Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/643635
www.cargobusinessnews.com January 2016 15 Port neWs ers," said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. "Even before the new cranes arrive, Savannah has more cranes on its nearly two-mile long dock than any other single terminal in North America." Currently featuring 22 ship-to-shore cranes, Savannah's Garden City Terminal will add four cranes from Konecranes this year as previously purchased ma- chines are put into service. The cranes will arrive in late spring of 2018. The ad- ditions are part of the board's Focus 2026 Capital Plan, which calls for 34 ship-to- shore cranes at Garden City Terminal. 1/25: loNg bEACh PoRT hEAd PRoMiSES ExPEdiTEd CARgo MovEMENT Port of Long Beach CEO Jon Slangerup promised in his second annual State of the Port address last week to carry forward his concept of the Port of the Future — a model of faster, cleaner and safer goods movement that benefits and protects the local economy, the com - munity and the environment. "It is the vision of those who came be- fore us that got us here. We now need the courage to think in new ways and make bold decisions that fly in the face of con- vention," Slangerup said. "Together, we have the opportunity to transform the Port of Long Beach from a world-class port into the world's best port." Slangerup acknowledged the chal - lenges and congestion that slowed cargo movement one year ago when dozens of cargo ships waited for days for a chance to come into the harbor complex. He noted how the port complex, work- ing with industry partners, labor and the community, rebounded quickly and set new cargo records with the port moving 7.2 million TEUs in 2015. Slangerup underscored the impor- tance of the Supply Chain Optimization (SCO) collaboration between the Port of Long Beach and the neighboring Port of Los Angeles, as well as industry partners and community stakeholders. SCO will enhance efficiency, preventing the kind of congestion that was evident 12 months ago, offering more business- attracting advantages and delivering a cleaner, more sustainable future, he said. Slangerup updated the audience on the port's $4 billion modernization plan that includes opening Phase 1 of the au - tomated Middle Harbor terminal in the spring to accommodate the world's big- gest and cleanest ships. It also includes replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge with a taller, safer bridge, and an expansion of on-dock rail to move more cargo safely and cleanly. Slangerup noted the Port of Long Beach's value proposition of being the fastest, most efficient way to move cargo from Asia to the American consumer. 1/25: NoRThWEST SEAPoRT AlliANCE volUME ToPS 3.5 MillioN TEUS iN 2015 Container volumes through the ports of Seattle and Tacoma were up 4 percent year-over-year, handling more than 3.5 million TEUs in 2015. The ports of Seattle and Tacoma formed the Northwest Seaport Alliance in August to strengthen the competitive- ness of the Puget Sound gateway — the third largest in North America — and create more economic opportunities. Container volumes increased despite the slowing Chinese economy and vol- ume declines early in the year during West Coast labor negotiations. "The Northwest Seaport Alliance al- lows us to compete more effectively on behalf of our customers and attract more cargo to the Puget Sound region, which translates to more family-wage jobs in our communities," said CEO John Wolfe. International containers grew 8 per- cent. Full containers fueled the nearly 5-percent gain in imports to 1.4 million TEUs. Export containers improved 12 percent to 1.3 million TEUs, powered by the high volume of empty containers being sent back to Asia. Domestic volumes fell 8 percent to 768,635 TEUs. Alaska's economy has slowed due to record low oil prices, re- sulting in less oil and gas-related project cargo heading north. Auto imports reached a new record in 2015, up 4 percent to 183,305 vehicles. Meanwhile breakbulk cargo — items too large or bulky to fit in a container — fell nearly 8 percent. 1/21: PoRTS AMERiCA lEAviNg oAklANd Ports America, which runs operations at dozens of ports in the U.S., said it would terminate a 50-year lease with the Port of Oakland and cease cargo opera - tions within 30 days. In a statement, Ports America said its joint venture in Oakland's Outer Harbor Terminal would be terminated and it would be returning the leased property back to the port. The company will in- stead focus on investing in terminal op- erations in other cities, according to the statement: "Ports America is active in planning its expansion and investment opportunities in its existing locations at both the Port of Tacoma and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach." "We're disappointed when a tenant leaves," said Michael Zampa, a spokes- man for the Port of Oakland. "But it also presents opportunities for the port." The port, which is trying to rebound from a labor dispute that hobbled West Coast ports early last year, is already en -