Port News - The Maritime Executive

Port of Antwerp Fire Under Control

By MarEx 2018-08-13 00:09:46

A fire at the Port of Antwerp has been brought under control, but may continue to burn for several days. The fire started on Saturday in a consignment of 5,000 tons of nickel oxide in a warehouse at the port. About half of the consignment has been destroyed by fire so far. Due to the potential health concerns of the smoke cloud created, the municipality of Antwerp launched its disaster plan which calls for evacuation from ships and buildings in...

Antwerp Introduces Autonomous Sounding Boat

By MarEx 2018-08-11 19:17:58

The Port of Antwerp has introduced a fully-autonomous sounding boat, Echodrone, to supplement its other operational sounding boat, the Echo. Both carry out measurements of the water depth in the port to ensure safe passage for shipping. The new vessel uses cloud-based technology developed in partnership between the Port Authority and dotOcean. Data from all sorts of devices throughout the port is made available over the internet and then selectively compiled and translated into useful information by algorithms in the...

Retailers Stock Up Ahead of Tariffs, Setting Import Records

By MarEx 2018-08-10 18:23:06

The National Retail Federation reports that stores are bringing in more goods in advance of the imposition of new tariffs on China, setting records at major U.S. container seaports. According to the NRF's data, the largest U.S. retail ports handled container imports totaling 1.85 million TEU in June, the highest monthly volume ever recorded and an eight percent increase year-over-year. The volumes for July and August are expected to be higher. "We’re seeing new record levels every month this summer....

Testing Underway for Next Generation of Straddle Carriers

By MarEx 2018-08-09 21:10:06

Port equipment manufacturers are expanding straddle carrier technology with new developments in autonomy and fuel efficiency underway. Most recently, ZPMC announced this week that its straddle carrier with an autonomous navigation system has entered its final test phase in Shanghai. The straddle carrier incorporates diesel and battery hybrid capability, wheel-side synchronous motor drive and eight-wheel hydraulic independent steering. Using the benefits of both manual driving and driverless technology, it can be switched freely...

Drought Reduces Loading Volumes at Rosario Grain Terminals

By MarEx 2018-08-09 20:54:28

According to the Rosario grain exchange, ships loading at Argentina's biggest grain export hub are departing light because of abnormally low water levels on the Parana River, a consequence of an ongoing drought. Argentina's soybean crop has already taken a hard hit from the dry spell, and forecasts predict a drop of 31 percent relative to last year. It is the worst harvest in a decade, and exports are expected to fall to eight million tons for the season. Now producers face...

Government of Quebec to Take Control of Four Ports

By MarEx 2018-08-09 20:15:58

An agreement in principle has been announced for the transfer of the ports of Matane, Gaspé, Rimouski and Gros-Cacouna from the federal government to the state Government of Quebec under Canada's Port Facility Transfer Program. The Government of Canada will provide $163 million for the four ports. This includes a $148.8 million grant to the Province to support the future costs of operating and maintaining the ports, the balance representing investments in specific projects and other costs to be incurred...

New Port Underway for World's Northernmost Mining Project

By MarEx 2018-08-09 19:46:24

Works have begun on a new Russian port on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago to service the world's northernmost mining operation - the Pavlovskoye project. The port, to be built in Bezymyannaya Bay, will be owned by Rosatom, and the Pavlovskoye project to develop lead and zinc deposits on Novaya Zemlya is being run by the First Mining Company JSC, which is part of Uranium Holding ARMZ. Construction is due to start in 2020,...

Djibouti's Seaport Could Face New Competition

By MarEx 2018-08-09 19:33:06

Djibouti has invested heavily in making itself a hub for deep-sea shipping in the Horn of Africa, and much of its business depends upon its status as the sole seaport for landlocked Ethiopia. However, its port revenues could be challenged by the re-emergence of neighboring Eritrea, a longtime pariah state that could soon regain access to global commerce. Eritrea won its independence from Ethiopia in 1991, and it remained in a permanent "state of war" with its former occupier until this...

MARAD Awards $4.8 Million in Marine Highway Grants

By MarEx 2018-08-09 18:33:22

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao has announced $4,872,000 in grants to six Marine Highway projects. The funding, provided by the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Marine Highway program, aims to help enhance existing marine highways serving ports in Louisiana, Virginia, New York, and Connecticut, and support the development of new container-on-barge services in Kentucky and Rhode Island. Projects receiving grant funding are: Port of Baton Rouge and Port of New Orleans Container-on-Barge (awarded $2,507,200) The grant will be used...

Vancouver Welcomes MOL's Newest Car Carrier

By MarEx 2018-08-09 14:52:11

On Wednesday, the Port of Vancouver, Washington welcomed the car carrier Orca Ace, commanded by Capt. Yury Golovatyuk of Russia, on her maiden voyage. Capt. Golovatyuk and his 22-member crew were welcomed to Vancouver by representatives from Ports America, Norton Lilly International, Subaru of America, Auto Warehouse Corporation and the Port of Vancouver USA. The Orca Ace, a “Next-Generation Car Carrier” cargo ship for autos and roll on/roll off cargoes, was built in Japan. She is 656 feet long with a...