The contract awarded Monday to a joint venture of Long Beach-based Connolly-Pacific Co. and Seattle-based Manson Construction Co. moved the project from the behind-the-scenes engineering and design process into the construction phase. The project’s environmental impact report received approval from the Harbor Commission and the Long Beach City Council in 2009.

“We’re talking about a tremendously positive economic impact for this region – this contract alone will create 670 jobs over a nearly two-year period, and is one of the biggest contracts awarded by the Port,” said Richard D Steinke, Port of Long Beach Executive Director. “We’re looking forward to this first phase of redeveloping Middle Harbor.”

The Middle Harbor project’s environmental technologies and efficiencies will allow the redeveloped terminal to move additional cargo and create thousands of new goods-movement jobs while cutting pollution in half.

It is planning to use the proceeds of the sale (an estimated Rmb1.51 billion) to reduce debt and fund future investment in port projects along the Yangtze. After the sale it will retain a 9.9% stake in Yangkou port. Yangkou is located near the mouth of the Yangtze River and is set to become a major transshipment hub for bulk cargo including a large-scale petrochemical industrial and logistics zone.

Representatives from the Dandong Port Group Co Ltd visited the Port of Charleston to discuss ways to generate new business connections and better partner in infrastructure development. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Dandong Port Group Company Ltd and the SCSPA outlines a number of joint initiatives the two may undertake to promote trade between their respective port facilities, including joint marketing and business development efforts and other information sharing. 

“China is clearly a growing trading partner of our port with many opportunities for trade growth, particularly on the export side,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the SCSPA. “This agreement formalises our cooperation in building ties between our two nations and between our ports.”

“We look forward to collaborating with our colleagues in Charleston, South Carolina, and to increasing economic prosperity for both our regions,” said Wenliang Wang, chairman of the Dandong Port Group Co Ltd.

While in Charleston, the group toured the Wando Welch Terminal and its grain transload operation. Last month, the Scoular Company established a grain handling facility onsite, where grain is conveyed into international shipping containers for export. Based on growing market demand, Scoular could export more than 25 million pounds of product annually. Two other such facilities also operate in Charleston today. Dandong Port Group Co is a holding company based in Hong Kong with port and infrastructure assets throughout North Asia, including the Port of Dandong, which is located in the Liaoning province.

“The Port of Savannah continues to provide the best option for moving cargo with its single-terminal campus featuring two on-terminal intermodal container transfer facilities,” said Executive Director Curtis J Foltz. “As the Southeastern port of choice for retail distribution centers, Savannah offers efficient operations and cost savings to 44% of the US population.”

Container volume gains continued in January with 132,257 containers or 237,004 TEU, which yielded a fiscal year-to-date increase of 14.3% and 13.3% respectively. Container tonnage posted the third best month ever with 1,887,179 tonnes. More than 200 vessels called on the Port of Savannah in January 2011, which was an increase of 20% compared with January 2010.

“Savannah offers customer flexibility through service network diversity offering 43 weekly vessel calls, advanced technology, continued investment in infrastructure expansion and statewide legislative support,” said Foltz. “Garden City’s terminal provides one-stop access to cargo, along with immediate uncongested access to major east/west and north/south interstates.”

Break bulk tonnage for the ports of Savannah and Brunswick totaled 171,761 tonnes, which is an increase of 43% compared with January 2010. At the Port of Brunswick, auto and machinery units practically doubled compared with January 2010, moving 37,313 units in January 2011.

“Accommodating recent increases in volume without impacts on our world-class speed and efficiency levels is due to the hard working men and women on our terminal, but also to the strategic infrastructure upgrades,” said GPA Chairman of the Board Alec L Poitevint. “As larger vessels continue to call on the Port of Savannah, the increased global demand for trade through our ports necessitates the efficiency and additional capacity of a deeper harbor.”