Martin Rushmere Ports Blogs

LA and Long Beach have little cheer this Christmas

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on December 22, 2013

Just as has been feared, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are now governed by political appointees, city council favorites and no one who has a technical maritime background. Dynamic is hardly the word to describe the commissioners. The…

The Los Angeles master plan is a revamp

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on August 30, 2013

The Los Angeles master plan may not be to everyone’s taste but it is a revamp of previous thinking. Three distinct areas are set out, the breakwater to the V. Thomas Bridge (413 acres), West Basin and Wilmington (1,098 acres), and Terminal Island.

A bullish start to the year for US ports

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on January 30, 2013

US ports are reporting some pretty good results for 2012, despite gloomy assessments from economists about the performance of the national economy. What’s more a couple of forecasts for 2013 are surprisingly upbeat, while indications from others show a good first half of their fiscal years.

Placid management veneer at two major port systems is shaken

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on August 31, 2012

There are upheavals at two ports that have been considered among the most admired and efficient in the country. Seattle’s CEO, Tay Yoshitani, is being scrutinized for taking on a directorship for 3PL group Expeditors, while Jerry Bridges has…

The ILWU and Panama pilots tie-up might not have the pulling power

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on September 23, 2011

The Panama Canal's Alberto Aleman Zubieta is doing the rounds of the maritime equivalent of the TV talk shows – annual conferences and conventions. Most recently he was at the South Carolina trade conference, where the audience pondered deeply…

West Coast Deepens as East Coast Looks Elsewhere

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on June 10, 2010

Channel deepening is all the rage among ports, with Long Beach officially starting a $40 million project to dig out 1.5 million cubic feet of material to extend the main channel to 76 feet. “We’re sending a message to our customers. We want your discretionary cargo to come back…

Old Salts Need to Broaden Their Vision

Posted to Martin Rushmere (by Martin Rushmere) on May 20, 2010

This month 150 Old Salts plus advisors berthed for the first time at the Capitol to tell Congress their thoughts on the future of US merchant marine policy and ways to keep maritime commerce healthy. Dubbed the "Maritime Congressional Sail-In"…