Summary for June 2 - June 6, 2008:
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Monday, June 2, 2008
Pasha Group settles government fraud caseThe settlement was entered into by the company, and on behalf of its affiliated businesses, to settle claims made under the False Claims Act. The case arose from an alleged cartel formed to rig bids and fix prices for transporting personal property of U.S. military personnel and their families. Pasha is one of many American and European companies that provide transportation services for moving household goods and personal belongings of members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents between the United States and Europe. “This case is a stark reminder that as important government functions continue to be outsourced to third-parties, constant diligence is needed to ensure that the public gets what it pays for,” said Reuben Guttman, attorney for one of the whistleblowers involved. Website: Pasha Group False Claims Act http://www.whistleblowerlaws.comPort of Seattle welcomes Great Wall AirlinesSHANGHAI -BASED air cargo carrier Great Wall Airlines made its inaugural stop at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport May this weekend as the “beginning of new service connecting Seattle to the fastest-growing cargo market in the world,” said Port of Seattle officials May 31. The regular service to Shanghai three times a week “could realize an increase in their international cargo tonnage by 5% to 10% or more,” the port said. “This is great news for the international cargo business at Sea-Tac,” said John Creighton, Port of Seattle Commission President. Great Wall Airlines chose Seattle as their first North American route stop because Great Wall customers asked for Seattle to be the West Coast port stop in a route also connected to Chicago, the company said. Great Wall will fly one of Boeing’s largest freighters, a Boeing 747-400F capable of transporting more than 110 tons of cargo. The inbound route will run Shanghai – Seoul – Seattle – Chicago. The outbound route will be Chicago – Seattle – Seoul – Shanghai. Web site: Great Wall Airlines http://www.gwairlines.com/default.aspWorld forum calls for low-carbon transport systemTHE WORLD’S largest transport summit, the International Transport Forum, released it findings May 30, highlighting the “growing challenge to find the right balance between supporting the economic drivers of trade and mobility and reducing transport’s energy intensity and emissions.” Secretary General Jack Short called for a low-carbon transport system “as soon as possible” at the three-day event, “Transport and Energy: the Challenge of Climate Change,” in Leipzig Short cited the sector’s overwhelming dependence on oil (95% of transport’s energy is based on oil, he said), the worldwide growth of transport and the necessity to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions of the transport sector. Transport must “urgently” address the long-term supply of energy, according to the release. The key messages of the forum call for a strategic approach based on a package of policy measures, including technology development, strengthened research into new technology and fuels, and increased use of information technology and integrated mobility management. “Transport and Globalization” will be the theme of the next International Transport Forum, May 27-29, 2009 in Leipzig. Website: International Transport Forum http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Pasha Group settles government fraud caseThe settlement was entered into by the company, and on behalf of its affiliated businesses, to settle claims made under the False Claims Act. The case arose from an alleged cartel formed to rig bids and fix prices for transporting personal property of U.S. military personnel and their families. Pasha is one of many American and European companies that provide transportation services for moving household goods and personal belongings of members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents between the United States and Europe. “This case is a stark reminder that as important government functions continue to be outsourced to third-parties, constant diligence is needed to ensure that the public gets what it pays for,” said Reuben Guttman, attorney for one of the whistleblowers involved. Website: Pasha Group False Claims Act http://www.whistleblowerlaws.comPort of Seattle welcomes Great Wall AirlinesSHANGHAI -BASED air cargo carrier Great Wall Airlines made its inaugural stop at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport May this weekend as the “beginning of new service connecting Seattle to the fastest-growing cargo market in the world,” said Port of Seattle officials May 31. The regular service to Shanghai three times a week “could realize an increase in their international cargo tonnage by 5% to 10% or more,” the port said. “This is great news for the international cargo business at Sea-Tac,” said John Creighton, Port of Seattle Commission President. Great Wall Airlines chose Seattle as their first North American route stop because Great Wall customers asked for Seattle to be the West Coast port stop in a route also connected to Chicago, the company said. Great Wall will fly one of Boeing’s largest freighters, a Boeing 747-400F capable of transporting more than 110 tons of cargo. The inbound route will run Shanghai – Seoul – Seattle – Chicago. The outbound route will be Chicago – Seattle – Seoul – Shanghai. Web site: Great Wall Airlines http://www.gwairlines.com/default.aspWorld forum calls for low-carbon transport systemTHE WORLD’S largest transport summit, the International Transport Forum, released it findings May 30, highlighting the “growing challenge to find the right balance between supporting the economic drivers of trade and mobility and reducing transport’s energy intensity and emissions.” Secretary General Jack Short called for a low-carbon transport system “as soon as possible” at the three-day event, “Transport and Energy: the Challenge of Climate Change,” in Leipzig Short cited the sector’s overwhelming dependence on oil (95% of transport’s energy is based on oil, he said), the worldwide growth of transport and the necessity to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions of the transport sector. Transport must “urgently” address the long-term supply of energy, according to the release. The key messages of the forum call for a strategic approach based on a package of policy measures, including technology development, strengthened research into new technology and fuels, and increased use of information technology and integrated mobility management. “Transport and Globalization” will be the theme of the next International Transport Forum, May 27-29, 2009 in Leipzig. Website: International Transport Forum http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/Wednesday, June 4, 2008 Long Beach Board approves terms for truckersThe newly adopted concession agreement is the core of the Clean Trucks system, ensuring that trucking firms adhere to pollution-reducing requirements at the risk of losing their right to operate in the port. “With the concession terms in place, our goal is to start the sign-ups for our concessions at the beginning of July and to begin sign-ups for our grant program in mid-July,” said Port Executive Director Richard Steinke. “Truckers should get their TWIC cards now to be eligible,” Steinke continued. The concession agreement requires drayage trucking firms to register their trucks and drivers with the port and certify that the trucks they dispatch to terminals comply with Clean Trucks emissions guidelines. Under the Port of Long Beach Clean Trucks Plan, trucking companies are permitted to hire employees or contract with independent owner-operators. Website: Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners http://www.polb.comGeorgia, Shanghai ports launch tracking projectThe Georgia Ports Authority and the Shanghai International Port Group June 3 commemorated the launch of an E-tag cargo-tracking demonstration project. With the use of an RFID technology system, the GPA and the SIPG will track cargo movement in real time from its point of origin to its final destination. SIPG, the world’s second largest port, and the GPA have had a partnership since 2004, including cooperation on operations, marketing and information technology. The two ports developed a demonstration project equipping RFID tags, or “E-Tags,” on the container boxes of ships sailing from Shanghai to Savannah. Recently, the GPA began sending containers with E-tags from Savannah to Shanghai, making it a two-way operation. “By joining forces with the SIPG, we are improving the flow of trade and security through better technology,” said GPA’s Steve Green, chairman of its board. “This program will also have a big impact on U.S. security and that of our trading partners.” Website: Georgia Ports Authority Shanghai International Port Group http://www.portshanghai.com.cn/en/ CN unveils emissions calculatorCN June 4 announced it has launched an “easy-to-use greenhouse gas-emissions calculator showing that CN is the right environmental choice for shipping freight.” The new calculator, located at www.cn.ca/GHG_calculator, allows shippers to measure emissions savings for shipments using CN versus truck. Users simply select imperial or metric units, enter the distance and weight for the shipment and then click on the “calculate” button to get the results. CN has a comprehensive corporate environmental policy and works closely with the rail industry in Canada and the United States and government agencies on ways to reduce its emissions, the company said. Website: CN http://www.cn.caThursday, June 5, 2008 Port of Oakland job cuts loomingTHE PORT OF OAKLAND Board of Commissioners June 3 issued a notice that 60-70 jobs will be slashed from the port’s work force of about 600 within the next 30 days. The announcement satisfies a state law for notification in plant closures or other large reductions in force. “The Port of Oakland is facing a number of serious issues and challenges in developing its Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2009. Revised revenue projections are lower than previously forecast,” the port said. Workers in any of the port’s three divisions — maritime, aviation or real estate — not associated with safety of operations could be subject to layoffs, according to port officials. Import volumes have dropped at all of the major California ports, including Oakland, where they have declined 5.5% during the first four months of 2008. The commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of notifying workers of the possible layoffs. The lone “no” vote was cast by Commissioner Margaret Gordon, who said, “I’m not in favor of this layoff. I’m not in favor of making people’s lives worse.” Website: Port of Oakland http://www.portofoakland.comCMA CGM reinforces its trans-Pacific presenceCMA CGM, the world’s third largest container shipping group, June 4 announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with the New World Alliance (MOL, APL, HMM) on a new weekly service linking Japan and the U.S. West Coast. The new service, the Fuji service, will operate with four vessels with nominal capacity ranging from 2,800 to 3,500 TEUs. The Fuji service will offer a direct connection between five Japanese ports (Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, Shimizu, and Tokyo) and the U.S. West Coast at Los Angeles. The new service “guarantees transit times” to be among “the most competitive” on the market, with, for example, nine days to link Tokyo and Los Angeles. “This new development offers CMA CGM customers optimum coverage of the Japanese market, with five calls eastbound,” said Jean-Philippe Thenoz, VP, North America Lines at CMA CGM. “It comes after the opening of our new agency — CMA CGM (Japan) K.K. — and symbolizes the group’s commitment to developing its activities in the archipelago,” added Thenoz. Website: CMA CGM http://www.cma-cgm.comSaigon Premier selects Navis SPARCS TOSNAVIS, a Zebra Technologies company and the world’s first company to automate marine terminal operating systems, June 5 announced that Saigon Premier Container Terminal will implement the new Navis SPARCS N4 TOS to streamline operations at its greenfield site in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The Saigon Premier Container Terminal is being built in the Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park and involves the construction of a 950 meter quay and facilities on 40 hectares of adjoining land. Development will be phased, with the Navis implementation scheduled to go live in January 2009, according to the announcement. The SPCT project is an 80/20 joint-venture between DP World and the Vietnamese state-owned Tan Thuan Industrial Promotion Co. Upon completion, SPCT, which is located along the western shore of the Soa Rap River, will have the capacity to handle 1.5 million TEUs. Vietnam is the region’s second fastest growing economy with an average annual growth rate of 7.1% since 2000, the company said. The container market for Ho Chi Minh City grew by 20% in 2007, the company said. Website: Navis http://www.navis.comFriday, June 6, 2008 Port of LA holds new budget to current FY levelsThe adopted budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, “recognizes the current trend of decreased import trade while remaining steadfast in support of the port’s core priorities for the coming year,” port officials said. “The directive to our managers in creating this year’s budget was simple: shift expenditures to focus on capital and environmental priorities,” said Geraldine Knatz, Port of Los Angeles executive director. The FY 2008-09 budget reflects anticipated operating revenues of $403.3 million, a 12.1% decrease over the current year budget, due chiefly to lower than expected cargo volume, tariff/inflation adjustments and compensation renegotiations, port officials said. Operating expenses are anticipated at $208.5 million, a 0.3% decrease from the current year budget of $209.3 million. Priorities in operating expenses include increased port police and construction and maintenance division staffing, Clean Air Action Plan initiatives, maintenance contracts for port facilities, and “green” technology improvements. The capital budget increased 29.2% over the FY 2007-08 budget to $308.7 million. Website: Port of Los Angeles http://www.portoflosangeles.org175-acre auto auction center at Dallas Logistics HubTHE ALLEN GROUP announced June 5 that ADESA, a full-range auction, reconditioning, logistical and other vehicle-related services company, has entered into a 20-year lease for a new state-of-the-art auto auction center at the Dallas Logistics Hub. The build-to-suit facility will be located on 175 acres within the city of Hutchins. The property will house three buildings totaling approximately 196,000 square feet of space for an auction arena, administrative and financial offices and reconditioning facilities. The Allen Group, developers of the 6,000-acre multimodal logistics park in Southern Dallas County, and ADESA have agreed to design, construct and commission the facility as LEED-certified. ADESA projects that the facility will require several hundred full- and part-time employees once fully operational. Construction will commence in a few weeks, and the facility is expected to be operational in summer 2009. “We are extremely excited to welcome ADESA to The Hub, as they are a great corporate tenant for the community through the creation of jobs, tax revenue and demand for retail and hotel services,” said Daniel J. McAuliffe, president of The Allen Group’s Texas operation. Website: Dallas Logistics Hub http://www.dallashub.com/San Diego port co-sponsors “Clean Sweep”HUNDREDS of volunteers will descend on San Diego Bay Saturday, June 7, to participate in one of California’s largest environmental clean-up events, Operation Clean Sweep. The event, presented by the San Diego Port Tenants Association in partnership with the Port of San Diego, will take place tomorrow at various locations around San Diego Bay. The clean-up usually yields more than 400 cubic yards of trash, the port said. Last year, three sunken sailboats were retrieved from the A-8 anchorage in south San Diego Bay. In the Chollas Creek portion of the clean-up, more than 50 car tires, 10 shopping carts, five mattresses, a lawnmower and a disco ball were found. The three locations for the clean-up include Cesar Chavez Park, located at Cesar Chavez Parkway and Crosby Road in San Diego, Chollas Creek in San Diego and Pepper Park in National City. All volunteers are invited to the Treasure Junk Hunt Party, which begins at 11:30 a.m. at Cesar Chavez Park. Prizes will be awarded for the most unusual trash collected, and a barbecue lunch will be served. Website: Port of San Diego http://www.portofsandiego.org |