International News : South America

Venezuela said it has signed an agreement to have China's Harbor Engineering Co. (CHEC) develop a new container terminal in Puerto Cabello. The government said the terminal would be able to accommodate post-Panamax vessels up to 70,000 deadweight tons, up from the 30,000 dwt ships the port can handle today. (A 70,000 dwt ship equates to a capacity of about 5,300 to 5,600 TEUs accordin...

Penske Logistics has opened a 110,000-square-foot warehouse in Manaus, Brazil. “Opening a warehouse in Manaus is an important part of Penske’s long-term strategic growth in Brazil,” said Bill Scroggie, managing director for Penske Logistics Brazil, in a statement. “Operating near an important industrial free trade zone, Penske will be able to provide much-needed warehousing services to ma...

Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard A. Lidinsky has forwarded a wide-ranging set of recommendations for revising the Shipping Act of 1984 to the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Lidinsky Included in the recommendations to committee Chairman Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, R-Md., are six proposals: • Bring container and chassis lessors within the ambit of...

Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. plans to shift its fruit import business from Camden to Gloucester City, N.J. Robert W. Palaima, president of Delaware River Stevedores, Del Monte's stevedore, said his company was told the importer of bananas, melons and pineapple would move its business several miles south to a facility operated by Holt Logistics at the Gloucester Marine Terminal. Palaima...

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded the Brazilian government a $674,000 grant to fund a feasibility study on the implementation of vessel traffic management systems at four of the South American country’s main ports. The large volume of commercial activity transiting each year through Brazil's thirty-four public ports has lead to logistical challenges for Latin America's lar...

Standard and Poor’s said it is raising its rating on CSAV from B- to B and added the Chilean container carrier’s outlook is positive. The carrier has "materially improved its operating performance and its financial flexibility by raising tariffs, lowering charting rates, and increasing volumes and financial support from its shareholders. We expect profitability to materially improve durin...

Global container terminal operators had their "toughest year ever" in 2009, said Drewry Shipping Consultants. But in a few years terminals may once again face a capacity crunch, the London-based consultants said in a summary of its Annual Review of Global Container Terminal Operators 2010. "Global economic trends meant that container throughput at the world’s ports fell for the first ...

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded the Paraguayan government a $391,000 grant to update its aviation master plan and to position the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport for potential concession. The South American country’s goal is to improve passenger service and increase operational efficiency. The master plan will offer potential business opportunities to U.S. airpor...

The International Association of Independent Tanker Owners said its council will be invited at its October meeting to appoint Joseph “Joe” Angelo as managing director, to succeed Peter Swift as managing director when he retires Dec. 31. In addition, Katharina “Kathi” Stanzel has been named deputy managing director. Intertanko membership is open to non-oil companies and non-state-contr...

The Port of Jacksonville said Thursday that Rick Ferrin has stepped down as executive director. Ferrin The agency's board of directors named Chris Kauffmann, chief operating officer, as interim executive director, and asked port management to initiate the search for a permanent successor to Ferrin. Ferrin, who has led the port for 13 years, will "serve in a new position where he will e...

Containerships will continue to operate at slower speeds even as the economy improves, Maersk Line said in an article for its weekly newsletter. “Maersk Line will continue slow steaming even as market conditions turn to the better –-- slow steaming is here to stay,” says Morten Engelstoft, chief operational officer. Maersk said in 2007 it began slow steaming, a practice that "involves...

Chilean carrier CSAV said Tuesday it will commence a new service in mid-September connecting the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and key ports in China with Long Beach. The standalone service, offered by the line’s CSAV Norasia subsidiary, will operate with 11 3,500-TEUs vessels provided by CSAV. It is a unique service in that it will provide direct connection from four ports in the I...