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‍COS Weekly Newsletter - Friday, 17 December 2021 |
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Draft environmental assessment conditions for Roberts Terminal 2 released
 The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is holding a public comment period on the environmental assessment for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project. The Agency is now inviting the public and Indigenous groups to comment on additional information provided by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority through to February 13, 2022 that specifically addresses the potential effects to fish and fish habitat, species at risk such as the Southern Resident killer whale, biofilm, and potential effects to human health and the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes. The Agency is also inviting comments on the potential environmental assessment conditions for the project. Final conditions would become legally-binding on the proponent if the Minister ultimately issues a decision statement indicating the project may proceed.
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CSL successfully completes B100 biofuel tests
 In late November 2021, CSL successfully completed the world’s longest-running trials of B100 biodiesel on marine engines, accumulating nearly 30,000 running hours. Conducted on half of CSL’s Canadian fleet, the tests resulted in a 23% total fleet life cycle reduction of CO2 as compared to marine gas oil (MGO).  During the trials, conducted in partnership with Canada Clean Fuels and with the collaboration of Sterling Fuels, 14,000 tonnes of MGO, a fossil fuel, was substituted for 100% bio-content second-generation biofuel, requiring no modification to existing ship equipment.
CSL’s biofuel trials were conducted on eight ships over a period of six months under a Transport Canada testing protocol. The B100 biodiesel was tested on main and auxiliary engines and required no modification to existing equipment. Sourced in North America, the biofuel used was produced entirely from waste plant material. Emissions reductions were calculated through the Canadian government life cycle emission tool GHGenius.
CSL President and CEO, Louis Martel, is encouraging the International Marine Organization, the Government of Canada and governments around the world to recognize the credible impact of biofuels as an interim solution in reducing emissions, and to support and implement a cost-competitive framework that promotes its use and secures supply.
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National Supply Chain Summit to be convened in early 2022
 The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, announced earlier this week that he will host a National Supply Chain Summit in early 2022. This summit will bring together industry, shippers and organizations that operate critical infrastructure to discuss how to better streamline Canada’s supply chain. Facilitating open discussions will allow the Government of Canada to identify ways to mitigate supply chain pressures, and to encourage partners to come up with innovative solutions that will enable a swift recovery of Canada’s transportation supply chain following major disruptions and natural disasters.
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Change of leadership for Canadian Coast Guard in Western Canada
 This week, Assistant Commissioner Roger Girouard retired from the Canadian Coast Guard after over 40 years in public service in the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy. During his tenure in the Canadian Coast Guard, his leadership was instrumental in introducing new capabilities, building-up the workforce, responding to several significant incidents, implementing the Oceans Protection Plan, and advancing positive relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Roger's proactive and direct approach with the marine industry was refreshing and helped to shape pragmatic solutions.
Derek Moss has been named the new Assistant Commissioner and will lead the Western regional team. Before joining the region, Derek was the Senior Director Fleet in Central region, where he managed the Coast Guard’s vessel and aircraft fleets in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, northern gulf of St. Lawrence, Hudson Bay, and Arctic waters. Derek served in National Headquarters in Ottawa as the Senior Director Operational Support, responsible for policy on fleet readiness and requirements, icebreaking program, Aids to Navigation and Waterways, and Marine Communications and Traffic Services. Previously in the Coast Guard, Derek was the Director, Incident Management and subsequently the Director, Maritime Security and Intelligence. Prior to joining the Coast Guard, Derek served in the Royal Canadian Navy and was Commanding Officer of the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Regina.
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Ocean carriers asked to support US agricultural exports
 Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg issued a letter urging the world’s leading ocean carriers to help mitigate disruptions to agricultural shippers of US exports and urging the world’s leading ocean carriers to reform their practices to provide better service to US agricultural exporters. The letter specifically referenced the need to expand use of available West Coast terminal capacity and to “restore reciprocal treatment of imports and exports [which] is inherent in trade.”
The Port of Oakland, Port of Portland and other West Coast ports have excess capacity to alleviate supply chain congestion, the cabinet members state. Particularly, the suspension of service by ocean carriers at the Port of Oakland earlier this year has required agricultural exporters to truck their harvests to the already heavily congested Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. While ships must dwell for several days in San Pedro Bay to berth at Southern California ports, other West Coast ports are less congested and berths more readily available.
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US biggest export is air
 The US has exported more empty shipping containers this year than any single good, according to a MarketWatch report. Surging US import rates incentivized carriers to skip American-made exports and hurry back to Asia resulting in US agriculture exports dropping by 22% in 2021, increasing the US trade deficit to record highs of over $81 billion in September. In the first 10 months of the year, over 59% of shipping containers that left the nation's 9 largest ports were empty, according to data collected by MarketWatch. The publication found that the US exported about 12.1 million empty shipping containers from January to October of this year.
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Industry sets up Crew Enhanced Quarantine International Program
 Shipowners, seafarers’ unions and maritime employer groups are establishing their own approved international network of quarantine facilities to ensure seafarers can safely join ships, despite unpredictable changes to border policies. The Crew Enhanced Quarantine International Program (#CrewEQUIP) is a partnership between the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC); the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS); and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). Under the #CrewEQUIP scheme, shipping companies and their representatives such as crewing agents and vessel managers are able to sponsor pre-embarkation quarantine facilities for seafarers to be considered for recognition. Facilities must meet #CrewEQUIP’s stringent standards for hygiene, testing integrity and data security and must pass inspections by Lloyd’s Register. From Thursday. December 16, shipowners, shipping companies and their representatives will be able to access an online booking portal to nominate pre-embarkation quarantine facilities.
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Scrubber system successfully captures carbon
 Finland’s Langh Tech has completed its initial carbon-capture test on board one of the vessels in sister company Langh Ship’s fleet, utilizing the existing Langh Tech hybrid scrubber installed on board. The company report that attempts to capture carbon onboard vessels using a fuel scrubber system are proving successful in early tests, with a 7% reduction in CO 2 emissions which the firm believes can be improved to as much as 15%. In the tests, additional alkali was added to the scrubber closed loop process water in order to provoke a reaction between the alkali and CO2, effectively capturing the CO2 from the exhaust gas into the process water. The CO2 capture feature could be applied to any Langh Tech closed loop or hybrid scrubber systems with relatively low cost impact, with only minor changes to the existing scrubber system. The process could be performed with readily available alkali products such as NaOH and MgOH2, which are both already being used in many SOx scrubber processes.
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Mercy Ships and MSC recognize 10-year partnership
 This month MSC Group and Mercy Ships are celebrating a unique ten-year partnership focused on bringing hope and healing in Africa.  Mercy Ships is an international charity that uses hospital ships to provide free healthcare services and medical capacity building for poor and underserved communities without easy access to medical facilities, providing lifesaving and life-changing surgeries for thousands. The MSC Group and MSC Foundation's success has directly benefited Mercy Ships with increased support and additional resources over the past 10 years. Through the years Mercy Ships has had over 500 containers transported free of charge, including logistical support and inland transportation services by the MSC Group. In addition, MSC Cruises has provided best practice and ship management expertise to support the Mercy Ships crew. Thanks to this comprehensive end-to-end support, now led and coordinated by the MSC Foundation, Mercy Ships has been able to perform 19,740 surgeries and 218,100 dental procedures during the partnership, while providing medical training for 15,150 participants.
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‍
Dec 27 - Office Closed
Jan 3 - Office Closed
Jan 11 - ICS Board of Directors Meeting
Jan 12 - Plimsoll Club Board of Directors Meeting @ 1200
Jan 12 - COS Board of Directors Meeting @ 1200
Jan 13 - VMAA Board of Directors Meeting @ 1200
Jan 18 - ISSC Board of Directors Meeting @ 1200
Jan 20 - COS Operations Committee Meeting @1300
Jan 26 - WMCC PACMAR/NANS Meeting @ 1000
Jan 28 - COS Liner Committee Meeting @ 0900 |
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Dec 17 - Island KwigwisThis week BC Ferries revealed the name of its latest Island Class Ferry at a naming ceremony at its fleet maintenance facility in Richmond, BC. Island Kwigwis is the newest vessel to join the fleet and will begin service in the spring of 2022, allowing for two-ship operation on the Nanaimo Harbour – Gabriola Island route.
The name Kwigwis, which means "eagle of the sea," was selected with support from the 'Na̲mg̲is First Nation and celebrates the beauty of the journey and the important connection to coastal communities. Today's ceremony began with a few words from BC Ferries and Damen Shipyards, followed by the unveiling of the ships' name, and the christening of the hull.
In keeping with maritime tradition, BC Ferries selected sponsors for each of the ships. These roles are important – each sponsor bestows the ship with good luck and protection for all those who travel on them. Each Island Class ship has a community sponsor and a sponsor from the BC Ferries family. Chief Bill Cranmer from 'Na̲mg̲is First Nation christened Island Kwigwis along with Linda Provost, Planning and Business Advisor with BC Ferries.
Island Class ferries have the capacity to carry up to 47 vehicles and up to 450 passengers and crew. They are battery equipped ships designed for future full electric operation. The ships are fitted with hybrid technology that bridges the gap until shore charging infrastructure and funding becomes available in B.C. From the exterior details to the engines, the design of the new vessels reduces underwater radiated noise, lowers emissions and improves customer service. |
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