PORTS OF SINGAPORE, LONG BEACH, AND LOS ANGELES SIGN GREEN SHIPPING CORRIDOR PACT
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Port of Long Beach, and Port of Los Angeles, along with support from C40 Cities, signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a green and digital shipping corridor. The purpose of the corridor is to support the decarbonization of the maritime industry and improve efficiencies through digitalization. The signing of the memorandum was witnessed by various leaders from Singapore and the United States. The green and digital shipping corridor aims to facilitate the transition to low- and zero-emission alternative fuels by ships calling at Singapore and the San Pedro Bay ports complex, which is home to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The parties involved will work together to facilitate the supply and adoption of alternative fuels and explore the necessary infrastructure and regulations for bunkering. The memorandum also aims to identify digital shipping solutions and develop standards and best practices for green ports and the bunkering of alternative marine fuels.
ILWU LOCAL 13, PMA MEETING ON CRITICAL MANNING ISSUE FOR LA-LB
A meeting taking place Monday between West Coast longshore labor and employer representatives to discuss a key issue involving nonautomated terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach could result in a major hurdle being cleared on the road to a new coastwide contract. The gathering is taking place as negotiations over a new deal near the one-year anniversary of their May 10, 2022 start.
GEORGIA PORTS AUTHORITY SEES SUSTAINED GROWTH IN RO/RO CARGO HANDLING
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) is marking a significant milestone as it records eight consecutive months of growth in Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) cargo handling. In March alone, the Port of Brunswick processed 62,100 units of vehicles and heavy equipment, with Savannah’s Ocean Terminal contributing an additional 1,700 units, totaling 63,800 units. This volume represents a 22% increase compared to the same period last year. GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch attributes this success to new customers and increased trade with long standing partners. The Port of Brunswick’s Colonel’s Island Terminal stands out for its available space, connectivity to key markets, and ease of doing business, Lynch said. More than 24 automakers depend on the Port of Brunswick for their operations. As of March, the fiscal year-to-date figures reveal that GPA has managed 540,735 units of vehicles and heavy equipment, marking an 80,443-unit or 17.5% increase. The Ro/Ro cargo monthly average for Fiscal Year 2023 now stands at 60,082 units, a significant improvement from FY22’s 51,144-unit average.
ONE CEO SAYS US-CHINA TENSIONS ADD TO GLOBAL TRADE SHIFTS
Political tensions between the US and China are contributing to lower container shipments between the world’s two largest economies, on top of an already-underway reshaping of global trade, according to a major shipping industry boss. The world’s two largest economies have been steadily becoming less reliant on one another for much of the past year. That’s been driven primarily by a broad-based slowdown in the global economy, and it’s been particularly acute for containers as the demand boom that took place during the pandemic reversed.
