The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) Board of Directors has confirmed that the organization will proceed with the next stage of the shore power project for the Victoria Cruise Terminal at The Breakwater District. A report from consulting firm Moffat & Nichol indicates that a reduction of more than 46% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and criteria air contaminants (CACs) is achievable with the installation of shore power at two berths at Pier B, which welcomes 75% of cruise ship. The project is expected to cost between $23.3 million and $24.8 million. In contrast, the 2019 gross revenues for GVHA, a not-for-profit organization, were $16.3 million.

Seaspan has finalized an order to build five 12,200 TEU containerships backed by 18-year charters worth a total of around $910M. Seaspan has not yet revealed the yard, charterer or a timeframe for delivery of the vessels. The vessels will be financed from additional borrowings as well as cash on hand.

Earlier today Prime Minister Trudeau unveiled the government’s plan to exceed Canada’s 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target of 30 per cent less emissions than 2005 levels.  The strategy outlined in Healthy Environment and Healthy Economy includes continuation of its price on pollution rising at $15 per tonne each year after 2022 and exploring potential border carbon adjustments while ensuring a fair environment for businesses.

The Minister of Transport joined today’s Commodity Supply Chain Table meeting and provided an update on key initiatives, including the Port Modernization Review and the West Coast Supply Chain Visibility project.   Participants addressed taxation policies, blockades, labour disruptions and highlighted the significant time it takes the supply chain to recover from disruptions.  Minister Garneau also took the opportunity to announce consultations on Transport Canada’s proposal to regulate the collection of more data from the Class 1 rail carriers.  Documents from today’s session can be found by accessing CSCT Meeting 11 December 2020 - Google Drive.  The Minister is committed to introducing greater transparency and efficiency within the transportation system.  Minister Garneau also took the opportunity of this meeting to recognize the critical work performed by Canada’s supply chain workers and extended his deepest thanks for ongoing coordinated efforts to continue moving Canadian commodities to market in the midst of the pandemic.

The Chamber of Shipping participated in the 2019 consultation on initiatives intended to modernize Canada’s regulatory system.  As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to openness and transparency a report summarizing the broad themes and views that businesses, industry associations, academia and Canadians raised through the consultation can be found the Treasury Board’s What We Heard report.  Further update on regulatory modernization initiatives will be released in the coming months on their modernizing regulations webpage.

A Manitoba Court of Appeal ruling on Dec. 2, 2020 unanimously decided that a legal action against the Government of Canada for "malfeasance in public office" in relation to the privatization of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) is valid and proper. The Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board can now continue their legal process which calls for the repatriation of $150 million to farmers that were marketing wheat and barley through the CWB in 2010/11 and 2011/12.  The legal action also calls for $10 million in punitive damages, and with interest accruing since 2012 the total number would be in the $190 million range.

Maritime labour groups have come together and issued a letter to the Minister of Transport, urging a firm deadline on the crew change crisis that has resulted in more than 400,000 seafarers globally now serving on board vessels up to nine months longer than the maximum period of eleven months service on board permitted under the Maritime Labour Convention. The group recognizes Canada’s exemplary work to designate seafarers as key workers, facilitate entry visas for foreign crew members joining vessels and has been viewed as a global leader for securing safe passage for some crew members, but believe that more needs to be done. The group is urging the Government of Canada to follow suit with Australia and announce a firm deadline upon which Transport Canada’s Port State Control officers will begin enforcing the limit of service without exceptions.

On December 1^st, the United Nation’s General Assembly adopted the Resolution, entitled ‘International cooperation to address challenges faced by seafarers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to support global supply chains.’ The resolution, put forward by Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani of Indonesia, encourages governments to immediately implement measures to allow crew change, and to ensure access to medical care for all maritime personnel.

The Port of Long Beach is partnering with its terminal operators on an initiative to ensure that at least half of all trucker visits to the port’s six container terminals involve dual transactions as the port looks to reduce congestion amid record container volumes. Increasing the number of dual transactions should bring an immediate and significant reduction in port congestion as only about 20 percent of all truck visits in LA-LB currently involve dual transactions.

Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt will become the first woman to command a one of the Navy's 11 nuclear aircraft carriers in 2022. In 2016 she became the first female executive officer of nuclear aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, second-in-command of a crew of 5,000. She graduated from the Naval Academy in 1994, the same year women were allowed to serve on combat ships and planes. Although it is not yet known which of the vessels she will be at the helm of, Naval Air Forces have confirmed that the selection of a woman is historic. Bauernschmidt has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours in naval helicopters aboard various aircraft carriers throughout her career and has served in areas from Alaska to Southwest Asia. Bauernschmidt is currently the commanding officer of the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego.

The US House has voted to authorize construction of the waterway project that lawmakers hope will halt the progress of Asian carp toward the Great Lakes. The provision passed the chamber by voice vote as part of the final version of the Water Resources and Development Act. The plan for Brandon Road includes an engineered channel fitted with devices such as loudspeakers, electric shocks, a flushing lock and air bubble curtains at the site between Lake Michigan and the Illinois River, which the carp have overrun.

The US has added four more Chinese companies to a list of firms it says are owned or controlled by China’s military, exposing them to increased scrutiny and potential sanctions by the US. The four companies added to the list last week are China National Offshore Oil Corp., Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., China Construction Technology Co. and China International Engineering Consulting Corp.

A number of container carriers have stopped accepting new bookings in light of equipment shortages and severe port congestion worldwide.  The lines are continuing to service long term customers within their weekly allocations and the short-term business will be affected likely through to the end of December.

The digitization of documentation, starting with the bill of lading, is key to simplifying and digitizing global trade. The Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), a non-profit group founded by the world’s leading global liners, has published data and process standards for the submission of shipping instructions and issuance of the bill of lading (B/L). DCSA B/L standards are aligned with the UN/CEFACT (United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business) multimodal transport reference data model to ensure a global industry framework that accelerates digitalisation through a unified industry effort.