On November 18th the Yara Birkeland, an 80m long battery-electric container ship, took its first and only trip to Oslo before it is put into regular operation in Norway. We featured this vessel as our Ship of the Week when it was in it conceptual phase, so we are pleased to see that she had...Read More
On Wednesday, the MSC Altair broke free from its moorings and grounded on Digby Island after being hammered by strong winds in Prince Rupert. There were no reported injuries, pollution or cargo loss and several SAAM tugs assisted in refloating the vessel after the winds subsided. Prince Rupert, along with the remainder of the North...Read More
The Mexican Federal Economic Competition Commission and the Mexican Federal Telecommunications Institute have given regulatory approval of the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern. Industry observers will now be turning their eyes onto US regulators, with the Surface Transportation Board just giving its approval of CP’s and KCS’ merger application. The board will...Read More
Following recent mudslides and flooding that occurred early last week and after some amazing collaboration by the federal and provincial government and railways, both CP and CN eastbound and westbound trains resumed restricted operations on CP’s mainline between Vancouver and Kamloops. CN anticipates the opening of their mainline late tonight, barring ongoing issues with water...Read More
November has been seafarer vaccination month in Nanaimo. Foreign seafarers calling Port of Nanaimo have obtained Covid-19 vaccinations at berth and at anchor over the last few weeks. Island Health in partnership with Nanaimo Port Authority (NPA) is offering vaccines (Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) within the port authority’s jurisdiction. The initiative is free of...Read More
On October 4, 2021, Canada Border Services Agency’s Pacific Region Intelligence Section, with assistance from the Agency’s National Targeting Centre, identified a container of interest and referred it for examination. Using a wide range of detection tools and technology, and upon physical inspection, CBSA noted discrepancies in the packaging and the substance within the bags....Read More
The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and the Minister of Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Bill Blair, announced that the Government of Canada is contributing up to $4.1 million to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority under the National Trade Corridors Fund to provide relief in the aftermath of the floods in British Columbia. The...Read More
A new Dutch foldable container technology will be tested in Chicago in January 2022 that could demonstrate how to reduce empty container handling moves at ports for trucking and rail while reducing the need for empty container storage at container terminals and on ships. The demonstration include the unloading of four import containers and folding...Read More
US Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has named the second vessel of interest in its investigation into the anchor-dragging incident that occurred in close proximity to a subsea pipeline, which was subsequently discovered to be the source of the Orange County oil spill on October 2, 2021. The USCG has determined that...Read More
The US Coast Guard is conducting a Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study (PAC-PARS). The PAC-PARS will consider whether existing or additional routing measures are necessary to improve navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential offshore development, current port capabilities and planned improvements, increased vessel traffic, existing and potential anchorage areas, changing...Read More
The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Canada Branch held their annual Dry Bulk and Commodities Conference and pub night on Nov. 18th. It was their first in-person event since November 2019, and the near sell-out crowd, following all the requirements for vaccinations and masks, clearly enjoyed the irreplaceable in-person interactions throughout the day. The breadth of...Read More
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have moved in to remove indigenous protesters at the site of TC Energy Corp’s Coastal GasLink pipeline in British Columbia. The Gidimt’en clan of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation provided notice Sunday morning that it would be blockading the main road into the Lhudis Bin territory that afternoon. Hereditary chiefs from...Read More
A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S has issued its first-ever green bond raising 500 million euros ($566 million). It’s the first time since 2018 that the company has turned to the euro market for debt financing. Maersk has made clear it wants to move faster than competitors in decarbonizing its business, as investors start to shift capital away from...Read More
The Biden administration has endorsed proposed legislation that would dramatically change how container shipping is regulated and urged maritime regulators to challenge ocean carrier alliance agreements if they violate the Shipping Act. Congressman John Garamendi’s House Resolution 4996, also known as the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, aims to require ocean carriers to adhere to minimum...Read More
A fire broke out in the engine room on HMCS Fredericton early Thursday morning as the Canadian frigate was leading several other NATO warships in a training exercise off the coast of Norway. The fire was quickly extinguished by the crew and there were no injuries. The Fredericton was leading three other NATO warships from...Read More
The Government of Canada has announced changes to its border measures effective from November 30, 2021. Fully vaccinated individuals with right of entry to Canada who depart and re-enter the country within 72 hours of leaving Canada will no longer be required to present a pre-entry molecular test. Also the list of COVID-19 vaccines that...Read More
The Government of Canada has purchased a commercial light icebreaker from New Brunswick-based Atlantic Towing for $45 million. The Mangystau-2, docked in the port of Hazar in Turkmenistan on the Caspian Sea, will eventually join the CCGS Griffon and CCGS Samuel Risley in icebreaking duties, and it will tend to navigational buoys in Great Lakes,...Read More
Massive mudslides and severe flooding as a result of torrential rainfall have crippled the Province of British Columbia as major road and rail networks have been heavily impacted. Rescue efforts of people, the movement of machinery and equipment, and the re-supply of essential goods continue to be a priority in the emergency response. The assessment...Read More
Another attempt will be made this Sunday to dislodge a barge that washed up on rocks at Sunset Beach as a result of a severe windstorm on Nov. 15. According to the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) the empty barge owned by Sentry Marine Towing based out of Richmond broke loose from its mooring and drifted...Read More
The Mission to Seafarers has presented the Pacific Pilotage Authority with the Top Fundraising Team trophy for this year’s Cycling for Seafarers event. Receiving the trophy from Rev. Peter Smythe and Don MacInnes is Capt. Kevin Obermeyer, President & CEO of the Pacific Pilotage Authority. The team that also included Brian Young and Paulo Ekkebus...Read More
On November 4, the methanol carrier “Capilano Sun”, which can run on either heavy oil or low-environmental impact methanol fuel, was delivered at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. Hisafuku Kisen K.K. and Vancouver-based Waterfront Shipping Company Limited will charter the vessel from MOL under a long-term contract. MOL is one of the largest operators for methanol carriers,...Read More
Two Federal Maritime Commissioners have raised concerns about the planned acquisition of Ports America by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), which has previously been a minority investor in the company. In a letter to Janet L Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury Department of the Treasury, they voice their concern on the potential...Read More
As southern resident killer whales have been seen several times by trusted observers in the slowdown area in the last two weeks, the vessel slowdowns in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass will be extended for an additional two weeks and conclude on November 30, 2021. On December 1, an email will be issued to participants...Read More
In a landmark moment for maritime workers the formation of a Just Transition Maritime Task Force has been agreed to drive decarbonization of the industry and support millions of seafarers through shipping’s green transition. The task force will push forward shipping’s climate goals while protecting its works and their communities, ensuring opportunity for all. It...Read More
As part of the Administration’s ongoing efforts to address disruptions to the global supply chain the Biden-Harris Administration has announced its Port Action Plan. This plan is a set of concrete steps to accelerate investment in our ports, waterways, and freight networks. This action plan will increase federal flexibilities for port grants; accelerate port infrastructure...Read More
Canada is one of the signatory nations on the ‘Clydebank Declaration’ launched at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. The Declaration supports the installation of at least six green corridors by 2025, that will require support for zero-emission fuels, the infrastructure required for carbon-neutral shipping and regulatory frameworks. The declaration stated, “It is our collective...Read More
Meeting in the margins of the Shaping the Future of Shipping conference in Glasgow, the Deputy Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, and the Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping met to discuss funding options for the proposed ‘IMO Maritime Research Fund’ (IMRF). A key...Read More
The Southern California shipping industry will limit the number of ships allowed to drop anchor directly off the coast starting Nov. 16 to improve safety and reduce emissions as the number of container ships and other types of vessels waiting at anchor reached 92 ships earlier this week. The plan will require eastbound ships to...Read More
The Musqueam Indian Band and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority have signed a historic relationship agreement creating a framework for a long-term, meaningful relationship. The multi-faceted, long-term agreement reframes their working relationship to better deliver on joint commitments. Through this agreement, the parties will work together to uphold the rights of Musqueam and move towards...Read More
The Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) signed a strategic alliance agreement with DP World to enhance Indonesia’s maritime and port sector within the global manufacturing ecosystem. The economic value of this partnership could reach up to $7.5 billion over the long term. DP World and INA will form a consortium and working team to explore investments...Read More
Canada and the United Kingdom, as co-leads of the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), are advocating that the end of coal-fired electricity is one of the single most important steps to be taken in the fight against climate change. Building on Canadian initiatives announced earlier this week to accelerate the phase-out of coal-fired electricity, the...Read More
Teck Resources Limited and Oldendorff Carriers have entered into an agreement to employ energy-efficient bulk carriers for shipments of Teck steelmaking coal from the Port of Vancouver to international destinations, reducing CO2 emissions in the steelmaking coal supply chain. This industry-leading initiative is expected to achieve emission reductions of 30 – 40% for shipments handled...Read More
At the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) on climate change, the Port of Antwerp and the Port of Montreal have signed a cooperation agreement to support the creation of the first green shipping corridor in the North Atlantic. Through this agreement the ports pledge to mobilize their respective public- and private-sector partners alike in...Read More
Washington Lieutenant Gov. Denny Heck has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Finland to build a so-called smart port in Tacoma as early as next year. The MOU signing coincides with a visit from a Finnish trade delegation that includes nine companies with a focus on maritime technology. Finland’s largest port, HaminaKotka,...Read More
The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan) have announced the establishment of a new research chair at BCIT. The Centre of Welding Technologies and Metallurgy Research Chair will be the first at BCIT to be exclusively based on funding and collaboration with an industry partner and will enhance BC-based industrial research...Read More
The US Coast Guard is inviting public participation on its Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study. This is the first comprehensive evaluation of all vessel traffic patterns that use the Pacific Coast waterway along the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. The main goal of the study is to evaluate historic and future waterway usage...Read More
On November 3rd, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, referred the impact assessment of the proposed GCT Deltaport Expansion – Berth Four Project to an independent review panel. The project, which seeks to expand the existing GCT Deltaport Container Terminal with a fourth berth on the east side of the...Read More
For those readers that are in the Kitimat area keep an eye out for the BigRoll Bering scheduled to arrive next week. BigRoll’s two unique ice-class module carriers, BigRoll Bering and BigRoll Beaufort, are extremely flexible and have the ability to carry any large cargo – from items such as completely assembled port cranes to...Read More
A pioneer of lithium-ion battery technology in maritime applications, Corvus Energy proudly announces a major milestone for the company: the 500th project order. The order is one of the largest in Corvus’ history and is for the supply of the 5,288 kWh batteries for each of three zero-emission harbor tugs. The tugs will be built...Read More
The United States has imposed sanctions against companies and individuals related to Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs. The sanctions include the commander of the military drone unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who was responsible for the drone attack three months ago on the Mercer Street vessel, which was off the coast...Read More
From April 2022 shipping companies will be offered tax incentives if they fly the UK’s historic merchant shipping flag, the red ensign. The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced in the budget on Wednesday that shipping companies which fly the red flag with the union jack would have a greater chance of being able to join the UK tonnage...Read More
The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index dropped on Friday, registering its biggest monthly percentage fall since January 2020, dragged down by a decline in rates across all vessel segments. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize vessels, fell 111 points, or 3.1%, to 3,519, its lowest since...Read More
Last Friday, the container vessel Zim Kingston ran into stormy weather that resulted in over 100 containers falling overboard near Tofino. The following day while the vessel was anchored at Constance Bank, a fire broke out in one of the affected stacks. The Seaspan Raven and last week’s featured ship of the week, the Maersk...Read More
Details on Canada’s mandatory vaccination policy in the transportation sector that take effect October 30th were released earlier today. While employees and travellers in federally regulated transportation sectors are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, exemptions are expected to remain in place for international seafarers. An update to Transport Canada’s Ship Safety Bulletin on the...Read More
To support the advancement of reconciliation and economic self-determination for British Columbia’s First Nations, Tlowitsis Nation and Council of Marine Carriers have reached an agreement to reposition the existing Cutter Cove Towboat Reserve in order to accommodate the proposed tenure for the new Tlowitsis salmon farm – the Ga-guump site in Chatham Channel north of...Read More
Gordon Payne, Chairman of Harbour Link Container Services Inc., passed away peacefully at Peace Arch Hospital on October 22, 2021 just 3 days prior to his 81st birthday. He was well recognized both locally and globally as a brilliant visionary and was a mentor to many. For decades Gordon advocated tirelessly for the Transportation Industry,...Read More
Starting on November 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the US, with only limited exceptions. Air travellers must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated and have tested negative...Read More
In an effort to improve cargo movement amid congestion and record volume, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will begin assessing a surcharge to ocean carriers for import containers that dwell on marine terminals. Under the new policy starting November 1st, the ports will charge ocean carriers $100 per day for each container...Read More
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is doubling down on its efforts to expedite the cargo clearance process in order to increase freight velocity at congested ports across the country. Those efforts include more precise targeting of risky shipments in order to free up staff to expedite the clearance of legal cargo, stepped-up training of inspectors...Read More
