Reversing the downward trend of the past few years, container port traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean Sea increased 6.7 percent during first quarter 2017, reports ECLAC – the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, a UN agency based in Santiago de Chile. The Port of Los Angeles closed its 12-month fiscal year on June 30 with container throughput totaling of 9.2 million TEUs, a record not just for the port, but the entire Western Hemisphere. Port Saint John processed nearly 15.5 million metric tons of cargo during the first six months of calendar year 2017. That was up 4.1 percent from the nearly 14.9 million tons handled during January-June 2016.

North Carolina Ports and CSX will provide daily, intermodal rail service between Wilmington and Charlotte starting July 28. The double-stacked train, dubbed the Queen City Express, marks the official return of intermodal rail to North Carolina Ports.

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles on July 19 released the draft of their proposed 2017 Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) Update. The document outlines a new set of near-term and long-term strategies aimed at reducing air pollution from all port-related sources, assisting the state in meeting greenhouse gas reduction goals, and ultimately achieving zero emissions for trucks and terminal equipment.

Howard Energy Partners plans to design, construct and operate a rail terminal and a petroleum and petroleum products storage facility on 41 acres leased long term from the Port of Corpus Christi.

Port Canaveral’s ro/ro business is taking off, with ships arriving and departing at increasing frequency laden with autos and heavy equipment. The docking last month of M/V GLOVIS Comet with its cargo of 2,176 Hyundai and Kia automobiles marked the first vessel at PhilaPort’s Pier 120 in twenty years. It also gave the port a second berth for autos and other ro/ro cargos.

The largest container ship to call the Port of New York & New Jersey the 13,208-TEU OOCL Berlin sailed under the newly elevated Bayonne Bridge into Newark Bay and docked at Maher Terminals Berth 68 on July 17. Bahri Logistics is the latest general cargo carrier to begin regular calls at DP World Cargo Terminals in Port Saint John.

The Port of Pensacola’s Warehouse #1 continues to be recognized as a Bird-Friendly Rooftop by Audubon Florida, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.