Finland Demands Investigators On Vessel That Broke Gas Pipeline

By Kati Pohjanpalo (Bloomberg) –Finland will demand its investigators be allowed on board the NewNew Polar Bear, a Hong Kong-flagged vessel whose anchor ripped up a subsea gas pipeline near Finnish…

By Kati Pohjanpalo (Bloomberg) –Finland will demand its investigators be allowed on board the NewNew Polar Bear, a Hong Kong-flagged vessel whose anchor ripped up a subsea gas pipeline near Finnish...

Exxon Mobil Rebuffs Criticism Of Carbon Capture Strategy

DUBAI, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods on Saturday rejected the International Energy Agency’s recent claim that using wide-scale carbon capture to fight climate change was an implausible “illusion,”…

DUBAI, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods on Saturday rejected the International Energy Agency’s recent claim that using wide-scale carbon capture to fight climate change was an implausible “illusion,”...

Strong Quake In Philippines Triggers Tsunami Warnings And Evacuations

By Mikhail Flores MANILA, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Evacuations were under way in the Philippines after a quake of at least magnitude 7.5 struck the southern region of Mindanao on Saturday night,…

By Mikhail Flores MANILA, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Evacuations were under way in the Philippines after a quake of at least magnitude 7.5 struck the southern region of Mindanao on Saturday night,...

McAllister Towing Releases Its First Sustainability Report with ABS Support

Working together with ABS,McAllister Towing, one of the oldest and largest marine towing and transportation companies in the U.S., has released its inaugural sustainability report, showcasing efforts to reduce its…

Working together with ABS,McAllister Towing, one of the oldest and largest marine towing and transportation companies in the U.S., has released its inaugural sustainability report, showcasing efforts to reduce its...

THE Alliance diverts ships through Suez ahead of Panama Canal transit cuts

Liner operators in THE Alliance will switch transits on three services as low water levels on the Panama Canal reduce the number of ships that can use the main artery for container trade between the US East Coast and Asia.

Liner operators in THE Alliance will switch transits on three services as low water levels on the Panama Canal reduce the number of ships that can use the main artery for container trade between the US East Coast and Asia.

U.S. awards $220 million to modernize ferry systems

(WASHINGTON) — The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Thursday announced grants totaling $220.2 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize the nation’s ferry systems. The program focuses in part […]

(WASHINGTON) — The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Thursday announced grants totaling $220.2 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize the nation’s ferry systems.

The program focuses in part on expanding ferry service in rural communities, helping communities acquire modern ferry boats (including electric boats that reduce carbon pollution), and upgrading shore infrastructure to support high-quality, low-emission ferry service.

“For many communities around the U.S., ferries are an important way to access jobs, medical care, and vital goods and services — like in communities I visited this summer in Alaska, Wisconsin and Washington state,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With these grants, from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we will be able to connect more people to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive even when their main route is a waterway rather than a road.”

Water Emergency Transportation Agency (WETA) photo

In total, the FTA is awarding 13 grants in eight states and the territory of American Samoa. Federal funding will support projects such as replacing old vessels, expanding fleets, and building new terminals and docks.

The funding, made available through two FTA competitive grant programs, will boost ferry service in rural areas, modernize urban ferry systems, and lower emissions by speeding the adoption of low- and zero-emission technology.

The FTA’s Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program provides competitive funding to states for ferry service in rural areas. On Thursday, the FTA said it is awarding approximately $170 million to six projects in four states and the territory of American Samoa.

The FTA’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program supports capital projects to establish new ferry service and repair and modernize ferry vessels, terminals and facilities in urban areas. On Thursday, the agency said it is is awarding $50.1 million to seven projects in four states.

Selected fiscal year 2023 ferry projects include:

• The American Samoa Department of Public Works will receive $21.2 million to acquire two low-emission vessels that will operate from Tutuila to the islands of Manu’a. This project will expand service, enhance reliability, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Agency (WETA) will receive $15.9 million to retrofit two of its existing ferry floats in the cities of Alameda and San Francisco by installing battery energy storage systems to improve reliability and air quality.

• The state of Alaska will receive nearly $131.3 million to invest in the Alaska Marine Highway that serves remote locations throughout the state, including nearly $92.8 million to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to build a new ferry to replace a nearly 60-year-old vessel. The new ferry will feature a diesel-electric propulsion system and will serve rural southwest Alaska with more reliable service and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

• The New York City Department of Transportation will receive nearly $7.5 million to build shoreside terminal infrastructure to enable rapid charging for vessels serving Governors Island, which is only accessible by ferry service. The new charging system will reduce emissions, decrease maintenance costs and improve reliability for riders.

The FTA received 28 eligible project proposals in 12 states and the territory of American Samoa, totaling nearly $418 million in requests. For a complete list of projects funded, click here.

– Federal Transit Administration

Lakes limestone trade jumps 22.8 percent in November

(CLEVELAND) — Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.1 million tons in November, an increase of 22.8 percent compared to a year ago. Limestone cargoes were 7.3 percent […]

(CLEVELAND) — Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.1 million tons in November, an increase of 22.8 percent compared to a year ago. Limestone cargoes were 7.3 percent above the month’s five-year average.

Loadings from U.S. quarries increased 23.6 percent from 2022 to 2.6 million tons. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 536,912 tons, an increase of 19.2 percent.

Year to date, the limestone trade stands at nearly 26.6 million tons, a decrease of 3.3 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries decreased by 2.2 percent to nearly 21.5 million tons, while shipments from Ontario quarries total 5.2 million tons, a decrease of 7.5 percent from 2022.

– Lake Carriers’ Association

Lake Carriers’ Association photo

 

US truckload rates unlikely to see major holiday bump amid tepid peak season

As US port volumes remain lackluster, there is not as much freight to move on trucks, causing the market to stay relatively stagnant ahead of what typically is the busy holiday season.

As US port volumes remain lackluster, there is not as much freight to move on trucks, causing the market to stay relatively stagnant ahead of what typically is the busy holiday season.

Report Reveals Progress in Green Shipping Corridor Initiatives

Significant progress has been made in the development and maturation of green shipping corridors to help decarbonize maritime shipping, according to a new report released by the Global Maritime Forum…

Significant progress has been made in the development and maturation of green shipping corridors to help decarbonize maritime shipping, according to a new report released by the Global Maritime Forum...

US LNG Exports Approach Record Levels

HOUSTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) – U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in November rose to the second highest monthly production level on record, 7.99 million metric tons of the superchilled gas, according to…

HOUSTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) – U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in November rose to the second highest monthly production level on record, 7.99 million metric tons of the superchilled gas, according to...