Pasha Hawaii marks historic milestone as MV George III, the first LNG-powered containership to call the Bay Area, arrives at the Port of Oakland.

Oakland, Calif. : Pasha Hawaii and the Port of Oakland today announced the inaugural call of the MV George III to the Oakland Seaport, the gateway for containerized ocean cargo shipments in Northern California. The George III is the first Liquefied Natural Gas (“LNG”) powered vessel to call Oakland. The 774-foot LNG-fueled containership was built in Brownsville, Texas by Keppel AmFELS, and is the first of two new ‘Ohana Class vessels to join Pasha Hawaii’s fleet, connecting the West Coast and Hawaii.

Pasha Hawaii brings its new, LNG-powered vessel to Port of Oakland; history in the making as this is the first LNG ship to call the US West Coast.

Pasha Hawaii is part of 75-year-old, third-generation, family-owned company The Pasha Group, whose roots were planted in the Bay Area in 1947. The MV George III, named after the late son of the company’s founder, honors his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to community stewardship.

“My late father (George Pasha, III) and grandfather (George Pasha, II) would be incredibly proud to see the George III arrive in the Bay Area today. Her arrival signifies the positive impact and environmental strides this containership will make in our local communities,” said George Pasha, IV, President and CEO, Pasha Hawaii. “My father played an integral role in building our family business into the global transportation and logistics company that exists today. His legacy of innovation lives on with the introduction of this remarkable vessel and marks an important step towards the decarbonization of shipping in the West Coast/Hawaii trade lane.”

Operating on natural gas from day one, the new Jones Act vessel surpasses the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2030 emission standards for ocean vessels, representing the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly vessel to serve Hawaii. Energy efficiencies are also achieved with a state-of-the-art engine, an optimized hull form, and an underwater propulsion system with a high-efficiency rudder and propeller.

“We thank Pasha Hawaii for bringing the first LNG-powered containership to call the Port of Oakland,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan. “This visit by the MV George III supports the Port’s overall vision of a zero-emission seaport operation.”

Source: https://www.maritimeeconomy.com/post-details.php?post_id=aGprag==&post_name=MV%20George%20III%20the%20first%20LNGpowered%20containership%20to%20call%20the%20Bay%20Area%20arrives%20at%20the%20Port%20of%20Oakland&segment_name=23

Faced with the prospect of a week-long heat wave bringing record-setting temperatures and straining the state’s power grid, California’s governor on Friday issued an executive order that among other steps suspends California’s requirement that ocean-going vessels use shore power in port. It was the first time in 2022 that the state took the action to reverse its increasingly tight emissions controls on vessels.

The move to suspend the shore power requirement for ships comes as the state’s independent power system operators issued pleas for conservation saying the power system was within its margin of capability. The call was for voluntary reductions by businesses and individuals with the power regulators saying otherwise there could be rolling blackouts across parts of the state. Individuals were asked to set their thermostats to 78 degrees F or higher, avoid using major appliances, and turn off unnecessary lights, especially during the peak hours between 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Power demand in California on Thursday evening reached its highest level in five years according to the California Independent System Operator association, while they said it was a rehearsal for what was to come. Temperatures were increasing with Sunday expected to be the hottest day but the heat wave is expected to not show signs of relief until Tuesday and not to return to more normal temperatures till late in the week. Temperatures in Northern California are forecast to be 10-20 degrees warmer than normal, and Southern California temperatures are expected to be 10-18 degrees warmer than normal, according to the National Weather Service. Sunday morning, temperatures near the ports of Long Beach and Los Angles were already in the high 90s F, the “feels like” at 110 degrees F in places, and forecasts to continue to rise a few more degrees.

California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to temporarily increase energy production and reduce demand. The move included steps designed to allow power plants to generate additional electricity, permit the use of backup generators to reduce the amount of energy they need to draw from the grid and allow ships in California ports to reduce their consumption of electricity from the grid.

Due to the need to shed load from the power grid in what is likely to be a record heat wave in the western U.S., Newsom’s order included sections that withdrew and superseded regulations concerning the use of auxiliary engines by ocean-going vessels berthed in California ports, from Saturday, September 3, 2022, at 12:01 a.m., through Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.

As part of its emissions controls, California requires passenger ships and containerships to use shore power or filters on the funnel’s emissions while docked in the ports including Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland. According to the Marine Exchange of Southern California on Friday when the order was issued, there were a total of 55 vessels on dock in Los Angeles and Long Beach, including 20 containerships. On Sunday, the worst day of the heat wave, six containerships were scheduled to arrive and a total of seven ships. In addition to the power used by the ships plugging into the grid, the ports require large amounts of power for the cranes used to unload the containerships.

The power emergency however is counter to the emissions regulations which California is tightening on vessels. The current requirements for the use of shore power will be phased in to include car carriers and tankers and in a controversial move emission standards are also being extended to smaller commercial vessels, including harbor craft, requiring them to also limit emissions from their operations.

The governor noted that the state has added 4,000 MW of power to the grid in the last two years and has a contingency program supplying 2,000 MW through generators and other reserves to be used in emergencies such as the one the state faces with the current heat wave. California, however, needs to further expand its power supply including to offset a loss of hydropower due to the ongoing drought across the state.

The privatisation report will likely be delivered to Brazil’s audit court TCU by mid-September – the previous deadline was the end of August. According to the Federal Government, the port authority’s auction should occur in the second half of December as previously envisioned, according to the National Secretary of Ports and Waterway Transportation of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Mario Povia.

The financial value that [the future Port of Santos manager] will invest over the concession period will be decided based on estimated operational expenses during the newly added period, reported Brazilian media.

Mario Povia confirmed that his Ministry of Infrastructure is looking into two strategies for determining maximum company participation; the first is like the approach used in the privatisation of Companhia Docas do Espirito Santo (Codesa), with maximum participation of 15% for a single company and 40% if companies form a consortium. The other option is 5×100, in which all SPA would be distributed to companies with 5% each.

The call for bids will be published upon the Brazilian Court of Accounts (TCU) ’s approval of the privatisation draft.

Source: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports/port-santos-concession-will-increase-50-years

SINGAPORE – As Singapore develops the world’s largest automated port, a multidisciplinary approach to nurturing talent is needed to meet the manpower demands of the future, said Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) chairman Hor Weng Yew.

He said the emerging skill sets that will be required in the future will be in electrification, automation, cargo solutions, sustainability and cyber security.

Mr Hor was speaking to The Straits Times ahead of the MaritimeONE and Tripartite Maritime Scholarships (TMSS) awards ceremony on Wednesday evening at Conrad Centennial Singapore hotel.

He added: “At the recent National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted the developments of Tuas Port, giving Singaporeans a glimpse into what the port of the future will be like – extensively automated, employing AI (artificial intelligence) to coordinate operations seamlessly.”

In his address to the nation on Aug 21, PM Lee said phase one of the project, which began 10 years ago, had been completed, with phases two, three and four to follow.

He also noted that when completed, Tuas Port will be able to handle 65 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually, almost double current volumes.

Mr Hor said: “PSA Singapore (the port operator) is also proactively leveraging technology and data to develop innovative cargo solutions that enable shippers and cargo owners to move cargo from an end-to-end global supply chain perspective.

“A diverse and dynamic international maritime centre requires talent with multidisciplinary skill sets, and that is why the MaritimeONE Scholarship has been established.”

A total of 54 MaritimeONE scholarships and 12 TMSS, valued at $2.7 million in all, were sponsored by industry partners in the maritime sector this year.

Mr Hor said this year’s MaritimeONE scholarship recipients received support worth $1.7 million from 32 companies.

He added that since its launch in 2007, the MaritimeONE initiative has awarded scholarships worth $14 million to 524 recipients.

Among this year’s recipients is 21-year old Sardonna Ng.

She told ST that she decided to pursue a diploma in maritime studies at Singapore Polytechnic (SP) after attending a one-day exchange programme between her secondary school, CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent, and SP.

“That one-day exchange programme opened my eyes… We were exposed to various fun and engaging hands-on activities such as using vessel simulator technology, and we also had the opportunity to manoeuvre a lifeboat,” said Ms Ng.

The national hockey player is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in maritime studies at the Nanyang Technological University. Her scholarship is being sponsored by shipping firm Bernhard Schulte.

She added: “As the maritime industry is tackling growing concerns around global warming, I wish to contribute by researching alternative marine fuel options that will help reduce the industry’s carbon emissions.”

TMSS recipients, who have to serve a three-year bond upon graduation, will study for a diploma in nautical studies or marine engineering at the Singapore Maritime Academy at SP.

Scholarship holders can become ship captains or chief engineers of ocean-going ships and eventually take on leadership roles in the maritime sector. The total value of TMSS awarded this year is $1 million.

At the awards ceremony, guest of honour Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance, announced that the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) will offer a new minor programme in maritime management.

The course, which is supported by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and SMF, aims to further develop a strong talent pipeline for the maritime sector, he said.

The course is funded by Singapore Maritime Institute.

He added that the new programme will offer SUSS students, especially those in related disciplines such as logistics and supply chain management, an opportunity to learn about maritime business management, port management and technology, and shipping finance.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Port recently received a maiden call from leading global container shipping company MSC’s Indus 2 service. The port expects that the new service will help to further develop the Kingdom’s export market while also facilitating trade between North America and the Indian subcontinent.

King Abdullah Port will provide services for containers transported on MSC vessels for goods imported from Mundra port, in addition to exported goods moving to major European ports, the Port of Halifax in Canada and major ports on the East Coast of the United States.

Commenting on the new port call in the Indus 2 liner service, Jay New, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The addition of King Abdullah Port to MSC’s liner service reaffirms our role as a major enabler of international Saudi trade and one of the world’s most important ports. In keeping with our vision to be an advantageous and sustainable world-class port that delivers long-term value to its stakeholders, we have been constantly upgrading our facilities and improving our service offerings through the adoption of the latest technologies and innovative solutions. “

King Abdullah Port’s partnership with MSC dates back to September 2013 with the berthing of the first vessel from the company’s fleet at the port. With MSC as a key customer, the port handled 1.5 million TEU over the first half of the year, an increase of 6.69% compared to the same period of 2021.

APM Terminals’ Yucatán terminal in Puerto Progreso, Mexico, has deployed a new LTE private wireless network system to provide high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity across the facility and improve network predictability in piers and yards.

The new wireless network, powered AT&T Mexico and leveraging the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) platform, will use 4.9G LTE to connect hundreds of workers, sensors, equipment, and vehicles across an area of 11.5 hectares.

The connectivity platform will help to power a virtualised Terminal Operation System and provide the infrastructure to enable future technologies such as remote and autonomous crane operations within the piers and yards.

APM Terminals Yucatán is the only container terminal in Puerto Progreso, a deep-water port and a key logistics location for the Yucatán peninsula and south-eastern Mexico, which is home to almost 13 million people.

“We are working with AT&T Mexico and Nokia because of their expertise and unique knowledge in the Mexican telecom market,” said Nathalie Rush, Managing Director of APM Terminals Yucatan.

“The signal strength has really exceeded our expectations so far. We can cover the entire port with the solution, reaching a radius of about 6 kilometres. This platform is already considered a reference for the rest of the terminals in the group.”

Source: https://smartmaritimenetwork.com/2022/08/31/apm-terminals-yucatan-deploys-private-lte-connectivity-network/