Latest news with #StateofthePort
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Port of Brunswick to receive $35 million for operations, maintenance
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WSAV) — The Port of Brunswick will receive $35 million in additional funding for operations and maintenance, officials said Thursday. The Brunswick Port was named the nation's top port for automobiles and heavy equipment, in early February this year. Officials announced during the State of the Port that the port handled more than two million tons of roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) cargo. 'The Georgia Ports Authority is grateful that the Administration has prioritized the long-awaited funding necessary to properly maintain the Port of Brunswick,' President and CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority Griff Lynch said. 'We are further grateful for the extraordinary advocacy of Chairman Carter, Chairman Collins, and the entire Georgia Congressional delegation on behalf of this important gateway. As the largest and busiest port in the United States for handling automobiles and machinery, the maintenance of Brunswick's harbor is critical before vessel access to the port is limited.' Rep. Earl L. 'Buddy' Carter (R-GA) released a statement with the announcement and said that they have worked with the Corps to 'address unacceptable shortfalls in maintenance at the Port of Brunswick' on Thursday. Georgia's U.S. senators sought answers regarding the failure to dredge the port back in February. Dredging is essential to growth in the harbor, officials said. 'To date, the federal funding and procurement process has fallen short for both the annual maintenance dredging and the harbor modification project,' The Port's press release said.' It is imperative the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers identifies a workable solution for these projects of national significance.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brunswick now top port for automobiles, heavy equipment
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WSAV) — The Brunswick Port is now the nation's top port for automobiles and heavy equipment, officials announced during the State of the Port Wednesday. The port handled more than two million tons of roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) cargo, Georgia Ports Authority CEO and President Griff Lynch said. This included handling over 900,000 units of automobiles and heavy equipment, marking a record year for the port. Autos are up a little more than 13% and heavy equipment is up 160%, the Georgia Port Authority (GPA) said. The GPA also said that more than 90% of the autos moved by rail at Colonel's Island were U.S. made exports. Officials said that the port's capacity will be increased even further with a state and federal funding allowing from them to add new railyard and other improvements. Lynch also said we should expect larger ships to be on the way in the next two to three years. Roundabouts added as Highway 280 expansion enters final stages Issues regarding the failure to perform dredging operation at the Brunswick Harbor was also discussed during the address. 'To date, the federal funding and procurement process has fallen short for both the annual maintenance dredging and the harbor modification project,' The Port's press release said.' It is imperative the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers identifies a workable solution for these projects of national significance.' U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock released a statement Wednesday asking for answers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 'The Corps' failure to execute a basic mission with ample funding provided by Congress raises serious concerns about the Corps' ability to effectively execute such projects in future years,' the Senators wrote. The dredging is necessary for more growth at the port, officials said. 'The Port of Brunswick is vital to Georgia's economic growth and is poised to become the Nation's busiest automotive port in the near future,' the joint release said. 'The sustained success and future expansion of port operations relies on timely and effective dredging of the harbor.' The State of the Port was held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center by the City of Brunswick. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Well-protected': JAXPORT CEO predicts tariffs will have minimal impact on operations
The Trump Administration's 10-percent tariff on Chinese goods is now in effect and the 25-percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada could kick in within a month. The tariffs were the talk of the town at Thursday's State of the Port presentation. 'It'll impact all ports,' said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] But Green is optimistic JAXPORT is better positioned than almost any other port to weather the storm. 'There will be an impact, but it will be very minimal to us,' said Green. Green noted JAXPORT is one of the most diverse ports in North America in terms of where products are imported from and what kind of products come in through the port. 'You have break bulk, autos, you've got containers and you have cruises. So, we see ourselves well protected when it comes to that. So, if any commodity gets hit, you know, it actually helps because we're just as strong in the other,' said Green. Read: Carnival Cruise Line celebrates 20 years of impact in Jacksonville For industries around the ports like Air Van Inc, which operates storage facilities and trucking operations, the threat of tariffs proved to be a boon for business in recent months. 'People stockpiling, front loading in anticipation of potential tariffs,' said Air Van Inc CEO Ike Sherlock. Read: Cost of power line project balloons as JEA and JAXPORT work out cost-sharing agreement Sherlock said he doesn't anticipate imports slowing, especially not for priority products like those related to the medical field, IT and fintech. Instead, he anticipates consumers are more likely to feel the brunt of the impacts. 'I think we should all anticipate, for the short-term anyway, higher prices on everything,' said Sherlock. Read: Potential tariffs on imported goods could affect how much you spend on everyday items Sherlock said he doesn't anticipate the tariffs will have any major impacts on jobs around the port either. He said he also expects any impacts to trade will likely subside once the tariffs are either lifted or become the new normal. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cost of power line project balloons as JEA and JAXPORT work out cost-sharing agreement
The cost to raise power lines over the St. Johns River to allow larger cargo ships to deliver goods to JAXPORT continues to balloon. The promise of attracting larger cargo ships is the driving force behind a plan to raise the power lines near the Dames Point Bridge by 50 feet. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< It was one of the projects highlighted during this year's State of the Port presentation. 'Raising the power lines to give the overhead clearance that's needed to accommodate those ships, you know, we're working closely with JEA, and we're expecting for that project to actually be completed by the end of 2026,' said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. The latest cost analysis puts the total price tag on the project at $117 million, which is more than two and a half times the initial estimate of $45 million. RELATED: Cost of raising power lines over the St. Johns River may increase by millions FDOT and the city have committed a combined $45 million towards the project, meaning JAXPORT and JEA will have to split the remaining $72 million bill. Green said a cost-sharing deal is still being worked out between the two companies. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'We continue to talk about what the cost-sharing looks like. It should come out in the next week or two,' said Green. As far as JEA is concerned, the rising cost isn't expected to result in any rate increase for consumers, with the utility telling us its share of the project will come from surplus electric revenue generated during last year's hot summer. RELATED: Costs rise to raise power lines over the St. Johns River near JAXPORT 'JEA's proposed rate adjustments for FY25 are predominantly attributed to obligations to Plant Vogtle, capital projects, and state and federal regulatory requirements,' said a JEA spokesperson in an emailed statement. And Green argued the commitment from all four partners highlights the importance of the project for the local economy. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'And when you put all four in, it just shows you know what JAXPORT means to the community, the jobs that we create, so on and so forth,' said Green. JEA also told Action News Jax the project isn't just about bringing in bigger ships. The utility said the project will also result in improvements to the resiliency of the power grid and cooperate with new technology that will improve efficiency. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Los Angeles, the busiest US container port, plans even bigger future
While the global supply chain seemed whipsawed on a daily basis in 2024, one thing remained constant: a veritable tsunami of ocean containers moving through the Port of Los Angeles. The busiest U.S. maritime trade hub moved 10.3 million container units in 2024, a record 1.7 million TEUs or nearly 20% higher than a year ago. 'That is our second-best year in the 117-year history of the Port of Los Angeles,' said Executive Director Gene Seroka, who spoke at the annual State of the Port event Thursday, 'and nearly a 20% increase in volume over 2023. In fact, we moved 1.7 million more TEUs than last year, which is the largest incremental gain we've ever seen.' Total volume finished short of the record 10,677,610 TEUs handled in 2021. Total traffic in December, usually a weaker month following the runup of holiday merchandise, was 921,617 TEUs, up 24% year over year (y/y). Loaded imports totaled 460,916 TEUs, up 26%, while loaded exports totaled 110,484 TEUs, off 9%. Empties, a pre-cursor of import flows, was 350,218 TEUs, ahead 37% from December, 2023. 'That kind of traffic is driven by a lot of factors,' said Seroka, entering his 11th year at the port. 'A strong U.S. economy with robust imports and exports. The best labor force — bar none — in the world on the docks and on the roads. Significant investments by our two great western railroads, Union Pacific (NYSE: UNI) and BNSF, to efficiently accommodate increased cargo in and out of the San Pedro Bay.' Coming off a near-record year, LA still has room to grow: Seroka in a media briefing this past fall said the port was operating at 80% capacity. Seroka said cargo flows continue to be aided by data improvements as part of the Port Optimizer, launched in 2017, and the first phase of a Universal Truck Appointment System launched in 2024. 'This system gives drivers a single user interface to schedule appointments at our terminals, improving the workflow and lives of our 20,000 truckers,' Seroka said. 'It was introduced just eight weeks ago, and we're already seeing positive results. As part of an $8 million dollar grant from the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, the port is developing Phase 2 of the system to integrate appointments systems at both Los Angeles and neighboring Port of Long Beach. 'Leveraging real-time tracking data from the Port Optimizer, our customers will enjoy an even simpler and more seamless experience,' Seroka said. There's a direct correlation between speed of goods to market and workforce expansion, he said, 'because every four containers we move creates a job, and over the last 10 years, longshore registration has increased by 27%.' That kind of continuity served LA well over the past 12 months, when labor turmoil disrupted port operations from Texas to Boston, and along both coasts in Canada. An on-dock rail project completed in 2024 at APM Terminal's Pier 400 is expected to improve efficiency and boost container volumes across a wider range of inland locations. Fenix Marine Services, a subsidiary of France's CMA CGM, is breaking ground on a similar project at Pier 300. Seroka said rail expansion will enhance capacity for future growth, enabling the port and Fenix to compete for more cargo. Infrastructure projects in 2024 were helped by a record $60 million in federal money from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, which Seroka termed 'a fair amount' more than a decade in the making. Import taxes fund waterway maintenance projects and ports contribute about half the money in the fund but only see about 3% in return. Seroka credited recently retired Rep. Grace Napolitano and others who started advocating for an equitable distribution of those funds. More broadly, Seroka said geopolitics presents a 'significant' challenge both to the port and the maritime industry. In 2024, the gateway had to adapt to change from attacks on Red Sea shipping, drought conditions in the Panama Canal and labor issues on the East and Gulf coasts. 'In Washington, the new administration is talking about more tariffs and trade constraints. This post-globalization era is creating new headwinds that we must navigate. 'Now more than ever, ports, shipping lines, terminal operators, our workforce, communities and all other links in the supply chain must work together,' he said. In May, the port opened the $16 million Maintenance and Repair Training Center on Terminal Island with the cooperation of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association in an effort to retrain and upskill ILWU workers. The port is also developing a Goods Movement Training Facility, the only workforce training center in the United States dedicated to goods movement. Eyeing a future workforce, the port plans to expand its collaboration in advancing clean technology with the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as a partnership with the California Community College system, with 2 million students at 116 schools — the largest higher education system in the country. 'Our aim is to equip these students with the education and skills needed for decarbonization and environmental stewardship,' Seroka said. 'This partnership will keep local colleges updated on emerging technologies and prepare students for evolving job opportunities in our industry.' Seroka said the port's greenhouse emissions have dropped 24% since 2005, while TEUs and overall business has increased by 15%. 'This means, we are now down to the last 9% of diesel particulate matter and the last 2% of sulfur oxides from anything with an engine that moves cargo through our gateway. 'To put all this in perspective, these reductions are the equivalent of taking nearly 5-and-a-half million cars off the road.' The port, meanwhile, is aiming for zero emissions. The Clean Truck Program counts nearly 500 ZE trucks operating at LA-Long Beach, along with dockside tractors, top handlers and other equipment. Over the last three years, the port complex has received nearly a billion dollars in federal and state funding, led by a $412 million EPA grant announced in 2024 for ZE equipment and terminal upgrades. With more than $230 million in matching funds from the port and terminal operators, total investment will exceed $640 million, the hub plans to deploy 250 ZE trucks and replace dockside diesel equipment with 424 ZE units, along with 300 charging stations. Seroka said the port is working on securing funding to help Union Pacific purchase and develop a new zero-emissions locomotive for operations within the port. At the same time, the Hydrogen Hub project is seeking $100 million for the San Pedro Bay ports through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. In May 2024, Yusen Terminals powered up the world's first hydrogen-fueled rubber-tired gantry crane. Fenix Marine Services, in collaboration with Toyota, is testing a retro-fit hydrogen-powered top handler that can operate for 20 hours on a single tank of fuel. Also, Yusen Terminals recently deployed five Taylor electric top handlers, and Everport is running two electric top handlers as part of a $8 million Advanced Cargo-Handling Demonstration Project. 'These projects not only transform our port; they also set a global standard, proving that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand,' said Seroka. 'At this point, every container terminal either has ZE equipment in use, or is actively planning for future-ready fleets. To ramp up electrical capacity, the port has teamed with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on a $500 million upgrade to scale up battery electric equipment and provide reliable shore power. 'We must expand our infrastructure to accommodate additional electric cargo handling equipment, EV charging stations, and overall operations in order to meet our zero-emissions targets,' Seroka said. The port also advanced maritime initiatives with eight different ports in China, Singapore, Japan and Vietnam to develop Green Shipping Corridors aimed at decarbonizing vessel operations. 'Collaborations like these will demonstrate the safety and feasibility of deploying the world's first zero-carbon container ship by 2030,' Seroka said, adding the port in 2024 hosted the first U.S. call of the Alette Maersk, the first-ever green container vessel capable of running on carbon neutral e-methanol fuel. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls Sea now a 'case-by-case basis' for CMA CGM US says China pressed unfair advantages to dominate shipping, shipbuilding Sola to head Federal Maritime Commission The post Los Angeles, the busiest US container port, plans even bigger future appeared first on FreightWaves.
