New Maritime Labor Alliance Formed – Various Maritime Unions including the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the Marine Engineer’s Beneficial Association (MEBA), the American Radio Association and Inlandboatmen’s Union, and the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots have joined together to form a Maritime Labor Alliance. The group members have pledged to protect jurisdictions, working conditions and labor rights.
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Port of Baltimore Transfer Station Site Selected – The Mount Clare train yard in Southwest Baltimore has been selected as the new site for a $90 million Intermodal Container Transfer Facility, where containerized cargo would be transferred from trucks to trains to improve the Port of Baltimore’s efficiency. The new transfer station will allow trains to double-stack shipping containers as a more cost effective way of transport by rail. The current railroad tunnel is too low for trains with stacked containers.
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Liverpool Expands Container Handling Capacity – The Port of Liverpool is expanding its container handling capacity by adding six additional straddle carriers. The new carriers offer improved fuel efficiency, reduction of noise and lower hydraulic fuel requirements. In addition to the port’s $32.2 million expansion plan this year, the port is also investing $483.2 million in a planned deep-water container terminal that is expected to be operational in 2015.
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Egypt May Lift Cotton Ban – After seven months, Egypt is reviewing their ban on cotton imports. The ban was originally put in place to protect the domestic market. According to Magdy Al Issawi, technical head of the Ministry of Agriculture’s central administration for agricultural chambers, the decision will be made soon.
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