The Wall Street Journal held its annual “US Airport Rankings” and the 2023 edition has arrived. The Journal examines the nation’s 50 busiest airports using metrics such as value, convenience, and reliability among others. In total, roughly 30 factors are evaluated per airport and then complemented with traveler survey input. Once the numbers are tabulated the airports are then divided into large and midsize categories. 

Phoenix (PHX)

This year’s number one large airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Flight delays are few, the weather is nearly always great, and perhaps best of all, Sky Harbor is easy to get to. But in addition to favorable weather and first-class infrastructure, it also helps that Sky Harbor is home to American and Southwest Airlines which carry up to 75% of the airport’s passengers. These two airlines score well in reliability and the average taxi-out time (from when a plane leaves the gate to takeoff) is under 15 minutes. Some of the Journal’s worst-rated airports featured taxi-out times north of 26 minutes. 

Sky Harbor’s overall score was 63.4 and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport came in a close second at 63.2. There was no airport on the list that scored a perfect 100. The fact that 63.4 was the top score in the large airport category shows how entangled and complicated it can be running a 24-hour business where users seek ease of use, reliability, and great customer service. 

San Jose (SJC)

San Jose Mineta International Airport took home the crown in the midsize category. The Northern California airport scored 71.2 and lived up to its tagline – Fly Simple. SJC boasts best-in-industry on-time performance, expedited security lines, as well as short walks to nearly everything a traveler could ask for within the airport.   

Last year’s midsize winner, Sacramento (SMF), finished a close third with 70.0 points while San Antonio surprised the group finishing second with a score of 70.4. 

Northeast Woes

The two worst-performing large airports were Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) out of New York. Departure delays and weak infrastructure unable to handle heavy arrivals dragged the two to dismal rankings – 43.6 for JFK and 37.6 for EWR. JFK is in the midst of significant upgrades while Newark is hoping its newly redesigned Terminal A will help to ameliorate some of the more persistent issues. The greater New York/New Jersey area certainly deserves better.   

The post US Airport Rankings – The Best and the Worst for 2023 appeared first on Global Trade Magazine.

SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin emphasized the importance of extending economic benefits beyond daily operations and directly into the community. This substantial donation aims to support the Lowcountry Food Bank’s mission in combating hunger and making a direct, positive impact on thousands of people in need.

The Lowcountry Food Bank, which distributed 33 million meals to over 200,000 residents in the previous year, plays a vital role in ensuring equitable access to healthy food for the community. SC Ports’ ongoing support aligns with the organization’s commitment to providing relief to the most vulnerable residents facing economic hardships.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that SC Ports has contributed to the Lowcountry Food Bank, showcasing the company’s dedication to fostering community well-being during the holiday season and beyond.

The post SC Ports Boosts Holiday Giving with $25,000 Contribution to Lowcountry Food Bank appeared first on Global Trade Magazine.

In contrast, loaded import volumes at Port Houston for October experienced a 4% decrease compared to the previous year, contributing to a 7% year-to-date decline. However, when compared to pre-pandemic levels, total container imports have surged by 32% through October, showcasing a substantial recovery. The total container volumes for the first ten months of the year reached 3,201,958 TEUs, a marginal 4% decrease from last year’s record volumes.

Port Houston remains committed to operational efficiency, focusing on the Bayport and Barbours Cut Container Terminals. The recent completion of Wharf 6 at Port Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal, equipped with advanced Neo-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes, signals the port’s dedication to enhancing terminal capacity. The addition of berths aims to facilitate smoother operations for both import and export customers relying on Port Houston’s container terminals.

Roger Guenther, Executive Director at Port Houston, expressed excitement about the completion of the new wharf, highlighting it as a significant infrastructure investment reflecting the port’s commitment to creating a reliable and efficient terminal environment. The commissioning of Bayport Wharf 7 is scheduled for 2025, aligning with the completion of the reconstruction of Barbours Cut Wharves 5 and 6 in the same year. Additionally, channel expansions for safe navigation of Neo-Panamax ships are expected to be completed in 2024 for Bayport and in 2026 for Barbours Cut.

Despite a 7% year-to-date decrease in total tonnage compared to 2022, at 42,421,735 short tons, the port has seen a notable increase in auto import units, up by 50% in October 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. The port continues to adapt and invest in infrastructure to support its role as a crucial gateway for both imports and exports.

The post Port Houston Achieves Record-Breaking Month for Loaded Exports appeared first on Global Trade Magazine.

Even as they tried to put last year’s U.S. port disruptions as a “bad dream”, foreign food suppliers, making a strong presence at the recent New York Fancy Food Show 2023, hoped that such disruptions would not recur in the future.

“Foreign food suppliers passed through some very tense moments as food shipments to the U.S., one of our biggest markets, lay uncleared for a long time at U.S. ports, particularly on the west coast,” said Servet Turgut, the export director of an Istanbul-based Turkish dry fruit exporting company at the show. 

The show is North America’s largest event for specialty foods and is organized by the Specialty Food Association (SFA).  Sales of specialty foods and beverages across all retail and foodservice channels neared $194 billion in 2022, up 9.3 percent over 2021, and are expected to reach $207 billion in 2023, according to SFA’s annual State of the Specialty Food Industry Report. The specialty market is composed of 63 food and beverage categories which combined account for nearly 22 percent of retail food and beverage sales. 

The show attracted 2,400 exhibitors from 50 countries and regions, with Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, etc. represented by large exhibitor contingents. Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. were also well represented.  Morocco as this year’s “partner country” presented an array of products ranging from olive oil through dates to packaged tin foods. 

Foreign exhibitors, eager to take advantage of the bullish trend in specialty food sales, were making a strong pitch at the show, even finding innovative ways to beat the inflation and the high freight and storage costs.  One Malaysian company that seemed to generate considerable buyer interest at the show was Selangor-based Doluvo Bhd. Sdn., which used a clever marketing strategy to penetrate the U.S. market; it has been selling its “Pops Malaya” brand of shelf-stable ice lollies, using Amazon to sell its products.  The “Pops Malaya” brand has, meanwhile, become the fastest selling item for Amazon.  Doluvo, a 100% women-owned and managed company, attracted a steady stream of consumers and buyers.

In an interview at the show, Yasmin Karim, the company’s CEO/Founder, said that her company had established contacts with several distributors/brokers having business connections with retailers.  “We work closely with the Malaysian agricultural ministry’s office In Washington.  Our pops are made of a high fruit content, a characteristic appreciated by the consumers,” Karim said, adding her company would also participate in the ANUGA food show in Cologne, Germany, later this year. 

Doluvo ships the pops as liquid which can be stored at room temperature, instead of deep freezing them which would require refrigeration all the way to the retailers. The liquid pops are purchased by consumers who can then freeze them in their refrigerators and consume them as frozen pops.  Selling pops in liquid form is also advantageous because the ships take about two months to transport our containers from Port Klang in Malaysia to the U.S. east or west coast.  The costs for shipping them in frozen form would be prohibitive as a result of the constant refrigeration needed for the long shipment period.

Another big Malaysian brand name at the show was Julie’s Mfg. Sdn. Bhd. of Melaka. While Julie’s is a household name in Malaysia and many other countries, its cookies and other products adorn the shelves of, mainly, Asian supermarkets in the U.S.   The company now wants to break into the U.S. mainstream food market. 

“We do sell our products to a mainstream distributor who, however, packages it under his own brand name … however, we want to sell these products in the mainstream market under our own brand of Julie’s,” Martin Ang, the company’s director told Global Trade at the NYFFS.  Ang has regularly participated in the show in the past and has built up a broad business network in the U.S.  Julie’s products are exported to 90 countries around the globe, with exports accounting for some 60% of its total turnover of about US$ 100 million. 

Ang said that Julie’s peanut butter cookies were a fast-selling item in U.S. market; other bestselling items included Le-Mond lemon-flavored biscuits, chocolate/tiramisu biscuits, etc. Ang, who also participates in the Las Vegas food show, finds the New York show attracts more buyers.  Like many other exhibitors at the show, Ang also wished the show would have longer hours, like they have in Europe, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, instead of from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  “They can also extend it by one day to a four-day event and make it worth our investment coming here,” Ang said. 

Buyers were minutely scrutinizing the olive oil products at the individual booths at the large Turkish pavilion. The business of some Turkish exhibitors had been adversely affected by the supply chain disruptions and cargo congestion at U.S. ports.  However, they were happy that their shipments were now being cleared faster than last year at U.S. ports. 

Davut Er, the chairman of the Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters’ Association, the olive oil exporters’ interest group headquartered in Izmir, Turkey, who also owns an olive-oil company Eroglu, said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the supply chain situation, adding that  Turkey’s exports in 2022 had been “twice as high” as in 2021. He said that Turkish olive oil exports this year were expected to grow twice as much as in 2022; he was expecting the volume to increase to 100,000 tons in 2023, up from nearly 50,000 tons last year.

But Er lamented that container prices were nearly three times higher from Turkey to the U.S.  “We have encountered delays and disruptions (in deliveries),” he said.  The Turkish government had also stopped giving subsidies to Turkish exporters because of the massive earthquake allocations which had resulted in budget cuts. He said that Turkey’s major competitor was Egypt for table olives.  “However, for olive oil, our competitors are Spain, Greece, Italy, etc.”  He said that the show had “satisfied our expectations”. 

Bedri Girit, the chairman of the 7,000-member strong AEGEAN Aqua and Animal Products Exporters’ Association, said that Turkey exported in 2022 seafood products worth $ 1.5 billion, poultry $ 1.5 billion, dairy products valued at $ 0.5 billion and other food products worth $ 1.640 billion, totaling some $ 4.3 billion. 

Girit said that inflation was a global problem and had dampened the demand for upper-end products. 

Asked to compare the Fancy Food Show with other international trade shows, Girit said that the Dubai food show was more attractive for Turkish companies because Turkish food products were widely marketed in the Middle East whereas the New York Fancy Food Show is a channel to tap the U.S. market. 

“Because of the rising health-consciousness of the average American, there is a trend towards consumption of low-sodium items such as nuts, olive oil, salmon fish, etc.  Turkey can ship salmon by air cargo which saves time for the buyers.”

Steven Weisensee, the transportation sales manager of Continental Logistics of Cranberry, New Jersey, who had a booth at the show, said that his freight brokerage company handled between 7,000 and 8,000 TEU containers in 2022. The containers come, mainly, from Europe but also from Asia.  “The crisis caused by past disruptions has eased lately,” he noted, pointing out that ports such as Savannah and Georgia were expanding berths and other infrastructure assets. He said that Savannah port was efficiently organized both for truck and rail transportation.  (End)

Side bar – Bill Lynch, SFA President, Calls Show a “Record Breaker” 

In an exclusive interview, Bill Lynch, the President of the Specialty Food Association, which organizes the New York Fancy Food Show, was pleased with the run of the show which he described as a “record breaker” after the gloom that descended during the pandemic. Lynch, who spoke of double-digit growth in the number of exhibitors at this year’s show compared to the pre-pandemic figures, noted that consumer tastes are changing, with people looking for healthy food items. 

“They are looking for alternative foods which are nutritious … global flavors are in and new products keep coming in from different countries,” he said.

When asked to comment about supply chain disruptions, he said that during the pandemic there were supply problems such as access to glass for packaging, port congestion, inflation, scarcity of labor during the pandemic, etc., all of which contributed to delays and shortages. 

Consumers have more access to products and they are paying attention to processing and scrutinizing the environment footprints. 

Morocco was the “partner country” this year with its pavilion presenting a colorful look and its exhibitors showcasing a large array of food and agricultural items. “The ‘partner country’ presentation has been successful and will be continued,” he added. 

Lynch pointed out that 337 million pounds of food were annually exported to the U.S.  He said that educating buyers and consumers in the U.S. about their food products would help the exporting countries penetrate the U.S. market. 

The SFA has been working closely with a number of countries and has sent missions to countries such as Italy to help the suppliers showcase their products at the Fancy Food Show in New York. 

As demand for display space grows, Lynch revealed that the SFA was looking at expanding or utilizing “to the fullest” any unutilized space.  

The post Foreign Food Suppliers Had Some “Very Tense” Moments During 2023 Port Disruptions in the U.S.  appeared first on Global Trade Magazine.

However, there are still 11 ports where Demurrage and Detention fees remain higher as compared to 2020. These ports include Antwerp, Jebel Ali, Ningbo, Port Kelang, Rotterdam, Shenzen, Singapore, Tianjin, Xiamen, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou.

Fig 1: D&D fees over the last 4 years across shipping lines for key ports

In an exclusive webinar held in July’23, a powerful panel of speakers from Drewry, S&P Global, and Container xChange discussed the impact of these charges on shippers worldwide amidst the changing dynamics of demand and supply for containers on a global scale.

“There are multiple factors contributing to the inability of these ports to return to normalcy. The significant increase in energy prices, coupled with higher labour costs, and escalating land expenses and port fees, have all played a part,” stated Chantal McRoberts, Director, DSCA Advisory, Drewry. 

“Furthermore, the implementation of new regulations, particularly those focused on green energy in EU ports, has added to the financial burden. Additionally, the introduction of rules requiring individualized shipment customs clearance, no longer consolidated under one bill of lading, has proven to be time-consuming, as seen in the case of Rotterdam.”, added McRoberts.

Christian Roeloffs, Co-Founder and CEO added, “Bleak expectations for a significant peak season with a substantial increase in volumes, prices, and the potential for congestion and associated charges are evident in our customers. However, a key factor in determining whether you must pay detention charges is the efficiency of your processes and monitoring. How quickly can you act and notify your agent or trucker if something goes wrong, such as a container being forgotten at the terminal. Timely communication is crucial in avoiding unnecessary charges. This holds true in any market situation.”

“Demurrage and detention should ideally be a free market. The number of free days and the charges should be negotiable between parties and carriers, just like any other free market scenario. However, perhaps what needs regulation is the clarity on when the clock starts. Establishing clear time stamps and determining who bears the burden of proof in cases of congestion, where a container cannot be picked up, would be crucial. Payment should only commence once the terminal is able to release the container. These aspects warrant attention and potential regulation.”, he added.

Shipping Industry Facing New D&D Challenges as U.S Regulators Prepare for Decisions

Demurrage and Detention (D&D) rates in the shipping industry have reached unprecedented levels, especially with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) set to make crucial decisions. 

Commenting on the new regulations, Christian said, “The pending U.S foreign trade regulator’s decisions on new shipping line regulations “will significantly impact D&D practices” and could even reshape the landscape, bringing both challenges and opportunities.”

The D&D annual report highlights Drewry’s perspective that the FMC must strike a balance between the conflicting needs of cargo owners and shipping lines. Before the pandemic, shipping lines prioritized revenue generation, considering factors like cargo weight and equipment availability when making occupancy decisions. Regulating these market factors presents challenges for the FMC, especially since a substantial portion of US exports fall into low-income and heavyweight categories.

In April 2023, even before the official FMC decision, major carriers like Maersk, MSC, HMM, and Hapag-Lloyd contemplated waiving D&D surcharges on weekends and holidays when terminals are closed. Additionally, the Port of Houston stopped charging import container storage fees during closed terminal gates but raised daily rates in specific positions by 32% starting May 1.

Operational Challenges Likely to Impact D&D Charges Amid Uncertain Demand Recovery

Commenting on the shipping forecast for the upcoming holiday season, Eric Johnson Senior Editor, Technology JOC, S&P Global Market Intelligence, said, “In a very recent conversation with a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) about their thoughts on a major trans-Pacific shipment, we came to know that they don’t expect the demand to recover until after the Lunar New Year next year. This matches what we’re hearing in general.”

“So, if we assume that’s the case, the focus shifts to operational issues at important ports that we need to consider avoiding delays or additional charges once the container is out of the terminal. It becomes more about specific factors in the field that could cause delays in returning containers on time, rather than relying on a big overall economic improvement to drive demand. With each passing day, it seems less likely that there will be a quick demand recovery.”

U.S. Ports Rank Highest in average Demurrage and Detention (D&D) charges

Out of all the ports worldwide, those in North America stand out as the most expensive when it comes to Demurrage and Detention (D&D) charges. Leading this list of costly ports are New York, Oakland, and Los Angeles, taking the top three spots.

Fig 2: Accumulative D&D fees across shipping lines for North American ports: 2023

Even though these ports take the top 7 spots in our ranking table, the overall average charge has at least decreased by 25% in 2023 and stands at a value of $2008 per container per day (coming down from $2692 in 2022). The late fees at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach surpassed by another western port, Oakland.

Fig 3: D&D fees over the last 4 years across shipping lines for North American ports

The post Average Demurrage and Detention Charges Witness a 25% Dip Globally in 2023; 7 U.S. Ports Rank Highest appeared first on Global Trade Magazine.

NOAAs proposal calls for eliminating all nighttime vessel traffic, and significantly reducing daytime vessel speeds, impacting Port Tampa Bay, SeaPort Manatee, Port Panama City and Port of Pensacola. The rule, NOAA says, is designed to protect a newly discovered whale, with a population size of between 50-100 whales, that is known to traverse the entire Gulf of Mexico region, and is not just limited to Florida waters.

Implicit in the federal government’s call for eliminating nighttime vessel traffic and reducing daytime vessel speeds only in Florida between Pensacola and Tampa Bay, is an uninformed assertion that Florida’s seaports have limited operations and shutting them down would not harm the supply chain in Florida or the broader United States.

Below is an outline of the economic, public safety and national security impacts of the proposed rule.

FACTS:

ECONOMIC IMPACT:

Florida’s 16 Seaports:

• Florida seaports saw record-high cargo in 2022.
• 112.5 million tons of cargo moved,
• 4,310,054 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) moved,
• Accounted for 13.3 percent of Florida’s GDP,
• Supported 900,000 jobs, and
• Contributed $117.6 billion to Florida’s economy.

Port Tampa Bay (1 of 4 Fuel Ports):

• One of the nation’s fastest growing seaports.
• Handled more than 33 million tons of cargo with an economic value of $17 billion in FY 2022.
• All cargo will be impacted by the proposed NOAA rule.
• More than 6,400 ships called on the port in FY 2022. That’s 17+ ships each day. All vessels traveled at night in the Gulf of Mexico for part of their transit.
• More than 7,677,245 net tons of domestic petroleum products came into the port in FY 2022, all with a nighttime aspect to their transits in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Read Port Tampa Bay’s Seaport Spotlight

SeaPort Manatee (1 of 4 Fuel Ports):

• $5.1 billion economic value annually.
• 33.4 percent of its ship traffic, reflecting a $1.7 billion value, will be impacted by this proposed rule.
• 325 cargo vessels that call on this port, representing 33.4 percent of all ship traffic, traverse to and from this port at night.
• 96 fuel ships, representing 10 percent of all fuel vessels that call on this port, traverse to and from this port at night.
• Read SeaPort Manatee’s Seaport Spotlight.

Port Panama City:

• 2.03 million tons of cargo was handled at this regional seaport in FY 2022, with the majority of cargo traversing at night in the Gulf of Mexico for part of its travels.
• $618.8 million in personal income and local consumption
• Supporting 10,790 total jobs in Northwest Florida and the Southeastern U.S.
• $1.6 billion in total economic value
• Read Port Panama City’s Seaport Spotlight.

Port of Pensacola:

• 425,277 tons of cargo handled in FY 2022, a 55 percent increase year-over-year
• $300 million in cargo now transits through this port – a 419 percent increase.

PUBLIC SAFETY: Seaports Fuel Florida:

• Florida is not an oil refining state; therefore fuel/petrol is imported from two neighboring Gulf of Mexico port states – Louisiana and Texas.
• Of particular impact to the public safety of all Floridians, two of Florida’s four petrol seaports that import fuel – Port Tampa Bay and SeaPort Manatee – are located within NOAA’s proposed rule restriction zone.
• All four of Florida’s fuel ports play vital roles in keeping everything from airplanes to cars and commercial trucks used for delivering goods and supplies to grocery stores across Florida fueled.
• More importantly, in times of natural disaster, a nighttime ban on vessel traffic, combined with daytime vessel speed limitations will exacerbate Florida’s ability to recover from storms.

NATIONAL SECURITY

• All branches of our nation’s military use the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range (GTTR) for national security training.
• The GTTR is a multi-service training area that supports simultaneous maritime, air and land training exercises. It is an integral part of the Department of Defense’s Training Resource Strategy.
• However, NOAAs proposed Vessel Slowdown Zone will restrict live fire munitions to a certain zone.
• The Defense Support Initiatives Committee has submitted comment to NOAA stating that, “…it is essential that no restriction be placed on Department of Defense or Homeland Security activities.”

The Florida Ports Council has requested to NOAA that they rescind their proposed rule, and take action to work closely with affected ports, maritime industry stakeholders and other to accurately determine the effect any proposal would have on ports and the communities they serve. A copy of the FPCs letter to NOAA can be found here.

PROTECTING FLORIDA’S ENVIRONMENT

The Florida Ports Council and its 16 member ports have a long history of protecting Florida’s environment to preserve the state’s natural environment. Collectively, Florida’s seaports are using innovative technology to champion the use of cleaner, alternative fuels, reducing engine emissions from port equipment, recycling oil used in cranes, capturing more stormwater than ever and ensuring this stormwater is cleaner before it discharged back into the environment.

Additionally, Florida’s ports have played a key role in raising awareness of wildlife and marine life, and supporting efforts like bird sanctuaries, clam restoration, annual Right Whale festivals, and more.

Among the organizations that FPC and its member ports are actively engaged with are:

• Florida Recycling Partnership,
• Ocean Alliance Group (chaired by FPC member and Port Tampa Bay Port Director Paul Anderson),
• Green Marine,
• Tampa Bay Estuary Program,
• Maritime Sustainability Team,
• Manbirtee Key Bird Sanctuary
• Coral Reef Research and Restoration
• American and Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating

The post New Federal Rule Threatens to Shut Down Four of Florida’s Seaports appeared first on Global Trade Magazine.

With funding support from the federal government, port authorities in each coastal region are being upgraded, modernized and electrified. The goal is sustainability because America’s ports are huge contributors to the country’s GDP.

Most of the improvements will apply to deficiencies in cargo handling because container vessels idling outside of ports have consistently increased over the past three years. This issue must be addressed, and U.S. ports must improve their capabilities. Immediate needs and objectives include electrifying cargo handling equipment, upgrading shore power, enhancing electric grid infrastructure and exploring new port-side applications for hydrogen energy.

To assist with all this, the federal government is disbursing billions of dollars to ports through grant programs. The Inflation Reduction Act allocates $3 billion to fund acquisition and installation of zero-emission equipment at ports. Another $1 billion is available to help port authorities electrify their fleets of heavy-duty vehicles. Additionally, $662 million is available through the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration. Very soon, 50 funding grants to support projects that improve efficiency and reliability of port operations will be announced.

Examples of upcoming projects now being planned include the following.

The Port of Oakland in California is planning a $48.9 million project to modernize one of its terminals. The port, which is the ninth busiest in the U.S., will use the bulk of its funding for energy and infrastructure improvements. Components of the project will include improvements such as an off-dock container support facility with commercial truck access, perimeter fencing, upgraded storage facilities, refrigerated container storage, LED lighting, drainage enhancements, substation improvements, battery storage and the addition of charging stations. A significant number of the improvements will be scaled to bolster capacity, reliability and resilience of the port’s electrical grid.

Planning officials with the Port of Coos Bay in Oregon will launch a $1.8 billion project to deliver a new rail line, another navigation channel and a container terminal. A public-private partnership will steer the project through its planning phase. Once that is accomplished, construction will launch in 2024. The project will create infrastructure for 12 new trains between the port and nearby city of Eugene and mitigate supply chain congestion that continues to logjam operations.

Another large allocation of funding will be required for the launch of a port project in Anchorage, Ala. This initiative carries a cost projection of approximately $2.2 billion. Port officials and local leaders are working together to oversee the initiative. The updated concept involves construction of two identical terminals to support new cargo-handling cranes that will be roughly three times the size of the port’s current, outdated cranes. State officials have approved $200 million in capital funding and the port will leverage that for matching federal funds to cover the remaining project costs.

State lawmakers in Virginia recently amended the state’s newest budget to allow funding for a new inland port in the southwestern county of Washington. The $65 million project, which also received approval from Washington County officials, is currently in the preliminary planning stage. Features of the initiative will likely include a new rail connection for shipping goods to and from the Port of Virginia to the coastal city of Norfolk.

The Gulf Coast of Texas is planning numerous port-focused contracting opportunities focused on electrification, modernization, resilience and efficiency. Recently, officials representing the Port of Galveston announced plans to issue $100 million in bonds to support the delivery of critically needed improvements. Approval of the bond issue will launch work on projects that include a new cargo complex, upgrades to an existing cruise terminal, and construction of a new, fourth terminal at the port.

Also in Texas, the Port of Corpus Christi has plans for a $1 billion initiative that will include two projects. The first effort will focus on improving existing terminals and the other project will expand terminal storage. Both projects are outlined in the recently released Texas Port Mission Plan for 2024-2025. Additionally, the Port of Corpus Christi Authority is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a $682 million ship channel project which will be in development during the same timeframe.

A new port rail connection in New Jersey will carry a large price tag – approximately $100 million. Officials at Port Elizabeth plan to address much-needed upgrades and enhancements. Soon, the port authority plans to allocate funding to improve port operations and finalize the planning of a new port rail connection which will be delivered through a public-private partnership. The new track will connect a regional rail station to the broader national rail network. Construction is slated to begin following selection of a preferred alternative design (tentatively expected in June 2023).

Officials at Southern Florida’s Port Miami, which ranks as the 10th busiest port in the U.S., will announce plans for a landmark capital spending plan. Over the next five years, the port will undergo a series of construction projects with a combined budget of $1.2 billion. The projects will expand cargo operations and position the port to capture a greater amount of the economic activity that is being routed away from congested ports. One objective will be to invest $55 million in new cargo-handling cranes that can operate on the port’s electrical grid. Once this initial work is completed, port officials will begin to work on another $1.6 billion in longer-term capital improvement initiatives.

Companies with offerings and services that can be provided to port authorities will find officials eager to discuss their upcoming initiatives. Federal funding as well as alternative funding will be available, and the only delay now is the wait for planning and design work to be completed.

The post More Funding now Flowing to U.S. Ports for Modernization Projects appeared first on Global Trade Magazine.

The Biden Administration continues to prove the importance of maritime ports to the U.S. and global economy: its appointment today of a new Port and Supply Chain Envoy in Retired General Stephen R. Lyons, former Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, will uphold the progress in port fluidity and overall supply chain resilience.

U.S. seaports are moving more cargo than ever ⁠— 15-to-20 percent more than pre-pandemic levels ⁠—, and the gains have prompted big successes in sectors like retail and agriculture.

The presence of high officials exclusively dedicated to ports and the supply chain makes an incalculable difference, and the Federal Government has shown care, understanding, and action when it comes to the current supply chain crunch.

For example, the Supply Chain Task Force’s reporting on cargo dwell data — or the amount of time cargo owners leave cargo on the proverbial “baggage carousel” — helped to both raise awareness of the issue and measure progress for the enhanced pickup of cargo and equipment.

President Biden, outgoing Port Envoy, John Porcari, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, the National Economic Council,and hardworking transportation policy officials have helped the Federal Government to bring private actors together, including the users of the system, for better communication and coordination.

Exemplary is the recent Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which not only dedicates more funding for U.S. ports than all prior Federal funding combined, but creates new policy paradigms for the Federal Government, states, and localities to include ports and maritime in their freight planning. AAPA has also developed an Incent and Invest Plan for Supply Chain Fluidity, with detailed policy and operational recommendations. The port industry hopes and expects the newer and holistic, ecosystem-like treatment of the supply chain will prevail.

Ports are excited to work with General Lyons, and the supply chain industry will have a firsthand opportunity to get to know him (and to thank, thank, thank outgoing Envoy John Porcari) at AAPA’s flagship Shifting Trade Seminar on June 14-16, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. Join us there!

About AAPA

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) is the unified voice of port leaders and maritime industry partners across the Western Hemisphere who serve a vital role in job-creation, international competitiveness, and economic prosperity. Connecting small business owners, retailers, and manufacturers to the global marketplace, AAPA member organizations sustain 31 million jobs and 26 percent of the U.S. economy, and advocate for national policies and infrastructure investments in support of a resilient global supply chain and a positive impact on the way people live, work, travel, and engage in commerce. Visit www.aapa-ports.org or on Twitter @PortsUnited.

The post Appointment of New U.S. Port and Supply Chain Envoy appeared first on Global Trade Magazine.

The Regional Symposiums are designed to identify specific issues on a regional level that TIACA can incorporate into our overall work on behalf of the industry. The program will include important discussions on sustainability, market challenges, people issues and the economic outlook.  Digitalization, safety and security issues will also feature highly on the program.

Each Symposium will develop a Regional Action plan that will be incorporated into TIACA strategic objectives and activities.   The price point (or attendance fees) is set low to encourage both members and non-members to join so that we can get a full understanding of the local needs for air cargo.

Steven Polmans, Chairman TIACA emphasized TIACA is committed to being connected to their membership and by organizing the Regional Symposiums, they are able to interact more intimately with their members in each region and discuss what issues they face on a day-to-day basis adding that TIACA is greatly appreciative for the support of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for inviting them to Amsterdam to launch the inaugural event.

The first Regional Symposium will be held in Amsterdam, June 28th in Amsterdam City Centre. The event will include one day interactive conference sessions, an evening reception and a tour of the airport is being planned for the 29th.

We are very honored to host the first TIACA Regional Event. As Europe’s preferred Cargo Hub, we are more than delighted to welcome the community to Amsterdam for the kick-off event. It will be an interesting event full of new insights. We hope to see and meet many Air Cargo professionals. Roos Bakker, Director Business Development Cargo at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

The post TIACA Announces the Launch of Regional Symposium appeared first on Global Trade Magazine.

As of today (7 April) 15 containers vessels carrying a total of 95,000 TEU are at anchor, waiting to enter the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

At the same time, 18 ships are waiting off port limits to berth at the Port of Charleston, and 12 are outside the Port of Norfolk. These vessels are carrying a combined total of 209,000 TEU.

Shipping expert Lars Jensen previously noted that vessel queues outside Charleston were rising, as 31 vessels were waiting to berth at the port on 25 February.

“As can be seen on vessel finder there are also large queues of vessels outside the other major US East and Gulf Coast ports. It thus appears that part of the reason for the improvement in California is not that the supply chain problem is being resolved – the problem is merely being shifted elsewhere,” Jensen said in a social media post.

About Port Technology International

The maritime industry sits at the center of the global economy, and ports and terminals are vital to ensuring the safe passage of goods across the supply chain. Massive technological changes mean now is a great time to enter the industry, with the biggest ports, terminal operators, carriers and logistics firms investing heavily to connect cities, countries and regions through the power of trade.

Port Technology International has been the leading industry print Journal for 20 years. Published four times a year, the journal is the only technical preview and review of advanced technologies for ports, harbors and terminals world-wide. This is complimented by the world No 1 website for news, technical content and sourcing suppliers plus a portfolio of events bringing leading industry professionals together.

Each edition of the PTI Journal features over 30 technical papers written by leading industry professionals, which reflect emerging trends and technical advances that enhance efficiency and increase productivity in ports and terminals. The journal is divided into distinctive sections, reflecting every aspect of operation in the port or terminal.

The Port Technology website is the World’s Leading Technology website for Ports & Terminals. The entire industry is dependent on “Speed” which only comes from technology.

The post East Coast Congestion now Worse than West Coast appeared first on Global Trade Magazine.