Extra Capacity Before Huge Ships

Larger container ships are not on the horizon for Port Otago soon, but shipping giant Maersk says it remains an option, dependent on volumes and customer demand. Port Otago’s current channel dredging operations now allow the existing vessels of Maersk, its largest customer, to load more containers than usual, but there are no plans yet… Read More

Venezuela’s Economic Collapse Continues as its Army Seizes Ports and the Government Declares Itself Able to Take Private Firms’ Food and Goods

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has extended the country’s state of ‘economic emergency’ for another 60 days, a sign of declining conditions in the crisis-hit country. The state of emergency, in place since January, was necessary due to ‘extraordinary… social, economic, political, natural and ecological’ pressures, according to the presidential decree, signed by Maduro and released… Read More

Concerns Grow as GE Identifies Three Potential Sites for PCB Dumps By Clarence Fanto

Concern is growing over the possibility that GE could dump contaminated PCB material on three potential local sites from a potential massive dredging and excavation of the likely cancer-causing chemical along the Housatonic River from southeast Pittsfield into Lenox. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final decision on the Rest of River cleanup of PCB-laden… Read More

Boating Fees Could Double to Pay for Waterway Maintenance

Delaware legislators are trying to keep Delaware waterways open by doubling boater registration fees. The State could raise more than $1 million for a new waterway management fund, according to Senate Bill 261, sponsored by state Sen. Gerald Hocker Sr. (R-20th) of Ocean View. The new, additional funds would go straight into a new waterway… Read More

New Panama Canal Ships Too Big for the East Coast

The $5 billion project to expand the Panama Canal won’t deliver the expected economic boost to the U.S. until East Coast ports are expanded to handle the larger “Post-Panamax” container vessels, importers and retail groups are warning. According to major industry groups, just a handful of ports on the East Coast are ready to take… Read More

Experts Think Dredging Won’t Tame the Brahmaputra

Dredging of the Brahmaputra river is being seriously considered by the Assam government as one of the answers to the problem of erosion that has gobbled up huge chunks of land on both banks of the river. “Dredging of the Brahmaputra will yield a plethora of benefits. It is possible that erosion would be reduced… Read More

Cairns Says Cash Spent on Dredging Validated

The announcement that Port of Tauranga will become the only New Zealand port of call for the extra-large 9500 TEU vessels that will operate on Maersk Line’s new Taiwan/NZ direct route validates the capital investment in dredging, says chief executive Mark Cairns. As well, the ship visit underlines the view of many observers that the… Read More

Corps of Engineers Welcomes New Commander

The new head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District was welcomed to town Friday. In a change-of-command ceremony, Lt. Col. Damon A. Delarosa took over from Lt. Col. Timothy Vail, whose new assignment takes him to the Assistant Secretary of the Army’s office in Washington, D.C. Brig. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon,… Read More

WHITEPAPER: Safety in Mooring

Group Banks on Profit from Panama Canal Upgrades

The Ports of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky is already one of the busiest inland ports in the nation. And regional business leaders are planning for a substantial increase in waterborne traffic as a result of the recently completed expansion of the Panama Canal. Authorities in Panama celebrated the first ship to pass through the canal… Read More

PortMiami Joins Big-ship Era

PortMiami officially joined the Neopanamax era Saturday when the MOL Majesty — a vessel too big to fit through the original Panama Canal — became the first ship to arrive at the port after transiting the newly expanded canal. To a soundtrack of Kool & The Gang’s Celebration and a water canon salute, the arrival… Read More

Largest Ship to Call at NY-NJ Highlights Productivity Challenges

This week’s arrival of the largest ship ever to dock at the Port of New York and New Jersey is bringing into focus the challenges the port faces in adapting to an era of fewer, but larger ships, each requiring more containers to be loaded and unloaded in a short space of time. The MOL… Read More

Deutsche Bank Looking to Sell Shipping Loans

Deutsche Bank is looking to sell at least $1 billion of shipping loans to reduce its exposure to a sector whose lenders face closer scrutiny from the European Central Bank, sources told Reuters. While the oil tanker trade has picked up, the container and dry bulk shipping industries are struggling with their worst downturn due… Read More

Five U.S. Ports Receive Government Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced 18 proposed grant awards for projects under the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects Program. Five port authorities are on the list of proposed grant awardees: 1. Georgia Ports Authority ($44 million) for the Port of Savannah International Multi-Modal Connector. The award is a significant portion of… Read More

GPC Launches Investigation into Harbour Safety

GLADSTONE Ports Corporation plans to launch an investigation into what can be done to improve the safety of large vessels passing through the Clinton Channel in front of RG Tanna Wharf. With a gap of only 80 meters separating passing vessels with those berthed at the wharf and increased traffic from Wiggins Island Coal Terminal,… Read More