Marine Log - May 2008 - (Page 42)

SHIPPING ICE CLASS TANKERS back in MARINE LOG, August 2007 (“Don’t raise the bridge, lower the boxes,” p. 4), is that the Bayonne Bridge, which crosses the Kill Van Kull, will not have enough air draft to accommodate NPXsize ships. The Kill Van Kull is an extremely busy waterway that connects Newark Bay and New York Harbor. There are several proposed solutions, including lowering the number of boxes on deck or the Herculean task of raising the bridge. Other scenarios could have the ultra large containerships sailing to other ports. The containers would then be loaded onto smaller feeder ships for transshipment to the Port of New York/NJ in a short sea shipping operation. VIRGINIA, ACP INK DEAL With so much at stake, ports are jockeying for position to gain market share. The Port of Virginia, for example, is responsible for generating 340,000 jobs in the state and has an economic impact of $41 billion. Late last month, the ACP and the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) reaffirmed an alliance that will help to increase growth and trade, facilitate the flow of information sharing and promote the “All-WaterRoute” (the route from Asia to the U.S. East Coast via the Panama Canal). The ACP and The Canal’s expansion will include deepening and widening both the Atlantic and Pacific Channel approaches 2015, the study estimates that nine ports on the East Coast of North America and in the Caribbean will be able to accommodate ships with drafts of 15m. Other ports that have dredging or channel deepening plans or proposals to accommodate NPX-size vessels include: Freeport and Kingston, Jamaica, Caucedo, the Dominican Republic, Baltimore, Md., Philadelphia, Pa., Charleston, S.C., Savannah, Ga., Jacksonville and Miami, Fla. One problem for the Port of New York/NJ, as we reported VPA first initiated an alliance back in June 2003. The deal was inked by ACP Administrator and CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta and VPA executive director Jerry A. Bridges. “Our partnership with the VPA is more important than ever. As we embark on the next phases of the expansion project, data sharing and market studies exchange will continue to be essential elements of our collaboration,” said Alemán. “As the only U.S. East Coast port with the existing capability to handle post-Panamax vessels, the Port of Virginia is prepared for the waterway’s expansion.” Sharing information and best practices related to modernization and improvement are key benefits of this agreement. Both the ACP and the VPA continue to implement measures to increase capacity and spur growth. “While the expansion of the Canal is vital to world commerce, the Virginia Port Authority is also positioning itself for increased demand by building infrastructure and incorporating the necessary enhancements to accommodate the growth that is to come,” said Bridges. “We are highly anticipating expansion and will celebrate the opening of the new locks.” ML Status of water depth at U.S. East Coast Ports The Expansion: Now and the Future Source: Lloyd’s Register/Ocean Shipping Consultants 42 MARINE LOG MAY 2008 www.marinelog.com http://www.marinelog.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Marine Log - May 2008

Marine Log - May 2008 Contents Editorial Second Thoughts Update Inside Washington Europe Plots Its Tech Strategy SDNV Container Ship Update Diesels Can Burn Anything: Even Clean Fuel Boost for Small Shipyards Gateway to the Caribbean Room to Grow Show Review Tech News Newsmakers Contracts Events Website Directory ML Buyer's Guide ML Marketplace Maritime Salvage Letters

Marine Log - May 2008

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