16 >> 15 need. We


Issue 9 2018 - FBJNA


addition to the automo b i le trade, GPA is


interested in developing its out-of-gauge cargo (i.e. John Deere, Case New Holland, Caterpillar). “The challenge is: this is a


capital-intensive business,” he says. “It requires long lead times to develop and make sure the design is what customers


have


largest container terminal in America, and the largest single auto and roro facility. We want to exploit this.”


Port of Jacksonville


The largest ro/ro vessels in service are calling at the Port of Jacksonville’s (JAXPORT) three marine terminals. “PCTC’s up to 8,500 CEU


have called the port over the past year,” states Frank Camp, JAXPORT Director of Cargo Sales. “The to


port gather feedback


continues from,


Pluses for the port is the


fact it sits are a key nexus for transport connectivity via ocean, road, and rail. “For imports, you have access to Florida, the third largest state by population, but also the fastest growing region in the US – the southeast,” Camp states. “Our proximity to southeast vehicle production and multiple trade lane connections offer OEMS numerous options to export US built vehicles via JAXPORT.”


Port of San Diego


The Port of San Diego is a key port of entry for auto imports. One out of every 10 new foreign cars are shipped to the US through its National City Marine Terminal (NCMT), operated by Pasha Automotive Services. Facing competition for


other west coast ports such as San Francisco, which recently opened a new 88- acre ro/ro facility, and the Port


and staging gives the Port of Portland an advantage on the US West Coast. “Additionally, our inland rail connections (served by both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific) and easy access to interstate highways make Portland a leading auto gateway,” she says. Regarding the USMCA, she


As the closest US port to Asia, NWSA is strategically positioned for transpacific trade. (NWSA photo.)


states Valenzuela. In addition to the National City Balance Plan,


Pasha


recently completed the Tank Farm project which added additional acreage to their facility. Currently, the Pasha


Automotive Services/Pasha Group vessel


operation at


NCMT include the M/V Jean Anne and M/V Marjorie C, which are approximately 176 meters and 210 meters, respectively. “The Port of San Diego is able


to accommodate large pure car carrier (PCC) vessels that are currently in operation which average approximately 200 – 225 meters,” Valenzuela states. Major import accounts


include Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Mazda, Volkswagen and other European manufactures. Other imports of finished vehicles


are


JAXPORT is a top vehicle-handling port with a reputation for excellence. (JAXPORT photo.)


and work with, our various industry stakeholders and partners to make sure our facilities are keeping pace with current and future needs.” Traditionally strong for the


port is service to and from the primary areas of production and consumption in Japan and Europe. “Mexico, likewise, is strong and a growing source of auto volume for us,” Camp adds. Connections


between


JAXPORT and Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania round out JAXPORT’s trade connections. “JAXPORT has direct


connections to every continent, with the exception of


Antarctica” he adds.


“Vehicles from the Toyota, Nissan, and Volkswagen family of companies comprise our top three shippers by volume.”


of Hueneme located north of Los Angeles, the port has been transforming some of unused port parcels for ro/ro operations and reconfiguring existing terminals under its National City Balance Plan to make them ro/ro capable. The National City Balance Plan will allow for more efficient rail operations at NCMT. “Our goal is to provide and


meet carriers’ and OEMs’ satisfaction and allow for more efficient rail operations at NCMT,” says Joel Valenzuela, Port of San Diego Maritime Director. BNSF has played a major


role in this effort. “The BNSF has been an


excellent regional partner and has also invested heavily in a rail yard adjacent to the facility, making the NCMT an ideal location as part of the global supply chain for ro/ro activity,”


from Europe,


Japan and Korea as well as imports via rail by Mexico. In addition, Pasha


focuses on


exports to the US Domestic market to Hawaii. The Port of San Diego does expect any


not significant


impacts with respect to China at its NCMT operation. “However,


if China takes


retaliatory action against the US auto manufactures, this may make future recruitment of US waterborne exports to China more difficult,” warns Valenzuela.


Port of Portland


In calendar year 2017, 314,084 vehicles were imported through the Port of Portland, up 7.8% from 2016. In 2017 and 2016, the port was the leader on the U.S. West Coast for auto exports. “Our export boom highlights strong demand


the for


American-made cars in Asia,” said Keith Leavitt, the Port’s chief commercial officer, in a


One out of every 10 new foreign cars are shipped to the US through NCMT. (Port of San Diego photo.)


For imports, the port handles


cars coming from Korea, Japan, Mexico, and India. Vehicles leaving the port are destined for China and Korea. Going forward, Mesaros


points out that the port’s availability of current space to serve customers for storage


depressed ro/ro volumes. Spokesman Larry Kvidera reported to FBJNA in October that so far this year (year to date), NWSA has seen 100,267 autos through its terminals. “Last year at this time, we had seen 110,179,” he says. “That puts us down 9% compared


press release. “This positive trend translates into more than 600 direct local jobs for dockworkers, processors and others working in our supply chain.” Cars manufactured in the


US are shipped by rail from assembly plants to the port’s docks, where vehicles are driven onto ro-ro ships bound for China and other parts of the Far East. The port also handles import models such as Hyundais, Toyotas, and Hondas that make their first stop in Portland before they are distributed to dealerships across the west. The port has been seeing


larger ro/ro vessels for about a decade now and can easily handle the largest sizes in Portland. According to Melanie Mesaros, port spokesperson, the average vessel calling here


contains about 6,000


vehicles. “We’ve also seen auto volumes increase over the past two years with our business related to Ford exports, and more recently, Ford imports and Honda exports,” she says.


adds that port officials are not expecting the agreement to have a big impact to the Port of Portland’s auto business. “As


the current agreement


puts a cap on tariff exempt finished


vehicles that is


below the current volume, we don’t expect any near- term impacts to import or


///RO-RO


with last year.” The NWSA’s primary


markets for automobiles are Japan and South Korea (KIA, MAZDA, Mitsubishi, GM, Mitsubishi-Fuso, Isuzu); and for ro/ro High and Heavy Cargo, Japan, South Korea, China, Europe and South America. As the closest US port to


Asia, NWSA is strategically positioned for transpacific trade. “We are served by two (BNSF and Union says,


railroads Pacific,” Kvidera “and


are located on the railroad mainline. Both our North and South Harbors can handle ro/ ro cargo, offering flexibility


The Pasha Automotive Services/Pasha Group vessel operation at NCMT include the M/V Jean Anne, which is approximately 176 meters long. (Port of San Diego photo.)


export volumes,” she says. “We expect the USMCA agreement regarding automobiles to have a greater impact on auto parts manufacturing and sourcing.”


Northwest Seaport Alliance


The Northwest Seaport Alliance, which encompasses the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma, continues to see


and reliable capacity to ro/ro carriers.” NWSA has have


plenty


of near-terminal acreage for storing and staging, and, therefore is able to handle all types of ro/ro cargo, from traditional autos and ag/ industrial equipment to customized solutions like railcars, aircraft and other cargo. “With the Panama canal’s


larger locks, we are seeing new Ro-Ro vessels which are wider by about 2-3 meters,” he adds. “This not only increases cargo space on the vessel, but also aids in stability and fuel efficiency. The smallest ro/ro vessels we see is 180 meters LOA, and the largest is 265 meters LOA.” While it’s still too early to


be able to decipher the direct impact recent trade policy changes will have on the trade overall and NWSA, Kvidera stresses that this season has been unusual with the amount and severity of storms across the Pacific impacting trade routes and timelines. “We’re still in peak season, and [cargo volumes overall] are up,” he says. “Whether this volume is anticipating the next round of tariffs is somewhat unclear.”


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