Supermaritime of the Netherlands plans to build a breakbulk terminal in the Scaldiahaven in Vlissingen, it said, creating increased capacity for handling general and project cargo or the Zeeland ports. The new terminal is to become operational in the autumn on a 9-hectare site in the Scaldiahaven. Supermaritime will gain access to 375 metres of quay, suitable for ships with a draught of up to 14 metres, it said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, and the Port of Los Angeles completed a Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Berths 302-306 American Presidents Line (APL) Container Terminal Project, they said in a Federal Register notice. They gave the 30-day Notice of Availability for the Final EIS/EIR for the project, which will conclude on July 16, 2012.

Jacobs Engineering Group said that it received a contract from the Port of Houston Authority for engineering services for the rehabilitation of Wharves 1 and 2 at the Barbours Cut Terminal in Morgans Point, Texas. The project is to allow the wharves to accommodate larger ship-to-shore cranes. Officials estimate construction to cost in excess of $50 million, with a design contract value of $4.9 million. Construction is expected to be complete by fall 2014.

The West Coast MTO Agreement (WCMTOA) announced a 2.5 percent increase in the Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, effective Aug. 1, in order to address labor cost increases scheduled to take effect July 1. The TMF will be increased by $1.50 per TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) to $61.50 per twenty-foot container or $123 per forty-foot container. The fee helps pay for the night and Saturday marine terminal shifts created by the PierPass OffPeak program to relieve daytime congestion in and around the ports, the ports said, and provides a financial incentive to move cargo during less congested times.

Fitch Ratings gave a 'AA' rating to the Massachusetts Port Authority's $285 million in series 2012-A and 2012-B revenue bonds. It also affirmed other Massport ratings, citing the port's "very strong operational profile." Fitch said "strong economic underpinnings of the service area supports healthy demand for Massport's transportation and commerce related business lines."

The Federal Maritime Commission "should produce a thorough, transparent, and credible evaluation of relevant information available to us" about whether the Harbor Maintenance Tax is diverting U.S. cargo through Canadian and Mexican ports, said FMC Commissioner Rebecca Dye, speaking at the Canadian American Business Council June 7. The evaluation was requested last year by members of the Washington State congressional delegation (see ITT's Online Archives 11110364).

The Port of Oakland said it's initiating impasse actions in an effort to negotiate a new contract with Service Employees International Local 1021. It said the impasse action enables the Port to move negotiations forward toward a constructive resolution. The old agreement, which expired June 30, 2011, is for 250 employees in the areas of janitorial, maintenance and security. The Port and SEIU had signed a tentative contract agreement in March, but it was rejected by SEIU members. Beginning the impasse action was approved by the Board of Port Commissioners. Impasse actions include mediation, and could take several months, the port said.

The Port of Long Beach budget for FY 2013 will be $942 million, up 12 percent over the past year, with growing investment in facilities and infrastructure modernization, the Board of Harbor Commissioners voted June 4. The budget includes $720 million in capital spending, up 14 percent, mainly due to two already-begun construction projects: the Middle Harbor Terminal Project and preliminary work for the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge. Because of the current weakness in global trade, the spending plan reduces non-staff related operating costs by 5 percent. Over the next decade, the Port plans to spend $4.4 billion to modernize its facilities, including Middle Harbor. The 2013 budget adds 25 positions at the Port, mainly to support the increased construction activity.

The International Association of Ports and Harbors urged nations to ratify the International Maritime Organization's bilge water management (BWM) convention, in a resolution adopted at the IAPH mid-term conference last month in Jerusalem. It said the BWM convention should "be in effect as international unified code rather than various different standards established by individual States."

The Port of Antwerp International ("PAI") will make an investment of about Rs 175 crore (about $31 million) in Essar Ports, the firms said. PAI is the international investing arm of the Antwerp Port Authority. Under the deal, the Antwerp Port Authority and Essar Ports will collaborate in the areas of training and consultancy services, port planning, traffic flow, quality and productivity improvement and will further build a mutually beneficial commercial relationship based on mutual business and investment preferences. Both Essar Ports and PAI will mutually assist in the growth in the volume of their businesses, they said. PAI will have the right to nominate a director on the board of Essar Ports.