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Click here for 2008
Late Breaking News
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$70 per FEU
– collected
from the beneficial cargo
owner by the
marine terminal operator.
Having
approved a clean truck requirement last month that will ban old, dirty
diesel trucks from the Port of Long Beach, the Long Beach Board of Harbor
Commissioners on Monday, December 17, 2007, will consider a Clean Trucks
Fee to help put a new generation of cleaner trucks into service.
"Dirty diesel trucks are a major source of port-related air pollution and
present an unacceptable health risk to the public," said Port Executive
Director Richard D. Steinke. "The Clean Trucks Fee, if approved by the
Board, would generate $1.6 billion to help fund cleaner trucks and reduce
air pollution."
The
proposed fee would place a $35 charge on every loaded cargo container
entering or leaving the Ports by short-haul (or "drayage") truck
beginning June 1, 2008. The fee would not apply
to containers entering or leaving the Ports by train
and
would end when the fleet of drayage trucks meets Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP)
requirements in about 2012.
In November the Long Beach and Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners
approved a ban on old, dirty trucks that call at the ports. The regulation
will result in an 80 percent reduction in emissions from drayage trucks by
2012. The ban will be phased in,
beginning October 1, 2008
with a ban on all trucks built before 1989. By January 1, 2010, only
trucks built after 1993 will be allowed, and by January 1 2012 all trucks
must meet 2007 federal Environmental Protection Agency standards.
"The ports do not own or operate the drayage trucks that serve port
terminals," Steinke explained. "However, to achieve the aggressive
clean-air goals outlined in the Clean Air Action Plan, we believe that a
progressive ban on dirty trucks, followed by the proposed Clean Trucks
Fee, would be the most direct way to cut air pollution and reduce public
health risks."
Importantly, Steinke said,
the Port will use the funds
to ensure that the old, polluting trucks will be scrapped and taken out of
circulation, rather than continuing to work outside the ports.
The Port of Los Angeles is considering a similar fee, so the Clean Trucks
Fee would apply to the entire San Pedro Bay. The fees would be collected
by the ports’ shipping terminals, and the trucks would be monitored for
compliance by radio frequency tracking devices or similar identification
technologies.
All funds collected by the two ports would be used for the
replacement of
about 16,800 trucks by 2012
with clean diesel trucks, trucks fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG), or
other approved technologies that can achieve the 2007 standard adopted in
the CAAP.
"We acknowledge that this fee will result in additional costs to cargo
owners and may ultimately increase slightly the cost of goods," Steinke
said. "However, the ports cannot continue to effectively move goods
without reducing air pollution and public health risks."
The Board of Harbor Commissioners will meet Monday, December 17, at 1 p.m.
to consider adopting the truck fee. The meeting will be at the Port
Administration Building, 925 Harbor Plaza in Long Beach, and broadcast
live on the web at
www.polb.com.
Wildfires briefly close key
S. California rail route
JoC Online Tuesday, October
23, 2007 By: Stephanie Nall
The BNSF Railway's
main transcontinental line through Southern California re-opened to rail
traffic after two separate wildfires forced three separate closures on
Sunday, Monday and early Tuesday morning.
The California
Department of Forestry ordered the closures after a fire near Devore, just
north of San Bernardino and below Cajon Pass, a key route for intermodal
trains running eastbound from the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach, reached
the tracks on Sunday. No train traffic over the busy corridor was
permitted from 1:30 p.m. t o 6:30 p.m., according to BNSF spokeswoman Lena
Kent. The same fire, designated the Cajon Fire, closed the line to rail
traffic from 11:50 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. on Monday. The fire was centered
where interstate highways 15 and 215 split. Wind gusts of up to 75 miles
per hour required evacuations of nearby neighborhoods and burned more than
200 acres.
A fire that
started Monday afternoon in northern San Bernardino closed the line at
1:25 a.m. today after flames jumped I-215. The Department of Forestry
allowed it to re-open about a half hour later. By mid-morning today, the
Little Mountain Fire had consumed about 650 acres and was threatening
homes and other structures, including the California State University San
Bernardino campus. Because of the fire, the university and several local
school systems were closed Tuesday.
The railroad has
been building a third track through Cajon Pass and firefighters were able
to use some of the construction equipment to fight the fires.
We had some
firefighting equipment out on the right-of-way and were able to quickly
mobilize it for the fire-fighting efforts," Kent said. Water trucks, used
during construction to keep dust from swirling, were used directly on the
fires and were used to refill some fire trucks as well.
Kent said the
railroad did not yet have a count on how many freight trains were delayed
by the closures.
HOLIDAY NOTICES
Thailand
October 23 - Chulalongkorn Memorial
Day
Pakistan
October 13 to October
16 - Religious Holiday EID Festival
Singapore
October 13 -
Hari Raya Puasa
New
Internet resource to help smaller companies
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept.19, 2007 -
The
U.S. Department of Agriculture has unveiled a new Internet resource to
help smaller companies answer food safety questions and help food
processors make science-based food production decisions. The portal,
available at
http://www.ars.usda.gov/naa/errc/mfsru/portal, is one of the most
comprehensive decision support tools available.
"Scientists, food safety risk managers, researchers and government
decision-makers can use this access to predictive modeling tools and food
microbiology information," said Agricultural Research Service
Administrator Edward B. Knipling. "The portal is geared towards small and
very small processors, but the information it contains will benefit
companies of all sizes."
"This partnership builds on our extensive efforts to provide more
resources and better tools to the small and very small plants so they can
enhance the safety of their products," said Al Almanza, Administrator of
USDA's food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The Predictive Microbiology Information Portal (PMIP)
was developed by scientists with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
at Wyndmoor, Penn., working with colleagues at USDA's Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS), Rutgers University, and Decisionalysis Risk
Consultants, Inc., in Canada. FSIS will also provide a link to the portal
to facilitate access by the meat and poultry industry, especially small
and very small plants.
PMIP focuses on processors with 500 or fewer employees, but the
information it contains can benefit companies of all sizes. ARS
microbiologist Vijay K. Juneja and his ARS and FSIS colleagues met with
many industry members to tailor the Web portal to their diverse needs in
providing safe and wholesome products to consumers.
Currently, PMIP offers information on research, regulations and resources
related to
Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods, the
prototype identified for the project by FSIS. In the coming months, it
will be expanded to include other pathogen and food combinations. A
searchable database allows users to find information that can also be used
by food processors to develop plans for Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Point, to ensure the safety of food processes.
The Web portal also includes a tutorial section with instructions on using
and interpreting predictive models and links users directly to the ARS
Pathogen Modeling Program and ComBase. The Pathogen Modeling Program is a
multi-lingual modeling tool that is used by food processing companies
around the world.
ComBase is an international relational database of predictive microbiology
information that contains more than 30,000 datasets describing the growth,
survival and inactivation of bacteria under diverse environments relevant
to food processing operations.
ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency. FSIS is USDA's
public health agency responsible for ensuring that meat, poultry and egg
products are safe, wholesome and correctly labeled. FSIS provided funding
for the collaborative project.
Taiwan offices
will be closed on Sep.18 due to typhoon Wipha, most of vessels
with departure on Sep.17-19 will definitely be affected.
Click here for the latest weather
information
Chinese Holidays
The PRC is closed down for one
entire week (1-7 OCT 2007) for National Holiday in China.
Space
is extremely tight & vessels are expected to be full the week
prior to Oct 1 & after Oct 7.
Cargo
not shipped prior to the holiday, may not ship until mid October
as it takes factories a week to “ramp up” after a week long
holiday.
I n
Taiwan
September 22~25
Full Moon Festival
In Hong Kong
September 26
Mid-Autumn Festival
October 1
National Day
October 19
Chung Yeung Festival
RELAX
Your shipment is insured for
110% of it's value plus transportation costs
...OR IS IT?
Before you discard this
message, please consider that the maximum liability by steamship lines is
only $500.00 per unit shipped, while airlines offer a mere $9.07 per
pound!
With coverage under our
cargo policy, you can get 110% coverage against "all risks" DOOR TO DOOR.
For just pennies on the dollar, protect yourself and your cargo. Let us
tailor an insurance program for you.
Maersk BAF
increases for MED/U.S.
Effective Oct. 1,
this steamship line will increase the Bunker Adjustment Factor between
Mediterranean ports and the United States/Canada. The new surcharges will
increase to $525 from $453 per 20-foot container, and $1,050 from $906 per
40-foot container.
TACA, Transatlantic Conference agreement
www.tacaconf.com (members are ACL,
Maersk, Med Shipping, NYK and OOCL) whose member carriers serve the trade
between the USA and North Europe, United Kingdom and Ireland, Scandinavia
and Baltic Ports.
The
latest monitoring of fuel prices continue to show escalating increases
since TACA's previous adjustment in June of this year. Accordingly, an
adjustment of TACA's BAF has been triggered with effect from September
16th, 2007 to the following levels:
Traffic to/from and via:
Atlantic/Gulf Coast Ports
Pacific Coast Ports
$607 per 20ft container
$911 per 20ft container
$1214 per 40/45ft container $1822 per 40/45ft
container
Strike threat grows as union talks reach
impasse
July 25, 2007
Stephanie Nall
Contract negotiations between unionized office clerical
workers and shipping lines in Los Angeles-Long Beach have reached an
impasse.
“The union declared an impasse last night and I agree, we
are at an impasse,” said Steve Berry, lead negotiator for the employers,
on Wednesday morning.
On July 21 the two sides exchanged “best and last” offers
and then recessed talks for three days in order to study the proposals.
When talks resumed Tuesday afternoon “we spent six hours
and I offered several different alternatives,” Berry said. “The union
refused to budge an inch on anything.”
Berry did not
disclose details of all of the employers' offers, but said that employers
withdrew an earlier proposal to give new employees health care through a
health maintenance organization for the first 18 months of employment.
“We offered a fully paid HMO to new employees, but the
union called that a two-tier contract, so we withdrew it,” Berry said.
“There was no movement in labor’s position on anything.”
Representatives of the Office Clerical Unit of
International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63 did not immediately
return calls seeking comment, but KNX radio reported Wednesday morning
that a strike could occur at any moment.
"We're going to get together with our group and we're
going to determine when and where the pickets are going to go up,” said
John Fageaux, the union's lead negotiator, according to the report.
Longshore members of the ILWU have said they would honor
pickets in the event of a strike by the clerical workers, which could
effectively shut down the busiest U.S. import gateway.
The 650 full-time and 200 part-time office clerical workers
who process shipping documentation have been working without a contract
since their previous three-year contract expired on July 1. Union
membership authorized a strike if necessary, and union leaders had given
previous deadlines for a strike, but those deadlines came and went without
any job actions.
Asked about the possibility of a strike, Berry said he’s
not in control of the union’s actions, but said such an event would be a
“tragedy.”
“I hope in the face of a very, very generous offer the
union will rethink its position and accept,” Berry said.
Employers have offered a 14-percent wage increase over the
next three years, which would increase the base wage to $40 an hour or
more than $80,000 a year in the third year. The offer also includes fringe
benefits totaling another $40,000 a year.
Berry said the union is
asking for an additional $1.50 an hour on top of what the employers have
offered.
Employers also want in the next round of negotiations three
years from now to bargain as a single unit. At present, employers
negotiate certain basic items that are common to all companies, such as
wages, but they also negotiate 14 separate contracts. Berry said this
process is "complicated and frustrating."
Posted date: 7/25/2007
Conflicting Reports
Out of the Ports
By ALLEN P. ROBERTS Jr.
There were
conflicting reports on talks between union clerical workers and the
shipping lines at the Los Angeles port complex Wednesday.
KNX 1070 radio
reported Wednesday morning that an impasse had been reached, the clerical
workers could go on strike at any moment and that the International
Longshore and Warehouse Union would not cross their picket lines. However,
the Long Beach Post-Telegram reported Tuesday that the labor talks between
were headed toward a peaceful resolution.
If the Longshore
union and the clerks strike, it could bring to a standstill the port and
the $1 billion worth of cargo that moves through the port complex every
day.
However, reports
surface later Wednesday by unnamed sources associated with the
negotiations that they continue to slow progress. According to the source,
a wage package has already been agreed to and negotiators are left
discussing benefits and a few employer-specific issues.
The last contract
expired more than a month ago. Wage compensation is a sticking point in
the talks. Full time workers earned $78,000 a year and the union wants
their wages increased to $53 an hour by the end of the next contract
–about $110,000 per year for a 40-hour work week.
Los Angeles Business Journal
Online
Offers
exchanged in S. California union talks
Monday, July
23, 2007
By: Bill Mongelluzzo / The
JOURNAL of COMMERCE ONLINE
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Longshore union office workers in Los
Angeles-Long Beach and shipping line employers exchanged their
latest versions of a new contract over the weekend and then
suspended talks until Tuesday.
Cargo-handling at the largest U.S. port complex continued without
interruption Monday as the busy peak shipping season approached.
Negotiations between the Office Clerical Unit of International
Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63, and the 14 shipping lines
and terminal operators that employ the office workers, have
proceeded slower than anticipated.
The approximately 650 full-time union members authorized a strike
action after the previous three-year contract expired on July 1.
The union has threatened to strike on several occasions since
then, but on each occasion progress was reported and no job action
has taken place.
The office workers process cargo-booking documentation and perform
other clerical functions. Their contract cycle does not coincide
with the larger ILWU dock workers' contract. Coast-wide dock
worker negotiations are expected to begin in early 2008, with
expiration of their contract being July 1, 2008. However, the dock
workers have pledged to honor any pickets that the office workers
would post if there is a strike.
The office clerical negotiations have moved along in fits and
starts. Both sides reported a narrowing of their differences on
wages. The union said it is still concerned about attempts by
employers to arbitrarily choose not to fill positions when they
become vacant. They also seek guarantees that employers will not
use technology to outsource clerical functions to non-union
workers.
Los Angeles port clerks' contract negotiations postponed because
of medical issue
The Associated Press Monday, July 16, 2007
LOS ANGELES:
Labor negotiations aimed at averting a shutdown of the United
States' largest port complex have been postponed, representatives
for both sides said. The contract negotiations between office
clerks and their employers were postponed late Monday because the
lead negotiator for the companies needed to attend to a family
medical issue. The talks were scheduled to resume Wednesday
morning. The parties have been at the bargaining table since
Sunday afternoon, attempting to reach a settlement and avert a
possible shutdown of the docks at the ports of Los Angeles and
Long Beach.
The office clerical unit of Local 63, a
division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, submitted its
latest proposal Monday evening, and by the time the talks broke off, the
shipping companies and terminal operators were considering it. The
15,000-member ILWU has indicated that longshoremen would honor picket
lines if the 750 clerks strike. That would effectively shut down loading
and unloading operations at the neighboring ports of Los Angeles and Long
Beach. While the local 63 clerical union president, John Fageaux,
declined to provide specifics of the union's latest proposal, he said
there were sticking points on wages, job security and health and pension
benefits.
The port complex accounts for 40 percent
of all the cargo container traffic coming into the United States. A work
stoppage could create ripple effects throughout many industries that
depend on timely movement of cargo. It also would come as the ports enter
their busy pre-holiday season, when shippers depend on the facilities to
handle imports. The clerks work at marine terminals and handle bookings
for the export of cargo and other transport documents. Under their most
recent contract, full-time, port clerical workers earned about $37.50
(€27.20) an hour, or $78,000 (€56,600) a year. They also receive a
pension, health care benefits free of premiums, and 20 paid holidays a
year.
Steve Berry, lead negotiator for the 14
marine terminal operators and other firms who employ the office clerks,
said the employers' latest offer included raises that over the life of a
three-year contract would bump the employees' hourly pay to $39.50
(€28.70). The union is seeking increases that would equal $53 (€38.50) per
hour by the last year of the contract. In 2002, longshore workers across
the U.S. West Coast were locked out for 10 days over a contract dispute.
The shutdown cost the nation's economy an estimated $1 billion to $2
billion a day.
LOS ANGELES -
Clerical workers presented their final offer to shipping companies
after all-night contract talks aimed at preventing a strike at the
nation's largest port complex.
"We've done all we can,"
John Fageaux Jr., president of the Office Clerical Unit, Local 63, of the
International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said Saturday.
The next meeting between
the two sides was scheduled for Tuesday.
Clerks could strike if the
offer is rejected, but Fageaux said he was hopeful a new contract
agreement would be reached.
"I think we're very close,"
he said. And "we've
agreed to not strike and to come back to the table at 1 p.m. Tuesday."
Steve Berry, lead
negotiator for the shipping companies, said Saturday night that the
employers' negotiating team decided it needed time to study the union's
offer.
Among the contract issues
that remain under dispute in the negotiations were wages and
employer-proposed health plan changes for new hires, Berry said.
The twin ports of Long
Beach and Los Angeles handle more than 40 percent of all cargo container
traffic coming into the U.S.
The 15,000-member ILWU has
indicated that longshoremen would honor picket lines if clerical workers
strike. The clerks work at marine terminals and handle bookings for the
export of cargo and other transport documents.
Associated
Press - July 22, 2007 4:03 AM ET
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Clerical workers at the nation's largest port complex
have given shipping companies what they say is their final offer on a new
contract.
Clerks for the twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles could go on strike
come Monday if the offer isn't accepted.
The president of a clerical local of the International Longshore and
Warehouse Union says, quote, "We've done all we can."
The union predicts a deal could be close, but the lead negotiator for the
shipping companies says they need time to study the union's offer to
decide on a response. He notes that the two sides aren't scheduled to meet
again until Tuesday.
Among the contract issues in the shipping dispute are pay and health-care
benefits for new hires.
The longshore workers indicate they'll honor the picket lines if the
clerical workers do go on strike.
|
M.E. Dey
has already started to divert loose cargo and full containers to
Seattle or Tacoma when feasible in the event of a strike. |
Update July 21,2007
Port union's last offer given to shippers
The
ports of
Los
Angeles and Long Beach are facing shutdown if an agreement can't
be reached between shippers and a clerks union. Frustrated by a
lack of progress in negotiations with shipping companies, the
union representing port clerical workers submitted its "last, best
and final" offer to employers.
The
move comes five days after more than 900 workers threatened to
strike at ports of
Los
Angeles and Long Beach if a new labor pact is not reached.
Clerks,
represented by Local 63 Office Clerical Unit of the International
Longshore and Warehouse Union, have not set a new strike deadline, but
said the latest proposal will be the final one submitted by the union.
Further negotiations are pending, depending on how the shipping firms
respond to the proposal, said ILWU spokesman Bill Orton. Workers are
seeking job protections and higher wages, and employers are looking for
more flexibility in staffing levels. The two sides have been negotiating
since May, with the union's rank-and-file authorizing their leaders to
call a strike if labor talks break down. Clerical workers are relying on
allies in the ILWU longshore division, whose members control most jobs on
the waterfront. Longshore workers have said they would honor picket lines
if clerks go on strike. Such a move would effectively shut down the twin
ports, through which nearly 45 percent of all
America's imported goods pass. Together, the ports handle around $275
billion worth of cargo a year.
Port Strike May Unload
on Transports
Bear
Stearns & Co. MONDAY, JULY 16,
2007
A WEST COAST PORT STRIKE
IS possible this week. On Friday, the International Longshore and
Warehouse Union (ILWU) Office Clerical Union (Local 63) representing
750-800 clerical workers at the Ports of L.A. and Long Beach, submitted a
strike deadline for midnight Sunday night to agree upon a new labor
contract (expired July 1). As of 7:30 a.m. this morning both sides were
still negotiating.
Issues up for
negotiation center upon wage and medical benefits as well as general job
security (including temporary employee use procedures). The employers have
offered a wage and benefits increase of nearly 13%, spread over the next
three years, however, the employers have also sought to limit paid time
off for certain medical appointments. OCU members currently receive 20
paid holidays, 13 paid sick days and the ability to take certain doctor
visits with pay. Meanwhile, the OCU has cited concerns surrounding work
practices, job security and medical benefit limitations. Furthermore, both
sides continue to disagree on the use of temporary workers in place of ill
or retired full time employees.
A representative for the
employers has stated that in the event of a strike, management(s) would be
prepared to handle office duties. However, assuming that dockworkers
observe the picket lines, complete port operations would be halted.
The larger ILWU
dockworkers union has implied it will honor the OCU picket lines thereby
potentially halting operations at the nation's two largest ports,
comprising around 37% of the national container throughput.
Regardless of the
outcome, the OCU negotiations will likely set a precedent for the July 8
ILWU contract negotiations scheduled to begin early next year. We assume
critical issues regarding wages, benefits and working conditions will be
also be similarly contested during the 2008 negotiations.
Like the 2002 ILWU
10-day lockout [during the fourth quarter], our sense is that those
companies with heavy West Coast intermodal exposure such as Burlington
Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Pacer International , Hub Group and J.B.
Hunt Transport Services would be modestly negatively impacted in the event
of a prolonged strike, while international forwarders such as Expeditors
International of Washington or UTi Worldwide who find capacity during such
crises would modestly benefit.
We don't expect a
prolonged strike in any circumstance, but even a short work stoppage could
lead to further diversion from the West Coast ports over the next year, as
shippers become nervous about a larger potential strike in July 2008.
Separately, last
Wednesday, negotiations for the July 2008 labor contract between the
Teamsters (IBT) and United Parcel Service were suspended as UPS and the
multiemployer pension funds to which they contribute were unable to agree
upon outstanding funding and liabilities requirements/status. We still
expect an early settlement between UPS and its Teamsters during early
2008, about six months prior to its July 31 expiration.
-- Edward Wolfe
CBP to
assess fines for violations of the Wood Packaging (WPM)Import
requirements.
These requirements have been in effect for nearly a year. They
require all WPM entering the United States to be properly marked to
indicate that it has been either heat treated or treat with methyl bromide
in accordance with the International Standards. Immediate
exportation is required of any non-complaint WPM. This
includes WPM that is unmarked, inappropriately marked or marked but found
infested with live wood boring pests. All costs associated with the
handling and exportation of this material are the responsibility of the
violator (importer).
ATA Carnet
ATA Carnet is a merchandise passport, good for a year that facilitates
temporary imports into foreign countries. Virtually all goods,
including samples, professional equipment, tradeshow items such a display
booths, computers, repair tools machinery vehicles, jewelry, wearing
apparel. The list of eligible items is vast. What cannot be
covered are consumable goods, disposable items or postal traffic.
The carnet reduces costs to the exporter, eliminates VAT, duties,
simplifies customer procedures and eases re-entry into the US. There
is a cost for a Carnet. The cost, starting at a minimum of $200,
depends on the shipment value. A security deposit is also
required. The security deposit often will take the form of a bond.
To apply online, goto
www.unlockcustoms.org or visit
www.merchandisepassport.org
Offices
will be closed during the following dates:
Singapore
Labour Day May 1
Vesak Day May 31
Hong Kong
International Labor day
Head office:
May 1
Mainland Branch Offices:
May 1-7
Understanding & Mastering Export
Documentation & Payment Terms
Tuesday, March 27, 2007 7:30 a.m.
- 3:00 p.m.
WCTC Education Center
For registration or related questions:
mjenkins@wctc.edu
www.wctc.edu/exportseminar
262.691.5551
Feb 28 is national holiday in Taiwan
FEBRUARY 17-19, 2007 - CHINESE NEW YEAR'S
DAY
The PRC is closed down
for one entire week (18-26 Feb,2007) for Chinese new year holiday in
China.
We
recommend that shipments be expedited because right now, space is
extremely tight & we expect vessels to be full the week prior to Feb 18 &
after Feb 26.
Keep in mind that some
cargo, particular LCL, not shipped prior to the holiday, may not ship
until the end of Feb as it takes factories a week to “ramp up” after a
week long holiday. This is why it is important to ship any urgent
freight well in advance of Jan 18
as the alternative may be
airfreight.
Implementation of ISPM No.15 from April 2007
Communication from Japan
Based on the
result of a pest risk analysis for wood packaging material, Japan amended
its Import Plant Quarantine Regulation (MAF Notification No.206, 1950).
This amendment to it was published on 6 October 2006 and will be put into
force on 1 April 2007.
Read more... (pdf)
| 
