The Federal Maritime Commission "should produce a thorough, transparent, and credible evaluation of relevant information available to us" about whether the Harbor Maintenance Tax is diverting U.S. cargo through Canadian and Mexican ports, said FMC Commissioner Rebecca Dye, speaking at the Canadian American Business Council June 7. The evaluation was requested last year by members of the Washington State congressional delegation (see ITT's Online Archives 11110364).

Fitch Ratings gave a 'AA' rating to the Massachusetts Port Authority's $285 million in series 2012-A and 2012-B revenue bonds. It also affirmed other Massport ratings, citing the port's "very strong operational profile." Fitch said "strong economic underpinnings of the service area supports healthy demand for Massport's transportation and commerce related business lines."

The Port of Oakland said it's initiating impasse actions in an effort to negotiate a new contract with Service Employees International Local 1021. It said the impasse action enables the Port to move negotiations forward toward a constructive resolution. The old agreement, which expired June 30, 2011, is for 250 employees in the areas of janitorial, maintenance and security. The Port and SEIU had signed a tentative contract agreement in March, but it was rejected by SEIU members. Beginning the impasse action was approved by the Board of Port Commissioners. Impasse actions include mediation, and could take several months, the port said.

The Port of Long Beach budget for FY 2013 will be $942 million, up 12 percent over the past year, with growing investment in facilities and infrastructure modernization, the Board of Harbor Commissioners voted June 4. The budget includes $720 million in capital spending, up 14 percent, mainly due to two already-begun construction projects: the Middle Harbor Terminal Project and preliminary work for the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge. Because of the current weakness in global trade, the spending plan reduces non-staff related operating costs by 5 percent. Over the next decade, the Port plans to spend $4.4 billion to modernize its facilities, including Middle Harbor. The 2013 budget adds 25 positions at the Port, mainly to support the increased construction activity.

The International Association of Ports and Harbors urged nations to ratify the International Maritime Organization's bilge water management (BWM) convention, in a resolution adopted at the IAPH mid-term conference last month in Jerusalem. It said the BWM convention should "be in effect as international unified code rather than various different standards established by individual States."

The Port of Antwerp International ("PAI") will make an investment of about Rs 175 crore (about $31 million) in Essar Ports, the firms said. PAI is the international investing arm of the Antwerp Port Authority. Under the deal, the Antwerp Port Authority and Essar Ports will collaborate in the areas of training and consultancy services, port planning, traffic flow, quality and productivity improvement and will further build a mutually beneficial commercial relationship based on mutual business and investment preferences. Both Essar Ports and PAI will mutually assist in the growth in the volume of their businesses, they said. PAI will have the right to nominate a director on the board of Essar Ports.

Among the items in a world ports' roundup provided by the International Association of Ports and Harbors are:

The Seattle city council unanimously voted to oppose the transportation of coal through Seattle. The May 29 resolution cited negative impacts on the climate as well as regional impacts on human health and rail and freight traffic from the significant increase in coal trains that would run through Seattle. Four coal export projects in the northwest are under permit review that together could increase U.S. coal exports by 150 million tons annually. One, involving the Gateway Terminal at Cherry Point in Bellingham, WA, could increase coal train traffic in Seattle from the current average of one to nine coal trains daily, the council said. Six other Washington cities have officially expressed concerns about the proposed expansion of coal exports. The Oregon governor also has sought an environmental impact assessment of the exports (See ITT's Online Archives 12042702).

The Port of Long Beach harbor commissioners approved a port incentive program to improve air quality by attracting clean vessels. The Green Ship Award Program will pay operators as much as $6,000 per ship visit for bringing the vessels with the cleanest engines to Long Beach, it said. Vessels with main engines meeting Tier 2 or Tier 3 standards established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will be eligible for incentives ranging from $2,500 to $6,000 per ship call. The program aims to reduce smog-causing nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, which can affect respiratory health. Tier 2 engines reduce NOx emissions by 15 percent, and Tier 3 will reduce NOx by 80 percent.

The Port of San Diego's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for FY 2014--2018 will be the subject of two upcoming meetings -- a public outreach meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 31 in the Port Authority building, and a board of commissioners workshop/special meeting at 8:30 a.m. June 7 at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier. Total spending in the last plan approached $100 million. The port authority has received proposals for 69 capital improvement projects. Some of the largest include $26 million for a land acquisition from the Navy and two separate gantry crane proposals totaling about $45 million.