ILWU negotiations: White House watching ‘as closely as they can be’
Union and management leaders are committed to reaching a new contract and not impeding the flow of goods, Port and Supply Chain Envoy Gen. Stephen Lyons said.
LOS ANGELES — The White House is monitoring labor negotiations between ILWU dockworkers and the Pacific Maritime Association “as closely as they can be watched without being a point of interference,” Port and Supply Chain Envoy Gen. Stephen Lyons said last week.
Supply Chain Dive
Joint EU-Japan Project aims to reduce cost of green methanol
A joint European / Japanese research project aims to lower the energy requirements and costs for manufacturing green methanol, the future fuel of choice for Maersk and one of the leading candidates for decarbonizing deep-sea shipping.
Methanol can be synthesized from carbon dioxide and hydrogen at high temperature, then converted to methanol for use as fuel. If the carbon comes from CO2 capture and the hydrogen feedstock is produced using renewable power, the product - green methanol - is considered a net-zero fuel.
The Maritime Executive
AFL-CIO transportation head says labor/shipper coalition supports tougher regulation of railroads
The head of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) says a coalition of labor unions and shippers in agriculture, energy and chemicals supports giving the Surface Transportation Board stronger powers to regulate the nation’s railroads
In an interview with AJOT, Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, representing U.S. transportation workers said: “If you would have asked me five years ago if my organization would be signing a joint statement of principles with shipping organizations, big agriculture, big energy and big chemical organizations I would have told you that you are out of your mind but that is what we have done here.”
AJOT
Saudi ports achieve 5.5% box volume growth in June
The number of containers in Saudi Arabian ports in June increased by 5.5% and reached 642,300 TEU compared to 608,800 TEU recorded in the same month last year.
At the same time, the transshipment sector saw a growth of 4.2% with a total of 244,600 TEU.
Saudi Arabian ports have also recorded a 16.1% increase in cargo handling volume reaching 27.1 million tonnes, compared to 23.4 million tonnes recorded in June 2021.
Container News
Biden signs executive order to keep rail freight moving
US President Joe Biden has ordered the establishment of a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) effective July 18 to help resolve an ongoing dispute between major freight rail carriers and their unions.
The board is to investigate and report on the dispute. Within 30 days of its establishment, the Board must deliver a report recommending how the dispute should be resolved.
Splash 24/7
Truck protests bring Port of Oakland close to a standstill
Truckers protesting a new California law that toughens the definition of nonemployee drivers shut down some operations at the Port of Oakland on Tuesday, adding new disruptions to already fragile U.S. supply chains.
Ed DeNike, president of SSA Containers, which handles about 70% of the cargo entering and leaving the Port of Oakland, said truckers blocked truck gates into and out of the company’s container terminal.
Mr. DeNike said container ships couldn’t be loaded or unloaded because dockworkers with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union refused to cross the picket line. “The thing that hurts the most is we are full,” Mr. DeNike said.
The Wall Street Journal
Freighter fleet to grow by 80% including new & converted models: Boeing
Boeing's 2022 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) released earlier today predicts continued robust demand for dedicated freighters to support global supply chains and growing express networks.
Carriers will need 2,800 additional freighters overall, including 940 new widebody models in addition to converted narrow-body and widebody freighters over the forecast period. These insights were a part of Boeing's2022 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) that was launched today and which showcases the company's annual long-term forecast, in advance of the Farnborough International Airshow.
STAT Times
