The website provides terminal customers, including ocean carriers, trucking companies, customs brokers and beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), with one-stop access to vital terminal and cargo information.

“SSAM is the first site to deploy our newly redesigned, all-in-one customer service web portal,” said Michael Schwank, president of Tideworks Technology. “Forecast by Tideworks represents the latest in our ongoing efforts to provide innovative, user-friendly tools to our customers and their customers. It is the result of months of R&D and the consolidation of two formerly separate customer-facing web tools – Mainsail Online, which was primarily for the terminal’s ocean carrier customers, and Forecast, for all other terminal customers.”

Forecast by Tideworks is built on the latest technology platform, providing a tighter security model, faster response times, improved navigation and a better overall user experience. Users can get all the information they need from a single website. From the Forecast by Tideworks website, depending on their user profile, customers can:

·         Check on the status of containers

·         Create and edit bookings

·         Request email notifications for container releases and other status updates

·         Log terminal service requests, such as Customs inspections

·         View vessel schedules

·         Get instant access to terminal news

·         Run a variety of reports, and much more 

“As a vital gateway port to Mexico City, Guadalajara and the Mexican hinterland, we are pleased with the many benefits that Tideworks’ new web portal offers our customers,” said Victor Mirones, port general manager for SSAM, which handled in excess of 1 million TEU in 2011. “We found the redesigned website offers significantly easier access and use, requires less training, and adds some key functionality, including service requests. This provides our customers the ability to go online to schedule services for their cargo, such as Customs inspections or container stuffing and stripping, something they were not able to do with the previous web portal.”

“The consolidation of the two web portals into Forecast by Tideworks will mean easier maintenance and support and increased flexibility to adapt the product to customers’ needs going forward,” said Thomas Rucker, vice president of products at Tideworks. “We anticipate Forecast by Tideworks will be rolled out by a number of additional sites in the near future.”

 Demolition of existing facilities on the properties would progress over the next three years, and is expected to increase the value of the properties by an amount far in excess of the demolition costs, according to R.D. Tanner, Senior Director, Real Estate. The value of many of the tracts is enhanced by existing rail access and close-at-hand freeway location.  The redevelopment plan was among a host of matters decided during the Port Commission’s Jan. 24 regular meeting.

Chief Executive Officer Alec G. Dreyer began his monthly report by noting that 2011 was a special year for the Port Authority, with a number of accomplishments meriting attention. 

The Port Authority recorded the highest volume of container TEUs and largest amount of container tonnage in its history, at 17.7 million tons and just under 1.9 million TEUs, and its 2nd highest total tonnage ever, less than 1 percent below its all-time record set in 2008. 

In spite of a year-long drought, Dreyer said that the Port Authority also recorded an all-time record for grain handling in 2011, at nearly 2.4 million tons, displacing the previous record from 2000. In addition, operating revenue for the Port Authority set a new record at $204 million, besting the previous one set in 2008. 

“And importantly, the Houston Ship Channel set an all-time record for highest number of ship calls at 8,073,” he noted. 

Barge traffic finished the year 8 percent ahead of 2010. For the year, ship arrivals for the Port Authority were up 1 percent. 

Container TEU volumes were up 1 percent in December and finished the year 3 percent ahead of 2010.Container tonnage was up 4 percent for the year. 

In spite of a much lower level of ship arrivals at the Turning Basin terminals, steel totaled 263,000 tons in December compared to 249,000 tons in December 2010.For the year, steel was up 58 percent, with an annual total of 4.3 million tons compared to 2.7 million tons in 2010. 

“Our mid-month look at January 2012 steel provides an estimate of 450,000 tons,” Dreyer said.”This would compare to January 2011 of 243,000, an 85 percent improvement and a nice start to the year for this important commodity.” 

Container revenue finished the year up 8 percent over prior year.Turning Basin revenue was up 24 percent for the year as a direct result of the significant increase in steel volumes, he noted. 

The export of fresh or frozen potatoes through the state grew 106 percent in 2011 over 2010 levels, due to expanded export promotion efforts that helped fuel growth in international demand. Washington state is second behind Idaho in U.S. potato production and leads the nation in potato exports.

 “These trade statistics underscore the key role our Port and our region’s transportation system play in keeping our region’s agriculture industry successful and competitive in the global marketplace,” said Tong Zhu, the Port’s chief commercial officer. “The agriculture industry, both regionally and nationally, is a major part of our Port’s business and our cargo diversity. It is also a great example of how we connect companies throughout our state and our country with markets around the world.”  

The Port’s total container volumes reached 1,488,799 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, the industry’s standard measure), up 2 percent for 2011. Total international container volumes were up 5 percent for the year, while total domestic container volumes ( Alaska and Hawaii) were down 3 percent. Full import container volumes increased 1 percent for the year, reflecting the continued overall sluggishness of the U.S. economy. Other 2011 trade results for the Port include:

Breakbulk cargoes were up 68 percent, with industrial and agricultural equipment performing strong. Autos were up 34 percent, reflecting the growing strength of auto sales in the U.S. The Port handled 162,434 autos. Log exports increased 45 percent and containerized lumber exports were up 33 percent, both driven by the construction boom in China. Grain exports were down 4 percent. Total tonnage was up 5 percent, to 17,270,252 tons. In 2012, the Port forecasts a relatively flat year for container volumes. Log and lumber export volumes will depend largely on the strength of the Chinese economy and its real estate market.

Ports America is the largest independent marine terminal operator in the United States, providing terminal management and a full suite of stevedoring and related services. Ports America, including its predecessor companies, has more than 85 years of experience operating American seaports. Its current business includes more than 80 terminals in 42 ports in North America, handling containers, roll on/roll off cargo, general cargo and cruise line passengers. As one of the largest employers of maritime labor in North America, Ports America employs more than 12,000 people each day at its operations, including full-time equivalent employees. For further information on Ports America, please visit its Web site: www.portsamerica.com.

The new address is 525 Washington Blvd., 16th Floor, Suite 1660, Jersey City, N.J. 07310. Telephone 732.635.3899.