Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/42918
Casualties 37 »Several hundred longshoremen storm Port of Longview Several hundred Longshoremen reportedly barraged the Port of Longview on September 8, taking six security guards hostage, causing damage to BNSF railroad cars, ceasing operations at other Puget Sound ports, in the continuing summer- long standoff between International Longshore and Warehouse Union members and the owners of a new $200 million, privately funded grain terminal that has been trying to operate with a different contracted labor force at the Columbia River port. Six guards were held hostage for a few hours after an estimated 500 or so longshoremen stormed through the terminal's gates at about 4:30 a.m. today, according to Longview Police Chief Jim Duscha as reported by local radio station KLOG and the Associated Press. On the previous morning, the Columbian newspaper reported that dozens of local International and Longshore and Warehouse Union members gathered on the BNSF railroad tracks in Downtown Vancouver to protest against terminal operator EGT Development, a joint venture of Japan's Itochu, Korea's STX Pan Ocean, and St. Louis-based Bunge of North America. There were 19 subsequent arrests made. "This is the latest in a very long line of actions that longshore men are taking to stand up to a foreign company that's trying to get a foothold in Washington and undermine the grain industry," said ILWU spokeswoman Jennifer Sargent who was on scene as reported by the Columbian. This morning's mass of ILWU protesters reportedly returned to their union hall after cutting brake lines and spilling grain from a railroad car at the EGT terminal, according to Duscha. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union's contention is that its members should be the labor force working at the EGT Terminal as the Port of Longview employs ILWU workers, but the new facility hired a contractor that is supplying a different labor union. One Longview police sergeant was reportedly threatened with baseball bats and departed the scene. Police Chief Duscha said: "One officer with hundreds of Longshoremen? He used the better part of discretion." »U.S. lifts sanction on parent company to Zim The U.S. State Department lifted one of a group of sanctions against an oil tanker that was sold to Iran last year by a consortium headed up by Israel's Ofer Brothers, the owners of container- shipping line, Zim. The surprising decision by the State Department arrived after months of lobbying on behalf of the Ofer Brothers amid public outcries in Israel against such a business agreement with Iran, considered a "mortal enemy" of Israel. Unfortunately, the two brothers who ran the multi-billion-dollar holding company, Sammy Ofer and Yuli Ofer, did not live to see the sanction lifted as the former died in June and his brother passed away last week. Sanctions against three other companies involved in the $8.5 million tanker transaction with an Iranian "shell" company were not lifted. For the full A.P. story: www. washingtonpost.com c»German shipping ompany fined $800K for breaking environmental laws in Puerto Rico A German shipping company must pay an $800,000 penalty for the attempt by the crew of one its containerships to cover up pollution spilled from the vessel in Puerto Rico's waters. The U.S. Attorney's office confirmed the penalty against Uniteam Marine Shipping GmbH for falsifying statements in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships after a year-long investigation that concluded oily bilge water was dumped into the sea through a hose that bypassed prevention equipment. The shipping company will be on probation for three years, according to a statement issued by the Attorney's office. For the Washington Post/A.P. story source: www.washingtonpost.com r»Danish family eleased by Somali pirates after $ 3 mil ransom paid Somali pirates released a family of five from Denmark and two crew members in early September after a $3 million ransom was paid, according to one of the pirates who spoke to Reuters Africa. The pirates had held a man, woman, children and the crew since February 24th of this year, when the family's yacht was hijacked off the Horn of Africa. "The foreign ministry has very clear traveling guidance, and there is a clear recommendation not to sail into waters that are characterized by hostage taking. So that should be a warning for all to think carefully," said Denmark's Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen. A pirate, who identified himself as Hussein, told Reuters: "We received a $3 million ransom (on Tuesday) afternoon." "The Danish state has not been involved in the contacts with the pirates — the contacts have been handled by the relatives of the seven Danes," said Charlotte Slente, director of Denmark's consular services. For the full Reuters Africa story: af.reuters.com www.cargobusinessnews.com September 2011 C