The port of Dunkirk, France, chose MGI to set up the AP+ Port Community System by spring 2013, replacing Gemini, the port information system created and managed by the economic interest group GECOM, officials said. Patrick Nerrière, president of GECOM, said the choice was made "to improve the competitiveness of the community and its reactivity when faced with a constantly evolving logistics chain".

The Port of San Francisco plans a half-day seminar for those interested in learning about the benefits of the Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ) program beginning at 8:30 a.m. June 7 at Pier 1, the Port's office in San Francisco, it said. Topics are to include an overview of the FTZ program, types of companies that can benefit, financial savings opportunities, the application process, and compliance issues. Facilitating the seminar will be Scott Taylor of Miller & Co., a law firm serving a diverse clientele in international trade, customs and FTZ law.

The team headed by Shimmick Construction, FCC Construction and Impregilo is the apparent "best value" proposer for the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project design-build contract at the Port of Long Beach, port authority officials announced May 4. The project bid is $649.5 million. Port staffers expect to submit a recommendation May 14 to the port's Board of Harbor Commissioners to consider a "notice of intent" to award the contract. A decision by the board is expected in late June, with work to start in early 2013. The total cost of the bridge replacement project is estimated at about $1 billion, including site preparation, demolition and other considerations.

The Port of Los Angeles said it became the first seaport in North America and the Pacific Rim to adopt an international clean air program that rewards ocean carriers for bringing their newest and cleanest vessels to the Port. The Harbor Commissioners voted May 3 to approve an Environmental Ship Index (ESI) program to take effect July 1. Fourteen European ports have adopted the program.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Los Angeles port sent out a public bulletin on proposed revisions to the California Cartage Company Trade Enforcement Centralized Examination Stations (CES) fee schedule. The revisions, if approved by the Port Director, will be effective after a 30 calendar day public comment period, the bulletin said. The California Cartage Company seeks to include a traffic mitigation fee increase and a modification to "equipment control" policy, the bulletin said.

Fitch Ratings affirmed Port of Los Angeles revenue bond rating at 'AA', saying the rating outlook is stable. Factors it cited included: POLA's "premier position" as the nation's largest container port; its resilient revenue stream; its flexible capital program; and its "strong financial profile."

The CKYH alliance of ocean carriers will use the Port of Charleston for a new, weekly container service with coverage across Northeast Asia. The AWE-6 is a new service offering for the carrier group, which includes COSCO, K-Line, Yang Ming and Hanjin. Shippers will have access to direct trade routes to Yantian, Ningbo and Shanghai in China, as well as Pusan, South Korea via the Panama Canal. The carriers will deploy nine ships for the service, which will add 52 ship calls a year at North Charleston Terminal, beginning about June 19.

The Port of Palm Beach District Commission approved a $26 million restoration project to Slip Number 3 at the Port of Palm Beach. The project includes expanding the Slip on the north side to increase the width of the basin and adding a Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro/Ro) ramp to the west side of the Slip, increasing the number Ro/Ro ramps at the Port to five. In 2011, 1.3 million tons of cargo was shipped through Slip Number 3. The port also has applied for a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant and will learn in May if additional funds will be available for the Port to add a marginal wharf that will then allow for further expansion of the slip, providing an even wider berth to accommodate larger vessels in the future, officials said.