Truck Transportation News

Norwalk, Ct.-based First Harvest Navigation, a marine transportation company that connects family farms to urban and suburban neighborhoods, has selected Boston-based Sea Machines’ technology to launch the first autonomous hybrid cargo vessel in the U.S. Powered by Sea Machines’ SM300 autonomous command and remote-helm control system, the U.S.- built, electric-powered Captain Ben Moore will also be the first hybrid cargo vessel to feature remote crew-assist technology and to generate zero emissions.Installation of Sea Machines’ SM300 aboard the Captain Ben Moore…

Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. (CGB) announced plans today to expand its operations at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon, investing more than $31 million to increase its soybean processing capabilities in southwest Indiana. “Indiana is a state known around the world for building things and growing things, and because CGB plays a key role in both, this soybean processor is helping advance our economy,” said Governor Mike Pence. “After processing soybeans in southwest Indiana for nearly twenty years, CGB knows firsthand the benefits of operating in a state that works for business. CGB’s processing plant was constructed in 1997, at that time processing 65,000 bushels of soybeans each day into soybean meal, soybean oil and soy hull pellets for both food and industrial uses.

South Korean shipping company Hanjin Shipping will be terminating its service with the city, said Port of Portland officials. But the port’s largest container carrier will continue to use rail and truck transportation. Hanjin Shipping notified the port and customers it will withdraw services on March 9. Hanjin handles nearly 80 percent of the container volume at the port’s Terminal 6, said Port spokesman Josh Thomas. In its letter to customers, including Portland-based freight forwarding service Global Trading Resoruces Inc., Hanjin said that instead of calling on the port directly, it would serve Portland using rail and truck transportation from Seattle.

Wärtsilä has been given full notice to proceed (NTP) from Manga LNG Oy for the supply of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Tornio, Northern Finland. Wärtsilä will commence construction on the site near the port of Tornio in January 2015. Manga LNG Oy is a joint venture of Outokumpu Group, Svenskt Stål AB (SSAB), Skangass and EPV Energy Ltd. Wärtsilä initially announced this project in January 2014. The order, valued at approximately EUR 100 million, will be included in Wärtsilä's order intake in December 2014.

Wärtsilä has been given full notice to proceed (NTP) from Manga LNG Oy for the supply of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Tornio, Northern Finland. Wärtsilä will commence construction on the site near the port of Tornio in January 2015. Manga LNG Oy is a joint venture of Outokumpu Group, Svenskt Stål AB (SSAB), Skangass and EPV Energy Ltd. Wärtsilä initially announced this project in January 2014. The order, valued at approximately EUR 100 million, will be included in Wärtsilä's order intake in December 2014. The turnkey delivery of the first import terminal supplied by Wärtsilä includes complete unloading, storing and regasification equipment for LNG. The capacity of the LNG storage tank will be 50 000 cubic metres.

The first loaded vessel has departed Archer Daniels Midland Company’s (ADM) new export terminal in Barcarena, in the northern Brazilian state of Pará. ADM explains that the terminal is a significant addition to ADM’s expanding logistical network in Brazil, and offers an efficient pathway for the export of grain from the increasingly productive western and northern regions of the country. ADM received approval to begin operations at the terminal at the end of July 2014. “We are pleased to see operations underway at our new terminal in Barcarena,” said Valmor Schaffer, president, ADM South America. ADM acquired the terminal in 2012. It currently has the capacity to handle approximately 1.5 million metric tons of grain on an annual basis…

The Global Container Service Group (GCS) has added new feeder and short-sea links to the list of services calling at the NUTEP terminal in Novorossiysk. Both GCS and NUTEP are members of the Delo Group. X-Press Feeders has launched the BSX service to Novorossiysk, Odessa and other Black Sea ports by adding a vessel to Evergreen’s Black Sea feeder (BSF). Piraeus – Odessa – Constantza – Varna – Piraeus. Piraeus – Novorossiysk - Odessa – Constantza – Varna – Istanbul - Piraeus. Novorossisyk – Odessa – Evyap – Istanbul – Gemlik – Izmir – Alexandria – Ashdod - Haifa – Izmir – Istanbul – Gemlik – Evyap –Novorossisyk – Odessa. Now, Admiral is starting a second service, an Istanbul (Marport)/Novorossiysk shuttle, using the 508TEU Corsa. The first sailing is due to take place in late October.

Governor Sonny Perdue announced the opening of the Chatham Intermodal Container Transfer Facility on Jan. 22 (ICTF) at the Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City Terminal. The new facility features three working tracks at 2,145 ft each and a total of 12,406 ft of storage tracks. The Port of Savannah is the only single facility on the U.S. East Coast with two on-terminal ICTFs. Today, Governor Perdue drove the ceremonial last spike into the Chatham ICTF rail. “A thriving business climate requires a transportation network that can support commerce and act as a catalyst to propel our economy forward,” said Governor Perdue. The Port of Savannah’s two Class I rail providers offer unrestricted double-stack service with two- to five-day transit times to major hubs throughout the Midwest…