CMA CGM FINALIZES TERMINALS ACQUISITION AT PORT OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
CMA CGM has closed on its acquisition to acquire two key container terminals at the Port of New York and New Jersey, expanding the French shipping company’s terminal footprint in the United States. CMA CGM announced its intention to acquire the GCT Bayonne and GCT New York terminals from Global Container Terminals in December. The two terminals, located in Bayonne, New Jersey and Staten Island, N.Y., will add approximately 2 million TEUs in capacity and bring CMA CGM’s U.S. terminal portfolio to seven facilities.CMA CGM intends to increase investments in the terminals with plans to increase capacity by more than 50% during the next 10 years. The company said its development plan will add approximately 240 direct jobs and more than 700 construction jobs over the next seven years. It will also continue to develop Bayonne’s Berth 3 which, once completed, will be one of the most capable berths on the U.S. East Coast, with a depth of 55 feet and the ability to handling containerships up to 18,000 TEUs.
WEST COAST DOCKWORKERS APPROVE NEW 6-YEAR LABOR CONTRACT
Dockworkers on the U.S. West Coast have voted to ratify a tentative contract agreement reached in June with port employers represented by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced Thursday. The new six-year contract covers workers at all 29 West Coast ports represented by the PMA and is retroactive from July 1, 2022. The vote brings to an end more than a year of uncertainty that has had major impacts on the U.S. container shipping market as the two sides failed to reach an agreement for nearly a year after the previous contract expired. ILWU members voted 75% in favor of approving the new agreement, which will expire July 1, 2028. Voting results were certified today by the ILWU’s Coast Balloting Committee, which was chosen by Coast Longshore Division Caucus delegates elected from each of the ports represented by the PMA. The ILWU said the new agreement protects jobs, maintains health benefits, and improves wages, pensions, and safety protections for approximately 20,000 workers..
LA-LB PORT INTERESTS SPAR WITH AGENCY OVER EMISSIONS RULE UNDER DEVELOPMENT
Port and cargo interests in Los Angeles and Long Beach warn that a pending proposal from the regional air quality board designed to slash transport emissions will effectively “cap” cargo volumes at the largest US port complex and hasten the diversion of discretionary cargo to other ports. A coalition of more than 100 shipper and transportation interests to the mayors of Los Angeles and Long Beach, urged the officials to oppose the so-called Indirect Source Rule (ISR), which is under development by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).
Southeast US ports reopen after Hurricane Idalia blows through region
Major ports along the southeast US coast reopened Thursday following the passage of Hurricane Idalia, which forced the suspension of vessel and landside operations the day prior. Given the short duration of the closures, operational impacts appeared minimal. Jacksonville fully reopened after a post-storm assessment of the port’s waterways by the US Coast Guard. “Jaxport is now open to landside cargo operations.
BNSF DEPLOYING CAMERAS, DRONES TO BOOST TERMINAL CARGO FLOW
BNSF Railway is deploying new technology at several of its terminals in the US, using cameras and artificial intelligence to reduce truck turn times, increase the number of trains unloaded per day and better track the location of containers. The railroad has deployed fixed-pole cameras and cameras mounted on yard hostlers in its Alliance (Dallas-Fort Worth), Logistics Park Chicago and Phoenix terminals this year, all in tandem with terminal manager ITS ConGlobal. Drones are also being used in Dallas-Fort Worth in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.
