(The New York Times)
Managers of some of the nation’s busiest ports are studying the massive oil slick blanketing a large swath of the Gulf of Mexico that could cut off shipments of grain, coal, poultry, coffee, forest products and chemicals.
At the 4,000-acre port complex in Mobile -- the nation’s ninth-busiest port -- it was business as usual yesterday with ships coming and going and cranes moving cargo, but officials behind the scenes were nervously watching weather forecasts and making contingency plans if the slick moves closer.
“I’m scared to death of the long-term implications,” said Jimmy Lyons, executive director and CEO of the Alabama State Port Authority. “Nobody knows what this thing is going to do.” […]
“The worst-case scenario for the ports is whether the ships stop calling in the ports of New Orleans, Mobile, Gulfport,” said Capt. Michael Lorino, a pilot who guides ships through the Mississippi River’s Southwest Pass in Louisiana and president of the Associated Branch Pilots Association. “If the risk is coming through [the oil slick] and getting contaminated, it may change the minds of the vessels calling in the port area.” Read more here.
Showing posts with label Container Ports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Container Ports. Show all posts
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Prince Rupert Records 12 year-high Cargo Volumes in 2009
(CIFFA eBulletin)
The Port of Prince Rupert has sailed safely through the receding global economic storm, recording its highest volume throughput since 1997. The port handled 12,173,672 tonnes of cargo in 2009, up 15 per cent over 2008 volumes. The higher volumes in 2009 were not driven by one line of business, but were up for most Prince Rupert facilities including containers and bulk cargo. The Fairview Container Terminal handled 265,259 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in 2009, a 45.9 per cent increase over 2008, despite the global economic downturn that has resulted in declining container traffic through other North American West Coast ports.
Prince Rupert Port Authority President & CEO Don Krusel says over the first two full years of operations, Fairview Terminal and CN’s North American network has provided shippers unparalleled reliability, speed and cost efficiency year round.
The Port of Prince Rupert has sailed safely through the receding global economic storm, recording its highest volume throughput since 1997. The port handled 12,173,672 tonnes of cargo in 2009, up 15 per cent over 2008 volumes. The higher volumes in 2009 were not driven by one line of business, but were up for most Prince Rupert facilities including containers and bulk cargo. The Fairview Container Terminal handled 265,259 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in 2009, a 45.9 per cent increase over 2008, despite the global economic downturn that has resulted in declining container traffic through other North American West Coast ports.
Prince Rupert Port Authority President & CEO Don Krusel says over the first two full years of operations, Fairview Terminal and CN’s North American network has provided shippers unparalleled reliability, speed and cost efficiency year round.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Possibility of Strike Already Impacts B.C. Ports
(Resource News International)
Canada’s busy West Coast ports are already feeling the impact of a possible strike by ship and dock foremen belonging to Local 514 of the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union (ILWU) of Canada.
Roughly 425 workers at ports in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert have voted to strike unless the union, the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and two federally-appointed mediators are able to negotiate new labour contracts.
The union’s latest proposal, made over the weekend, is being considered by the BCMEA, which had promised to respond to the proposal by Friday at the latest.
“Yes, absolutely there has been an impact on the ports,” said Peter Xotta, vice-president of business development for Port Metro Vancouver. Read more here.
Canada’s busy West Coast ports are already feeling the impact of a possible strike by ship and dock foremen belonging to Local 514 of the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union (ILWU) of Canada.
Roughly 425 workers at ports in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert have voted to strike unless the union, the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and two federally-appointed mediators are able to negotiate new labour contracts.
The union’s latest proposal, made over the weekend, is being considered by the BCMEA, which had promised to respond to the proposal by Friday at the latest.
“Yes, absolutely there has been an impact on the ports,” said Peter Xotta, vice-president of business development for Port Metro Vancouver. Read more here.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
U.S. Customs Advises on Canada Port Diversions
(Journal of Commerce Online)
Customs and Border Protection has issued a bulletin providing carriers with guidance to ensure compliance with advance manifest filing for vessels that are diverted to Los Angeles-Long Beach in the United States in the event of a longshore labor disruption at ports in western Canada.
Contract negotiations are scheduled to continue later this week between the British Columbia Maritime Employers’ Association and dock foremen represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. A strike or lockout could occur by January 12.
Customs stated that if a carrier drops a Canadian first port of call, and comes directly to the U.S. with Canadian-destination cargo that has not been subjected to 24-hour advance manifest filing, a carrier must notify CBP at the designated first port of arrival as soon as it realizes it is not going to make the foreign port of call. Read more here.
Customs and Border Protection has issued a bulletin providing carriers with guidance to ensure compliance with advance manifest filing for vessels that are diverted to Los Angeles-Long Beach in the United States in the event of a longshore labor disruption at ports in western Canada.
Contract negotiations are scheduled to continue later this week between the British Columbia Maritime Employers’ Association and dock foremen represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. A strike or lockout could occur by January 12.
Customs stated that if a carrier drops a Canadian first port of call, and comes directly to the U.S. with Canadian-destination cargo that has not been subjected to 24-hour advance manifest filing, a carrier must notify CBP at the designated first port of arrival as soon as it realizes it is not going to make the foreign port of call. Read more here.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Employers, ILWU Resume Contract Talks at Vancouver
(Journal of Commerce Online – Courtney Tower)
Employers and foremen represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union returned to contract negotiations Friday in Vancouver facing the possibility of a strike at western Canadian ports as early as January 2.
“The employers are looking for a signal of willingness [by the 450 ship and dock foremen] to pick up the pace of the negotiations,” said Greg Vurdela, vice president of the British Columbia Maritime Employers’ Association. “We will know that when we sit down at 9.30 a.m. [local time] whether there is a sign of hope for a resolution,” he said.
Vurdela spoke as employers broke a media blackout during the talks, which adjourned Monday when no progress was made with the union, which represents 5,160 port employees. The union members have been working without a contract since March, 2007, and negotiations have moved desultorily since April, 2008.
A strike or lockout would halt container-handling at Vancouver, Canada’s busiest gateway for Asia imports, and Prince Rupert, a growing entry point for Asia trade moving to the U.S. Midwest.
Employers in the new contract want to introduce new technology on the docks in order to modernize work processes and improve efficiencies. A similar demand to call dockworkers electronically instead of by historic union hall morning calls was settled earlier this year.
The ILWU continues to refrain from commenting, but it is known that after talks failed to progress Monday, both sides sought and received reaffirmation from their memberships of their negotiating positions.
Friday’s bargaining is taking place under the auspices of two federal mediators, who for the first time will take a more active role in the talks. Read more here.
Employers and foremen represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union returned to contract negotiations Friday in Vancouver facing the possibility of a strike at western Canadian ports as early as January 2.
“The employers are looking for a signal of willingness [by the 450 ship and dock foremen] to pick up the pace of the negotiations,” said Greg Vurdela, vice president of the British Columbia Maritime Employers’ Association. “We will know that when we sit down at 9.30 a.m. [local time] whether there is a sign of hope for a resolution,” he said.
Vurdela spoke as employers broke a media blackout during the talks, which adjourned Monday when no progress was made with the union, which represents 5,160 port employees. The union members have been working without a contract since March, 2007, and negotiations have moved desultorily since April, 2008.
A strike or lockout would halt container-handling at Vancouver, Canada’s busiest gateway for Asia imports, and Prince Rupert, a growing entry point for Asia trade moving to the U.S. Midwest.
Employers in the new contract want to introduce new technology on the docks in order to modernize work processes and improve efficiencies. A similar demand to call dockworkers electronically instead of by historic union hall morning calls was settled earlier this year.
The ILWU continues to refrain from commenting, but it is known that after talks failed to progress Monday, both sides sought and received reaffirmation from their memberships of their negotiating positions.
Friday’s bargaining is taking place under the auspices of two federal mediators, who for the first time will take a more active role in the talks. Read more here.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Prince Rupert’s $530 Million Port Expansion Delayed
(Bloomberg – Hugo Miller)
The port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia will delay a C$650 million ($530 million) expansion slated for next year by at least 18 months, the Globe and Mail reported, citing a report prepared for the federal government.
The port authority’s finances have worsened because of a decline in shipping revenue, the paper said. The company has exceeded federal debt limits and can’t borrow C$200 million it needs for the expansion, the newspaper reported.
Canadian National Railway Co., the country’s largest railroad, opened a C$170 million facility at the port last year to offer an alternative to Los Angeles and Long Beach, California for cargo shipped between Asia and North America.
Don Krusel, president of the port authority, attributed the delay to the economic slump rather than its borrowing difficulties, the paper said.
The port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia will delay a C$650 million ($530 million) expansion slated for next year by at least 18 months, the Globe and Mail reported, citing a report prepared for the federal government.
The port authority’s finances have worsened because of a decline in shipping revenue, the paper said. The company has exceeded federal debt limits and can’t borrow C$200 million it needs for the expansion, the newspaper reported.
Canadian National Railway Co., the country’s largest railroad, opened a C$170 million facility at the port last year to offer an alternative to Los Angeles and Long Beach, California for cargo shipped between Asia and North America.
Don Krusel, president of the port authority, attributed the delay to the economic slump rather than its borrowing difficulties, the paper said.
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