In an effort to achieve more efficient cargo movement, PierPASS has developed a video addressing gate congestion and discussing potential solutions. The video is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlOaF-utkDY.

“The analysis of transaction data shows that the ports are vastly underutilized despite increased cargo volume and truck traffic,” said Bruce Wargo, president and CEO of PierPASS. “PierPASS and the MTOs are working together to improve the efficiency of cargo movement through the ports, ease the challenges of increased cargo volume and help the industry take advantage of unused capacity to minimize congestion.”

The analysis, which includes transaction data from July 26, 2010 to August 1, 2010, shows that:

5,326 trucks (63.4 percent) made at least 15 transactions, or about three per day. Of that group, 3,849 trucks (45.8 percent) conducted at least 20 terminal transactions, or about four per day.

48 trucks managed to make more than 50 pickups or deliveries in that week, or about 10 per day.

The analysis includes transaction data from the 13 container terminals serving the San Pedro Bay ports.

Following a plunge in cargo volumes in 2008 and 2009, volumes have strongly rebounded at the two ports, leading to an increase in truck traffic. In response to this surge, the marine terminal operators have reinstated labor, gates and shifts cut during the recession. Terminal operators have increased labor levels by 37 percent since January 2010.

Lines outside the terminals are long primarily around 6 p.m. During much of the day and night shifts, there is little or no congestion at the terminals. Truckers can avoid lines by arriving from 9 a.m. to noon, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

“In response to the recent surge in truck volumes, some in the industry have expressed concern about wait times at the terminals’ gates,” Wargo said. “Marine terminal operators are diligently working with industry stakeholders to identify solutions. It is imperative that the trucking industry contribute by taking advantage of under-congested and under-utilized times at the gates. By spreading out volume and utilizing our existing infrastructure, trucking companies will improve the efficiency of their businesses.”

PierPASS recently announced the formation of a working group of 30 stakeholders representing importers, exporters, motor carriers, ports, and marine terminal operators (MTOs) to discuss the issue. Additionally, many terminals at the San Pedro Ports are implementing an appointment system to take advantage of underutilized time and maximize the systems to help ease congestion.

For more on this issue, please view the PierPASS video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlOaF-utkDY.

For information on PierPASS, go to www.pierpass.org.

PierPASS is a not-for-profit company created by marine terminal operators at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in 2005 to address multi-terminal issues such as congestion, security and air quality. Under the program, all international container terminals in the two ports established five new shifts per week. As an incentive to use the new OffPeak shifts and to cover the added cost of the shifts, a Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) is required for most cargo movement during peak hours (Monday through Friday, 3 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Source = Business Wire

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.net.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Folding Intermodal Container

The patented Staxxon method for addressing the empty container repositioning problem uses a design approach that honors existing container industry standards (IMO, ISO, CSC), maintains the structural integrity of the +25M steel containers in use today, respects existing supply chain relationships and avoids the need for sophisticated new equipment or procedures at terminals. Staxxon’s solution allows existing steel containers to be retrofitted or new containers to be built for folding. The retrofit option provides container fleet owners, operators and lessors with a new option for increasing utilization while reducing operating costs associated with moving, storing and repositioning empty containers. The cost to retrofit (or the incremental cost to add folding to a new container) is coupled with a rapid return on investment from increased utilization and operating cost reduction.

Staxxon founding CEO and folding container inventor George Kochanowski said “While others have focused on the use of horizontal collapsing methods or use of composite materials in containers, Staxxon’s designs are laser focused on the top business issues facing carriers, ports, terminal operators and container fleet operators: faster vessel turns, better container and sea-going vessel utilization, more efficient management of empty containers, lower terminal and depot operating costs, effective use of limited capital and, above all, preserving the safety, standards and workflow involving containers.”

Staxxon is a two year old self-funded startup company headed by Kochanowski that is currently based near Dayton, Ohio. USA. The company is preparing to build its third prototype – a 40′ dry high cube container – and is seeking advance feedback from key intermodal industry organizations and individuals. Following CSC evaluation of the 40′ prototype, Staxxon will be approaching prospective customers regarding field trials. Staxxon is also discussing funding options with prospective investors to accelerate the commercialization of its designs and methods.

“We want to insure that our technology and business model are well aligned with the current and future container industry market and product requirements” remarked Kochanowski, “You can never have too much customer input at this stage in the innovation process.”

Staxxon’s core folding methods were recognized by the US Patent and Trademark Office in April 2010 when a patent was issued to Kochanowski. Staxxon’s will license its patented designs and know-how to container fleet operators, owners, lessors, manufacturers and repair/storage depot operators.

Telephone or text message: +1.937.217.7829
Blog/About: http://staxxon.posterous.com

Photos/Video: http://www.flickr.com/people/staxxon/

Source = 24-7

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

“Many of our customers want to save money by purchasing used containers. When we test marketed DuraGreen, customers were pleased to discover they got a high quality new container at an economical price, plus a full warranty, and the peace of mind that comes with buying a new product.”

Scott DeNoma, president and CEO of RPP Containers, said, “RPP’s state-of-the-art recycling and grinding facility for out-of-service plastic bulk containers enables us to put the highest quality of recycled plastic back into new DuraGreen collapsible containers. And, DuraGreen containers offer the same advantages as other higher priced premium brands: they’re heavy-duty, stackable, easy to assemble and knock down, and durable enough to endure years of the toughest service.”

RPP developed DuraGreen reusable plastic bulk containers in response to the growing trend of customers buying used containers as a way to hold down cost. DeNoma explained, “Many of our customers want to save money by purchasing used containers. When we test marketed DuraGreen, customers were pleased to discover they got a high quality new container at an economical price, plus a full warranty, and the peace of mind that comes with buying a new product.”

DuraGreen containers are offered in three popular footprints – 48″x45″, 48″x40″, and 32″x30″. They are not only ideal for meeting budget requirements, but also help to satisfy corporate environmental sustainability commitments because of their premium recycled plastic content and green product classification. For more DuraGreen information, please visit www.rppcontainers.com/duragreen.php.

About RPP Containers

RPP Containers, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, was established in 1998, and is a leading private label manufacturer, distributor and recycler of reusable plastic bulk containers. To learn more, visit www.rppcontainers.com. Or call 800-945-8304.

Source = Business Wire

“The port survey conducted Monday by a team from our TITAN Salvage subsidiary was spot on in terms of identifying a suitable location in the port where we could safely discharge the cargo.”

“Today’s operation was an important milestone in reestablishing direct container shipments into the heavily damaged port,” said John Hourihan, Crowley’s senior vice president and general manager of Latin America services. “The port survey conducted Monday by a team from our TITAN Salvage subsidiary was spot on in terms of identifying a suitable location in the port where we could safely discharge the cargo.”

“USTRANSCOM values the innovative solutions that our contractors are implementing to rapidly facilitate humanitarian assistance in support of the Haitian people,” said Army Brig. Gen. Michael Lally, director of operations for the command.

The Crowley container ship Marcajama, which offloaded the containers today, is scheduled to return to Port Everglades, Fla. over the weekend and load more relief cargo under contract with USTRANSCOM. The ship will then return to Port-au-Prince in the middle of next week and discharge containers via the proven lightering method utilizing two shuttle vessels.

Future cargo operations in the port should improve substantially in the coming weeks. Crowley is mobilizing two 400-foot-long, 100-foot-wide flat deck barges, along with two Manitowoc 230-ton crawler cranes in the United States for USTRANSCOM that will be brought into Port-au-Prince to serve as a makeshift dock for future cargo operations. The first barge and crane in Orange, Texas should arrive in Haiti on or about Feb. 4. The second deck barge is being outfitted in Lake Charles, La. and will arrive by mid-Feb.

“The diverse resources of the Crowley organization are being brought to the table in response to this emergency,” Hourihan said. “We are working closely with USTRANSCOM, USAID, FEMA and other organizations to provide the assets, services and technical expertise they need to accomplish their missions.”

Relief cargoes are being consolidated and stuffed into containers at Crowley’s Miami warehouse and distribution center. Containers delivered by Crowley in Rio Haina, Dominican Republic this week are being trucked over the border into Haiti. And more shipments – 179 20-foot containers and 11 40-foot containers for USTRANSCOM – are due in Rio Haina Sunday morning.

“The combination of direct shipments into Port-au-Prince and shipments into Rio Haina that are then trucked over the border is now resulting in a steady flow of aid,” said Hourihan.

While Crowley has suspended its regularly scheduled commercial cargo services to and from Haiti, a Crowley customer service group has been formed to answer questions and assist the shipping public interested in getting relief goods into Haiti. All inquiries should be made to 1-800-490-3321, or HaitiReliefCargo@crowley.com. Due to the unstable situation in the country, no relief cargo bookings will be accepted without being qualified by this Haiti Team customer service group.

“We believe our two methods of delivery into Port-au-Prince (lightering containers offshore and over-the-road trucking via Rio Haina) will soon allow Crowley to start accepting relief cargoes from non-government parties,” said Tucker Gilliam, Crowley’s general manager for Haiti and the Dominican Republic. “We continue to offer twice weekly service to and from the Dominican Republic for regular commercial cargoes.”

Those wishing to contribute humanitarian supplies to Haiti’s relief effort should do so by contacting non-profit organizations such as Food for the Poor or Catholic Relief Services.

Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 118-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company. The company provides diversified transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are the following services: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response through its TITAN Salvage subsidiary; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture through its Jensen Maritime subsidiary; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.

Source = Business Wire