The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's ECHO Program celebrates its five-year anniversary as it begins another season of voluntary measures including a ship slowdown at Swiftsure Bank and a lateral displacement in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, while a third initiative at Haro Strait and Boundary Pass will be activated upon confirmation of southern resident killer whale presence in the area. To date, over 80 shipping organizations have participated in the ECHO Program’s initiatives and more than six thousand ships have either slowed down or stayed distanced within southern resident killer whale critical habitat, reducing underwater sound intensity by nearly 50% during its initiatives. 

Congratulations go out to the 13 shipping lines, four coastal marine operators and two terminal operators who were recognized for voluntary efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions at the Port of Vancouver. The port authority’s Blue Circle awards were presented to port customers that excel in environmental stewardship and attain the highest level of participation in the port authority’s voluntary environmental programs such as the EcoAction Program and the Energy Action Initiative.  Since 2007, the port authority’s EcoAction Program has provided discounts of up to 47% on harbour dues for ship operators who follow environmental best practices. In 2020, over 750 vessels were awarded with an EcoAction discount, saving nearly $1.6 million in harbour dues. Click here to see the full list of winners.

The largest quay crane in Canada has been delivered to DP World's Fairview Container Terminal in Prince Rupert this week after a month-long voyage from Shanghai. Equipped to service the largest vessels afloat, the ZPMC crane comes with the latest technology and energy efficiency available.

As part of the Expansion Project for Trans Mountain, work has started on a 2.6-km tunnel connecting the Burnaby Terminal with Westridge Marine Terminal. Tunneling began at the Westridge Marine Terminal on May 26, 2021, following a year of preparatory activities and more than six years of planning, design and regulatory processes related to this portion of the Project. The new tunnel, at more than four metres in diameter, will contain three 30-inch delivery pipelines to load vessels at Westridge Marine Terminal.

Green Marine has released the performance report for a total of 169 self-evaluations for 2020 operations. The report shows progress being made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ship owners, ports, and terminals as well as significant progress in reducing underwater noise with almost a third of applicable ship owners having installed quieting technologies. Other measurables include spill prevention and stormwater management, and a new ship recycling indicator that was added to the 2020 program. The 2020 Annual Performance Report can be found here.

The Port Alberni Port Authority (PAPA) and San Group Incorporated (San Group) have reached an agreement for the operation of PAPA’s Port Alberni Shipping Terminals’ Berth 3 dock and adjacent land facilities. Under the agreement San Group, which is British Columbia’s largest and premier value-added wood products manufacturer, will operate the shipping activities of Berth 3 and invest more than $15 million in various facilities and equipment upgrades, such as storage silos and dockside cranes. PAPA will support the operational transition over the next year by providing expertise while San Group will immediately begin work to improve the operational efficiencies of the facility required to meet the company’s increasing export needs and the additional shipping opportunities available in the evolving post-pandemic global marketplace.

LNG Canada has committed $750,000 over three years to support the expansion of Ocean Wise’s North Coast killer whale and humpback whale conservation research programs and to deliver ocean literacy programs to Kitimat and Terrace-area schools. Program highlights include surveys of the relative abundance and distribution of cetacean species in the Chatham Sound region; drone-based aerial photography; a real-time alert system to inform commercial mariners aboard large vessels of nearby whales to enable them to take action to reduce the risk of collision or disturbance; promotion of the BC Cetacean Sightings Network and the Whale Report App; and work with local educators, Indigenous leaders, school boards, researchers and community leaders on ocean literacy programs specific to students in the Kitimat and Terrace regions.

DP World (Canada) Inc. has signed a long-term agreement with New Gold Inc. to facilitate the export of copper concentrate through DP World Fraser Surrey using rotating containers. New Gold will be the first mining company in North America to use the Intermodal Solutions Group rotating containers system, from mine to vessel. Fully sealed containers will be rotated 180 degrees within the hold of the vessel to unload the contents rather than using the traditional bulk ship loader. A mobile dust suppression unit is fitted around the rim of each vessel hatch emitting water mist to mitigate dust levels. In addition to concentrates, the ‘rotainer’ technology can be used with sulfur, wood pellets, fertilizer and grains. By keeping bulk products contained, from mine to ship, there is no product damage or loss and the risk of environmental contamination during transport and loading is dramatically reduced. The new operation at the DP World Fraser Surrey marine terminal is expected to begin in early 2022.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced $600,000 in funding for 10 new initiatives under the Indigenous Guardians Pilot. Guardians act as the “eyes and ears on the ground.” These initiatives will enable First Nations to monitor ecological health, maintain cultural sites, and protect sensitive areas and species, while creating jobs. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Indigenous leadership in conservation to help protect ecosystems, species and cultures for future generations. Budget 2021 proposes to invest an additional $2.3 billion to conserve nature, including by continuing to support Indigenous Guardians.

Transport Canada is seeking input into a draft version of Voluntary Guidance for Relevant Authorities on In-Water Cleaning of Vessels. The guidance is directed to authorities that manage port operations and identifies best practices for in-water hull cleaning for vessels over 24 metres. Currently, there are no regulations that specifically cover this activity. The roles and responsibilities for service providers, vessel owners and operators included in the document will assist authorities in determining whether in-water cleaning can be performed safely without harming the ecosystem. Consultations will run from June 3rd to August 2nd, 2021 via Let’s Talk Transportation.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance's Terminal 5 in the Seattle Harbor is awaiting the arrival of four ZPMC Super-Post Panamax Cranes which left Shanghai for the West Coast on May 23. Traveling on the Zhen Hua 36, the cranes have a month-long voyage before settling in at their new home at Terminal 5. SSA Marine, a partner in the Terminal 5 project, is the owner and future operator of the new ZPMC cranes. Standing 316 feet tall with a 240-foot outreach boom, these cranes will be among the largest on the West Coast and able to handle the biggest container vessels operating in the world once Terminal 5 is completed early next year.

International crews arriving at both the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles are receiving the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine in a partnership between the Ports, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services and the National Guard.  So far, 452 crewmembers on 27 ships visiting San Pedro Bay have voluntarily received a vaccine, with 477 more sailors aboard 29 ships booked. The new initiative ensures the health of workers who deliver essential goods during the ongoing pandemic, utilizing a mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit for those on board vessels calling on San Pedro Bay. The program administers the vaccine to visiting crews at no charge.

With the discovery of several asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 in Shenzen, shipping firms are warning clients of shipment delays out of Yantian International Container Terminal (YICT), one of China's busiest container ports. Tracking data on Thursday showed more than 40 container ships anchored in open water outside the terminal. Top international container lines said they would be skipping some port calls to Yantian to ease pressures and some vessels may be re-routed to other destinations.

The Nautical Institute has introduced a new online course -- Maritime Cyber Awareness for Seafarers -- to help crew members identify and report cyber risks. The Institute’s course provides valuable evidence that crew members have received training to address cyber risks under new IMO requirements introduced this year. These requirements call on shipping companies to address cyber risks in their safety management systems (SMS). The course is offered in a three-hour module comprising video content, supplementary reading material and a 20-question self test. Click here for more information.

Twenty-three governments, including Canada, Australia, the U.S., the U.K.,  South American and European countries, are spearheading a 10-year plan to drive global investment in research and development to make clean energy affordable, attractive and accessible for all, and accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement. Efforts will initially focus on power systems, shipping, and hydrogen, and a new global Platform for insights, collaborations and Incubators to maximize national investments. Titled Mission Innovation 2.0, the initiative is the second phase of the global Mission Innovation launched at the Paris Agreement at the 2015 COP21 conference.

Delivered on May 28, 2021 to Valles Steamship Company, Limited, the M.T. Seaguardian is a 112,000 DWT crude oil Aframax Tanker built by Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering Co., Ltd. (SHIME). M.T. Seaguardian is classed by NK, MI flagged and is chartered to Trafigura.  Similar to the ceremony in February 2021 for its sister vessel, the M.T. Searhythm, Valles conducted this naming and delivery virtually given continued pandemic restrictions.  

Flag: Marshall Islands
Gross Tonnage: 60,172
DWT: 111,963 mt
Length Overall: 237m
Breadth Extreme: 44m
Year Built: 2021