Tag: US

NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey announced its plans to change the US Army Corps of Engineers maintained channel depth values on raster nautical chart products, which include paper nautical charts and the corresponding digital raster navigational chart. The change from showing, often outdated, controlling depths, to showing channel project depths on raster nautical chart products, will provide more clarity and safety for mariners.

Port Tampa Bay welcomed CMA CGM Group's announcement on beginning to serve Port Tampa Bay in late May 2019 on its Pacific Express 3, or PEX3 service.  The PEX3 port service rotation will be as follows: Singapore – Vung Tau – Hong Kong – Shekou – Ningbo – Shanghai - Busan – Panama Canal - Houston – Mobile – New Orleans – Tampa – Miami – Singapore. 

Trident Seafoods Corporation has agreed to limit emissions of ozone-depleting substances from refrigeration equipment on its ships, under a proposed settlement with the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Justice to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. The company will also pay a $900,000 civil penalty.

The Virginia International Gateway (VIG) completed another step in its expansion project as it launched operations at its container stack No. 1. The end of the stack-yard work leaves only two projects to be completed before the entire $320 million effort comes to an end in June.

Venezuela closed its maritime border with Dutch Caribbean islands, because of the opposition's plan to bring in humanitarian aid on February 23, in order to alleviate an economic crisis. Namely, the border is closed with the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. This decision was taken after Curacao said that it would help store aid destined for Venezuela. 

BIMCO's analyst, Mr Peter Sand published its analysis on the tanker market, highlighting that after the downfall the market experienced in October, it made a bounce reaching a peak in late November and early December. As prices were pushed down by all-time high Saudi Arabian crude oil production that peaked at 11.1m barrels per day in November.

The Canadian based Chamber of Shipping and the United States based Pacific Merchant Shipping Association will cooperate to ensure safe and sustainable shipping on the Pacific Northwest and the Salish Sea. These areas are considered key gateways for marine commerce in Canada and the US. Both organizations will take part in the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's ECHO program.

Port of Oakland announced that it will be getting new cranes to handle the latest generation of megaships. The Port stated that its largest marine terminal would install three 300-foot-tall gantry cranes in late 2020.

Asian gypsy moth is a serious pest that can be carried on ships and cargo. AGMs exist mainly in some seaport areas in Far East Russia, Japan, Korea, and Northern China. If introduced to North America, AGM would significantly affect forestry and agriculture, the natural environment, the commerce that relies on those plant resources, and market access.

The US Coast Guard informed that it is responding to a diesel oil spill in the Tennessee River near Paducah, Kentucky, that took place on February 19. The spill came from a vessel that hit a pier, while being transported by an assist tug to a dry dock. The pier opened a small gash in the vessel, which caused approximately 3,000 gallons of diesel to discharge into the water.