Tag: ports

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

At least 268 vessels inspected and US$100,000 retrieved in wages owed to crew The ITF's week of action in Baltic Sea ports ended with at least 268 vessels inspected in the 10 countries involved, and getting on for US$100,000 retrieved in wages owed to crew.The action week, 10-14 October, involved inspectors and seafarer and dockworker union activists in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden. More than US$86,400 was recovered in back pay owed to crewmembers in the first three days aloneThe week ended with at least a further US$7,090 in wages retrieved. ITF agreements were also signed or renewed on several vessels, and US$18,000 collected for the ITF welfare fund. The MSC Fabiola containership was boycotted while it was in Hamburg, as part of the action - the German owner then agreed to sign an ITF agreement for the ship, as well as to sign three new agreements and renew seven expired ones for other ships in its fleet.Source: ITF

2009 for Maersk Line was the worst year but 2010 was the best Describing 2009 as "a year we would rather forget", Lars Oestergaard Nielsen, managing director UAE, Qatar, Oman & Iran, Maersk Line has called on the ports industry to help it level out peaks and troughs."2009 for Maersk Line was the worst year we have ever had and 2010 was the best - that is not very healthy," he said. With its Daily Maersk offering, the line hopes to bring a consistency back to the markets.Creating a "virtual conveyor belt of global trade", the Daily Maersk offers increased capacity from four key Asia ports, to three key Europe ports, a daily rather than weekly cut off, and a fixed transit time.But Mr Nielsen concedes: "We are not alone in this and we cannot offer this service without our partners. We need flexibility as and when required in return for reliability." Maersk has asked ports for operation on arrival, clear agreements on performance levels, and flexibility to add moves subject to timely communication from the line."In some cases the cargo will be available before the promised time and customers will be free to choose if they want to stay ...

As part of the Coast Guard's International Port Security Program Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay crewmembers met with a group of delegates from the Republic of China at the sector Tuesday, as part of the Coast Guard's International Port Security Program.The delegates viewed a presentation about Sector Delaware Bay's operations and spent the day touring area port facilities.The program's objective is to engage in discussions with trading nations around the world, exchange information and share best practices to align port security programs.Nations participating in the program cooperate through the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, which is the only internationally accepted blueprint for the implementation of security measures for maritime infrastructure.Source: USCG

Vietnam port problems laid bare The Vietnam Ports Association has spoken out to warn of substantial problems in the country's port sector.One of the key issues is the lack of dredging. The water passage to Hai Phong port, one of Vietnam's busiest, has lacked regular dredging for many years, the VPA said in a statement adding there were similar problems at Can Tho which made the ports much less effective than they should be.This is worsened by poor landside connections. Railway links have not been upgraded "for the last tens of years", said the association. "Bad roads", as it termed them, at Tien Sa port in Da Nang, Cat Lai port (among others) in the Ho Chi Minh city region and to the Ben Nghe and Thi Vai-Cai Mep port complex in Ba Ria- Vung Tau "have been hindering the development of the ports", it added.It is unusual in communist Vietnam for trade bodies to publically express their worries except behind closed door."We raised the issue of land access and deepwater access," said Ho Kim Lan, secretary general of the VPA in a phone interview with Port Strategy.More sensitive still is the issue of over-development as too many small ports ...

Delaying the delivery of grain, sugar and coal Intense rains have disrupted operations at Kenya's only port, delaying the delivery of grain, sugar and coal, while a queue of vessels waiting to offload cargo is building up, its operator said on Monday.The port of Mombasa serves Kenya, which is east Africa's largest economy, as well as neighbouring landlocked nations including Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, which rely on it for shipments of vital commodities and oil.Cargo-handling operations at the port of Mombasa have been adversely affected by torrential rains that have continued pounding the coast region in the last 10 days," Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said in a statement."The more-than-expected rains have disrupted port operations especially for products that are brought in bulk like sugar, wheat, maize (and) rice."Delivery of coal, steel, fertiliser and clinker for cement production was also affected, KPA said, adding that nine container ships and 11 general cargo ships were waiting to berth."The waiting container vessels are scheduled to offload 4,591 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), while the general cargo ships will discharge a total of 68,703 tons, which include 6,000 tons and 14,999 tons of bagged sugar and sorghum, respectively," KPA said. Source: Reuters