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Shipping News ArchiveFuel Prices Shipping Satellites From Hawaii Container Port Security Measures Go High Tech in US Kites Will Soon Move Freight Greenpeace Ship to Visit Hawaii Hawaii Shipping Returns to Normal Earthquake rocks the Big Island Shipping Construction Materials Port Security Upgrade Ocean Carriers Lower Fuel Surcharge Faster Shipments from China Increased Shipping Noise Shipping Container Used In Test Slowing Ship Speeds Transport Earnings Transport Costs May Rise Fuel Prices Crew Rescued Shipping Rescue Retun Trip Shipping to Outer Space Pirates Attack 2 UN-Chartered Ships off Indonesia Kahului Harbor Changes National Monument SSN Hawaii Air Ambulance Economic Growth Are Oil Prices On The Rise? Outages at U.S. oil refineries are contributing to higher gas prices but other problems may influence supply chains. OPEC is not expected to increase output and significant disruptions are expected in the Gulf resulting from tropical storms. In addition, there are signs of instability in other production areas like Nigeria and Iran, and there is also uncertainty over Venezuela´s recent nationalization of oil production. Even though prices are down compared to last year, leading world financial companies expect prices to increase based on a weak dollar, rising costs and lack new non-OPEC supply sources. Shipping Satellites From Hawaii The University of Hawaii at Manoa plans to be the first university in the world with the capability to design, build, launch and control its own satellites. The new space program was started with $4 million in federal seed funds which is expected to grow to $40 million. The first mission, scheduled for 2009, will launch and operate two 40-kilogram satellites. According to the University, Hawaii is located in a unique position to become a low-cost gateway to space and offer studies of the Earth´s oceans among many other satellite related experiments. Container Port Security Measures Go High Tech in US Security at container ports in the United States has been a major concern since the terrorist attacks in 2001. Bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress increased funding for port security and placed an emphasis on testing all cargo for radiological material. As a deadline for implementing that testing at all U.S. ports nears, VOA's Kane Farabaugh visited one testing site in New York City. They come and go by the thousands each day -- millions each year around New York City. Steel containers – brought by ship from every corner of the world. They hold the goods that help drive the world economy. But the head of the Department of Homeland Security's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, Vayl Oxford, knows the danger that can lurk behind each container door. "We're working everyday to deal with this problem," he says. The problem facing Oxford cannot be seen by the naked eye, and it has no odor: radiological material that can fuel a so-called dirty bomb or worse. Ninety-five percent of U.S. trade is handled at ports similar to this one on New York's Staten Island. But only five percent of the containers here are visually inspected. So in some ways, the front line defense against a nuclear attack is between two trucking lanes. Here, the next generation of nuclear detection is proving its value. "What you see behind us is a combination of systems,” explains Oxford. “The systems that are closest to us in the camera view are existing operation systems that when a truck carrying any kind of radioactive material comes through it, detects the presence of that radiation, but cannot do anything to identify what may be causing that radiation. The other systems, the other three systems, are new systems that are designed to be able to actually identify what that material is as opposed to just its presence." Increased security immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks did not focus on shipping, but instead on the aviation industry. That changed dramatically in 2006 when lawmakers opposed a deal to grant control of six U.S. ports to a Middle East based company, Dubai Ports World. Under scrutiny, Dubai Ports World backed out of the arrangement. But the furor over the ports deal generated bipartisan support for increased port security measures. Later that year, lawmakers passed a Port Security Bill, earmarking more than $7 billion over five years to the effort. Part of that legislation requires advanced radiation detectors at the New York Container Terminal to be operational at all seaports by September of this year. "Right now as we look around the country,” says Oxford, “we're scanning 91 percent of all containers coming across our northern border, 96 percent across our southern border. And right now 90 percent of all maritime containerized cargo like you see here today are being scanned through these kind of detection systems." Those sound like good numbers, but Oxford says the goal for the Department of Homeland Security is 100 percent testing of all containers. One objective of installing these advanced detectors at ports like this one on Staten Island is to see if installing them nationwide is feasible, both physically and financially. Any slowdown here puts businesses in jeopardy and could cost them millions of dollars. Oxford says he gauges success by how well the detection practices keep business running, and America safe. "This isn't the only problem we're dealing with, however, cause we're also dealing with other avenues the threat might take. So what you don't see here today is the work we're doing with the Coast Guard, the work we're doing with the Border Patrol. And in some cases working with major metropolitan areas to give them similar kinds of capabilities so we end up with a layer defensive strategy not just one that's based on seaport defense." Part of that "layer-defensive strategy" is the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol's Container Security Initiative It is a plan that involves dozens of international ports outside the United States pre-screening cargo before it even reaches container terminals like this one in New York -- when it might be already too late to stop a radiological attack. The above news article was provided by: Kites Will Soon Move Freight Using the power of the winds, a German shipping company plans to use a gigantic (191 square yards) kite-like sail with its latest cargo ship to boost propulsion and conserve fuel. Considered a “green” project, the “SkySail” has undergone years of successful testing and is expected to reduce fuel costs up to 35 percent. But nature is not always reliable and the price tag is high; just over 3 million dollars per sail so water carriers maybe reluctant at first to adopt this new SkySail technology. The SkySail is utilized as a towing kite and fitted with double walls made up of chambers along the entire length and ports at the front end. The kite shape is defined by a tree of cords that feed to an anchor line attached to an automated steering and release/retrieval device at ship’s bow. This unique system can be built into new vessels or retrofitted to existing liners and super yachts that initially will have an assigned engineer with full autonomy soon after. With high fuel costs, new greenhouse gas restrictions and growing demands for environment friendly power sources, the SkySail may become very popular with shipping companies. Already there are projections that by 2015, 1,500 vessels will have a new SkySail but so far only four ships are scheduled for installment, the soonest in early 2007. Greenpeace Ship to Visit Hawaii While on a 16 month voyage around the world, the Greenpeace ship Esperanza will visit Hawaii to help celebrate the establishment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a national marine monument. Before traveling on to California, the Esperanza is expected to visit the “Trash Vortex” where ocean currents and winds collect piles of garbage in the northern Pacific. Hawaii Shipping Returns to Normal After the 10.15.2006 earthquake off the coast of Hawaii, shipping has returned to normal in Kawaihae Harbor. Engineers, divers and the Hawaii Dept. of Transportation inspected terminals and piers which were reported to be in good shape. Earthquake rocks the Big Island An earthquake measuring 6.5 in magintude was reported of the coast of Hawaii Sunday morning and believed to be the largest reported earthquake since 1983. Followed by several aftershocks and power outages, Governor Linda Lingle issued a disaster declaration to release emergency funds. Many roads were said to have moderate to severe damage but so far there have been no reported fatalities and most of the electricity has been restored. Shipping Construction Materials Shipping volumes for construction materials are likely to decline. According to University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO), construction in Hawaii is at a turning point. UHERO calculates that costs will peak in the next year and construction in Hawaii will gradually decline as a result. For more information on UHERO's Economic Information Service and their construction forecast, visit http://www.uhero.hawaii.edu/. Port Security Upgrade Over one million dollars will be spent upgrading port security in Hawaii. The improvements that will be made at Honolulu Harbor and other ports will include a new identification system small weapons and radiation monitoring. The funding is part of the 168 million dollars the federal government is providing to ports across the country. Ocean Carriers Lower Fuel Surcharge As the cost of crude oil drops below $60 per barrel, ocean carriers to Hawaii announce lower fuel surcharges. Plans to lower fuel surcharges are welcome news to many shipping to Hawaii and the South Pacific and even better news to consumers on the Hawaii Islands as costs for products are likely to be lower as a result. Faster Shipments from China Oakland, California based carrier, Matson Navigation Co. announced it will use five fuel-efficient transport ships to make weekly trips from Shanghai to Long Beach, California. The new China shipping schedule is expected to shave a few days off shipments of goods to Hawaii ports, which have to be routed from mainland US ports. Increased Shipping Noise A new study using underwater listing devices from around the world, the ocean is a loud place. Comparisons made to declassified Navy records indicate that global shipping is the probable reason for a rise in undersea noise pollution. Since the mid 1960s noise rates have increased by 3 decibels per decade. In the last 40 years the world’s shipping fleet has doubled and new ships are bigger, faster and use more power for propulsion. The impact of increased noise levels on marine wildlife is yet unknown. Shipping Container Used In Test Emergency workers, state and federal officials will take part in a mock disaster in Honolulu harbor. The dill will test response times to a small scale nuclear explosion from inside a shipping container. Such an attack can be a possibility for any American port but it would be especially tragic for Hawaii’s shipping and trade industries that depend on the Port of Honolulu. Slowing Ship Speeds The United States government proposes slowing ship speeds to reduce the number of right whale collisions. With congested shipping lanes and increased ship speeds, the number of whale strikes is on the rise. Proposals to help the depleted right whale population would require ships longer than 64 feet to reduce speed to 10 knots where whales frequent or through migration paths. Recent threats to airlines and rising fuel costs maybe the cause of lower shipping earnings. For several weeks, transport and shipping companies have reported slumping revenues which may indicate a decline in economic growth. Although lower profits are reported from UPS, Union Pacific and Continental Airlines, other shipping and transport firms still show strong revenues. On close today, the Dow Jones Transportation Average was up. Transport Costs May Rise Transport costs will likely increase after BP America, Inc. announced it would shut down the Alaska Prudhoe Bay oilfield. The shutdown will reduce production by 400,000 barrels per day, accounting for about 3 percent of the US crude oil supplies. The closure follows a discovery of severe corrosion in an oil transit line; repairs should take several days but the price of crude oil has already surged. Pump prices rise but transporation and shipping demands continue to grow. According to the federal Department of Transpiration Energy Information Administration, regular gasoline pump prices are estimated to be 51 cents per gallon higher than last year’s summer 2005 average. Transportation diesel fuel consumption is expected to increase this year and in 2007, after having a 1.3 percent increase in 2005; a 3.4 percent average is expected as the economy expands. All 23 members of the shipping vessel “Cougar Ace” were rescued today. Carried off the listing ship via two helicopters, the crew was safely transported to Adak Island. There has been no word yet on what caused the ocean carrier to list or if the vessel and its cargo will be recovered. The Cougar Ace vessel traveling to Canada and the Port of Tacoma was reported listing Sunday, nearly rolling onto one side and taking water. Transporting over 4,900 cars, the ship and its crew are stranded in the south waters of the Aleutian Islands. Rescue attempts are currently underway by the United States Coast Guard sent from Anchorage and via a Coast Guard cutter based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The United States space shuttle Discovery landed in Florida. The successful mission that shipped supplies and provided maintenance to the International Space Station means that construction on the station can restart. NASA chief Michael Griffin was quoted, “This is as good a mission as we’ve ever flown but we’re not going to get overconfident, we have to take it flight by flight.” In August the space shuttle Atlantis is expected to deliver two solar energy panels, batteries and other equipment so that the space station can continue assembly. Shipping to Outer Space Launching July 4th, the space shuttle Discovery will deliver more than two and half tons of freight to the International Space Station, which include an oxygen generator that will allow the station to hold a crew of six. Nearly as much old equipment and trash will be unloaded from the station and shipped back to Earth. Pirates Attack 2 UN-Chartered Ships off Indonesia An international maritime watchdog says pirates have attacked two U.N.-chartered ships off the Indonesian coast in the Strait of Malacca. No injuries were reported. The International Maritime Bureau says both ships were traveling along northeastern Sumatra, from Belawan to ports in Aceh, when they were boarded Sunday night, just hours apart. Chartered by the U.N. World Food Program, the vessels were carrying construction materials to help rebuild Indonesia's tsunami-hit Aceh province. Each year, about 50,000 ships traverse the Strait of Malacca, between Sumatra island and peninsular Malaysia. Half the world's oil production and one-third of all global commerce passes through the strait's shipping lanes. The area is notorious for piracy, but aggressive joint patrols by Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have sharply reduced the number of attacks during the past year. The above news article was provided by: Kahului Harbor Changes Overcrowding at the Kahului Harbor is the likely cause for a local carrier to announce discontinuing less than container load (LCL) service to the island. Committed to the new inter island "Superferry" project, the state of Hawaii is requiring companies that operate on land within the harbor to make way for construction plans. Eliminating LCL shipments might be a challenge for some businesses but most will probably utilize freight services from companies like Hawaii Ocean Transport (HOT) to consolidate or forward their shipments. HOT has provided both less than container load and full container load (FCL) services to the Hawaiian Islands and Guam for over 20 years. HOT also operates receiving and loading terminals in Seattle, Tacoma, Oakland and Los Angeles and continues to expand quality and shipping services. As fuel prices continue to rise and new transportation projects escalate shipping costs, freight companies like Hawaii Ocean Transport that can securely consolidate and forward shipments at a cost effective price will likely become a better solution for the long term.
President George Bush established a new national monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian islands spanning nearly 140,000 square miles. The local fishing industry will lose jobs because of this new marine sanctuary but conservation organizations have promised to help compensate those who are impacted by new fishing restrictions. The area is said to be the world's most remote and biggest marine reserve that supports more than 7,000 species with more than 100 unique to the surrounding islands. U.S. Navy's new nuclear attack submarine to be christened. The Virginia class submarine named the SSN Hawaii is a new submarine with improved stealth and sophisticated surveillance capabilities that will allow it to conduct anti-submarine and surface warfare. NCL American launches the Pride of Hawaii, the largest, most expensive United States flagged cruise ship. This luxurious ship houses 10 restaurants and courtyard villas, three swimming pools and with many other amenities. A new chief was announced as taking over the Hawaii inter-island ambulance service. This change is expected to include a cash and three aircraft investment. The Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) predicts positive economic growth for Hawaii. In the first quarter of 2006, Hawaii’s unemployment rate fell to the lowest in the United States and Wages are forecasted to increase by over 3.5% in 2007. Tourism in Hawaii is expected to total more that 7.5 million visitors, an increase of almost 3% since 2005 and tourism spending for 2006 should be well over 12 billion dollars. |
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Hawaii Freight | Hawaii Shipping | Logistics