PMSA’s Michele Grubbs Joins CII Board of Directors
and promoting the business of international trade and the intermodal transportation community.Grubbs has been with PMSA since 2004, overseeing its Long Beach office. PMSA, an independent nonprofit association, represents ocean carriers, marine terminal operators, and the maritime industry on the U.S. West Coast. Before joining PMSA, Grubbs held various roles in the aerospace industry, focusing on international trade policy and marketing in Washington D.C., California, and Western Europe."Michele brings a wealth of expertise in international trade policy, legislation, and community affairs to our
Tentative US West Coast Port Contract Deal Reached
The Longshore union and employers of 22,000 dockworkers at U.S. West Coast ports on Wednesday said they have reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract, ending 13 months of talks and easing supply chain worries.The deal was reached with assistance from Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) employer group said in a joint statement.President Joe Biden, who dispatched Su to the negotiations in San Francisco earlier this week, said she "used her deep experience and judgment to keep the parties
Cargo Operations Halt at the Port of Seattle Amid Labor Dispute
PMA says US West Coast port workers shut down Port of Seattle; workers' union denies claimThe Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents terminal operators, said in a tweet on Saturday that coordinated and disruptive work actions led by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have shut down cargo operations at the Port of Seattle."On the first shift today, the ILWU refused to dispatch any longshore workers to container terminals, the PMA said, resulting in the shutdown of the port.The ILWU, however, said that the West Coast ports are open and accused the PMA of
Retailers, Manufacturers Urge White House to Mediate in West Coast Ports Labor Dispute
Groups representing major retailers and manufacturers urged the White House on Monday to intervene in contentious West Coast port labor negotiations, citing worries about shipping disruptions during critical holiday shopping seasons.The call came after the largest terminal at Southern California's Port of Long Beach closed on Monday as dock workers rally for better pay. Monday's closure followed similar disruptions on Friday in Oakland, California.More than 22,000 dockworkers at ports stretching from California to Washington state have been working without a contract since July.Contract talks
US West Coast Port Labor Unrest Continues Amid Pay Quarrel
said all appointments were canceled for the first gate shift. Mediterranean Shipping Company SA (MSC), the world's largest container shipping line, owns a majority stake in the terminal.Representatives from TTI and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), representing some 22,000 West Coast dockworkers, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.TTI decided to close on Monday "based on its own operational needs," said port spokesperson Lee Peterson, who added that the port's other terminals were operating and that cargo was moving.Contract talks between the
Nichols Brothers Boat Builders Hires Roney as Sales, Marketing Director
Peter Roney has been hired to join the executive management team supporting U.S. West Coast shipyards Nichols Brothers Boat Builders and Everett Ship Repair.The news was announced by Shared Ice Services (SIS) is a subsidiary of Ice Cap Holding, the parent company of Ice Floe, dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) and Everett Ship Repair (ESR). SIS was recently established to support the operations of the two shipyards.NBBB is a newbuild and repair yard in Freeland, Wash., and ESR is a service and repair facility in Everett, Wash.Roney joined the company as director of sales and marketing in
Seattle Dispute Disrupts US West Coast Port Labor Talks
A work assignment dispute in Seattle is interrupting labor talks covering 29 U.S. West Coast ports and 22,000 employees that handle almost 40% of U.S. imports, the union representing dockworkers said on Tuesday.International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) employer group have been negotiating a new contract since July 1. The ILWU's announcement on Tuesday comes after the two sides have traded jabs in the media about automation, another contentious issue at the negotiating table.The ILWU alleged that PMA member SSA Marine - operator of the largest
PTL Marine Hires Two Managers on US West Coast
PTL Marine announces the hiring of Mohamed Tounkara as Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manager - West Coast and Donnie Lowe as Operations Manager - Seattle. With decades of combined experience, both Tounkara and Lowe possess an extensive skillset from past roles ranging from Fortune 100 companies to Main Street entrepreneurial businesses. PTL Marine continues its flurry of recent hiring as it shores up operations in major West Coast ports including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Both Tounkara and Lowe will be based at PTL Marine’s Seattle operation where the company
PTL Marine Hires Taylor as Business Development Manager
PTL Marine announced the recent hiring of Steven Taylor as its Manager of Business Development with responsibility for the California markets. With operations in major ports including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, the company has continued growing its network along the U.S. West Coast. Taylor will be based in Southern California where the company services the Marine and C&I industries with fuels, lubricants, chemicals and last-mile logistics solutions.“With more than 75 years of experience in California through the legacy brands General Petroleum and Maxum Petroleum
PCCI Hires Carey as Chief Engineer
for providing engineering, design, installation and program/project management services to U.S. government and commercial clients in the ocean facility and offshore energy industries.Carey is a Mechanical Engineer with experience supporting U.S. Navy, and upstream oil and gas clients on the U.S. West Coast. He has 18-years of experience in the analysis, design and installation of ship deployment systems, ocean facility installations, port security barriers, and submarine cable shore landings. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University
Crowley Realigns Its Marine Services Group
energy sector and the emerging U.S. offshore wind market. He will be based in Houston and report to Johan Sperling, vice president of marine services.Jeff Andreini (Photo: Crowley)Sesnon is taking the lead role for the group’s ship assist and tanker escort services, which are provided in all major West Coast ports from north Puget Sound, Wash., to San Diego, Calif. Utilizing one of the most advanced fleets of ship assist and tanker escort tugs in North America, Crowley safely assists the ships through some of the tightest, most environmentally-sensitive waterways in the world. Crowley entered the
Foreship Eyes US West Coast Cruise Business
Naval architecture, design and marine engineering specialist Foreship has transferred a senior member of its management team in Finland to head its Seattle operation, in a move aiming to expand West Coast activities and provide a new focus for its U.S. cruise ship customer base.Marcus Höglund, Foreship Senior Vice President Engineering Services, will take up a position as Head of Operations North America, Foreship LLC with effect from October 8 to lead a team including existing staff in Seattle and in the company’s Fort Lauderdale, Fla. office.Höglund has worked worldwide in the cruise
US Women Dockworkers Accuse Shippers, Union of Discrimination
Four women dockworkers have filed federal discrimination claims against the shippers' association that runs 29 ports on the U.S. West Coast, saying they unfairly lost pay and seniority after becoming pregnant. Male dockworkers who temporarily left to serve in the armed forces got benefits denied to women on pregnancy leave, one of the workers, Tracy Plummer, said in an interview. Another woman with a complicated medical history said she tried to work during pregnancy for fear of losing seniority and suffered a miscarriage, according to her complaint. The dockworkers made the allegation
Roberts Joins Foss as Chief Commercial Officer
marketing, sales and business development activities. Prior to joining Foss, Roberts served as Senior Vice President, Customer and Services-Americas, for global marine systems and services provider Rolls-Royce. In his tenure with Rolls-Royce, Roberts also took on the roles of Sales Manager U.S. West Coast, Vice President Global Customer Training and Services Development based in Aalesund, Norway, and Chief of Staff to the President of Rolls-Royce Land & Sea in London, UK. Roberts began his career in the U.S. Navy as a qualified Deck and Engineering Officer onboard the U.S.S Honolulu, a fast
O’Hollaren Named Port of Portland Marine Marketing Director
are excited to have Ken’s ideas and expertise as we look to grow our strong position as an auto and bulk gateway and set a new vision for business activity at Terminal 6,” said Keith Leavitt, the Port’s chief commercial officer. “Ken is a highly regarded leader in the Pacific Northwest marine port sector.” Port of Portland is the largest deep water port in the state of Oregon with four marine terminals. Portland is currently the U.S. West Coast leader for auto exports, moving over 50,000 vehicles through port docks in 2016. The port also handled over 10 million
Port of Portland Director Announces Retirement
Port of Portland Executive Director Bill Wyatt formally announced to the Port Commissioners that he will retire from the Port on June 30, 2017. He has led the Oregon port since 2001. Wyatt’s 16-year tenure with the U.S. West Coast port has included major milestones in the organization’s history. At the marine terminals specifically, his legacy includes several hundred million dollars of infrastructure investment made by port marine terminal tenants following the $199 million Columbia River navigation channel deepening project leading to the growth and retention of key waterfront
US West Coast Dockworkers, Shippers to Talk Contract Extension
Major cargo shippers and the union representing dockworkers at 29 U.S. West Coast ports have agreed to talks on a possible extension of their current contract, which is set to expire in mid-2019, the two sides said in a joint statement on Tuesday. Negotiators for the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union tentatively plan to meet on Nov. 1-2 to discuss the proposal, which comes about 19 months after a contract settlement that capped months of labor strife and shipping disruptions at the ports. Severe cargo slowdowns, blamed by each side
