Maritime commerce along the Mississippi River is slowly recovering after 2019 rains and floods disrupted port operations, shipping, tug and barge services, roads and farming, but the region cannot fully recover without a dramatic increase in federal spending for expanded levels of flood control that must be made along with federal spending for other long-neglected infrastructure investments, according to Sean Duffy, executive director of the Louisiana-based Big River Coalition.

For the first time since 1992, the Port of New York and New Jersey has overtaken the Port of Long Beach to become the second busiest port in the United States, according to the July Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) West Coast Trade Report.

The $165 million Seabrook Floodgate Complex, completed in 2012, protects New Orleans by reducing storm surge entering from Lake Pontchartrain. (Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

When properly designed to meet the specific inventory and storage requirements, pallet flow racks maximize storage space and improve shipping logistics.

The Yara Birkleland, expected to be delivered in 2020, will be the first autonomous and all electric powered container ship in the world, according to Morten Stanger, vice president of marketing for Norway-based Kongsberg.

Steve Langhart, Director of Cargo Sales for Southwest Airlines, was the guest speaker at the June meeting of the JFK Air Cargo Association.

According to a report issued by Market.us in Jan 2019, the global almond industry is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% during the next eight years (through 2028).

There were several themes and common issues affecting competitiveness raised by Ag shippers at the Agricultural Transportation Coalition annual meeting in Tacoma June 11-14.

Kristine Zortman, executive director, Port of Redwood City says that the Port needs to increase dredging and develop new markets to expand on its construction materials and scrap metals business.