Dead Ship Tow

Charleston Harbor, SC

On Saturday, December 21, 2019, the M/V SIDER TAYRONA will be towed (dead ship) through Charleston Harbor from the entrance buoy to Veterans Terminal. The tow is expected to occur between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tow will be restricted in its ability to maneuver. Vessels operating in the vicinity of the tow should keep clear.

All Mariners are urged to use caution while transiting the area. The tow vessel operators will monitor VHF channel 13 or 73.

This MSIB can be viewed at https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/charleston. For questions or concerns regarding this MSIB, please contact Sector Charleston Waterways Management Division at (843) 740-3184 or the Sector’s 24-hour Command Center at (843) 740-7050.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SC Ports in strong position heading into 2020

Wando Welch Terminal was named No. 1 for productivity. (Photo/S.C. Ports Authority)

CHARLESTON, SC — DEC. 18, 2019 — South Carolina Ports Authority has seen steady growth across multiple business segments in 2019, handling nearly 2.25 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) since January. “We continue to attract cargo with our efficiently run terminals and reliable service,” SCPA President and CEO Jim Newsome said. “This is made possible by our excellent team and the broader maritime community, all of whom work tirelessly to keep cargo moving seamlessly through our supply chain.” S.C. Ports saw strong cargo volumes at container, breakbulk and inland terminals in November. SCPA handled 184,928 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) at the Wando Welch and North Charleston container terminals last month. This brings the total TEUs handled thus far in fiscal year 2020, from July through November, to 1.04 million — a 6% increase year-over-year. As measured by the total number of boxes handled, SCPA moved 104,324 pier containers in November. The Port has handled 588,873 pier containers in fiscal year 2020, which is up nearly 5% from a year ago. SCPA also handled 63,252 pier tons in November, up 28% year-over-year. Vehicle imports and exports at Columbus Street Terminal totaled 19,933 last month, a 17% increase from a year ago. Beyond the oceanside terminals, S.C. Ports runs two very successful inland ports in the Upstate and Pee Dee regions of South Carolina. The inland ports use overnight rail to move cargo to and from the Port of Charleston, giving cargo owners in the Southeast and Midwest direct access to the Port. Inland Port Greer reported 9,370 rail moves in November, while Inland Port Dillon saw 2,410 rail moves last month. Combined, the inland ports handled 11,780 rail moves in November for a total of 77,445 rail moves thus far in fiscal year 2020, up 27% year-over-year. S.C. Ports looks to further grow retail volumes and recruit distribution centers to South Carolina to handle the influx of imports to the Southeast. “Looking ahead to 2020, we expect to continue weathering uncertainty in the world economy, but our strong position in the Southeast and proximity to a booming consumer market will drive growth,” Newsome said. “We expect to grow above the market as more cargo shifts from West Coast to East Coast ports.” During a board meeting today, SCPA Board Chairman Bill Stern congratulated S.C. Ports on receiving international recognition for performance and overall productivity. The Journal of Commerce ranked both the Port of Charleston and Wando Welch Terminal No. 1 for productivity among North American midsized ports. “The equipment operators at S.C. Ports and all those working in the maritime community enable the notable productivity that cargo owners have come to rely on at S.C. Ports,” Stern said. Newsome also thanked the SCPA Board of Directors for their time and service to the Port. The board unanimously approved the reelection of board officers for the next two years: Stern as board chairman, Dave Posek as vice chairman, Kurt Grindstaff as treasurer and Willie Jeffries as secretary. “We appreciate the board’s continued support of our investments that enable us to service some of the biggest ships in the world,” Newsome said. “This next year is critical as we progress on our momentous infrastructure investments, including a new container terminal and a 52-foot deep harbor , both set for completion in 2021.”

About South Carolina Ports Authority South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion annual economic activity. SCPA is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet, and the Port is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

Marine Safety Information Bulletin

Commandant MSIB Number: 10-19 U.S. Coast Guard Date: December 16, 2019 Inspections and Compliance Directorate Contact: Mr. Charles Blackmore 2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave, SE, STOP 7501 Phone: (202) 372-1109 Washington, DC 20593-7501 E-Mail: charles.t.blackmore@uscg.mil

Cyberattack Impacts MTSA Facility Operations

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the maritime community of a recent incident involving a ransomware intrusion at a Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) regulated facility. Forensic analysis is currently ongoing but the virus, identified as “Ryuk” ransomware, may have entered the network of the MTSA facility via an email phishing campaign. Once the embedded malicious link in the email was clicked by an employee, the ransomware allowed for a threat actor to access significant enterprise Information Technology (IT) network files, and encrypt them, preventing the facility’s access to critical files. The virus further burrowed into the industrial control systems that monitor and control cargo transfer and encrypted files critical to process operations. The impacts to the facility included a disruption of the entire corporate IT network (beyond the footprint of the facility), disruption of camera and physical access control systems, and loss of critical process control monitoring systems. These combined effects required the company to shut down the primary operations of the facility for over 30 hours while a cyber-incident response was conducted.

For more information on Ryuk ransomware, please visit: https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/currentactivity/2019/06/28/ncsc-releases-advisory-ryuk-ransomware. At a minimum, the following measures may have prevented or limited the breach and decreased the time for recovery:  Intrusion Detection and Intrusion Prevention Systems to monitor real-time network traffic  Industry standard and up to date virus detection software  Centralized and monitored host and server logging  Network segmentation to prevent IT systems from accessing the Operational Technology (OT) environment  Up-to-date IT/OT network diagrams  Consistent backups of all critical files and software

The Coast Guard recommends facilities utilize the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and NIST Special Publication 800-82 when implementing a Cyber Risk Management Program.

The Coast Guard urges maritime stakeholders to verify the validity of the email sender prior to responding to or opening any unsolicited email messages. Additionally, facility owners and operators should continue to evaluate their cybersecurity defense measures to reduce the effect of a cyber-attack.

This release has been issued for public information and notification purposes only.

For more information on ransomware-related best practices and other resources please visit the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) ransomware resource page at: https://www.uscert.gov/Ransomware.

As a reminder, suspicious activity and breaches of security, including breaches of telecommunications equipment, including computer, system and network security measures which support functions described in the facility security plan or could contribute to a Transportation Security Incident (TSI), must be reported to the National Response Center (NRC) at (800) 424-8802. For additional guidance on the defining and reporting of cyber incidents refer to CG-5P Policy Letter 08-16, “Reporting Suspicious Activity and Breaches of Security.”

The Coast Guard encourages companies and their facilities to remain vigilant in the identification and prompt reporting of suspicious cyber-related activities. Questions pertaining to this bulletin may be directed to the Coast Guard Office of Port & Facility Compliance’s Domestic Ports Division (CG-FAC1) at (202) 372-1109.

-uscg-

This release has been issued for public information and notification purposes only.

CHARLESTON, SC — DEC. 13, 2019 — South Carolina Ports Authority received international recognition for the Port of Charleston’s performance and overall productivity.

The Journal of Commerce ranked the Port of Charleston No. 1 for overall productivity in the midsize ports category for North American ports. Wando Welch Terminal was named No. 1 for overall productivity in the midsize terminals category.

The awards were presented this week during JOC Events’ annual Port Performance North America Conference in Newark, N.J.

For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

See this Marine Safety Information Bulletin here. 

December 12, 2019

Port News

SC Ports Authority Looking to Expand Retail Operations (Palmetto Bus)

Dredging to Make Virginia East Coast’s Deepest Port Begins (Business Facilities)

Georgia Box Growth Slows (World Cargo News)

Savannah Continues to Build Container Volumes (AJOT)

Multiple Groundings Prompt Coast Guard Safety Zone Near Corpus Christi (Prof. Mariner)

Steamship/Pilot

MSC Begins Sailing on Biofuels in Rotterdam (Shipping Watch)

Bunker Sales Reveal Progress in Sulphur Cap Transition (Lloyd’s List)

Ship Owners and Carriers Count the Cost of Scrubber Retrofit Snarl-Up (Loadstar)

Truck/Rail

Trucking Market Will Absorb Celadon Shutdown (WSJ)

Transportation Insights Buys FreightPros Brokerage (Transp. Insights)

Lineage Logistics Tackle Vehicle Tracking (Supply Chain)

Logistics/Supply Chain

E-Commerce Made Warehouses Hot. Now Investors Warm to Cold Storage (WSJ)

CBP Expands E-Commerce Data Pilot to Ocean, International Mail (Freightwaves)

Commerce

US Trade Deficit Shrinks Sharply, Labor Market Tight (Reuters)

Cyber

Supply Chain Risks Prompt Deeper Vender Security (WSJ)

Read more about the grants to 71 charitable organizations here.

Charleston Port Notice 

News & Notes 11/9/20

Wednesday, January 08, 2020 3:23 PM | Anonymous

News & Notes January 9, 2020

Port News

Congress, President Trump Approve $138 Million for Harbor Deepening Project (Metro CAE)

Southeast Ports Big Winners in 2019 Due to Shift in Container Imports (Freightwaves)

Traffic Jam on the Illinois Waterway: Tugboats Are Busy Through the Holidays (WSJ)

Steamship/Pilot

Festive Boost for Container Lines as Tighter Supply Pushes Up Spot Rates (Loadstar)

Oil Firms Tighten Security After US Strike on Iranian Commander (WSJ)

Cosco Vessel Catches Fire (Port Tech)

Tankers Flock to US as Freight Rates Surge (Marine Link)

Truck/Rail

Fleetwood Transportation Closing Its Doors After 63 Years (Lufkindaily)

Banks Own Thousands of Rail Cars But Don’t Know What to Do With Them (WSJ)

NFI Trucking Expands To Southeast by Adding  G & P (Philadelphia Observer)

Drop Trailers: What’s Old is New Again (Supply Chain)

Class 1 Railroads Embrace PSR to Mixed Results (Supply Chain)

Logistics/Supply Chain

China to Lower Tariffs on Hundreds of Products January 1 (Supply Chain)

Global Shippers Forum Signal Pushback on IMO 2020 Surcharges (Maritime Exec)

How to obtain NOAA ENC-based paper nautical charts after NOAA ends production of traditional paper charts

Contact: Kristen Crossett, 301-325-2113 Recently, NOAA announced the start of a five-year process to end traditional paper nautical chart production. While NOAA is sunsetting its traditional nautical chart products, it is undertaking a major effort to improve the data consistency and provide larger scale coverage within its electronic navigational chart (NOAA ENC®) product suite. Over the next five years, NOAA will work to ease the transition to ENC-based products, such as providing access to paper chart products based on ENC data. The online NOAA Custom Chart prototype application enables users to create their own charts from the latest NOAA ENC data. Users may define the scale and paper size of custom-made nautical charts centered on a position of their choosing. Users may then download, view, and print the output. The application is an easy way to create a paper or digital backup for electronic chart systems. This webcast will provide an overview of the sunsetting process and a live demonstration of the NOAA Custom Chart prototype, including a discussion of the improvements that are planned for the prototype. Date and time: Thursday, January 9, 2020, at 2 p.m. (EST) How to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7410207397804043779 NOAA Office of Coast Survey is the nation's nautical chartmaker. Originally formed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807, Coast Survey updates charts, surveys the coastal seafloor, responds to maritime emergencies, and searches for underwater obstructions that pose a danger to navigation.

DHS CISA Report                                                         01.07.20

Currently no threat to the homeland!

Overview of threat:

Iran, China, Russia, North Korea (Big 4)

They are using cyber technics. They have invested in necessities for espionage in steeling property.

Recently showing capabilities in social influences to further their national interest.

Iran pushing pro-Iran and anti-US in social media.

This is the perfect opportunity to get in the middle of the fight for other Actors.

Islamic revolutionary Guard & Taron involved.

Historical examples:

Golf with wiper attacks and malware. Read June 22^nd Alert.

2011-2013 Iranian Actors attacked US banks

Aug 2013- Damn in NY- IT, Corporate and Industrial Central System

2014- Las Vegas- data breach

2013-2017 Iranian launch cyber theft campaign (IRG ) against federal agencies

Nov 18-   Department of Justice - Sam/Sam Ransomware for financial-ware

Guidance: CISA.gov

CISA Insite – What they know about the Actors, and steps you can take right now. (Executive level quick doct)

CISA Cyber Activity Alert- Iranian Cyber Response- Includes the Iranian attack, their techniques, the detection and mitigations (Technical doct)

National Terrorism Advisory

Action guides (range of resources)

Comments & Questions ……..                       Cisaservicedesk@cisa.dhs.gov 

Port News

Port Access Road Project November (Port Access)

Strong Volumes Drive Growth for SC Ports (Marine Link)

JaxPort Breaks Ground on Container Terminal (Marine Link)

Steamship/Pilot

Spate of Fires Has Shipping Industry Looking at How Dangerous Goods are Handled (WSJ)

CMA CGM to Raise $2B from Port Terminal, Ship Sales (Reuters)

Zim Returns to Profit (Lloyd’s List)

US Fines Shipbuilder Over $75 Million in Bribe Scheme (Freightwaves)

How to Prevent Cargo Rolling When Contracts Lack Teeth (Supply Chain)

Maersk CFO’s Steps Down (Shipping Watch)

Truck/Rail

Trump Signs Resolution Including Repeal of  7.68B Highway Fund Cut (Engineering News)

Cyber Attacks Targeted Transportation Sector in Third Quarter (DC Velocity)

Logistics/Supply Chain

G & D Integrated Expanding Warehouses in Southeast (Bulk Transporter)

Commerce

Fashion Footwear Facing Double Duties if CBP Has Its Way (Sourcing Journal)

Carver Maritime Expanding Charleston County Operations (SC Commerce)