New Jersey

With dock worker strike looking ‘likely,’ plans underway for orderly shutdown of NJ ports

Published

7 days ago

September 20, 2024

Press Room

With dock worker strike looking ‘likely,’ plans underway for orderly shutdown of NJ ports

3-minute read

A looming strike by dock workers at ports along the East Coast now “looks likely,” a Port Authority official told the agency board Wednesday, and outlined steps the agency is taking should a strike shut down the Port of New York and New Jersey, which includes key facilities in Newark and Elizabeth.

The International Longshoremen’s Association has threatened to strike if a new contract with East Coast port terminal and shipping companies is not ironed out by the time the old contract expires Oct. 1.

That would shut down some of the busiest ports in the country, including the Port of New York and New Jersey — the nation’s second busiest — potentially disrupting the delivery of billions of dollars worth of consumer goods as the holiday shopping season approaches.

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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is not involved in negotiations between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, or USMX, a group of shipping and port terminal companies.

But the Port Authority, which leases the space at the ports to the shipping companies, is working to bring in as many ships as possible in the next few weeks and planning out an orderly shutdown of the ports, said Beth Rooney, the Port Authority’s ports director.

Once a strike occurs, all activity involving loading and unloading cargo containers and automobiles will come to a halt, Rooney said. Cruise ships will continue to operate.

The ports are unloading about 20 large container ships a week, and Rooney said they expect 150,000 containers to be unloaded before a strike hits.

Some carriers on Wednesday started issuing orders to their customers to embargo cargo from being sent to the ports for export so containers doesn’t start piling up at the port terminals, Rooney said.

The items that would need to travel the furthest to New Jersey ports from the Midwest would receive embargo orders first.

More: NJ ports have been slow to modernize. Will they take the leap to control costs?

“Many importers — retailers and other companies — have been aware for months of the possibility of a strike, and have therefore pushed forward their importing schedule so that a lot of holiday goods are already in the country and safe from a strike,” said Peter Tirschwell vice president for maritime and trade at S&P Global.

In addition, shipping to ports on the West Coast has surged. But that rerouting process can drive up the cost of goods once they reach store shelves.

During a strike, container ships would moor offshore

Container ships with imports bound for Newark, Elizabeth and Staten Island, meanwhile, would end up mooring at designated sites in New York Harbor or off the coast while the strike lasts, or simply slow down, drift and loiter to ride the strike out in the Atlantic, Rooney said.

Once a strike was over, the U.S. Coast Guard, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, would coordinate the orderly arrival of waiting ships into the port facilities.

Rick Cotton, the Port Authority’s executive director, told the agency’s board on Wednesday that a strike “looks likely.”

The ILA union cut off contract talks in June after learning that a form of automation had been introduced at the Port of Mobile in Alabama, which they said violated the existing contract.

The USMX has said it has been unable to schedule new meetings with the union.

Could mean weeks of supply chain delays

A strike could impact key ports on the East and Gulf coasts, from Maine to Houston.

Tirschwell said that a strike of a few days could mean weeks of supply chain delays, while a strike lasting a week or longer would mean delays of over a month.

The ILA, based in North Bergen, represents 85,000 workers across the East and Gulf coasts.

Its leaders are seeking significant pay hikes for their members, saying they deserve a fair share of the profits that shipping and port terminal companies have made as cargo volume remains higher after the demand caused during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also oppose efforts to automate the ports, which would reduce jobs for dock workers.

President Biden does not plan to intervene to prevent a strike at this time, Reuters has reported.

Presidents do have the authority to intervene in certain labor disputes by imposing an 80-day cooling-off period under the Taft-Hartley Act, forcing workers back on the job while negotiations continue.

“We’ve never invoked Taft-Hartley to break a strike and are not considering doing so now,” the Biden administration official told Reuters.

Staff writer Daniel Munoz contributed to this article.

This article contains some information from Reuters.

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New Jersey

New Jersey hits pause on an offshore wind farm that can't find turbine blades

Published

4 hours ago

September 26, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey hits pause on an offshore wind farm that can't find turbine blades

New Jersey hit the pause button Wednesday on an offshore wind energy project that is having a hard time finding someone to manufacture blades for its turbines.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities granted Leading Light Wind a pause on its project through Dec. 20 while its developers seek a source for the crucial components.

The project, from Chicago-based Invenergy and New York-based energyRE, would be built 40 miles (65 kilometers) off Long Beach Island and would consist of up to 100 turbines, enough to power 1 million homes.

Leading Light was one of two projects that the state utilities board chose in January. But just three weeks after that approval, one of three major turbine manufacturers, GE Vernova, said it would not announce the kind of turbine Invenergy planned to use in the Leading Light Project, according to the filing with the utilities board.

A turbine made by manufacturer Vestas was deemed unsuitable for the project, and the lone remaining manufacturer, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, told Invenergy in June that it was substantially increasing the cost of its turbine offering, Invenergy said.

That left the project without a turbine supplier.

“The stay enables continued discussions with the BPU and supply chain partners regarding the industry-wide market shifts,” Invenergy said in a statement. “We will continue to advance project development activities during this time.”

Christine Guhl-Sadovy, president of the utilities board, said the delay will help the project move forward.

“We are committed in New Jersey to our offshore wind goals,” she said. “This action will allow Invenergy to find a suitable wind turbine supplier. We look forward to delivering on the project that will help grow our clean energy workforce and contribute to clean energy generation for the state.”

The delay was the latest setback for offshore wind in New Jersey. The industry is advancing in fits and starts along the U.S. East Coast.

Nearly a year ago, Danish wind energy giant Orsted scrapped two offshore wind farms planned off New Jersey’s coast, saying they were no longer financially feasible.

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New Jersey

Observations from the Washington Capitals’ 5-3 preseason victory against the New Jersey Devils

Published

15 hours ago

September 26, 2024

Press Room

Observations from the Washington Capitals’ 5-3 preseason victory against the New Jersey Devils

📸: Alan Dobbins/RMNB

The Washington Capitals are in the win column for the first time during the 2024 preseason after a 5-3 road win over the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night. The Capitals secured the victory despite New Jersey icing most of their NHL regulars in preparation for an early start to their regular season overseas.

Dylan Strome and Brandon Duhaime finished with two markers apiece, and John Carlson added one more to make five for the good guys. Logan Thompson played the entire game in net.

The win featured Alex Ovechkin’s preseason debut, and the team’s captain looked good in his first game action. Ovechkin, Strome, and Andrew Mangiapane, their new running mate, combined for three points (2g, 1a). The Great Eight did not record a shot on goal, though, and received the fifth-least ice time (14:25) on the team.
Spencer Carbery mentioned pregame that Jakub Vrana needed to have a strong game, and the Czech winger delivered. Vrana found the scoresheet with an assist, and his play along the walls and cycling of possession in the offensive zone was impressive. Washington was at its best five-on-five with Vrana on the ice, seeing positive differentials in shot attempts (+12) and scoring chances (+8).
Nic Dowd got his first run out with his new wingers, and the line immediately struck for Duhaime’s two goals. The Capitals want more offense from that trio this season and early indications look like that will be entirely possible. Dowd, Duhaime, and Taylor Raddysh combined for five points (2g, 3a).
Washington’s new top defense pairing, Jakob Chychrun and John Carlson, saw their first ice time together against live opposition. Both players skated over 23 minutes and seemed to grow into the game well. The two offensive blueliners combined for two points (1g, 1a), six shots on goal, 12 individual shot attempts, and four individual scoring chances.
Logan Thompson stopped every single puck he actually saw in his first start of the season. Thompson made 25 stops and was only beaten by a deflection and two wristers from the point that made their way through several bodies in front of the net.
The Capitals really took it to the Devils at five-on-five despite taking on a lot of New Jersey’s top talent. They finished the night with advantages in shot attempts (+7), scoring chances (+13), and high-danger chances (+7). The only downside was they got zero power play practice time with Ovechkin in their lineup, as the only penalties called in the game were against the Capitals.

The Capitals will be back on the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex bright and early Thursday, beginning with Group A practice at 9 am. Their next preseason action comes against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday at Capital One Arena.

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New Jersey

New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals FREE LIVE STREAM (9/25/24): Watch NHL preseason online | Time, TV, channel

Published

1 day ago

September 25, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals FREE LIVE STREAM (9/25/24): Watch NHL preseason online | Time, TV, channel

The New Jersey Devils face the Washington Capitals in an NHL preseason season game at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 (9/25/24).

Fans can watch the match for free via a trial of fuboTV or DirecTV Stream.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: NHL preseason

Who: Washington Capitals vs. New Jersey Devils

When: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 (9/25/24)

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Where: Prudential Center

TV: NHL Network

Live stream: fuboTV and DirecTV Stream

Here’s a recent AP NHL story:

John Tortorella had a former hockey coach help him Monday at Philadelphia Flyers training camp — the father of the late John and Matthew Gaudreau, who was an invited guest.

The Flyers tapped their sticks in appreciation of Guy Gaudreau, a former hockey coach at Hollydell Ice Arena and Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey, when he hit the ice to assist with drills during practice. The Flyers shook Gaudreau’s hand at the end of the skate in appreciation and thanked him for helping out.

“He was hesitant at first, and we kind of let him go at his timetable,” Tortorella said. “I think it worked out really well today. I gave him my camp book. We’re going to check in next week and see if we can get him out here a couple more times and have him be part of it. I don’t want it to be, ‘Just come out here.’ I want him to be part of it. I think it will be therapeutic for him to be around us and run some drills.”

Tortorella said he had never met Gaudreau, a former hockey player and coach who raised his family nearby, until Monday’s practice in New Jersey. Tortorella said Gaudreau had an open invitation to return and help the Flyers at any point.

“I never met Johnny and Matt in my travels as coach,” Tortorella told reporters at the Flyers’ complex in Voorhees. “But their family’s here. Horrific situation going on. He’s a coach. He’s done some great work with some of the youth out here. I figured it’s perfect just to get him in with us.”

Tortorella joked that Gaudreau was giving him a hard time for yelling at players to skate harder during practice.

“A lot of people know him in the organization because of his reputation,” Tortorella said.

Tortorella attended the brothers’ funeral last month in a Philadelphia suburb.

“I thought the two wives were so strong in how they handled themselves,” Tortorella said. “No one can imagine. No one can. I’m hoping to get to know the family. I think a number of coaches want to get to know the family, the girls, Matt’s family. It’s just horrible what happened. It’s still pretty fresh. It’s here. It’s with us. Down the street. We just want to be part of it and try and help.”

John Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, wrote on social media how much Tortorella’s gesture meant to the family.

“John & Matty would love this. They’re both so proud of their dad, I know this made them smile as they watched down from heaven,” she wrote, adding a heart emoji.

John Gaudreau, the Columbus Blue Jackets star, and his brother, Matthew, were killed on Aug. 29 when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding bicycles on a rural road in South Jersey on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding. The driver who police say struck them is charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.

John Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” played 10 full seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68 million deal in 2022. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, a tenure that included becoming one of the sport’s top players and a fan favorite across North America.

“We don’t want it to be an everyday story,” Tortorella said. “We just want to help. To be in a locker room, coach to coach, player to coach, guys talking to him, I just hope it helps a little bit.”

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