Martin Rushmere Brazil Blogs

US West Coast ports are way behind their foreign counterparts

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on November 30, 2012

Union shenanigans at Los Angeles/Long Beach serve up yet another depressing tale of the growing gap in efficiency and dedication between US and foreign ports. Having just toured the Port of Singapore, I can vouch for this firsthand. The best…

Not all Western Seaboard ports are depressed about the future

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on July 30, 2012

Northern California’s commercial maritime operations continue to send mixed signals about the state of business. While Oakland is taking a downbeat perspective, nearby Redwood City is doing better and the Washington port of Longview is living up to its name with a new strategic plan.

Ports and carriers make huge strides in cutting pollution

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on January 30, 2012

The anti-pollution brigade continues to rule the waves in port planning in California, imposing ever more strict standards every year. A conference/workshop in Long Beach earlier this month shows just how well the industry has done in keeping up with these demands. Long Beach is a prime example.

Delving into Beat The Canal leaders

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on January 19, 2012

Strange bedfellows are making strange machinations in the united front (Beat The Canal) to stop the Panama Canal taking West Coast port traffic. Those dependable stalwarts, the ILWU local union shops, are rejuvenating their efforts to stop vessels calling at Longview's grain terminal…

Seattle Shipyard Takeover is a Pointer for 2011

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on December 30, 2010

Speculation on the forthcoming year has become remarkably sparse in the last couple of years because of the tumultuous events in liner shipping and uncertainty over the international economic situation. But a year-end port-related takeover is…

Surprises are in Store over Shipping Act Maneuvering

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on November 30, 2010

US maritime politics is getting murkier, who would have thought of it? Just when the straitjacket of antitrust regulation was about to be wrapped around the TransPacific Stabilization Agreement, the politicians seemed to be getting ready…

New TransPac Services Add Fuel to the Fire

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on September 10, 2010

A curious concoction is fermenting around the West Coast. The Containership Company (TCC), nominally based in Denmark, is pleased with results so far, a $3 million net loss on $21 million in revenue during the first half of its first year. Then we have Hainan PO Shipping…