Ssa Marine News

A work assignment dispute in Seattle is interrupting labor talks covering 29 U.S. West Coast ports and 22,000 employees that handle almost 40% of U.S. imports, the union representing dockworkers said on Tuesday.International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) employer group have been negotiating a new contract since July 1. The ILWU's announcement on Tuesday comes after the two sides have traded jabs in the media about automation, another…

Protesting truckers stopped traffic on Wednesday at a Northern California port, one of the busiest in the United States, as they demonstrated against a new state labor law that makes it harder for independent truckers to operate.Drivers picketed gates and blocked other truckers from hauling cargo in and out of the port. The protests in Oakland began on Monday and have grown larger and more disruptive with each passing day.Late on Wednesday, Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny…

Terminal operating systems (TOS) solutions provider Tideworks Technology has entered into a joint venture with software applications and consulting services company Brenock Technology to deliver tech solutions aimed at helping the cruise industry rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.Cruise lines and marine terminals are facing unprecedented disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, with widespread suspension of services and concerns about the safety of workers and cruise passengers.Through the new joint venture…

U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administrator Rear Adm. Mark Buzby joined elected officials and leadership from Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) and SSA Marine on Nov. 22 to break ground on a new state-of-the-art international container terminal at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal.The SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal is an expansion of SSA’s current leasehold at Blount Island and includes $238.7 million in infrastructure and equipment upgrades. Operations will continue throughout the redevelopment, which is expected to be complete in 2023—coinciding with the completion of the federal project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to 47 feet.

U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Administrator, Admiral Mark Buzby formally presented a check for $20 million to Jacksonville for the International Cargo Terminal Modernization Project. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao has announced that the Trump Administration will invest $900 million in American infrastructure through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program. “The Administration is targeting BUILD Transportation grants to repair…

The Panama Canal is a strategic crossroads for maritime traffic, and is arguably one of the most important maritime developments in the past century. Here we take a deeper dive into the history behind that famous strip of waterway.The present canal, which saw its first vessel transits in 1914, along with possible alternatives through Nicaragua and Mexico, had actually been on the minds of merchants, explorers and military/political strategists since the Age of Exploration in early 1500’s.

U.S. investment firm Blackstone Group LP said on Sunday that funds affiliated with Blackstone Infrastructure Partners invested in Carrix Inc, the largest marine terminal operator in the United States and the Americas.The company did not disclose the terms of the transaction.Carrix is the parent of SSA Marine and its related affiliates with operations at over 250 port and rail locations worldwide, including 16 container terminals in Long Beach and Oakland in California, Seattle and Tacoma in Washington…

XL Lifts, specializing in zero and low emissions forklifts and a Wiggins Lift dealer, announced it is working with SSA Marine to launch a 36,000 lb. capacity zero-emissions electric forklift suitable for marine terminal and rail yard operations.SSA Pacific, a subsidiary of SSA Marine, has committed to deploying the newly announced Wiggins Yard eBull for its operations at The Port of Stockton facility.Featuring a quick charge lithium battery, the innovative Wiggins Yard eBull offers high-performance and energy efficiency, features never possible in a large capacity forklift. The effort is part of the company's mission to explore, evaluate…

Officials from the Port of Long Beach, Southern California Edison and the California Energy Commission today launched the nation’s largest pilot project for zero-emissions cranes and other cargo-handling equipment for seaports. Funded mostly by a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission, the project will bring 25 vehicles that are zero- or near zero-emissions to Port of Long Beach marine terminals for one year to test their performance in a real-world setting. The launch event was held at Pacific Container Terminal at Long Beach’s Pier J — operated by SSA Terminals — one of three terminals participating in the project.

APM Terminals Tacoma concluded its operations on September 30, 2017, ahead of the December 31, 2017 lease expiration date, transferring the lease to Seattle-based SSA Marine who formed a new joint venture with Matson Lines, called SSAT, starting operations October 2, 2017. APM Terminals Tacoma was used primarily by the Matson Alaska Service, with twice-weekly sailings between Tacoma, Anchorage and Kodiak, Alaska, and a weekly service between Tacoma and Dutch Harbor, Alaska, handling a combined 190,000 TEUs in 2016. APM Terminals’ U.S. portfolio includes operations at APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles, the largest proprietary terminal in North America…

Tideworks Technology Inc., a full-service provider of terminal management and planning software solutions, announced that Thomas J. “T.J.” Rucker will assume the role of president effective September 1, 2017, succeeding retiring president Michael Schwank, who led the company for 19 years. Rucker will relocate to Seattle in August to ensure a smooth transition into the role. Rucker is currently vice president of operations at Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT), one of the largest container terminals in Latin America, where he is responsible for managing liner customer relationships, strategic planning and ensuring terminal productivity and KPI performance.

Matson, Inc. president and chief executive officer Matthew J. Cox will succeed retiring chairman of the board Walter A. Dods, the company announced today. The appointment becomes effective at the end of the company's annual shareholders’ meeting today, as Dods retires in accordance with the company's corporate governance guidelines limiting board members’ age. “In my nearly 30 years associated with Matson, I've never felt stronger about its leadership and long-term prospects,” Dods said.

The Port of Prince Rupert today announced it has signed a feasibility assessment agreement with SSA Marine and its wholly-owned subsidiary Western Stevedoring to explore the viability of a breakbulk and bulk import/export terminal located on Kaien Island at the Port of Prince Rupert. “Ongoing cargo diversification is one of the highest priorities for the Port of Prince Rupert, and the potential for the return of breakbulk and general cargoes capacity to the Port of Prince Rupert represents a clear response to growing market demand in Western Canada,” said Don Krusel, President & CEO of the Port of Prince Rupert. The terminal project has been part of the Port’s Gateway 2020 development planning and is integrated with the Ridley Island Road, Rail and Utility Corridor.

Largest cargo vessel to visit U.S. The largest cargo ship to visit the United States, the CMA CMG Benjamin Franklin, arrived Monday at The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s Terminal 18 in Seattle. The Benjamin Franklin has capacity for 18,000 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs), more than double the cargo of most container ships calling at Northwest Seaport Alliance terminals. If laid end-to-end, the 18,000 TEUs would stretch from Tacoma to Everett, a distance of about 68 miles.

GB Group inaugurated their Port Lafito, a world-class modern container port in Haiti. They informed that the port is now open and operational. Port Lafito is Haiti’s first Panamax Port with state of the art equipment and technology. The multi-million dollar project, led by GB Group, is a private, public and international partnership between the Haitian government, the Haitian private sector and international financial institutions including the Haitian State Bank, Banque Nationale de Credit S.A., Capital Bank, Fonds de Développement Industriel (“FDI”), the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”), Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (“FMO”) the Dutch Development Bank, and Nationale d’Assurance S.A. (NASSA).

GB Group, a diversified group of industrial and trading companies, has announced that Port Lafito, a world-class modern container port in Haiti, is open and operational. Port Lafito in Haiti officially opened on 2 July in a ceremony attended by the country’s president among other dignitaries. “Port Lafito will breathe new life into Haiti by creating new jobs, training for skilled labor, and encouraging foreign investment and development. This project will make a significant impact on the national economy and have a beneficial impact on the more than 10 million people that live here,” said Reuven Bigio, CEO of GB Group. “We are proud to announce that the day has come where we can help bring Haiti to the forefront of modern logistics,” he added.

Commissioner William P. Doyle's remarks at the Commission Briefing on Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Congestion Forum, November 13 2014 in Baltimore, MD. On October 1, 2014, Commissioner Lidinsky and I hosted the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Congestion Forum at the World Trade Center in Baltimore, Maryland. I want to thank all the FMC staff for their participation in setting up and managing the day’s event. David Tubman and Jewel Jennings-Wright worked tirelessly for weeks helping to locate attendees and participants. Thank you both.

Andrew Tung, CEO and Managing Director of Orient Overseas Container Line, was presented today with the prestigious “Port Pilot Award” by the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. Tung is the 77th recipient of the award, which is presented to business and political leaders and advocates who have made contributions to international trade within the maritime industry. He is the first third-generation Port Pilot winner. His father, C.H. Tung (in 1987), and grandfather, C.Y. Tung (in 1977), were also recipients. “We’re pleased to present our prestigious Port Pilot Award to a very deserving Andy Tung,” said Doug Drummond, President of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners.

Singapore has to further develop and strengthen the pillars of marine insurance and shipping finance if it is to be fully regarded as an influential International Maritime Centre, according to Singapore Shipping Association President Patrick Phoon. Addressing a Gala Dinner to celebrate the SSA’s 29th Anniversary, Phoon said work was underway to achieve these goals. He told the gathering of over 2,000 guests at the Sands Grand Ballroom, “Some of you may be aware that over the past year, the SSA Council had commissioned consultants to assist in producing reports in these two areas.

M&A (Merger & Acquisition) activity in the US container terminal sector is currently at its highest level since the boom time of the mid-2000s. However, whilst the type of buyer is largely similar to what it was, the rationale for pursuing today’s deals is different, considers Drewry Maritime Research (DMR) in their latest 'Container Insight Weekly'. The US container terminal sector has seen numerous high profile deals so far this year.Most of the parties on the buy side of the deals are infrastructure and financial players – the same type of buyers that were most active in acquiring US terminals in the mid-2000s. Their aims and motivations today though are somewhat different to what they were.

Bigger container ships are resulting in much greater peaks in container terminal activity, which together with the ever larger combined volumes of bigger alliances, demands fewer, larger terminals in each port. Terminal operators are reacting by consolidating terminal layouts and ownership – and by working more closely together – but what are the consequences for their customers? Drewry Maritime Research discuss in this extract from their latest 'Container Insight Weekly'. A recent visit to the Eurogate terminal in Hamburg by China Shipping’s post-Panamax vessel CSCL Le Havre involved an exchange of 11,600 teu, illustrating the sheer scale of volumes per call that terminals increasingly have to deal with. The vessel is shared with CMA CGM and UASC.

Card reader technology is tested, proven and in use, nationwide. While the maritime industry awaits the Fed’s edict on MTSA, the solution already exists. The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) requires that individuals needing unescorted access to MTSA-regulated Facilities and Vessels must first obtain a TWIC. To obtain a TWIC Card, an individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and pass a security threat assessment conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Individuals are then issued a tamper-resistant credential containing the cardholders biometric fingerprint data, which provides a conclusive link between the card and the individual cardholder. To date, more than 2 million of these credentials have been issued.

CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping line, purchases a stake in the Port of Long Beach’s Pier J. The deal will bring an additional 2.6 million container units to the Port and increase Port revenues by about $70 million over the next five years. The investment makes the Marseille, France-based ocean carrier a partner in the lease and operations of the 256-acre terminal. It also marks CMA CGM’s first investment in a port on the West Coast of North America and guarantees that its ships will call exclusively at the Port of Long Beach when using the San Pedro Bay gateway.