Container traffic at the Port of Long Beach dropped 13 percent in April compared to the same period a year ago, the port said. But it said analysts continue to forecast modest growth in trade for 2012, and the Port of Long Beach announced three new lines of vessels from Asia that will begin calling at the Port later this month. Combined, the three services are expected to add as much as 500,000 TEUs, or twenty-foot equivalent container units, through the remainder of the year, it said. For April, Port terminals handled 461,911 TEUs compared to 531,090 TEUs in April 2011. Imports were down 13.8 percent to 232,963 TEUs, and exports were down 16.2 percent to 120,452 TEUs, it said. The port said the decreases were partly due to the elimination of several niche service lines that had called at the Port last year. Empty container moves were down 7.5 percent to 108,496 TEUs compared to 117,300 a year ago.
The Port of Long Beach officially launched its $1.2 billion project to build an advanced terminal that will feature modern and clean technologies to move cargo. The Middle Harbor project, just across a narrow slip from the Long Beach Container Terminal, is part of a 40-year, $4.6 billion agreement under which the Port will lease to OOCL and LBCT the redeveloped terminal (see ITT Online Archives [Ref.12040514]). The event May 14 included a ceremonial lease signing. The Middle Harbor modernization project will combine two older facilities, LBCT's existing terminal and a nearby, vacated facility, into one container terminal that officials said will reduce air pollution by half even as trade could more than double. As the project progresses, Long Beach Container Terminal, the local subsidiary of OOCL, will expand from its current 90-acre facility to the new, 304-acre terminal with the ability to berth the largest modern ships.
Major improvements at the Port of New Orleans' Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal were dedicated May 11. The improvements, including new gantry cranes and an additional 4.5 acres of marshalling area, represent a $36.4 million investment. The state funded $30 million of the total project investment. The terminal is operated by Ports America and New Orleans Terminal, which is a joint venture between shipping line Mediterranean Shipping Co., or MSC, and terminal operator Ceres Gulf Inc. Major ocean carriers -- including MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA-CGM, Seaboard Marine, Maersk, CSAV and Zim -- use the terminal. The expansion gives the Port of New Orleans the the capacity to handle about 640,000 TEUs, or twenty-foot equivalency units, per year, up from 594,000 TEUs per year. The Port of New Orleans has an expansion footprint at the Napoleon Avenue container Terminal that will support more than 1.2 million containers per year with continued investment.
The port of Dunkirk, France, chose MGI to set up the AP+ Port Community System by spring 2013, replacing Gemini, the port information system created and managed by the economic interest group GECOM, officials said. Patrick Nerrière, president of GECOM, said the choice was made "to improve the competitiveness of the community and its reactivity when faced with a constantly evolving logistics chain".
Bulk Handling USA said it signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 100% ownership of U.S. United Bulk Terminal. The Mississippi River terminal is the largest dry bulk export terminal on the Gulf Coast, participating in coal and petroleum coke international supply chains. Subject to conditions, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012.
The Port of San Francisco plans a half-day seminar for those interested in learning about the benefits of the Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ) program beginning at 8:30 a.m. June 7 at Pier 1, the Port's office in San Francisco, it said. Topics are to include an overview of the FTZ program, types of companies that can benefit, financial savings opportunities, the application process, and compliance issues. Facilitating the seminar will be Scott Taylor of Miller & Co., a law firm serving a diverse clientele in international trade, customs and FTZ law.
The team headed by Shimmick Construction, FCC Construction and Impregilo is the apparent "best value" proposer for the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project design-build contract at the Port of Long Beach, port authority officials announced May 4. The project bid is $649.5 million. Port staffers expect to submit a recommendation May 14 to the port's Board of Harbor Commissioners to consider a "notice of intent" to award the contract. A decision by the board is expected in late June, with work to start in early 2013. The total cost of the bridge replacement project is estimated at about $1 billion, including site preparation, demolition and other considerations.
The Port of Los Angeles said it became the first seaport in North America and the Pacific Rim to adopt an international clean air program that rewards ocean carriers for bringing their newest and cleanest vessels to the Port. The Harbor Commissioners voted May 3 to approve an Environmental Ship Index (ESI) program to take effect July 1. Fourteen European ports have adopted the program.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Los Angeles port sent out a public bulletin on proposed revisions to the California Cartage Company Trade Enforcement Centralized Examination Stations (CES) fee schedule. The revisions, if approved by the Port Director, will be effective after a 30 calendar day public comment period, the bulletin said. The California Cartage Company seeks to include a traffic mitigation fee increase and a modification to "equipment control" policy, the bulletin said.
Fitch Ratings affirmed Port of Los Angeles revenue bond rating at 'AA', saying the rating outlook is stable. Factors it cited included: POLA's "premier position" as the nation's largest container port; its resilient revenue stream; its flexible capital program; and its "strong financial profile."