Transportation News

In 2013, Bouchard Transportation Co., experienced two important company milestones: BTC President/CEO Morton S. Bouchard III is inducted into the International Maritime Hall of Fame, and the company announces their donation to fund the Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. Tug and Barge Simulation Center at SUNY Maritime College, which officially opens one year later, in 2014. The July 2018 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News will feature a special “Bouchard Transportation Co. Celebrates 100 Years” magazine. For more information contact: Greg Trauthwein, trauthwein@marinelink.com, t.

Barge transportation comprises an extensive network, ideal for carrying seaborne cargo to inland destinations and exports alike. Responsible, in part, for the worldwide trade of bulk transport, the industry is of great significance to the agricultural sector. In North America, The Army Corps of Engineers maintains and operates over 12,000 miles of canals, rivers, and inland waterways. The Illinois Waterway and Mississippi River are the major waterways in the region that are responsible for moving agricultural and farm products through barges.

National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) has taken delivery of Khurais, a very large crude carrier (VLCC), from Korean Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI). Industry leader adds fourth VLCC this year, bringing its total number of vessels to 92,further enhancing its market-leading capabilities in crude oil transportation. The new addition is the fourth of five VLCCs to be received this year from South Korea-based Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), the world’s largest shipbuilding company.

Secretary LaHood for the Department of Transportation addressed the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council on July 23, 2009. Consistent with America’s Marine Highway Program’s mandates to reduce congestion, conserve energy, and improve the environment, the Secretary charged the Council to better integrate the Marine Transportation System into the surface transportation system. By relocating freight from highways and urban corridors to commercial waterways (where applicable), the same system which provides the transportation of individuals and families in and between cities can provide a more efficient means to move goods to the shelves of retail stores throughout the United States.

North American leader in the transportation and logistics industry TFI International acquired Normandin Transit. Based in Napierville, Quebec, Normandin has grown rapidly since its founding in 1988 by focusing on the transportation of less-than-truckload and full truckload freight shipments to and from any U.S. or Canadian destination. Normandin operates a young fleet of over 300 tractors and 1,000 trailers. Normandin will continue to be led by Danielle and André Normandin and will operate as a standalone business unit within TFI’s Less-Than-Truckload operating segment.

Norwegian shipowner Ocean Yield ASA took delivery of newly-built handysize dry bulk vessel "La Fresnais" and "Interlink Amenity". In press release, Ocean Yield said that it took the delivery of the 2018 built handysize dry bulk vessel "La Fresnais" on April 10. Upon delivery the vessel commenced a 12 years' bareboat charter to a company owned and guaranteed by Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group (LDA). LDA is a French family group engaged in maritime transportation and services and founded more than 160 years ago.

In 2011, Bouchard Transportation Co. establishes the Morton S. Bouchard Jr. Memorial Scholarship fund, which is designed to recognize deserving cadets who demonstrate the achievement and leadership ability to successfully pursue a career in the petroleum barge industry. The scholarship has since been formed at SUNY Maritime College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and Texas A&M University at Galveston.  

Houma, La. shipbuilder Main Iron Works has secured contracts to build four inland push boats for Kirby Inland Marine. The four 2680 BHP twin propeller conventional towboats will measure 88’x35’x12’2” and will join Kirby’s inland towboat fleet for the transportation of a variety of petrochemicals, refined products, oils and liquid fertilizers. Work on the new vessels is already underway, with completion dates scheduled between August and December 2018.

Subsea 7 S.A. announced it was awarded a contract by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN) for the Production Uplift Pipeline Projects (PUPP) in shallow water, offshore Nigeria. The contract scope includes engineering, construction, transportation, installation and pre-commissioning of 20 kilometres of 24" Corrosion Resistant Alloy (CRA) pipeline between the Idoho Platform and the terminal onshore and of 2 kilometres of 24" CRA pipeline between the Edop and Idoho Platforms, as well as associated topside modifications and tie-ins at both ends.

In the past one year, Maersk Line, the global containerized division of the Maersk Group has enabled movement of multiple consignments of complex cargo out of India successfully, said a press release. Due to its global presence and network, the exporter network of India has been able to successfully reach out to newer geographies. Commenting on the achievement, recently appointed Managing Director for Maersk Line (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives and Bhutan), Steve Felder said, ”In the past 18 months or so, we have expanded our horizon in various new commodity categories.

In 2010, Bouchard Transportation Co. begins investing in a major fleet expansion plan to construct the safest, most fuel-efficient and technologically advanced ATBs to be traded within the Jones Act Market. This includes the M/V Kim M. Bouchard and B. No 270 (pictured), and the M/V Donna J. Bouchard and B. No. 272.   The July 2018 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News will feature a special “Bouchard Transportation Co. Celebrates 100 Years” magazine. For more information contact: Greg Trauthwein, trauthwein@marinelink.com, t. 516-810-7405.   

Dedicated to creating more sustainable shipping practices, the world renowned banana producer is further bolstering its fleet or Star Cool Integrated containers and adding more controlled atmosphere systems to deliver premium banana quality. The new batch of 2500 Star Cool Integrated containers from Maersk Container Industry (MCI) will be deployed in Chiquita Brands International’s (Chiquita) shipping services. Of the batch, 1000 integrated containers are equipped with MCI’s market-leading Star Cool CA (Controlled Atmosphere) system…

Containerized cargo volume moving through Port of Oakland is expected to increase 2 percent annually for the next five years. The catalyst for growth: a nearly $700 million injection of capital from outside investors. That’s the message Port of Oakland officials delivered to trade and transportation leaders here this week. “This is good, measured growth that’s not debilitating for our community or our operations,” Executive Director Chris Lytle told a meeting of the Port’s 55-member Efficiency Task Force.

Containerized cargo volume moving through this city is expected to increase 2 percent annually for the next five years. The catalyst for growth: a nearly $700 million injection of capital from outside investors. That’s the message Port of Oakland officials delivered to trade and transportation leaders here this week. “This is good, measured growth that’s not debilitating for our community or our operations,” Executive Director Chris Lytle told a meeting of the Port’s 55-member Efficiency Task Force.

Even before the implementation of Subchapter M requirements, Vancouver, Washington-based Tidewater Transportation & Terminals had developed a strong culture of workplace safety. Within its overall plan is using and regularly testing Emerald Marine Products' ALERT Man-Overboard System. The ALERT system consists of a water-activated transmitter worn on a lifejacket and a receiver installed in a wheelhouse. If the wearer falls into the water, it instantly activates a piercing alarm and flashing light, alerting the boat captain to the man overboard (MOB).

Oil major BP is targeting shipping 119 cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its Tangguh project in Indonesia's West Papua province this year, including 22 for the domestic market, a company official said on Wednesday. BP expects to keep the same balance of shipments for export and the domestic market unchanged up to 2020, BP Indonesia country head Dharmawan Samsu told a parliament hearing. After 2020 BP will dedicate roughly one-third of the LNG output from Tangguh to the domestic market, or around 60 cargoes, Samsu said. tonnes of the super-cooled fuel from two LNG trains.

St. Louis Regional Freightway, Port of Plaquemines and St. Louis Regional Ports Sign Agreement to Foster Economic Growth on the Mississippi River. The pact will help support development of a new transportation link for cargo to move along the Mississippi River. The St. Louis Regional Freightway, Plaquemines Port Harbor & Terminal District located in the State of Louisiana and four ports in the St. Understanding (MOU) to establish and grow an alliance to generate new business by promoting international and inland trade routes at strategic locations along the Mississippi River.

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.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has signed into law An Act Relating to Transportation Funding and Appropriations (SB 6106). Among other things, the bill includes $600,000 for development of a request for proposal to convert the three Washington State Ferry vessels in the Jumbo Mark II class to hybrid electric propulsion and make associated necessary 10 modifications to the Seattle, Bainbridge, Edmonds and Kingston 11 terminals. See the legislation here. The Jumbo Mark II class includes three 460-foot double-ended ferries – Puyallup, Tacoma and Wenatchee – each built in the late 1990s.

Trico Marine Services, Inc. announces the appointment of Robert V. O'Connor as Senior Vice President of Business and Strategic Development. Prior to joining Trico, O'Connor spent in excess of 20 years in the marine transportation business in commercial, technical, and financial roles with domestic and international companies. Most recently, he spent the past five years with The CIT Group, Inc., a leading commercial and consumer finance company, as Vice President of financial sales, lending to middle market marine transportation and energy companies. Prior to his tenure with CIT, he was marketing manager of Koch Chemical company where he was responsible for the marketing and trading of global bulk aromatic chemicals.

In a bid to harmonize port state control inspection procedures that will lead to the elimination of substandard shipping in the West and Central Africa sub-region, the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will host its 3rd Ministerial Conference and 9th Port state Control Committee Meeting with the aim of developing a unified system of Port State Control inspection procedure for the region. The Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central African Region…

Greece-based Euroseas announced the sale of M/V Monica P, a 46,667 dwt vessel, built in 1998, to unaffiliated third party for the gross amount of $6.45 million. The owner and operator of drybulk and container carrier vessels and provider of seaborne transportation for drybulk and containerized cargoes said that the vessel will be delivered to its buyers by June 30 2018. The Company has a fleet of 17 vessels, including 3 Panamax drybulk carriers, 1 Handymax drybulk carrier, 1 Kamsarmax drybulk carrier, 1 Ultramax drybulk carrier, 10 Feeder containerships and an intermediate containership.

On Dec. 19, 2007, President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which contains provisions establishing a formal marine highway program within the federal government. Under the new law, marine highway or "short sea" transportation refers to the carriage by vessel of cargo in containers, loaded on the vessel by cranes or by means of wheeled technology. Specifically, the new law requires the establishment of a program and the designation of transportation projects to mitigate landside congestion. The program will encourage the development and expansion of vessels, shippers, port and landside infrastructure, and marine transportation strategies by state and local governments.