Tag: ports

US Coast Guard admits it has no plans yet for dealing with containers At least ten more potentially explosive containers have been found at the Port of Seattle with a question mark still hanging over the fate of the growing collection of containers.Earlier this year maritime authorities reported that three reefer containersexploded or caused a fire, resulting in two fatalities in Vietnam and one in Brazil.The explosions were believed to be the result of contaminated gas added to the boxes' refrigeration units during servicing in Vietnam.According to local reports, a growing stack of 80 refrigerated containers at the Port of Seattle have been sitting by itself, isolated from the rest of the port for safety reasons.The US Coast Guard said it is working with the terminal operators to keep the 80 containers away from everyone, but admits there is no specific plan yet for dealing with them.Rudy Finne of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said: "I personally think it's ludicrous to have possible bombs at every corner here and have everybody seem not that concerned about it."The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents the various terminal operators, said it is looking for a solution to checking each container to see ...

Enhancing night navigation capability at Port Qasim Global marine terminal operator DP World announced that its facility at Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT), Pakistan's gateway to the world, has expanded its capability to allow it to handle today's modern, large vessels around the clock.New buoys, beacons and lights in the approach channels and turning basins to DP World Karachi's twin terminals at QICT enhances night navigation capability for vessels of up to 295 metres overall length (LOA), 33-metre beam and a draft of 12 metres, providing container vessels calling at QICT with safe and reliable navigation 24 hours a day.Anil Singh, SVP & MD, DP World, Subcontinent said:"Enhancing night navigation capability at Port Qasim is a welcome development for DP World's customers at our QICT gateway facility. Port Qasim plays an important role in connecting Pakistan's vast hinterland to its international sea routes. Making it accessible 24 hours a day contributes directly to the local community and Pakistan's economy in general. We congratulate the management of DP World Karachi for successfully working together on this achievement."Changez Niazi, Chief Executive Officer DP World Karachi, said: "We thank the Port Qasim Authority for its support for facilitating night navigation for 295m vessels ...

The Australian consumer watchdog warns The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC's) annual report on stevedoring operations comes as new terminals are well underway in Sydney and Brisbane.A new entrant, Hutchison Port Holdings, is expected to commence operations at those ports in 2013.The ACCC says the developments will be an important and positive step for Sydney and Brisbane's ports as well as the economies that rely on them.For many years the watchdog had expressed concerns that persistently high profitability and a lack of rivalry on prices meant stevedoring companies Patrick and DP World faced only limited competition.If container numbers continued to increase at current rates the Port of Melbourne could face capacity problems, similar to those observed at Port Botany, by as early as 2015, the report said.The Victorian Government is currently debating how it will provide for future container capacity and increased competition at Melbourne."Opportunities for new entry into Australian stevedoring are rare. This makes them all the more important when they do arise," ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said."We would welcome the Victorian government taking advantage of the need for new investment by introducing a third competitor into the port of Melbourne," Sims said.The ACCC Chairman further called for ...

Improving transport logistics is one of the main challenges facing Chile Latin American countries need to look beyond increasingly large ports and consider logistics, Ricardo Sánchez, chief of the infrastructure services unit at the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, said at a recent conference in Santiago.Mr Sanchez's warning was the second in as many days.Transport undersecretary Gloria Hutt told the 2011 conference of International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) improving transport logistics is one of the main challenges facing Chile."We have a very efficient internal industry and we have reasonably competitive and efficient ports. But we are missing the link that will help us make our logistics chains more efficient," she said. Source: Port Strategy

Economics and geography in their favour, says new port analysis Europe's northern seaports are still the most economically and environmentally efficient gateways to large parts of central Europe, says a new study.Rather than discharging cargo at ports along the Mediterranean coast, large north-west range ports carry numerous economic and geographic advantages for shippers.The analysis was carried out on behalf of the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg by Dutch transport research agency NEA.The authors cite five main factors determining Northern Europe's competitive advantages:First, cargo generation and attraction rates are higher because of its higher concentration of industrial activity.Second, the Alps and the Rhine waterways form, respectively, a natural barrier and a natural corridor extending the catchment area of the northern ports towards Switzerland and Austria, in turn encouraging the development of high-capacity, low-cost intermodal corridors.Third, economies in maritime networks are extending the ports' competitive hinterlands further to the south. Deployment of large container vessels is lowering the costs of shipping between North Europe ports and the Far East, while clustering of activity, scale economies and deep water at those same ports allows the use of ships with the lowest unit costs.Fourth, the ability of the northern main ports to combine ...

Some of the most polluted places in the world are shipping ports Some of the most polluted places in the world are shipping ports, and their environmental degradation can result in a multitude of health problems. In the United States, California has the toughest environmental regulations in the nation when it comes to air quality at the ports.

Fire crews remain on the scene conducting atmospheric testing There has been a second chemical leak aboard a container ship docked at the Port of Brisbane.Authorities evacuated the ship early today and removed a leaking container before any of the zinc dithiophosphate could leak into the water.But in the process of moving it, crews noticed a second container loaded with organic phosphate was releasing fumes."Upon investigation, firefighters found a spill inside the second container," the Queensland Department of Community Safety.The spill from the first container has been contained, and the second has been resealed and will soon be moved.Fire crews remain on the scene conducting atmospheric testing and ensuring the site is safe.Source: AAP

A few ports are getting one step ahead and providing ways of communication such as free wi-fi What are the marks of a progressive port? Obviously, one which is efficient, secure and safe, with good turning circles and competent pilots and expert tug skippers. We might consider one that has helpful and incorrupt port officials, who regard visiting ships as their "customers" and like any good shopkeeper, hope for repeat business.We might also hope that our progressive port is pleasant to visiting seafarers, recognising that these are important people who deserve to be treated well during their brief stays alongside. We would hope that the arrangements for shore leave are not too onerous and that the welfare system is accessible. Seafarers should not dread an arrival at a port, as we fear that they do in some parts of the world.Seafarers want to communicate with their homes and families and why not? We have come a long way from "snail mail" and letters coming and going with the agent or the pilot. Nowadays the seafarers' centres which are hopefully to be found in port cater for telephone communication and e-mail, both with any luck available at a reasonable price. The ...

Yard expansion and technology upgrades The Port Authority of Guam Board of Directors has written to MARAD officials informing them of their desire to continue with original plans to focus the Modernization on the uplands portion of the program including yard expansion and technology upgrades."We believe by moving forward with this predominantly uplands Phase 1-A program, while simultaneously pursuing limited stabilization measures at Berths F3, F4 and F6, we will accomplish affordable cargo handling capacity improvement, set the stage for modernization, and achieve limited sustainability improvements for both the uplands and waterfront structures," Port Board Chairman Daniel J. Tydingco noted in his letter to MARAD Administrator David T. Matsuda.After months of meetings that included Port officials, MARAD, the Port Users Group and other stakeholders, all parties agreed upon a Scope of Work (SOW) that focused on the uplands work. However, MARAD officials recently notified the Port that they would like for the wharves to be a focus of this program and that the Port's Modernization Program would be adjusted to reflect the changes.That announcement was met with concern from Port Oversight Chairman Senator Tom Ada who encouraged MARAD to take a further look at the report conducted on the wharves ...

Maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in its ports The US Coast Guard issued a Port Security Advisory stating that it has determined that the Republic of Congo is now maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in its ports.Therefore, the conditions of entry previously required of vessels arriving in the United States after having made calls in the Republic of Congo no longer apply. The Advisory includes an updated list of countries affected by the conditions of entry requirement.Source: The UK P&I Club