but could drop by January.“We’re peaking,” said a major U.S. West Coast freight forwarder, “but it may not go on much longer.”Here were the trends noted by Task Force members assembled in Oakland: Warehouses are filling up as U.S.

Four ship-to-shore cranes at Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT), the busiest terminal at the Port of Oakland, are 27 feet taller following completion this week of a year-long, crane-raising project.The fourth and final raised crane went back into service yesterday and is ready to serve larger ships with containers stacked high above vessel decks. Oakland already works the biggest containerships that call North America.Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) operates OICT and managed the crane-raising project in partnership with the Port of Oakland.“Taller cranes are critical for loading and unloading massive container ships that arrive at our marine terminal,” said SSA President Ed DeNike.