Port Advances Congestion Relief Measures
Port of Long Beach / http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1403&TargetID=1
Harbor Commission approves new steps to improve cargo flow
Taking aim at the bottleneck that has slowed cargo movement through the Port recently, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday approved measures to relieve congestion including a petition of the Federal Maritime Commission for permission to work in concert with the neighboring Port of Los Angeles.
The Harbor Commission authorized the release of a Request for Proposals for the creation of a “peak chassis pool,” which would augment the supply of the chassis – the truck trailer frames used to haul cargo containers – when they are most needed. A shortage of chassis has been a major factor in the congestion issues at the port complex this year.
Also, the Commission gave preliminary approval to a cap of four days for parking or “dockage” fees charged by the Port to ships at berth. Due to delays in cargo movement, ships have needed to stay at berth longer and have had to pay higher fees. With the dockage relief, the Port would forgo an estimated $150,000 in fees by allowing longer stays without charge during stays in Dec. 1, 2014, through March, 31, 2015.
These measures, in combination with earlier steps taken by the Board of Harbor Commissioners and the Port of Long Beach, are aimed at alleviating and preventing congestion.
The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners earlier this month approved the action to file with the federal government for permission to work with Long Beach on congestion. The San Pedro Bay ports want to collaborate with industry partners on matters including rail operations, chassis supply and storage, vessel calls, truck turn times and marine terminal operations. The Federal Maritime Commission could grant the ports immunity from anti-trust laws that would otherwise prohibit the two ports from collaborating.
“Separately, we’re all working on solutions,” said Jon Slangerup, Port of Long Beach’s Chief Executive. “But these are systemic problems that can only be solved by bringing all the parties together, and agreeing on long-term, integrated solutions throughout the supply chain.”
Like ports around the nation, Long Beach and Los Angeles are struggling with congestion because of increasing trade, surges from a new generation of megaships and a shortage of chassis. Congestion peaked this fall, but the Port of Long Beach wants to make sure this never happens in the future.
As the result of earlier Board of Harbor Commissioners action, the Port’s Pier S Temporary Empty Container Depot is scheduled to open Dec. 29 to provide truckers with space to unload empty containers and free up their bare chassis to pick up cargo. The 30-acre storage facility will be open until the end of March 2015.
The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, a gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship. With 140 shipping lines connecting Long Beach to 217 seaports, the Port handles $180 billion in trade annually, supporting hundreds of thousands of Southern California jobs.
Port of Long Beach: Empty Container Depot Opens
Port of Long Beach / http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1404&TargetID=1
Pasha operates Pier S facility to free up chassis, ease congestion
The Temporary Empty Container Depot on Pier S at the Port of Long Beach is now open. The depot was approved by the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners in November to free up truck-trailer chassis and ease congestion on the docks at the second busiest seaport in North America. For information on how to use the depot, contact Pasha Stevedoring at 310-233-2005 or LBECD@psterminals.com.
The 30-acre site is operated by Pasha Stevedoring and Terminals, a private company selected by the Port. The depot is scheduled to close March 31, 2015, after the backlog in cargo is cleared.
The temporary facility will help put back into circulation more chassis – the wheeled trailer-frames that trucks use to haul cargo containers. Because many terminals are congested and have little room to accept empty cargo containers, more space is needed to temporarily store those empties. The Empty Container Depot will free up the chassis for truckers to reuse to pick up new loads on the busy docks and speed up delivery.
“Our empty container storage facility is one of several actions we’ve taken to help relieve congestion, and Pasha Stevedoring and Terminals is a great partner to work with on this initiative,” said Jon Slangerup, Port of Long Beach Chief Executive. “We are committed to providing our stakeholders with as much operational support as possible, and this temporary depot is one way we’re doing that.”
Ports around the U.S. are experiencing congestion. The congestion is exacerbated by more cargo arriving faster on today’s giant ships, as well as a new chassis ownership system that has left some terminals and truckers without the equipment they need.
In addition to the Empty Container Depot to free up chassis, the Port has facilitated the introduction by private chassis fleets of an additional 3,000 chassis into the local area and identified a plan for the Port to operate its own chassis fleet for peak cargo shipping seasons and peak demand.
For more information about operation of the Temporary Empty Container Depot on Pier S, industry stakeholders may contact Jeff Burgin, Senior Vice President of Pasha Stevedoring and Terminals, at Jeff.Burgin@psterminals.com.
The Port of Long Beach is one of the world's premier seaports, a gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship. With 140 shipping lines connecting Long Beach to 217 seaports, the Port handles $180 billion in trade annually, supporting hundreds of thousands of Southern California jobs.
Counterfeit Designer Merchandise Seized by CBP
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2014-12-23-000000/counterfeit-designer-merchandise-seized-cbp
U. S. Customs and Border Protection Officers and Import Specialists
Seize Counterfeit Brand Names During Operation ‘Bad Gifts
JAMAICA, N.Y. – As a consumer during the holiday season, you want to know that the product you purchase is authentic. Every day, U. S. Customs and Border Protection is on the front lines preventing the entry of counterfeit merchandise into the United States.
Operation ‘Bad Gifts’ was conducted at the John F. Kennedy International Mail Facility from December 2nd through December 4th, 2014. CBP officers, technicians, Import Specialists and International Trade Specialists assigned to the CBP Mobile Intellectual Property Enforcement Team, all participated in the operation.
CBP officers and Import Specialists made 203 seizures of counterfeit sneakers, handbags, watches and sunglasses with Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Michael Kors, Chanel and Coach trademarks in violation of federal anti-counterfeiting laws.
“CBP’s efforts to prevent these counterfeit items from entering the United States is crucial to protecting consumers and our economy,” said Robert E. Perez, Director, Field Operations New York. “Once again our CBP employees at the John F. Kennedy International Mail Facility have demonstrated their exceptional skill and superior commodity expertise.”
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the bags, shoes, watches, and other merchandise, if genuine, is estimated to be more than $450,000.
The Mobile Intellectual Property Enforcement Team is a team of Intellectual Property Rights subject matter experts that are deployable to various ports of entry to conduct and/or provide additional staffing during IPR operations and to provide fundamental guidance on IPR policies, legal authorities and procedures for enforcement.
CBP Chicago Intercepts First-in-Nation Invasive Beetle
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2014-12-30-000000/cbp-chicago-intercepts-first-nation-invasive-beetle
CHICAGO—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed Tuesday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at the Port of Chicago made a first-in-nation pest discovery when they intercepted Phyllotreta vittula Redtenbacher (Chrysomelidae), a type of beetle, while inspecting a shipment of rhubarb stems from the Netherlands on Dec. 16.
Beetles may pose a significant agriculture threat because they can cause damage by feeding on agricultural crops as well as native plants, thereby lowering crop yields and quality.
“CBP agriculture specialists are at the forefront in the detection of foreign invasive plants and plant pests,” said Chicago Port Director Matthew Davies. “This discovery and identification of a new potential threat to the U.S. agriculture industry resulted from CBP and the USDA working together to protect the nation’s agriculture resources.”
The beetle was discovered within a shipment of 10 boxes of rhubarb stems from the Netherlands. The specimen of the beetle was forwarded to a USDA—Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) - Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) entomologist for identification.
CBP issued an Emergency Action Notification to the importer who opted to treat the shipment. Following CBP procedures the shipment was treated and released.
CBP agriculture specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspection. CBP agriculture specialists also work closely with USDA APHIS PPQ to protect our nation’s agriculture resources against the introduction of foreign plants, plant pests, and animal diseases.
Please visit http://www.cbp.gov/border-security/protecting-agriculture for more information about CBP’s mission to protect the nation’s agriculture industry. For more on the USDA, APHIS, PPQ program, please visit www.USDA.gov .
USTIC: News Releases & Documents
U.S. International Commission / http://www.usitc.gov/
12/29/2014 - Determination to Approve CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability Request: Certain 100% Polyester Composite Laminated Fabric - 194.2014.11.18.Fabric.ST&RforVFCorp
U.S. Department of Transportation Issues Final Rule Regarding Air Travel with Musical Instruments
U.S. Department of Transportation / http://www.dot.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-issues-final-rule-regarding-air-travel-musical
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today issued a final rule to implement section 403 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which requires that U.S. airlines accept musical instruments as carry-on or checked baggage on commercial passenger flights, provided that certain conditions are met.
“At DOT, we know how important instruments are to musicians and are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that they are not damaged while being transported on airlines,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This final rule implements the statute, and it will go a long way towards keeping instruments safe when they fly – from allowing them in the cabin if there’s space for safe stowage, to letting passengers buy a seat for certain large instruments.”
The rule requires that each U.S. carrier subject to this regulation allow a passenger to carry into the cabin and stow a small musical instrument, such as a violin or a guitar, in a suitable baggage compartment, such as the overhead bin or a closet, or under the seats, in accordance with FAA safety regulations and the carrier’s FAA-approved carry-on baggage program.
Carriers must allow passengers to stow their small musical instruments in an approved stowage area in the cabin if at the time the passenger boards the aircraft such stowage space is available. Under the rule, musical instruments as carry-on items are treated no differently from other carry-on items and the stowage space should be made available for all carry-on items on a “first come, first served” basis. Carriers are not required to give musical instruments priority over other carry-on baggage, therefore passengers traveling with musical instruments may want to buy the pre-boarding option offered by many carriers to ensure that space will be available for them to safely stow their instruments in the cabin.
For some musical instruments that are too large to fit in the cabin stowage areas described in the carrier’s FAA-approved carry-on baggage program (e.g., an overhead bin or under a seat), it is sometimes possible to secure them to a seat as “seat baggage” or “cargo in passenger cabin.” Carriers are required to carry large musical instruments in the cabin if the passenger wishing to carry the instrument in the aircraft cabin has purchased an additional seat to accommodate the instrument and the instrument is contained in a case or cover to avoid injury to other passengers, the weight of the instrument does not exceed 165 pounds or applicable weight restrictions for the aircraft, and the instrument can be stowed in accordance with the requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage or cargo established by the FAA. Carriers are not required to provide for this process in their carry-on baggage programs; however the Department encourages carriers that do not currently allow such stowage to amend their programs to allow it, provided that all safety requirements are met.
Carriers are required to accept musical instruments in the cargo compartment as checked baggage if those instruments comply with the size and weight limitations provided in Section 403 and the FAA’s safety regulations.
The final rule applies to scheduled and charter flights in domestic or international transportation operated by U.S. carriers, regardless of the size of the aircraft they operate. The rule also applies to persons not directly involved in the operation of an aircraft who sell air transportation services to the general public other than as an authorized agent of a carrier.
This final rule is issued without notice and comment from the public as it simply implements the statutory requirements. The rule will take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. The final rule is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2014-0231.
In addition to issuing this rule, the Department has also created a webpage (
http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/air-travel-musical-instruments) that provides useful tips and information for consumers on how to prepare for air travel with musical instruments. The Department also sponsored meetings to provide representatives of musicians and airlines an opportunity to discuss the difficulties musicians face when traveling by air. DOT may conduct additional such meetings to further explore ways to better assist musicians and airline personnel ensure the safe carriage of musical instruments.