The Port of Los Angeles and a range of elected officials and industry leaders joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg today to celebrate the award of a $20 million federal RAISE infrastructure grant for a critical road-railway grade separation project at the Port.

“We’re proud to be here marking such important progress being made, but also recognizing that there is so much more to do to fix the supply chains that were torn up by the pandemic and to make them more resilient for years to come – and right here we have a great example of that,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “We are delighted to formally celebrate the award of $20 million to the Port of Los Angeles to reduce trucking delays and allow freight trains to move goods more rapidly, reducing shipping costs as part of the fight against inflation.”

Facilitating faster cargo movement, the new roadway configuration will streamline truck access to an important container and chassis-access facility on the Port’s Terminal Island, reducing traffic delays, truck dwell times and greenhouse gas emissions from idling vehicles.

“L.A.’s port isn’t just the backbone of our region’s prosperity — it’s one of America’s most powerful economic drivers, and a crossroads that helps connect our country to the rest of the world,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “When complete, this roadway made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Secretary Buttigieg’s leadership will help our port move cargo more efficiently and meet our most critical sustainability goals.”

“This is a milestone moment in the investment in our nation’s ports and I applaud Secretary Buttigieg for bringing this critical funding to where it’s needed most,” said Port of Los Angeles  Executive Director Gene Seroka. “As the Western Hemisphere’s busiest trade gateway, this grant will help us further accelerate our plans to build resiliency, increase efficiencies and sustainability, as well as create jobs.”

The project will entail construction of a four-lane, rail-roadway grade separation, which will  allow unimpeded truck access to an 80-acre marine support facility (MSF) on Terminal Island, a central location serving all terminals in the San Pedro Bay port complex. Currently, access to this facility for chassis and empty shipping container storage is impeded by several heavily used rail tracks and a tunnel with low vertical clearance, both of which will be addressed by the project.

When completed, the new rail-roadway will connect trucks directly to the highway system in two directions, resulting in a reduction of 2,500 truck-hour delays daily; a decrease of more than 3,000 metric tons of emissions per year; and a reduction of 1,200 truck miles traveled per day, which will also decrease accident potential in the area. The project will generate 300 new jobs.

The $20 million award comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program, which received more funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021. RAISE grants focus on planning and capital investments that support roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports and intermodal transportation.

The busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere, the Port of Los Angeles is North America’s leading trade gateway and has ranked as the number one container port in the United States for 22 consecutive years. In 2021, the Port facilitated $294 billion in trade and handled a total of 10.7 million container units, the busiest calendar year in the Port’s 115-year history. San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs across the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.

Source:https://www.maritimeprofessional.com/news/port-angeles-awarded-million-infrastructure-379239

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022

 


On September 12th, more than 100 high-level international decision-makers will meet at the first Underwater Ships Husbandry Port Authority Seminar in the region. Experts from underwater diving industry will meet and discuss current recommended operational guidelines and practices for diving safety while performing underwater ships husbandry.

Large number of international decision-makers expected

Leading voices from Diving industry will take the stage in Dubai, Jumeirah Creekside Hotel on the 12th of September.  Anthony Greenwood, Diving Critical Activity Specialist from ExxonMobil is set to open the seminar. Confirmed speakers presenting at the event: Kris Chambers , Global Diving Technical Authority from BP, Jord Lucas, Head of Underwater Operations / Diving & ROV Technical Authority from TotalEnergies and Managing Director at KB Associates, Darren Brunton, will be presenting along with local industry representatives.  The Underwater Ships Husbandry Port Authority Seminar will also be a platform for the regulatory authorities to hear firsthand from diving industry experts who will be taking the stage, suitable measures and best operational practices adopted across the world to safeguard divers engaged in underwater ship husbandry activities.

The number of fatalities and serious injuries suffered by divers conducting inspections and other underwater ship husbandry; risks involved and the practical dangers of shallow water diving in ports, harbors, and anchorages – will be the main topic addressed in Dubai.

On the crucial role of safety in conducting underwater ship husbandry, Mr. Phil Newsum, Executive Director of  Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) will be presenting on the topic “Diving Methods and Equipment: Their Risks – Surface Demand vs Scuba” ADCI has developed guidance document “Underwater Ship Husbandry (UWSH) for Ocean-Going Ships” This document summarizes safety considerations, recommended operational guidelines, and adequate training for the conduct of underwater ship husbandry operations. The goal of the seminar is to ensure that diving industry stakeholders are made aware of the document and that it can be easily referenced when diving operations take place.

Against the backdrop of the marine contracting industry, Bryan McGlinchy Diving Manager for the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is set to attend and present on “Diver Qualifications and Team Size/Dive Platform’’.

The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) will be represented by key leaders from the Diving Operators Safety Committee – including the Health, Safety, Security and Wells Director of  IOGP Olav Skar, along with numerous leading figures of other international organizations.

All told, more than 20 Technical Diving Authority representatives of major Oil and Gas producers, as well as over 100 representatives of diving services providers are expected at the conference.

Source: https://www.marasinews.com/top-news/underwater-ships-husbandry-port-authority-seminar-more-100-decision-makers-expected

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022

 


The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) owns and operates the Port of Savannah. Its Garden City Terminal is the fastest-growing container terminal in North America. The Port of Savannah already operates 198 Konecranes RTGs with another 24 on order, making it the largest RTG fleet in the USA. The current order will bring the fleet to 234 RTGs in Savannah. The GPA is experiencing significant growth, moving an all-time monthly high of 528,300 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in July.

GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch commented: “Our expansion program is proceeding well, and this order for 12 Konecranes RTGs will support our productivity and continuing growth. Konecranes is our go-to partner for container handling equipment and has been for over 25 years.”

Jussi Suhonen, VP, Regional Sales, Port Solutions, Konecranes said: “The Port of Savannah is an American success story for the state of Georgia and the entire USA. The Port of Savannah and Konecranes have been growing together in a mutually beneficial relationship, which continues with this RTG delivery.”

The 12 RTGs on order are diesel-electric machines with built-in readiness for electric operation via cable reels. They are high-performance, 16-wheel RTGs with a lifting capacity of 40 tons, a stacking height of 1-over-5, and a stacking width of 6 plus truck lane wide. They will be equipped with Konecranes’ Active Load Control system, which prevents container sway. The Auto-steering feature is included, which keeps the cranes on a pre-programmed, straight driving path. Furthermore, they will have Konecranes’ TRUCONNECT® remote monitoring system.

A strong focus on customers and a commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a lifting industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.

Source:
www.hellenicshippingnews.com

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022


After the explosion at Tianjin, there was the push to evaluate what happened to ensure that it would never happen again. But then it did, in Beirut, bigger and more destructive than what happened before in China.

Dangerous storage of ammonium nitrate was to blame in both. In the case of Beirut, more than 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate was left unattended in the warehouse for seven years. Even after the lessons learned in Tianjin, the ammonium nitrate would sit in Beirut for five more years.

With increasing frequency

Despite the lessons that can be learned from past incidents, the frequency of maritime explosions appears to be on the uptick. They have occurred on ships at sea, in ports and on moored ships.

In early June 2022, a container depot near the port city of Chittagong, Bangladesh saw several containers on the property explode and launch into the air. The private facility typically stored clothing and other items ready for export. Apparently, hydrogen peroxide, the chemicals stored in containers, was allegedly without authorization, destined for use in the textile industry. Because the containers were labelled incorrectly, firefighters did not know what they were dealing with. They started to fight the fire with water, not firefighting foam, which resulted in further explosions. Nine of the 49 people killed in Chittagong were firefighters.

While fires and explosions on ships have been an issue for centuries, the issue is growing, due largely to an increase in hazardous materials being shipped. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s Review of Maritime Transport 2021, the amount of chemicals being transported by marine vessels worldwide in terms of ton-miles, or one ton of freight carried over one mile, has increased by about 88 percent over the past two decades.

Plenty. Non-declaring what’s being shipped is at the root of many fires and explosions at ports and aboard ships. Shippers have been misdeclaring or under-declaring hazardous materials for years, especially in containerized shipments due to various reasons, like escaping customs duties and taxes, hiding the value of the cargo, or to hide the illegal nature of the cargo or even the real weight.

If shipping a pure chemical substance, it’s easier to determine a products shipping names or UN (United Nations) number, a four-digit number that identifies hazardous materials in international transport. For hazardous compounds or manufactured goods that may contain hazardous materials, like a lithium battery, it can be more difficult. Calcium hypochlorite, a disinfecting and bleaching agent with a tendency for self-ignition, has been responsible for many fires in recent years. For instance, calcium hypochlorite may be misdeclared as calcium chloride. Other names encountered in the past have included: BK Powder, CCH, Hy-chlor and Chloride of lime or Chlorinated lime. (Here’s some helpful property naming guidance: How to Determine Correct UN Number and Proper Shipping Name (chemsafetypro.com).

Unfortunately, another reason for misdeclaration of cargo is saving money. Since hazardous goods and materials require extra attention, shipping costs more.

Misdeclaration helps avoid paying a premium for shipping. It can also save on a separate container. One shipping container may carry various items for different shippers but depending upon the property of the material, cargo deemed hazardous requires a separate container and an appropriate and secured stowage location. Even when the container has space to occupy more cargo, no other cargo should be put in a shipping container with hazardous materials. This can lead to hazardous cargo being stowed incorrectly on ships, putting the ship and crew at risk.

A confusing web of regulations

Hazardous material transported by sea needs to comply with various regulations that address appropriate packing, storage and communication between authorities and parties involved in the shipping process.

Ships carrying hazardous materials fall under the jurisdiction of the International Maritime Organization’s Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code). The code resulted from the 1960 Safety for Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. The SOLAS convention is regarded as one of the most important of all international treaties related to the safety of merchant ships. In 1914, the first version of the SOLAS convention was adopted in response to the Titanic disaster. The IMDG code was the result of the fourth SOLAS Convention. Considered the first major achievement for the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the code was a big step forward in modernizing regulations to keep up with technical developments in the shipping industry.

The IMDG Code provides a suggestion on how to declare dangerous materials, store them on vessels and transport them. Available in six languages, the latest version of the code was released in January 2020. But many find the code a complex document and highly technical in a lot of places.

The IMDG code is for the cargoes which are carried in packaged form and covers approximately 3500 products. However, there are many ships that carry solid, liquid, and gaseous cargo in bulk, among them:

A 100-year-old problem

Even before the IMDG Code, the marine and fire protection industries saw fire and explosions as a growing industry problem. After World War I, cargo vessels, including tank ships, were converted to carry larger cargos. This led to incidents of fires and explosions during shipbuilding, repair, and conversion. All those involved, from vessel owners and shipyard owners to their insurers, raised concerns.

To address those concerns, in 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an international organization dedicated to fire prevention, and its Marine Committee adopted a series of standards known as the Regulations Governing Marine Fire Hazards which includes regulations that address the control of gas hazards on vessels during repair activities. Today it is known as NFPA 306 (Control of Gas Hazards on Vessels).

The NFPA provides many resources to help the industry address their fire and explosion challenges. For one, to help prevent instances like what happened in Chittagong, NFPA 1405, or its Guide for Land-Based Fire Departments that Respond to Marine Vessel Fires, provides direction on what elements are necessary for a comprehensive marine fire-fighting response program for land-based fire fighters.

Stepping up responsibility and enforcement

The movement of cargo, its storage and regulation are disjointed. Cargo changes hands all along the supply chain. There are a lot of hands in the mix. That means everyone needs to uphold their responsibility in the product’s journey from shippers to ship masters to storage facilities to port authorities tasked with enforcing existing regulations.

The tragedies in Tianjin, Beirut, and Chittagong are reminders of what can happen when complacency prevails.

The cost of these incidents extends far beyond these ports. An explosion in a key port was the last thing that an already-shaky Lebanese economy needed. The mass destruction of communities within a 6-mile radius left the economy in ruin and created a humanitarian crisis. Rebuilding has been challenging because of supply shortages.

The global pandemic disrupted supply chains. These events did not help. According to local trade associations, 90% of Bangladesh’s trade which includes clothing headed to H&M, Walmart and other retailers – passes through the Chittagong port. As a result of the explosion, hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of garments were destroyed in the fire. When the Felicity Ace caught fire off the coast of Portugal in February 2022, more than 4,000 cars, many luxury, valued at $400 million were lost.

And, quite literally, in many cases, everyone pays. General Average is a principle of maritime law. The law establishes that all sea venture stakeholders – owner, shipper, charterer, consignee – proportionately share in losses that resulted from a voluntary sacrifice of a portion of the vessel or cargo to save the voyage in the event of an emergency – whether their shipment or vessel was damaged or not.

The shipping industry is experiencing unprecedented growth. More materials – hazardous and non – are being shipped all over the world. The growing frequency of fires and explosions are reminders that with increased activity brings added risks and responsibilities.

There should be little tolerance for misdeclared or mislabeled goods, improper storage, or shoddy port protocols. There is plenty of solid guidance to take necessary precautions in the handling, shipping, and storage management of hazardous materials. It’s time to step up efforts to disrupt the all-too-frequent incidents of maritime fires and explosions. In our efforts to protect the safety of crew, ships and the environment, the Marine Insurance community should unite and collectively decide whether a loss resulting directly from a misdeclared cargo shall be indemnified. This would be accomplished by instituting policy language that denies coverage on a claim where the supporting documents clearly show that a cargo was misdeclared. Carriers themselves should not continue to support shippers that willfully misdeclare cargo putting crews, ships, the environment, and cargo at risk.

Source: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/opinions-analysis/explosion-risk-flaring-land-and-sea

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022

 


More than 560 dockworkers are threatening to go on strike from September 19th to October 3rd at the Port of Liverpool. Unite Union is carrying out the strike over poor pay and improper working conditions. The strike will cause strain and widespread disruption in the shipping industry, which is already struggling with supply chain challenges.

The primary point of contention is the Union’s pay raise demand, which the Union says is much needed to offset the double-digit retail inflation rate in the UK. The port operatives and the maintenance engineers voted for a strike in August when they were offered a pay raise of 7% by MDHC Container Services. MDHC is a part of Peel Ports, the second largest Port group in the UK.

Workers are also striking over MDHC’s failure to honor the 2021 pay agreement. The workers stated that MDHC has failed to undertake the long overdue pay review, which has not been conducted since 1995 and has not delivered on its promise to improve shift rotas.

Unite Union has warned that the strike could severely disrupt the proceedings of Liverpool Port and the surrounding areas. They have also warned that there are more strikes scheduled in the coming weeks if MDHC refuses to table an acceptable offer.

Source: https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2022/39461/dockworker-strike-looms-over-liverpool-port/

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022


PSA Corporation Ltd. (PSA) inaugurated the first phase of Tuas port operations in Singapore on September 1st. The inauguration involved opening the first three berths, which were built under phase one of the Tuas Port’s development program. Parts of the port are still under construction and will become completely operational by 2040. The completed port will have an annual cargo handling capacity of 65 million TEU.

The new port is expected to cement the position of Singapore as the biggest Transshipment hub in Asia. The port has a draft of 23 m and a total berth length of about 26 km, which will significantly increase the cargo handling capacity of Singapore. PSA expects 5 berths to be operational by this year’s end, which will allow the port to handle the largest container ships in the world.

Singapore is hailing Tuas as the world’s largest fully automated container port. The quay cranes are automated and can be operated remotely from a control center. Data analytics and digitalization are also ingrained into the port’s modular design. This allows the port to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning for better management of the port’s operations. Sustainability is also a prevalent theme in the construction of the port as the port has a smart power grid and eco-friendly buildings and provisions for powering most of the port operations with electricity.

Source: https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2022/39453/new-tuas-port-opens-service-singapore/

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022


Cargo throughput at major coastal hub ports increased 4.8% while international trade cargo throughput dropped 0.5%.

Crude oil shipments at major coastal ports declined 0.2% year-on-year. The port of Tianjin posted the highest rise in volume with a growth rate of 53%.

Metal ore shipments at major Chinese ports increased 0.7% while the port inventory grew 22.69%.

Due to a heatwave and lower than normal rainfall, shipping channels of Yangtze river were narrowing, negatively affected cargo transportation along Yangtze river. Cargo throughput at three major Yangtze River ports, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing,declined 1.9% while the container volume increased 8.8% in mid-August.

Source: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports/major-chinese-ports-container-volumes-increase-53-mid-august

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022

 


Gothenburg Port Authority is collaborating with Stena Line, DFDS, Ørsted and Liquid Wind to establish Europe’s first electromethanol (e-fuels) hub with a planned launch date of 2025.

“We are very pleased to have been able to get to this point. This is a prime example of companies committed to the decarbonisation of the shipping industry lining up their green agendas towards a common goal that is working in the favor of all involved,” said Elvir Dzanic, CEO at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

Liquid Wind and Ørsted’s emethanol production facility FlagshipONE is in late-stage development and approaching a final investment decision. It will be the largest e-fuels facility in the world, producing 50,000 tonnes of emethanol annually.

In April this year, the Gothenburg Port Authority published general methanol operating regulations for ship-to-ship bunkering.

Source: https://splash247.com/gothenburg-port-sets-2025-date-for-europes-first-electromethanol-hub/

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022

 


The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has advised Recognised Organisations of a change in the focus of Port State Control (PSC) inspections with respect to planned maintenance on ships.
AMSA states that recent incidents have demonstrated the potentially serious consequences of a lack of effective maintenance of main engines and power generation systems. These can pose serious risks to the safe and pollution-free operation of ships. There will be an increase in the focus on planned maintenance during routine PSC inspections of the propulsion and auxiliary equipment and associated systems. AMSA will take necessary compliance actions to address any identified areas of concern.
What ship operators should do now

Ship operators are advised to ensure that planned maintenance of propulsion and auxiliary machinery and associated systems is up to date on arrival at Australian ports. In cases where deficiencies are apparent (e.g. due to a delay in the delivery of spare parts), this should be communicated to the PSC authority prior to arrival in order to prevent problems arising at PSC interventions.

Source: LR

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022


The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has ordered 12 Konecranes RTGs (rubber tire gantry cranes) for the Port of Savannah. When these cranes are working, the Port of Savannah will operate a fleet of 234 Konecranes RTGs. Konecranes booked the order in third quarter 2022, and the cranes will be delivered by the end of 2024.

The Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal is the fastest-growing container terminal in North America. The port already operates 198 Konecranes RTGs with another 24 on order, making it the largest RTG fleet in the U.S. The current order will bring the Savannah fleet to 234 RTGs.

The GPA is experiencing significant growth, moving an all-time monthly high of 528,300 TEUs in July.

“Our expansion program is proceeding well, and this order for 12 Konecranes RTGs will support our productivity and continuing growth,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “Konecranes is our go-to partner for container handling equipment and has been for over 25 years.”

Jussi Suhonen, VP, regional sales, port solutions, at Konecranes said: “The Port of Savannah is an American success story for the state of Georgia and the entire USA. The Port of Savannah and Konecranes have been growing together in a mutually beneficial relationship, which continues with this RTG delivery.”

The 12 RTGs on order are diesel-electric units, but have a built-in readiness for electric operation via cable reels. They are high-performance, 16-wheel RTGs with a lifting capacity of 40 tons, a stacking height of 1-over-5, and a stacking width of 6 plus truck lane wide. They will be equipped with Konecranes’ active load control system, which prevents container sway. The auto-steering feature is included, which keeps the cranes on a pre-programmed, straight driving path. They willalso have Konecranes’ Truconnect remote monitoring system.

Source: https://www.marinelog.com/inland-coastal/ports-terminals/port-of-savannah-to-add-12-more-konecranes-rtgs/

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022


Company DETAILS

SHIP IP LTD
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Rakovski STR.145
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Phone ( +359) 24929284
E-mail: sales(at)shipip.com