[061112.EN.SEA] New York-New Jersey Port Opens To Shipping Again After Major Hurricane

MAJOR container terminals in the New York-Jersey harbour were to be up and running Tuesday after being shut down by Hurricane Sandy, which closed the port and blacked out much of the city.

"The container terminals at the Port of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) will be open for business November 5," said the port authority website.

Norfolk Southern and CSX railways were again moving trains into and out of ExpressRail Elizabeth Facility.

The port authority has completed surveys of all berths in Port Jersey, Port Newark and Elizabeth. All berths at these facilities are free of obstruction, said the PANYNJ statement.

The following terminals were to be open from 7am EST on November 5, including APM Terminals, Global Container Terminal, Maher Terminal, New York Container Terminal, Port Newark Container Terminal though the Red Hook Container Terminal in Brooklyn will open an hour later at 8am.

Also, the port authority warned that the Red Hook Container Terminal Port Newark will be closed until further notice, said the PANYNJ statement.

"Port authority staff and engineers remain on site at all port authority facilities to inspect conditions, assess damage, and perform repair work. Our primary goal is to ensure the safety of our workers and those who use our facilities. We will resume operations at our facilities as quickly as possible consistent with safe operations," the agency said.

Some container lines are changing rotations, diverting cargo to other ports, reported American Shipper. Companies with storm-related announcements on their websites are "K" Line, MOL, NYK, OOCL, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen, APL, Hyundai, Hanjin, Zim, Horizon and Crowley.

Several containerships are known to have diverted to other east coast ports that were not as badly hit by the storm, but some ships were still anchored in the roads awaiting further orders.

Last Thursday, the port said it was opened to tug and barge traffic carrying petroleum products and said the Kill Van Kull, the waterway between Staten Island and Bayonne that leads to Newark Bay, was also open. Staten Island shores were heavily damaged by tidal surges.

The New Jersey shoreline of the Arthur Kill has long been home to a large number of refineries, chemicals factories, and tank terminals and is known as the Chemical Coast.

Source : HKSG.