Michael Giari, executive director, Port of Redwood City, located south of San Francisco is retiring after transitioning a small, unknown, bulk port into the Port of Silicon Valley.

Michael Nerney, assistant deputy director, Port of San Francisco said to AJOT in an interview that the Port is working to win San Francisco voter support for a bond issue to re-enforce the seawall that protects the Port and downtown San Francisco now threatened by sea level rise and the possibility of an earthquake.

EagleRail Container Logistics, based in Chicago, is partnered with Chinese container crane maker ZPMC developing short and longer distance container transport systems designed to reduce truck congestion and emissions at ports around the world.

On January 11, 2018, Direct ChassisLink Inc., better known as DCLI, completed the purchase of TRAC Intermodal’s 53-foot domestic chassis fleet. DCLI’s intention to purchase the TRAC units was made in late October 2017 before last month’s closing. The purchase price for the chassis fleet was not disclosed.

John McLaurin, president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA), said the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as well as California air quality regulatory agencies need to rethink mandating zero emissions goals for terminals and trucking companies.

While showing optimism in general, a diverse group of ocean transportation leaders speaking at the American Association of Port Authorities’ Planning for Shifting Trade Conference have some genuine concerns as well.

On the heels of a record performance in 2017, the Port of Montreal has moved an important step further to establish a sixth container terminal, located at Contrecoeur, where there is an existing bulk shipping facility 25 miles away on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.

In late December 2017, Port Newark Container Terminal LLC (PNCT) secured $298 million in tax exempt bond proceeds that will be used to refinance existing debt and to finance the ongoing development of the terminal.

Chris Lytle, executive director, Port of Oakland told AJOT in an interview that “the Port has been approached by three carriers, raising the possibility of Oakland becoming the first U.S. Pacific Coast port of call.

Increased investment in U.S. transportation infrastructure is being urged as the American Association of Port Authorities’ 11th annual Planning for Shifting Trade Conference gets under way today [Jan. 30] in Tampa, Florida.