America's seaports and marine terminals must make combined investments of $46 billion over the next five years to maintain and improve their infrastructure, said American Association of Port Authorities Chairman Jerry Bridges in a Sept. 13 briefing. But he said the federal government "has not committed to matching this investment in improving the connections with our ports."

The Port of Long Beach said it's undertaking several projects to upgrade security systems, including:

Talks will resume between the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) and International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) under the auspices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service during the week of Sept. 17, FMCS Director George Cohen said Sept. 6. Because of the sensitivity of the high profile dispute, and consistent with the Agency's practice, “we will not disclose either the location of the meeting or the content of the substantive negotiations that will take place,” he said.

The Coast Guard is proposing to revise and update Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) regulations, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for publication Sept. 10. Comments on the proposed rule are due by Sept. 10.

The American Association of Port Authorities unveiled its 2013 calendar of program and conferences:

All terminals and gatehouses in the Port of New Orleans were back to normal schedules as of Sept. 4, the port said. Since the river fully reopened Sept. 1, after disruptions by Hurricane Isaac, port operators have handled 19 ships, including nine container vessels, five break-bulk cargo vessels and two refrigerated cargo vessels, it said. During the four-day river shutdown, only two vessels bound for New Orleans canceled their calls, said Port President Gary LaGrange.

The Coast Guard reopened the Mississippi River Friday morning with just a few restrictions, the Port of New Orleans said. Cargo vessels will be permitted to begin moving on a prioritized basis, it said. Port staff reported no flooding and very little wind damage to facilities, but substantial wind-blown damage to the Port's administrative building. There was some minimal wind and water damage at the Julia Street Cruise Terminal, but none at the Erato Street Terminal. Industrial and cargo tenants along the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal also reported few effects from Hurricane Isaac. The Corps of Engineers flood protection system kept water levels to only 3.5 feet above sea level within the Inner Harbor, in stark contrast to the more than 12-foot water levels there in past storms such as Hurricane Katrina, the Port said.

Shippers should begin making alternate arrangements for routing their freight, in light of the potential East/Gulf Coast longshoremen strike or lockout, A.N. Deringer recommended Aug. 30. As a potential strike date draws closer, shippers and importers should consider the following. " With time running out for additional negotiations, Deringer recommends shippers implement contingency plans," it said.

Container royalty payments to International Longshoremen's Association workers have "increased dramatically" since they were created in 1960, reaching over $211 million in 2011 alone, according to an Aug. 28 backgrounder on the U.S. Maritime Exchange website.

The National Retail Federation urged longshoremen and management to return to the negotiating table for a new East Coast and Gulf Coast longshoremen’s contract, saying retailers heading into the crucial holiday season will be forced to divert cargo elsewhere in a matter of days. “We understand and recognize that there are tough issues that need to be resolved,” said NRF President Matthew Shay in a letter sent to International Longshoremen’s Association President Harold Daggett and U.S. Maritime Alliance Chairman James Capo (here), but “the issue will only be resolved by agreeing to stay at the negotiating table until a final deal is reached. Failure to reach agreement will lead to supply chain disruptions which could seriously harm the U.S. economy.” Shay said some retailers have already enacted contingency plans to ensure that holiday merchandise will reach store shelves in time: “Most retailers using the East and Gulf Coast ports will be forced to execute contingency plans within the next week to meet in-store holiday deadlines.”