The Chamber of Shipping has been working with local health authorities and industry partners to support the vaccination of seafarers arriving at west coast ports. Over the past week and a half clinicians visited five vessels in the Lower Mainland and vaccinated just over 75 crew members.  Three vessels were boarded at anchor in English Bay in a trial with Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Ceres Global. Tymac Launch delivered the team and vaccines safely to these vessels for the trial.  While we are continuing to adapt the program to support the efficient delivery of vaccines to the seafarers, we are pleased that Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health authorities continue to be flexible in supporting this activity.  Contact our office or Ceres Global for more information on upcoming dates over the next two weeks.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is undertaking a competitive process to select an operator to provide tug services for Roberts Bank which will operate from the Roberts Bank Tug Basin located at Berth 3 at the Deltaport terminal. Through this competitive process, the VFPA intends to select an operator who is aligned with its values and committed to providing efficient and competitive operational capabilities and service standards to serve trade-enabling vessels visiting Roberts Bank. The arrangement will be in effect commencing on or around July 2022.  Further details regarding this opportunity can be found on BC Bids.

The Board of Directors of the BC Maritime Employers Association advised that its member companies will be observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, September 30th as a working holiday for Longshore and Foremen.  All waterfront activities will continue to operate as usual and this day will be treated in the same manner as all other recognized holidays for those required to work.

Canadian dry bulk operator, Fednav Limited, has signed an agreement with Sumisho Marine Co., Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation Group) and Oshima Shipbuilding to build ten new ocean-going lakers. The ships will be built at Oshima shipyard in Japan, with the first vessel expected to be delivered in mid-2023. The new Fednav-Oshima designed super-eco Lakers represent the most efficient vessels to date for Fednav. Carbon emissions will be 33% less than the vessels they will replace, including a Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) footprint at least 87% smaller. They will be equipped with the latest technology, including Tier III engines and the capability of burning biofuels. The new lakers will support Fednav's sustainability goals, making them an essential asset for the future.

As part of Seaspan Ferries’ efforts to reduce fleet emissions and explore alternative, low-carbon technologies, the company will pilot battery-powered trucks procured with the support of the Province of British Columbia and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. Seaspan Ferries Corporation has placed an order for the first Terberg battery powered terminal trucks in North America, as the company continues efforts to reduce its air emissions and improve local air quality. Two European-manufactured Terberg YT203-EV 222 kWh electric terminal trucks have been ordered and are expected to be delivered in December 2021. The new Terberg battery-powered trucks will form part of a pilot project to demonstrate the high efficiency, reliability, and cost-effective performance of battery-powered trucks.  Further details can be found here.

The Mission to Seafarers' annual cycling event held on Saturday, August 28th saw great support despite ever-changing rules as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions.  A small group of cyclists joined in the 40km and 60km ride to end the summer-long fundraiser.  Winning the team fundraising challenge this year was the Pacific Pilotage Authority, followed by a new entrant this year, Saga Welco. Individual leaders for fundraising for 2021 were Jane Dittrich and Scott Galloway.  Great job to all of those that participated and sponsored the event!

The Government of Canada has issued a Travel Advisory confirming that it will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals meeting the conditions to enter Canada for discretionary (non-essential) purposes starting at 12:01 am EDT on September 7, 2021. Asymptomatic travellers must have received, and show proof of, the full series of a vaccine — or combination of vaccines — accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to entering Canada and have a valid pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or their arrival at the land border crossing, or a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days before departure to Canada.  Antigen tests, often called “rapid tests,” are not accepted. 

The White House announced that John D. Porcari will be the Port Envoy to the Biden-Harris Administration Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. The Task Force was established in June to address supply and demand mismatches that emerged in several sectors as the economy reawakened following the Administration’s historic vaccination and economic relief efforts. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg leads the Task Force focussed on ports and trucking issues. The Task Force’s leadership includes Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on food and agriculture and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on homebuilding and semiconductors. Envoy Porcari will work closely with Secretary Buttigieg and his team at the Department of Transportation as well as the National Economic Council to address the congestion at US ports.

The US Surface Transportation Board (STB) has blocked Canadian National Railway's proposal to create a voting trust in its bid to acquire Kansas City Southern.  The STB determined that the voting trust "is not consistent with the public interest standard under the board’s merger regulations."  The STB’s unanimous decision throws into question CN’s US$29.8-billion bid and reopens the option for CP Rail to re-enter the battle to build a network that links Canada, the United States and Mexico.  CP Rail has indicated that KCS has until Sept. 12 to accept its US$27.2 billion deal. In a letter to CN’s board on Tuesday, TCI Fund Management, CN's second-largest investor is calling into question the management team in view of its lagging financial performance and unsuccessful pursuit of KCS.

Washington state's ferry service is facing a potential slow down over Labour Day weekend when crew members are expected to stage "sickouts" in response to the state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Sickouts are expected on all ferry routes by ferry workers who are opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate requiring state employees, health care employees and K-12 employees to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. In response to the potential protest, the state ferry system has shut down ferry reservations for the weekend.

Norwegian Azane Fuel Solutions and its partners have secured a $10m grant from the Norwegian government for the development and establishment of what will become the world's first terminal for green ammonia bunkering. The project partners, spanning the entire value chain for ammonia as a marine fuel, will develop and demonstrate an ammonia fuel bunkering network for ships, enabling cost-efficient and safe distribution, storage, transfer, and utilization of ammonia as a carbon-free fuel.

As the International Day of Charity (Sunday, September 5, 2021) draws closer, Mercy Ships has announced that the Global Mercy completed its journey through the Suez Canal. The Global Mercy, the newest hospital ship of Mercy Ships, is in the last leg of the journey to the Port of Antwerp, where it will be further equipped and crewed. The ship is scheduled to arrive mid-September in Belgium and remain until early next year. The Senegalese and Egyptian governments facilitated the passage of the Global Mercy through the Suez Canal, so that the ship could pass through free of charge. This unique gesture allows Mercy Ships to save many thousands of extra lives in Africa in the long run.  The Port of Antwerp has made the arrival of the Global Mercy in Antwerp possible by offering a free berth and support. Volunteers from home and abroad will set up and finish the Global Mercy, the largest private hospital ship in the world. This includes the installation of medical equipment and IT systems, as well as the supply and crewing of the ship for its first mission.  During its missions, the Global Mercy can accommodate 950 people, including 641 crew members, who consist of volunteers from all over the world. In addition to the hospital, the ship also has first-class training facilities with which Mercy Ships contributes to the sustainable development of local medical care in many countries.

Built in 2021, the Grande California is among the largest and most eco-friendly car carriers in the world. With a length of 199.9 metres and a beam of 36.45 metres, the Grande California has a gross tonnage of 65,255 tonnes and a service speed of 19 knots. The Italian-flagged ship can transport around 7,600 CEU (Car Equivalent Units) or, alternatively, 5,400 linear metres of rolling stock and 2,737 CEU. With her four hoistable decks, the Grande California is an extremely flexible vessel: besides cars, she is able to transport any type of rolling freight (cars, vans, trucks, tractors, buses, excavators, etc.) up to 5.3 metres high. The side ramp and quarter stern ramp allow the loading of freight units weighing up to 150 tonnes, while the configuration of her 12 decks and the system of internal ramps minimize the risk of damage to the cargo during loading and unloading operations. Also with respect to environmental sustainability, the Grande California is a state-of-the-art ship: in fact, she is equipped with devices that allow her to reduce harmful emissions and achieve high energy efficiency. These include an electronically-controlled Man Energy Solutions main engine, as required by the new regulations for the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, as well as an exhaust gas cleaning system for cutting sulphur oxide (SOx) and particulate emissions. In addition, she complies with the latest ballast water treatment regulations.