The Most Environmentally Advanced Terminal in the World – The Middle Harbor Project at the Port of Long Beach is combining two terminals into one large 304-acre terminal. This state-of-the-art terminal will be able to move twice as much as the older terminals in terms of containers and will cut the emissions and air pollution in half. The lease and construction include cleaner fuel for ships, complete shoreside power, cleaner air from yard equipment, internal electric cars, and an on-dock rail system, which will be the biggest aid in cutting emissions.
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New Train Connection in Edmonton –Canadian National Railway (CN) is expanding its service to the Port of Prince Rupert in order to accommodate the growth of Alberta, one of the fastest growing industrial and consumer based economies in North America. Beginning in June, CN will add a container train connection to Edmonton and relocate its Calgary Intermodal Terminal to a larger logistics park. The new logistics park will provide Alberta fluid access to world markets as well as two prime export routes. The new facility is expected to be open in January.
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China Defends Rare Earth Export Restrictions – Earlier this week, the EU, U.S. and Japan went to the World Trade Organization (WTO) with a request to settle a dispute concerning China’s export restrictions on rare earth materials. The complainants claim that the export restriction was imposed for the sake of keeping rare earths in China for its own future use. Chinese officials have responded by stating that the rare earth restrictions have been made out of consideration for the environment and the sustainable utilization of resources, not export protection. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin states that China provides more than 90% of the global supply of rare earth minerals and some control measures needed to be adopted.
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Joint Hearing Concerning NY-NJ Port Tolls – State Legislators are holding a joint hearing on April 20 at the Center for the Arts at the College of Staten Island to examine the “lack of accountability” of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The hearing was called in response to last fall’s controversial toll hike along with internal and external audits critical of agency spending and other practices. The toll hike has already cut into the volume of containers handled by the New York Container Terminal on Staten Island because shippers are unwilling to pay the additional surcharges.
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