The Georgia Ports Authority approved $2 million funding to increase capacity, efficiency and flexibility in heavy machinery exports, it said. The project "will provide greater capacity in moving oversized roll-on/roll-off cargo at Ocean Terminal,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. The money will be used to expand outdoor paved areas to improve sorting and storage of cargo handled at Ocean Terminal. The work includes expanding and improving the cargo pressure washing area, and cargo staging areas to support outside stored cargo, it said.

APM Terminals' Pier 400 in Los Angeles remained shut-down due to the picketing by Office Clerical Unit Local 63, which was being honored by members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, APM said Thursday morning (here). And there were reports that the picketing was spreading to other terminals, and even to the Port of Long Beach.

The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners appointed Danny Wan as new Port of Oakland Attorney, effective Dec. 17. Wan is currently City Attorney and Risk Manager for the City of Morgan Hill, and previously served as the port's deputy attorney.

Oregon State Conciliator Robert Nightingale said he will hold last-ditch talks Nov. 24 between longshore security guards and the Port of Portland to try to avert a strike planned for Sunday, Nov. 25. If no agreement is reached, Local 28 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union plans to launch a strike at 6. a.m. that could shutter three terminals at the port.

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan brought leaders from the Port of Oakland and Service Employees International Union Local 1021 together to try to resolve contract issues, the port said Nov. 20. The action allowed marine terminals in the seaport to resume operations that evening after all terminals had been closed due to a strike, it said. The port and SEIU are still set to hold fact-finding hearings on Nov. 30 and Dec. 3, it said. The port is “committed to reaching a mutual agreeable contract as soon as possible,” said Acting Director Deborah Ale Flint. “We hope to reach a resolution as soon as possible,” said SEIU Local 21 President Roxanne Sanchez.

The International Longshoremen's Association and United States Maritime Association traded insults over their respective negotiation tactics in dueling Nov. 20 press releases. The ILA asked for full master contract wage scale meetings with USMX to start Monday, Dec. 26. The union scheduled three full days of talks and will continue beyond them if a contract can be reached, it said. Preventing a cap on container royalty is one of the key battles facing ILA President Harold Daggett as he leads negotiations against USMX, the union said. Other issues are the eight-hour guarantee and the seven-man lashing gang.

Cargo traffic at the New York and New Jersey ports remains "extremely backlogged" following Superstorm Sandy, broker/forwarder CargoTrans Inc. is telling its customers. It said exporters and importers are "still struggling to recover."

The International Longshoremen's Association is criticizing the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) for labeling the Container Royalty as "another form of compensation for ILA workers who are among the nation's most highly compensated." The ILA said the shippers "want to grab more money away from the ILA and its members by placing a cap on Container Royalty" (here). Preventing a cap on Container Royalty is one of the key battles facing the ILA, said President Harold Daggett, as negotiations continue. ILA said other issues include the eight-hour guarantee and the 7-man lashing gang. The USMX has had FAQs regarding the royalties on its web site for some time (here) and (here). "USMX has made it clear in negotiations and to the public through their website postings (USMX.com) that they are looking to cut, as an example, an ILA member in Savannah's Container Royalty payment and eliminate an eight hour guarantee for an ILA member in Houston," said Daggett. "They attack work rules in New York and look to strip the seven-man lashing gang in the South Atlantic. We understand that USMX has continually played one port against the other but that strategy will not succeed." He also said the union won't budge on the 8-hour guarantee or the overtime provisions. "Our ILA is committed to protecting all ILA members affected by this contract." Daggett said. "We stand united and will put a full contract package together that meets all our goals at all ports." Daggett indicated he may call full ILA Wage Scale Meetings with the USMX on Dec. 10 and 11, possibly at a hotel near Newark Airport.

The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners approved more than $127 million of construction contracts for two projects to modernize the marine container terminal operated by TraPac, Inc., the port authority said. Work is to begin in January on the projects, which will support nearly 1,000 one-year equivalent construction jobs over the next two and half years. A $71.5 million project for new buildings and state-of-the-art truck entrance and exit gates at TraPac’s rear Berths 136-139, was awarded to Costa Mesa-based S. J. Amoroso Construction Co. A $55.7 million grade separation project was awarded to Sacramento area-based MCM Construction. The projects are part of a $365 million expansion of the TraPac terminal due to be completed in 2016.

The Port of New Orleans set records for container traffic in 2012, said Port of New Orleans CEO Gary LaGrange in the annual State of the Port Address Nov. 5 hosted by the International Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans. In 2011, the port handled a record 476,413 TEUs. Through the first six months of 2012, the port handled 241,707 TEUs -- outpacing last year's figures for the same time period. So far in 2012, total general cargo is up 8.5 percent, buoyed by a 23 percent increase in break-bulk cargo.