Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) recently announced new services between Asia and Australia that will commence sailing in May. The new Asia-Australia Express, jointly operated by MOL and Maersk Line (ML), is a pendulum service connecting Northeast and Southeast Asia to Australia. MOL will operate three ships and ML will operate nine ships in the service replacing the existing AU2 and AAB/AAT services.

The new China-Taiwan-Australia Express (CAE service), jointly operated by Hamburg Süd, ML and Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), will connect China, Taiwan and Australia. The CAE service will serve as a replacement of the existing AU1 service. In addition, MOL’s existing NZ1 and NZ2 services will be enhanced by adding Brisbane ports of call in NZ1 service and Sydney ports of call in NZ2 service.

GEORGIA INVESTS $100M IN ANAKLIA DEEP SEA PORT PROJECT

The Government of Georgia signed an agreement in October that grants the Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC) the exclusive right to construct, develop and operate the $2.5 billion Anaklia Deep Sea Port, which will help establish a new maritime corridor from China to Europe. As part of the agreement, Georgia will invest $100 million in the construction and development of railway and transportation links connecting the port to the region.

The same day, ADC also signed a contract with one of the largest maritime engineering companies, Van Oord, to conduct pre-construction work. A Dutch company, Van Oord has executed dredging, marine engineering and offshore projects across the world, including the New Suez Canal, the construction of Palm Island in Dubai and the construction of Maasvlakte 2, a major extension of the Port of Rotterdam.

“The Government’s $100 million investment represents an incredible statement of confidence in a project that has the potential to transform Anaklia and generate decades of new prosperity and opportunity for Georgia and its neighbors,” says Mamuka Khazaradze, co-founder of the Anaklia Development Consortium.

The Anaklia Deep Sea Port is expected to be operational by 2020.

PORT LOGISTICS REFRIGERATED SERVICES BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF NEW COLD STORAGE FACILITY AT PORT TAMPA BAY

Port Logistics Refrigerated Services has begun site work for construction of a new 134,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, on-dock cold storage warehouse at Port Tampa Bay for the handling of refrigerated import and export cargoes.

Scheduled to open in the summer of 2017, the new facility will have more than 9,000 pallet positions to accommodate both chilled and frozen products, as well as onsite USDA/CBP inspection and fumigation services. The facility will be located on a 13.7-acre site adjacent to Berth 219 and is designed to handle palletized breakbulk cargo and refrigerated containers.

Well known Tampa developer Richard Corbett is partnering in the financing of the project on behalf of Port Logistics Refrigerated Services.

“We are excited about this opportunity to partner with Port Logistics Refrigerated Services and Dick Corbett,” says Paul Anderson, port president and CEO. “This project supports our strategic plans for growth and diversification, as well as our recent terminal expansion investments, including the new Post-Panamax container cranes which were commissioned in July.”

MALLORY ALEXANDER EXPANDS WITH NEW OFFICE AND WAREHOUSE IN MIAMI

Mallory Alexander International Logistics has opened a new office and warehouse in Miami, Florida, to serve the region’s vibrant import and export sector. The facility includes a foreign trade zone as well as a container freight station, bonded warehouse and an in-bond export consolidator (IBEC) warehouse.

“Miami is an important international gateway located strategically at the crossroads of the Americas, with a booming trade industry and a world-class transport network,” says Tinamarie Newman, chief operating officer at Mallory Alexander International Logistics. “Our new facility will be able to store and handle cargo to and from South America, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as globally for importing and exporting.

The new site will be used to handle all facets of general cargo supply chains, with a particular focus on electronics, wearing apparel, consolidated freight all kind (FAK) and liquor products. The Miami team is bilingual in English and Spanish and offers a range of logistics services including Customs consultation and clearance, automated importer pre-filing, quota entries and various free trade agreements proficiency.”

PORTS AMERICA CHESAPEAKE TO COMMENCE INTERMODAL TRANSFER SERVICE OPERATIONS IN BALTIMORE

In an agreement reached earlier this year between Ports America Chesapeake and CSX Intermodal Terminals Inc. (CSXIT), the operational responsibility for CSXIT services at Seagirt Container Transfer Facility was transferred to Ports America Chesapeake in the Port of Baltimore. Accordingly, Ports America Chesapeake commenced these operations on Oct. 31, effectively replacing CSXIT as the lessee and operator of the facility.

“With the newly expanded Panama Canal, the Port of Baltimore is well positioned to handle increased volumes and ultra-large Neo-Panamax container vessels,” says Bayard Hogans, general manager of Ports America Chesapeake. “Our four Super-Post-Panamax cranes and on-dock rail service gives us a higher level of competitiveness to attract new freight to the region.”

CSX Transportation’s (CSXT) domestic and international intermodal rail service will continue to be served at this strategic location. This new operating arrangement supports intermodal growth well into the future, connecting Maryland to Midwest and southern markets via CSXT’s extensive rail network.

$33 MILLION IN FUTURE STATE GRANT ALLOCATIONS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO PORTMIAMI

On the heels of another record-breaking year for both cargo and cruise passengers, $33 million in state grants have been allocated to PortMiami over the next five years. PortMiami had a 14 percent increase in its containerized cargo in 2014-15, and another 2 percent increase in fiscal year 2015-2016 for a total of 1.03 million TEUs, which are the equivalent of a standard 20-foot container.

The positive performance report comes as PortMiami starts to receive the bigger ships that are already transiting via the expanded Panama Canal. Some $1.3 billion were invested to dredge and widen PortMiami’s shipping channel to -50/-52 ft., complete a new port tunnel to speed vehicular traffic, acquire four Super-Post-Panamax cranes and build an on-port rail link. The Port is big-ship ready, and it anticipates continued growth as some of the world’s largest ocean carriers have formed alliances and deployed bigger vessels for their international shipping routes.

Funds will be utilized, among other things, for the procurement of three additional Super-Post-Panamax cranes, as well as upgrades to cargo terminal yards in an effort to create efficiencies in operations for higher densities in container throughput. In addition, the grants will help support the development of a future inland intermodal facility.