Martin Rushmere Marine Blogs

The power play starts at Los Angeles

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on November 26, 2013

When a minor cog in a political machine starts asking whether jobs will be lost at a port because of the drive for greater efficiency, you know there are real problems ahead. That in essence is the situation facing Los Angeles following the…

Civil engineers update their report card on ports

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on March 31, 2013

In what is essentially an update of a 2012 report, The American Society of Civil Engineers has awarded a C grade to the nation’s seaports and their efforts to keep up with essential maintenance and improvement. Much of the report I covered in…

The trans-Pacific group sets teeth on edge again

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on August 30, 2012

Hackles are rising over the 15-member “discussion” group, the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement, and its “discussion” that has led to an “adjustment” (when any authority speaks of an “adjustment”, you can be darn sure the price is going up) of the bunker charge of $17 per FEU to the West Coast…

Long Beach stands toe-to-toe with its bigger neighbor

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on June 28, 2012

A dramatic shift in financial bulk is taking place at the two main Southern Californian ports over the next 18 months. For the first time, Long Beach will be looking its neighbor, Los Angeles, in the eye. The two ports are standing virtually…

Seattle Shipyard Takeover is a Pointer for 2011

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on December 30, 2010

Speculation on the forthcoming year has become remarkably sparse in the last couple of years because of the tumultuous events in liner shipping and uncertainty over the international economic situation. But a year-end port-related takeover is…

Magic Pipe Murkiness Surfaces Again

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on May 6, 2010

Masters of foreign carriers have lost a couple of their worry lines following a "not guilty" verdict in Houston for the master of the Georgios M. He was nabbed under the "magic pipe" law, but the jury disbelieved the crewmembers who claimed to have seen the master use the pipe.