Port New News

Western powers have ramped up pressure on Russia's oil sales amid its war with Ukraine as U.S. President Donald Trump said India would stop buying and Britain imposed sanctions on top Russian oil firms.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is schedule to meet Trump in Washington on Friday to push for military and energy support at a time when Kyiv and Moscow are escalating the war with attacks on energy infrastructure.Indian officials are also in Washington for trade talks, with the U.S.

Associated British Ports (ABP) has taken delivery of a new fast response RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) installed with the CXO300 diesel outboard engine from Cox Marine. Designed to be both fast and agile, the patrol craft Swift has already entered service in Southampton, one of the UK’s busiest ports. Built by Berthon, Cox’s UK distributor based in Lymington, the 7.8m Commercial Grade RIB will be used by the ABP Southampton team to enforce harbor by-laws and to carry out other harbour duties by its safety security patrols.

Damen Shipyards Group said it has booked an order from South Port New Zealand for the delivery of a Damen Azimuth Tractor Tug (ATD) 2412. The vessel, with 65 tonnes bollard pull, will replace an older vessel with 35 tonnes bollard pull, bringing the port’s total bollard pull capability up to 105 tonnes.South Port has selected an ATD due to its ability to undertake indirect towage and for the vessel’s excellent maneuverability and power, according to Damen.Due to Damen’s practice of building standardized vessels in series and for stock…

“Freedom” – the absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic governmentIt has been decades since international relations in the world order dictated true competition for sea control, sea lines of communication, access to world markets, and diplomatic partnerships. However, it is becoming increasingly alarming that nations such as Iran, China and Russia seek to accumulate/consolidate power and re-define international maritime norms, potentially at the peril of diplomatic…

A pair of steel-cutting ceremonies held a week apart at separate Chinese shipyards initiated the construction of new workboats for Tianjin Port.Following the successful completion in 2015 of concurrent construction programs involving five vessels of three different designs, Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd. said it began developing two more designs, working closely with the towing branch of Tianjin Port.On August 23, the steel-cutting ceremony for the first of two ASD 40/35 pilot/tugboats was held at Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard in China.

DNV GL is launching a completely renewed Shore Monitoring module for Navigator Port. Installed on more than 2500 vessels, Navigator Port is the industry's leading port clearance solution.With a strong focus on the user experience, this module is the first of DNV GL's next generation fleet management solutions to be developed on the latest cloud technology.Most shipping companies find it challenging to keep on top of crew work and rest hour compliance. It is essential to have the same view and information on board and in the office.Navigator Port’s Shore Monitoring module is a user-friendly, cloud-based solution designed for monitoring work and rest compliance according to the relevant regulations.

The Government of India has formulated new guidelines in the form of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to handle cruise vessels and cruise passengers in November, 2017.The salient features of these SOPs inter alia includes submission of documents/data electronically, seamless entry and exit process with access control and RFID for vehicles and persons and simplified Port Health Organization Clearance Procedure. It further provides for e-Landing card for shore excursion, doing away with face to face checks except at the first port of entry and last port of exit and allowing carrying of valid photo I-card for Indian cruise passenger on domestic leg instead of the passport.The five major ports i.e Mumbai Port…

In line with the commitments of the PA2D (Sustainable Development and Action Plan), Dunkerque-Port has just received the EcoPorts network's PERS certification (Port Environmental Review System), granted by the ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation). This environmental management certification, specific to the port sector, attests to correct compliance with current rules and standards, and rewards involvement in projects and initiatives for better environmental performance in ports. This European recognition also stresses the environmental and innovative actions that have been carried out by Dunkerque-Port for nearly ten years as part of its activities.

Activists hailed a Kenyan court for ordering that almost 5,000 fishermen at a 14th century World Heritage Site receive millions in compensation for the loss of traditional fishing rights due to the construction of a major port.The fishermen in Lamu, the oldest Swahili settlement in East Africa, won 1.76 billion shillings ($18 million) in compensation this week from a court in the nearby town of Malindi, which also said their rights to culture and information had been violated."We were happy with the judgment…

India's INSV Tarini entered Lyttelton port (New Zealand) on 29 Nov 2017, during it’s maiden voyage to circumnavigate the globe. This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. The vessel is skippered by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, and the crew comprises Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal, P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta. Nirmala Sitharaman, Indian Defence Minister had flagged-off INSV Tarini from Goa on 10 September 17. The vessel has covered 7800 Nautical miles from Goa, crossing the Equator on 25 September 17 and Cape Leeuwin on 09 November 17. The indigenously-built INSV Tarini is a 56-foot sailing vessel…

Plans are in place to move the freight terminal currently located in the central city of Gothenburg to the Port of Gothenburg. The switch will allow a higher proportion of transport by rail instead of road. At the intermodal terminal, in the city centre of Gothenburg, freight is transferred from rail to road and then distributed to companies throughout the region. At the beginning of 2018, the intermodal terminal will need to be moved to allow future development of the city. Following an agreement between the City of Gothenburg and the Swedish Transport Administration, it has now been confirmed that the terminal will be relocated to the Arken area next to Gothenburg Roro Terminal in the Port of Gothenburg.

COSCO Shipping, plans to ramp up container volume at Greece’s biggest port in Piraeus by 35 percent by 2018, the port’s new managing director, Fu Cheng Qiu, said, reports Reuters. China's biggest shipping company, which owns the world's fourth-largest container shipping fleet, bought 51 percent of the port's operating company last month for 280.5 million euros ($315.5 million), one of Greece's biggest and most strategic privatizations since a debt crisis began in 2009. COSCO wants to boost the port's container traffic to 5 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent container units) by 2018 under its plan to turn Greece into a transhipment hub for rapidly growing trade between Asia and Eastern Europe, Fu said in his first interview since COSCO took control of the port.

As the region’s 2015/2016 cruise season has come to a close, Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of ports and the Khalifa Industrial Zone in the Emirate, has released its best ever Cruise Terminal performance figures. With an increase of 16 percent in passengers and 20 percent increase in vessel calls, the state-of-the-art Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal is playing a prominent role in expanding the emirate’s tourism industry and achieving its economic diversification goals.

At its third annual Celebrating Education event, held at McBride High School on Thursday, May 12, the Port of Long Beach recognized scholarship and high school internship recipients and announced a new initiative to broaden its educational outreach through a specialized academy at Cabrillo High School, which is located in the vicinity of the Port. The Port of Long Beach Academy of Global Logistics was announced by Harbor Commission Vice President Lou Anne Bynum at the event. Mayor Robert Garcia…

The first six cantilever rail-mounted gantry (CRMG) cranes arrived in the River Mersey on Sunday, May 1 ready for installing and commissioning at the Liverpool2 deep-water container terminal. Produced by leading Chinese manufacturer ZPMC, which also supplied the five ship-to-shore cranes already on site, these six are the first of 12 required for phase 1 of the terminal. Ultimately the site will have eight STS and 22 CRMG cranes as part of a £100 million investment. The cranes will be capable of performing an average of 20 moves per hour…

The Port of Hueneme launched the second phase of its Grid-Connected Shore Power System, celebrating another next step forward in reducing air emissions and minimizing environmental impact. Among the community leaders attending the ribbon cutting were Congresswoman Julia Brownley, County Supervisor Kathy Long, Ms. Sabiha Khan with Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office, Port Hueneme Mayor Douglas Breeze, and VCTC chairman Keith Millhouse. By connecting to the Port’s Grid-Based Shore Power System, refrigerated cargo vessels calling the Port can shut down their auxiliary marine engines and operate on shore power in lieu of diesel fuel dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans joined a host of elected officials and industry partners today to dedicate the Port’s new $25 million Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal. The terminal, made possible by a $16.7 million federal transportation TIGER grant, has a capacity of moving 160,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) per year by rail. “This new terminal provides a highly efficient option for our customers moving cargo via rail,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant provided about 68 percent of the total funding for the terminal.

Vice President Joe Biden toured the Port’s new Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal today before making remarks commemorating the 7th anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at the Port’s Riverfront Plaza. “I’m here today to talk about smart investments we made in shaping the future of the economy in Louisiana and around the country,” Vice President Biden told a crowd of more than 150 invited guests at the Port. The Port received a $16.7 million Transportation…

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a number of river closures, restrictions and advisories in response to floods in the Midwest and South. Illinois River is open to traffic. The Coast Guard recommends that mariners transit the river in daylight hours only. The Missouri River is open to vessel traffic. The Coast Guard urges mariners to monitor VHF-FM channels 16 and 22 for any changes to the river. For more details on the closures set in place by Sector Upper Mississippi River call the command center at 314-269-2610. The Paducah-Louisville railroad bridge at mile marker 94.8 on Green River requires one-hour notice for opening. The Louisville-Nashville Swing Bridge at mile marker 190.4 on Cumberland River is closed. A safety advisory is in place from mile marker 110 to mile marker 0.

The Port of Seattle welcomed its newest commissioner, Fred Felleman, as he took the oath of office along with reelected Commissioner Courtney Gregoire at Tuesday’s  Commission meeting. The commission officers for 2016 were also announced. Commissioner John Creighton will serve as Commission President while Commissioner Tom Albro will serve as Commission Vice President, Commissioner Stephanie Bowman will serve as Commission Secretary, Commissioner Courtney Gregoire will serve as Assistant Secretary, and Commissioner Felleman will be Commissioner-at-Large. “The Port of Seattle starts 2016 focused on growing the middle-class jobs that ports bring to the region,” Creighton said.

The Coast Guard has issued a number of river closures, restrictions and advisories in response to floods in the midwest. To keep the public and professional mariners apprised of changes to river traffic, the 8th District will continue to issue press releases capturing all closures and restrictions throughout this period of high water and flooding. * The Coast Guard Captain of the Port has re-opened the Mississippi River surrounding the St. Louis Harbor from mile marker 179 to mile marker 185. Vessels operating in this area must be in compliance with horsepower and barge restrictions in accordance with the Western Rivers Waterways Action Plan. * Illinois River is open to traffic. The Coast Guard recommends that mariners transit the river in daylight hours only.

Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that the decline observed in the performance of Major Ports from 2008 to 2014 has reversed and they have shown improvement in their performance in 2015. Shri Gadkari said the profit margins of Major Ports declined from 43% to 28% during 2008 to 2014 and the market share of Major Ports during the period declined from 72% to 57%. Underlining that the development of ports is important for increasing the GDP of the country, the Minister said the focus of the present government is on modernization of Major Ports and increasing their operational efficiency. He…

Shipping rates in New Zealand waters have become "unsustainably low" in the wake of supply chain agreements such as between Kotahi and Port of Tauranga,  NBR reports as South Port New Zealand chairman Rex Chapman saying. The company's strategy is to maintain good working relationships with other ports, to take advantage of the "inevitable changes in the port sector. Chapman said that just as Tauranga has now reached into the South Island through Timaru, it is expected that other ports will be seeking to enter into working relationships with one another in order to capture regional cargo outside of their immediate catchment area. Meanwhile, diversifying business streams was paying dividends while plans for an inland port facility in Invercargill were also advancing, Rex Chapman said.