Local Government News

Vale, Chinese Port Ink $651 Mln Iron Ore Facilities Deal

Brazil's Vale and China's Ningbo Zhoushan Port have signed a deal to invest around 4.3 billion yuan ($650.6 million) in iron ore storage and processing facilities in Zhejiang, a local government statement said on Friday.The move follows the two firms' inauguration of a grinding hub at the port in eastern China in August and further boosts Vale's presence in the top global consumer of the steelmaking raw material.Vale, the world's second-biggest iron ore miner, and Ningbo Zhoushan Port will each hold 50% in the joint venture (JV), whose planned creation was flagged in a filing last month.

Crowley, CPE to Provide 16,000 Pounds of Food in NY

Crowley Logistics joined Caribbean Produce Exchange, Inc. (CPE), a Puerto Rico distributor of fresh produce and consumer products, and Puerto Rico farmers to ship a container filled with fresh fruits, plantains and other “Son de Aquí” local products to the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities of New York City impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.The container included 16,000 pounds of fruit and produce, such as pineapples from Manatí, Santa Isabel papayas and Guánica green plantains. The shipment arrived for distribution through Baldor Specialty Foods’ facility in the South Bronx.

China to Build Commodity Trading Center in Caofeidian

China will beef up its Caofeidian pilot free trade zone, prioritizing the development of international commodities trade and bringing in more foreign investments, local government said on Monday.The Caofeidian district, on the edge of China's top steelmaking city of Tangshan, aims to achieve trade volume of more than 50 billion yuan ($7.07 billion) and introduce 100 foreign projects by 2022, it said in a statement on its website.The district also plans to make a commodities trading center in northeast Asia in early 2025 and to make China's northwestern provinces and Mongolia a key shipping hub

Barcelona Turns Shipping Containers Into Affordable Homes

Down a cobblestone street a few meters from Las Ramblas boulevard, a vivid, contemporary-style building sits incongruously among the ancient churches and medieval squares that typify Barcelona’s old quarter.The minimalist structure is home to a dozen new flats built out of disused shipping containers, the latest innovation in Barcelona’s search for a solution to its ongoing social housing crisis.Rising rents coupled with a shortage of public housing that stems from policies geared toward home ownership are putting pressure on Spain’s most vulnerable citizens…

Port Canaveral Maintains Normal Operations

The world’s second busiest cruise port is maintaining normal operations as it continues to monitor the COVID-19 developing situation, the Canaveral Port Authority announced.The port said it will be profoundly impacted by Friday's decision by major cruise lines to voluntarily suspend operations from all U.S. ports for at leas 30 days, and that it is working with cruise line partners to coordinate efforts and help meet their operational and berthing needs. The port said it is also working with federal, state and local government agencies – like the U.S.

TrashTech: Trash Trawl Debuts

New system helping to solve garbage problems in rivers by collecting waste from water surface. SpillTech, aNorwegian company which specializes in oil spill recovery equipment and systems to collect waste in ports, is expanding its services to tackle waste pollution issues in rivers.“Many rivers are becoming increasingly polluted, so it is important to collect as much waste as possible and that is the reason why we have developed a new waste collector system,” reasoned Trond Lindheim…

Keppel Sells Logistics Units to Sinotrans

Keppel Telecommunications & Transportation (Keppel T&T) has entered into agreements to divest its entire stakes in Keppel Logistics (Foshan) Co (KLF) and Keppel Logistics (Hong Kong) to Sinoway Shipping, a subsidiary of Sinotrans Limited, for about S$39 million.Expected to be completed in 2019, the proposed divestments are in line with Keppel T&T's strategy to unlock value and recycle capital, allowing the company more flexibility to pursue other opportunities.Thomas Pang, CEO of Keppel T&T…

BPA Welcomes Infrastructure Funding Scheme

The British Ports Association has welcomed the announcement by the UK Government that there will be a new grants scheme for infrastructure modification at UK ports should there be a ‘no-deal’ Brexit but has stated a deal was the best way to avoid potential disruption at ports.The UK’s Department for Transport is to introduce its £10 million (about $12.17 million) Port Infrastructure Resilience and Connectivity Fund for English Ports scheme in the run up to the Brexit date of October…

BMA moves up on Paris MoU White List

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has announced that for the 17th consecutive year, The Bahamas has been included on the Paris MoU port state inspection whitelist of flag state performance and has moved up six places, securing the number two spot. This accomplishment comes on the heel of The Bahamas flag having achieved a record low number of detentions worldwide.The Bahamas’ Minister for Transport and Local Government, Honorable Renward Wells comments: “The BMA’s impressive track record of delivering a quality service…

Zhoushan Reports Record Bunkering Volumes

China's Zhoushan port, off the eastern coastal province of Zheijang, supplied a record 3.59 million tonnes of marine fuel last year, more than double the previous year's level, the state-run China Securities Journal reported on Wednesday.Zhoushan makes up more than 30 percent of the country's total bonded bunker fuel market, the journal cited a local government official as saying.Zhoushan's bunker volume could top 4 million tonnes this year, the report said.

Port Security: If you’ve seen one port, you’ve seen one port

ARES Security Corporation’s sophisticated AVERT C-2 platform integrates hundreds of disparate sensors and information sources to keep first responders aware of their immediate environment in real-time. In today’s dangerous and digital business environment, that also comes ‘just in time.’Retired U.S. Coast Guard Commandant ADM James Loy is widely credited with coining the now familiar phrase, “If you’ve seen one port, you’ve seen one port.” In the choppy wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks…

U.S. Army Corps Selects 10 Beneficial Use Pilot Projects

At the end of December, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) announced its selection of ten dredging projects that will form the core of a pilot program to advance the beneficial use of dredged material.The recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ announcement culminated a program required by Congress, established within the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, specifically Section 1122. Congress directed that the ten pilot projects selected were required to present environmental…

Newport News Shipbuilding Dedicates Habitat for Humanity Home

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday for a new home company volunteers built in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. The company also broke ground on its 17th joint project.Newport News joined elected officials and community leaders in welcoming Salima Kabwe and her three children to their new home in the city’s southeast community. The three-bedroom house is the 16th…

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Shipping Sets 2019 Priorities

Chamber of Marine Commerce President Bruce Burrows has unveiled a 2019 wish list for legislative and policymakers designed to make Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and coastal shipping more competitive and build on the remarkable growth of the 2018 season.St. Lawrence Seaway cargo volumes increased almost 7 per cent in 2018, reaching 40.9 million metric tons for the first time since 2007.“Despite an unpredictable business environment of tariff wars and trade negotiations, many of our Canadian and U.S.

BSM Singapore Relocates to Larger Office

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) has relocated to a new, larger Singapore office in the Republic’s Central Business District.The new premises now house Bernhard Schulte, the group’s ship owning arm, alongside with BSM, the third-party ship manager and MariApps, the Group’s digital solutions company.“BSM’s presence in Singapore has grown steadily in recent years and we believe that the new ‘Bernhard Schulte House’ will cater to the future growth and expansion of the group’s entities in Singapore…

Sinopec, Zhejiang to Build LNG Terminal in China

China's Sinopec Corp has teamed with Zhejiang Energy Group Co Ltd on a 3 million tonne-per-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in east China, with the first phase set for operation at end-2021, the state oil giant said on Wednesday.The project, to be built in Wenzhou of Zhejiang province, includes four tanks each able to store 200,000 cubic meters of LNG, a berth to dock tankers of 30,000 cubic meters to 266,000 cubic meters, as well as a 26-km (16-mile) pipeline.The two…

USS SLATER Open April 4

USS SLATER is scheduled to open to the public on Wednesday, April 4th. This year will mark the ship's 21st season in Albany. There have been tremendous changes to the ship since she first arrived. USS SLATER has become one of the best restored, most historically accurate World War II ships in the world. A National Historic Landmark, USS SLATER is the only remaining World War II Destroyer Escort afloat in America. Destroyer Escorts originally were conceived to battle Nazi U-Boats while escorting convoys across the Atlantic.

Seaway Shipping Unveils 2018 Government Wish List

Chamber of Marine Commerce President Bruce Burrows today unveiled a 2018 wish list for legislative and policy makers to build on the economic momentum of Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and coastal shipping in Canada and the U.S. “2017 was a year of significant cargo increases fueled by global economic recovery and new business wins by our members. But the difficult season closing as ships struggled to move through ice after an Arctic-like cold snap reminded us that challenges can arise even in the good years,” said Mr. Burrows.

Case Study: Dredging & Land Reclamation at Port of Genoa

This article is a reflection of presentation delivered by Marco Vaccari, Portfolio & Project Manager, Genoa Port Authority (Italy) at 7th Dredging & Land Reclamation Asia Summit 2017 (organized by Equip Global, Singapore); co-contributed by Tony Tran. Marco Vaccari is a Portfolio & Project Manager in the Technical Department of the Genoa Port Authority (Italy). Born, raised and spent most of his career in the port city, Marco has devoted the past 15 years for the implementation of around 20 projects within the port…

DMCA Shares Maritime Experience with Abu Dhabi

The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) shared its renowned experience in implementing world-class maritime registration and licensing services with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport in Abu Dhabi (DMAT) during their recently held meeting. Both parties also exchanged expertise to achieve their common goals of further improving the marine licensing system according to the highest international standards and reinforcing the UAE’s position as one of the most important maritime and logistics capitals in the world.

Hong Kong: Impressive Destination, Unfinished Journey

A truly global hub and still arguably the center of Asian trade and logistics, Hong Kong nevertheless faces many challenges. … the Port of Hong Kong saw in 2016 its lowest TEU throughput for more than a decade. Not even a late surge in throughput in December could prevent the less-than-rosy results. By the numbers, Hong Kong saw a monthly 1.8 million TEU, 14 percent increase from the same period just one year ago. But, 2016’s totals (19.6 million TEU) represented an annual drop of 2.5 percent.

Retailers Urge Labor/Management to Avoid Port Shutdown

The National Retail Federation (NRF) called on the U.S. Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen’s Association to work together to avoid a one-day shutdown of East Coast and Gulf Coast ports proposed by the ILA. “Thousands of companies and millions of workers rely on these ports and any disruption to their activity even for a day could have a negative impact on the U.S. economy,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jon Gold said. “While the union might have concerns with certain local government actions, engaging in a coastwide shutdown is not the answer.

APM Terminals to Promote Safety in Vietnam

APM Terminals together with AIP Foundation, a road safety nonprofit, is rolling out a new training program in Vietnam to help make the port community of Cai Mep in southern Vietnam safe. More than 45 truck drivers and other CMIT employees, along with executives from the APM Terminals’ operated Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT), joined 500 students, teachers, and parents at Tran Quoc Toan Primary School, which neighbors the port, to address road safety issues in their community. The truck drivers work for CMIT, a subsidiary of the Netherlands-based port operator APM Terminals.

Two Directors Join Port of London Authority Board

The Port of London Authority (PLA) has announced two new non-executive directors have been appointed to the PLA board: Judith Armitt has been appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport (in accordance with the Port of London Act); and Darren James has been appointed by the PLA Board. Judith Armitt will bring substantial public sector, London and Thames experience to the PLA. She was most recently chief executive of Local Partnerships LLP, the joint venture between HM Treasury and the Local Government Association.

LA Port Selects 'Fuse' Executive Leadership Fellow

The Port of Los Angeles has selected global supply chain and logistics expert Andrew Scott as its executive-in-residence fellow full-time one-year leadership position hosted by FUSE Corps. FUSE Corps is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that works with participating local governmental entities to help them address major urban-related challenges. Scott will work with the Port’s executive leadership team on developing new strategies for enhancing supply chain efficiency as well as streamlining Port processes and operations.

BP Puts Tab for Gulf Disaster at $62 Bln

BP announced today that following significant progress in resolving outstanding claims arising from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident and oil spill, it can now reliably estimate all of its remaining material liabilities in connection with the incident. As a result, taking into account this estimate together with other positive tax adjustments, BP expects to take an after-tax non-operating charge of around $2.5 billion in its second quarter 2016 results. This charge is expected to include a pre-tax non-operating charge associated with the oil spill of around $5.2 billion.