Operations: New York/New Jersey, Vancouver (USA)

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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says it has made significant improvements in moving cargo on and off seaport terminals since the beginning of this year when snow and historic low temperatures forced them to suspend operations, resulting in cargo backups. A rail safety consultancy finds little risk of train derailment at the new rail entrance to the Port of Vancouver USA.

New York/New Jersey: Port Authority Reports Seaport Efficiency and Service Reliability Improvements

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says it has made significant improvements in moving cargo on and off seaport terminals since the beginning of this year when snow and historic low temperatures forced them to suspend operations, resulting in cargo backups.

The improvements result from efforts by terminal operators, the trucking community and the Port Performance Task Force, a recently formed group examining broad long-term recommendations and the extraordinary congestion and delays that occurred throughout the harsh winter. The task force also took a look at more immediate issues facing the port.

At the peak of port wide congestion in February, the average number of gate moves per week for all terminals was 36,400. That number rose to 51,763 in subsequent weeks, and in the past two weeks, the average increased to more than 60,000 cargo moves.

Dwell time (the average time cargo loads stay at the port), which averages 4.2 days, peaked at 8.1 days in January and is beginning to moderate with an average of 6 days in the past two weeks while inventory levels are returning to normal.

The port authority says the port productivity improvements result from several actions, including:

• The hiring of 150 longshoremen and 75 checkers. To date, 125 longshoremen and 5 checkers have been job-certified. A total of 271 individuals were pre-qualified and will be added to the workforce in accordance with previous agreements. The Waterfront Commission also has agreed to the certification of 20 mechanics immediately with more to follow.
• About 2,000 new chassis were brought into the region from other ports to deal with an equipment shortage. During the past two weeks, the numbers of chassis that have been out of service were reduced by more than 30 percent. Efforts are underway to repair out of service units.
• Terminal operators instituted longer gate hours by extending week days and opening on holidays and on weekends as conditions permit.
• Port Authority Traffic Engineering opened an additional lane of traffic serving APM Terminals and synchronized the traffic signals to ensure a smoother flow of traffic.

"The port authority remains committed to identifying practical solutions to the problems facing the port," said Port Authority Port Commerce Director Richard Larrabee. "To ensure that we boost productivity, we took immediate steps, including hiring additional longshoremen, importing new chassis and continuing to work with the Port Performance Task Force on long-term issues to continue the port's competitive position."

Vancouver (WA): Study Finds Minimal Risk of Derailment at Port’s New Rail Entrance

A German rail safety consultancy told the port commissioners on March 25 that based on extensive analysis of the port’s rail infrastructure and the port’s willingness to invest in additional safety enhancements, there is a very low potential for derailment of trains as they enter the Port of Vancouver USA.

The Connection Track Train Operations Study evaluated the derailment risk on approximately 3,000 feet of rail track exiting the BNSF Railway mainline and entering the port. This section of the port’s West Vancouver Freight Access project is part of a new rail entrance to the port that, when complete in 2015, will reduce congestion on the regional rail system by as much as 40 percent. The track, with approximately half its length running parallel to the BNSF Railway mainline, also flanks the waterfront redevelopment project proposed by local developer Barry Cain.

The firm ran multiple simulations using the tracks’ geometry data, operating speeds and train data for three different types of trains: a grain train, an oil train and a potash train. Based on in-train force and vehicle dynamics analyses, the study found that the "proposed operation and track configuration is well within industry safety standards" with "a low risk of derailment."

The report also responds to the port’s request for recommendations on what could be done to make that section of track even safer. The five possible safety enhancements identified by the consultants, all of which the port plans to implement, include:

• Maintain track to a minimum Class 2 standard to reduce levels of allowable track deviation and the associated risks of local track perturbations over time.
• Install a high guard rail frog on #15 turnout and double guard rail on the connection track between #15 turnout and the BNSF overhead bridge and through the "Trench," to further lessen the potential for damage.
• Construct the track structure with new concrete or wooden ties, premium fasteners, and continuously welded 141 pound rail to maintain a robust and less dynamically varying track structure.
• Perform rail neutral temperature measurements during track construction to properly set track neutral temperature.
• Periodically measure track geometry to ensure safety against derailment as the track changes over time.

According to the port, construction of the safety enhancements will begin in the fourth quarter of 2014 and be complete in 2015 at an estimated cost of $500,000. The port says it will make the enhancements regardless of whether or not the oil terminal proposed by long-term port tenant Tesoro moves forward.

Plans are also underway to conduct a similar assessment of the remainder of the port’s West Vancouver Freight Access project.

"Going above and beyond is how the port operates," said Curtis Shuck, the port’s director of economic development and facilities. "Regardless of what type of cargo is being transported, our priority is that trains move through our community without incident; and we’re committed to doing everything we can to ensure that our rail system is unparalleled when it comes to safety."

Port Terminal 5 rail loop track segment (foreground), paralleled by BSNF main line.
Photo/Port of Vancouver USA