News & Notes

Port News

Unprecedented Container Demand Represents Largest Consumer Shift in 50 Years (Port Tech)

Leatherman Terminal Receives Final Cargo Handling Equipment (CBJ)

JaxPort Unveils New Strategic Plan (AJOT)

House Leaders Press Biden for Ports Funding (TT News)

Steamship/Tug

Kuehne & Nagel Set to Buy Asian Forwarded Apex (Loadstar)

Hapag Lloyd CEO Now Says Container Boom Could Continue into 3rd Quarter (Shipping Watch)

MSC Toplles Maersk at the Top of the Box Rankings (Splash 247)

COVID, Congestion, Container Shortage Form Perfect Storm (Freightwaves)

Hapag Lloyd Expects Q1 Operating Profit to Triple (Loadstar)

Rail/Truck

Norfolk Southern Calls Off Atlanta Rail Transfer Project (Railway Age)

Consumer Goods Group Lobbies for Federal “Air Traffic Control” for Trucks (Freightwaves)

Logistics/Supply Chain

Consumers Demand Snaps Back.  Factories Can’t Keep Up (WSJ)

Shipping Container Shortages Gives Commodity Prices Extra Boost (WSJ)

Lumber Prices Notch Records on Building, Remodeling Boom (WSJ)

Commerce

How the Lowcountry Attracts Developers and Residents (Forbes)

Scentsy Establishing Operations in York County (SC Commerce)

PALL Corporation Establishing Operations in Spartanburg County (SC Commerce)

Goodyear Acquires Cooper in All American Tire Deal (TT News)

News & Notes Feb. 18, 2021

Port News

BMW Exports $6.9 Billion in Cars (GSA Bus)

Ports and Carriers Send Mixed Messages on US Congestion (Port Tech)

Five Busiest Ports in the US (Port Tech)

Steamship/Tug

Maersk Fourth-Quarter Earnings Surged as Outlook Disappoints (WSJ)

Hapag-Lloyd Forecasts Very Strong First Quarter (GCaptain)

Shippers Take to the Sky as Ocean Congestion Grows (Freightwaves)

Truck/Rail

Some Truckers Are Thriving as Companies Reset Supply Chains (WSJ)

Inland Port Dillon Year Over Year Rail Moves Decline 11.3% (SCNow.com)

South Carolina Ports Rides Rails To Robust January (Freightwaves)

Senate Committee OKs SC Ports Borrowing $550 Million for Railroads (AP)

Logistics/Supply Chain

Oil Demand Recovery Expected to PickUp Speed Later (WSJ)

Training, Technology Vital to Manufacturers Recruiting Younger Workers (Supply Chain)

Commerce

NUPI Americas Expanding in Hampton County to Create 28 Jobs (Trade&Dev)

TTI Floor Care North America Establishing Operations in Spartanburg County (SC Commerce)

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION WEEK INCORPORATED

2021 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

SPONSOR/MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Charleston Motor Carriers Association Custom Brokers & Freight Forwarders Assn of Charleston,  Maritime Association of South Carolina, Charleston Port & Seafarers’ Society, Propeller Club of the United States South Carolina Stevedores Association, Neal Brothers.

NTW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OBJECTIVE: To provide financial assistance to NTW affiliated members or individuals pursuing a degree in transportation/logistics/supply chain management. Up to ten scholarships ($1,000 to $5,000) will be awarded.

SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY: Applicant must be a high school senior, graduating in 2021, or an undergraduate student enrolled/enrolling at an accredited college.

ACCESS APPLICATION HERE

Marine Safety Information Bulletin

Commandant MSIB Number: 02-21

U.S. Coast Guard Date: February 1, 2021

Inspections and Compliance Directorate E-Mail: wearamask@uscg.mil

2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, STOP 7501 Washington, DC 20593-7501

COVID-19 Safety Requirements in the Maritime Transportation System

The President issued Executive Order (13998), Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel that requires masks be worn on all “public maritime vessels, including ferries” to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued order, Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks while on Transportation Hubs, 29JAN2021, requires all persons travelling on all commercial vessels to wear a mask.

This Order requires conveyance operators to use best efforts to ensure that any person on the conveyance wears a mask when boarding, disembarking, and for the duration of travel. Depending on the circumstances, best efforts may include:

 boarding only those persons who wear masks;

 instructing persons that Federal law requires wearing a mask on the conveyance and failure to comply constitutes a violation of Federal law;

 monitoring persons on board the conveyance for anyone who is not wearing a mask and seeking compliance from such persons;

 at the earliest opportunity, disembarking any person who refuses to comply;

 providing persons with prominent and adequate notice to facilitate awareness and compliance of the requirement of this Order to wear a mask; best practices may include, if feasible, advanced notifications on digital platforms, such as on apps, websites, or email; posted signage in multiple languages with illustrations; printing the requirement on transit tickets; or other methods as appropriate.

The CDC has guidance on the definition of a mask and how to properly wear a mask at the following link https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/masks/mask-travel-guidance.html

Under Title 42 of the United States Code section 268, the Coast Guard is charged with enforcing CDC quarantine orders. Owners, operators, and crew of vessels that fail to implement the mask wearing order above may be subject to civil or criminal penalties from the CDC. Furthermore, based on the scientific determination of the CDC, the Coast Guard finds that failure to wear a mask creates an undue safety risk by increasing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 between passengers, the crew of the vessel, and port operators. COVID-19 is known to cause severe illness and death which impacts the safe operations of ships and port facilities. The Coast Guard has broad authority to control the movement and operations of a vessel based on a hazardous condition found on that vessel (see 33 CFR § 160.111). Vessels that have not implemented the mask requirement may be issued a Captain of the Port (COTP) order directing the vessel’s movement and operations; repeated failure to impose the mask mandate could result in civil penalties and/or criminal action.

Persons that wish to report vessels not operating in accordance with the Executive Order or CDC Order may email the Coast Guard at wearamask@uscg.mil. This shared email inbox is not monitored on a continuous basis. If there is an emergency, it should not be reported to this email inbox, but rather to local authorities through proper emergency channels.

Vessel owners and operators are encouraged to monitor the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/ for the most up to date guidance.

State, local, Tribal, and territorial laws or rules imposing public health measures that are more protective of public health than those required by the CDC, are an acceptable equivalency for these requirements. Vessel operators who believe local mask wearing requirements fit this exemption should contact the local COTP.

Questions concerning this notice may be forwarded to Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance, at wearamask@uscg.mil.

Richard V. Timme, RDML, U. S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy sends

News & Notes  January 28, 2021

Port News

Spotlight: South Carolina Ports Authority (Charleston Currents)

Georgia Port Ends Roller Coaster Year on Upside (Freightwaves)

JaxPort Completes Latest Phases of Berth Upgrade and Expansion (Port Tech)

Steamship/Tug

Maersk Essen Diverting to Mexico After Container Loss in Pacific (Maritime Exec)

Charter Rates for Large Boxships Breach $40,000 per day (Tradewinds)

Ocean Carrier Zim Fast Tracks IPO (Freightwaves)

Rolled Cargo Ticks up 75% of Ports Worldwide (Supply Chain)

Truck/Rail

Maersk Rail Solution, India’s Ocean Capacity Crunch Nightmare (Loadstar)

Telematics Help Maximize Existing Capacity and Decrease Driver Dwell Time (Freightwaves)

UPS Sells Freight Segment to TFI for $800 Million (Supply Chain)

Logistics/Supply Chain

UPS Buys Land for Distribution Area in Mebane, Raleigh Area (The Times News)

Manufacturing Rebound Has Suppliers Struggling to Keep Up (WSJ)

Cardinal Logistics Acquires NRX (Furniture Today)

Commerce

Surging Grain Prices Fuel Surprise Farm Recovery (WSJ)

Charlotte Firm to Develop Industrial Space at Palmetto Commerce Park (Chs Bus Journal)

Designer Construction Corp Establishing Operations in Chesterfield County (SC Commerce)

NAVAL PROTECTION ZONE – WHARF ALPHA

Cooper River, North Charleston, SC

Joint Base Charleston will be conducting explosive operations at Wharf Alpha on the Cooper River north of Goose Creek from January 28, 2021 to February 10, 2021. Mariners are advised a Naval Vessel Protection Zone exists around all U.S. Naval Vessels greater than 100 feet in length. Mariners are urged to use caution while transiting the area.

This MSIB can be viewed at https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/charleston. For questions or concerns regarding this MSIB, please contact on scene security assets via VHF-FM Channel 16, Joint Base Port Operations (843) 794-7746, Sector Charleston Waterways Management Division at (843) 740-3184, or the Sector’s 24-hour Command Center at (843) 740-7050.

News & Notes January 21, 2021

Port News

Ports Look to the Positives for the Start of 2021 (Port Tech)

Amazingly, Port Success Stories Came in September Despite Global Pandemic (Global Trade)

SC Ports Record Best December in History (Chas Bus Journal)

Steamship/Pilot

Taxation May Be Global Shipping’s Upcoming Game Changer (WSJ)

OOCL’s Earning Soar on Strong Container Market (Shipping Watch)

Inside California’s Colossal Container Ship Traffic Jam (Freightwaves)

Scrap Prices tipped to Breach $500 Barrier as Interest Spirals (Tradewinds)

Hapag-Lloyd Drops West Coast Call as Congestion Continues (Lloyd’s List)

Maersk Sees Little Change In Tight Shipping Supply (WSJ)

Truck/Rail

SC Ports Logged Strong Rail Moves in December (Progressive Rail)

Trucking Looks to Rebound in 2021 on way to very good 2022 (American Trucker)

Logistics/Supply Chain

Data Reveals Unprecedented Nature of US Import Surge (Freightwaves)

Chips are in Hot Supply and That’s a Problem (WSJ)

Warehouse Rents Could Slow Their Climb in 2021 as Construction Boosts Supply (Supply Chain)

Commerce

China is the Only Major Economy To Report Economic Growth in 2020 (WSJ)

News & Notes January 14, 2021

Port News

Port, Attorney General File Complaint With NLRB (Chas. Bus Journal)

SC Ports Defend Hybrid Labor Model (Freightwaves)

Maersk Works With Stakeholders on Port Congestion, Export Issues (Supply Chain)

South Carolina Ports Continues Riding Volume Wave (Freightwaves)

Rotterdam to Develop New Online Port Management Program (Port Tech)

Steamship/Tug

More Misery for Shippers With Return of Bunker Surcharges on the Radar (Loadstar)

Ship Orders Slump by 50% with Owners  Unsure Which Green Fuel to Use (Shipping Watch)

Zim Shipping Pins Growth Plan On Its Small Scale (WSJ)

Maersk Prepares for a Farewell to Record High Rates in the First Half of the Year (Shipping Watch)

Truck/Rail

Congestion, Slowdown at Ports  Cause Growing Concern (TTNews)

Logistics/Supply Chain

Transportation Insight LLC Bolsters its Parcel and E Commerce Arm (DC Velocty)

Ford, Auto Makers Cut Output, Idle Workers on Chip Shortage (WSJ)

Logistics: Building a Resilient Supply Chain (Business Facilities)

All Areas of the Supply Chain Must Work Together in Post Pandemic World (Port Tech)

Commerce

2020 Retail Imports May Break Record Despite Pandemic (DC Velocity)

Cyber

White House Publishes Maritime Cybersecurity Strategy (WSJ)

News & Notes 1/7/2021

Port News

Among Piers: Cranes Land in South Carolina (Freightwaves)

Charleston: 2021 Will Be a Learning Curve (Cruise News)

For Container Lines and Ports, What a Difference a Year Makes (DC Velocity)

Steamship/Tug

Hapag-Lloyd Six LNG-Powered 23,500 TEU Containerships (Lloyd’s List)

Slidings Replacing Blank Voyages as Ocean Carriers Stretch Transit Times (Loadstar)

Zim Files Papers to Start 2021 With New York Shipping IPO (Tradewinds)

Golden Ray Dismantling Continues in New Year (Freightwaves)

Maersk Works with Stakeholders on Port Congestion and Export Issues (Supply Chain)

Evergreen in Talks for Mega Boxship Sale and Leaseback Deal (Splash247)

Odfjell is Optimistic About Chemical Tanker in 2021 (Shipping Watch)

Truck/Rail

PTC is Operating on All Required Rail Lines (Progressive Rail)

Trucking Emerges Strong After Challenging Year (TTNews)

Trucking Faces Transitional Year in 2021 (TTNews)

Logistics/Supply Chain

Firms Want to Adjust Supply Chain Post Pandemic (WSJ)

Pandemic Reshapes US Employment, Speeding Changes Across Industries (WSJ)

News & Notes 

Port News

SC Ports Welcome New RTGs as Part of Terminal Expansion (Port Tech)

US Ports ask for $3.9 Billion in Covid-19 Relief as Cargo Plummets (Port Tech)

SC Ports Continues to Set Records as Global Trade Rebounds (Chas Bus)

South Carolina Ports: Southeast Market Booming (Freightwaves)

Steamship/Tug

Maersk-Owner to Buy Food Packaging Firm Faerch (Financial Post)

Maersk and ONE have to Decline Bookings in Asia Due to Overheated Market (Shipping Watch)

Three Chinese Yards to Share $900M MSC Orders (TradeWinds)

Hapag Lloyd Upgrades its 2020 Earnings Forecast Due to Strong Market (Shipping Watch)

Rail/Truck

Mnuchin Defends Coronavirus Relief Loan to Troubled Trucking Firm YRC (WSJ)

Sizing up the Future of Contract Freight in Uncertain Times (Freightwaves)

New Tools for Competitive Railroad Intel (Freightwaves)

Logistics/Supply Chain

Vaccine Transport Leans on Tight Network of Refrigerated Truck Operators (WSJ)

Box Shortage to Last Until at Least February (Lloyd’s List)

Digitizing the Supply Chain is a collaborative Effort (Freightwaves)

CBRE: Holiday Sales Expected to Generate $70.5B in Returns (Supply Chain)

Commerce

Peabody Engineering and Supply Establishing Operations in Pickens County (SC Commerce)

EUWe Eugen Wexler US Plastics, Inc Expanding Operations in Anderson County (SC Commerce)

Armada Analytics Relocating Headquarters and Expanding Operations in Greenville County (SC Commerce)