The ILA and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), an alliance representing employers of the U.S. East and Gulf Coast longshore industry, recently held a day-long informal conference that primarily served as a forum for local union officials to air their views to management about what they’d like to see in the next contract.  Officials representing both parties reaffirmed their commitment to negotiating a new or extended contract before the current one expires in 19 months. Wednesday’s informal conference provided both sides with “an opportunity to share, in preliminary talks, issues that are important to both the ILA and employers as…

Challenged to find a way to pay for a wall along the U.S. / Mexico border, the Trump administration is seriously considering renegotiating NAFTA resulting in the possibility of imposing tariffs on imports from Mexico. While the exact goal and outcome is unknown businesses and lawmakers are already lining up to voice their opposition.   On January 26, a Trump Administration spokesman floated the idea of a 20 percent tariff on imports from Mexico due at the time of importation. In reality, existing trade laws afford President Trump the authority to impose tariffs on goods imported from a specific country…

March Birthday's Please join us in wishing the following family member(s) a Happy Birthday: March 3 – Billy App March 20 – Sandy Frazier March 24 – Karen Johns March Anniversaries Please join us in wishing the following family member(s) a Happy Anniversary: March 25 – Debbie Janusa – 15 Years! March Holidays & Special Dates March 12 – Daylight Savings Time (Spring Forward!) March 17 – Happy St. Patrick's Day (Don't forget to wear green!) March 20 - First Day of Spring

Schedules & Office Closures J. W. Allen & Company Office Schedule Monday, February 27 (Lundi Gras) - Office Closing at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 28 (Mardi Gras Day) - Office Closed Normal Hours of Operation will resume on Wednesday morning, March 1st If you require immediate assistance during our absence, please visit our website for emergency contact information by clicking Here.   Ports America Terminal Schedule Monday, February 27 - Gate & Terminal Closed Tuesday, February 28 - Gate & Terminal Closed Normal Hours of Operation will resume on Wednesday, March 1st   New Orleans Terminal Schedule Monday, February 27…

Weekly Call to Initiate January 31, 2017 New Orleans— Marseilles, France-based CMA CGM today announced a new direct weekly container service to Asia from the Port of New Orleans Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal. Part of the company’s PEX3 service, the inaugural vessel is scheduled to arrive on January 31 for service by terminal operator Ports America. “CMA CGM is proud to be expanding our presence in New Orleans, further showing our commitment to the Gulf region, and Louisiana specifically.  We look forward to continued growth in the region, and are pleased to be contributing to the evolution and development of…

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While the USMA (United States Maritime Alliance) and ILA’s (International Longshoremen’s Association) decision to start negotiations next month (February 13 to 17) on a new contract offered optimism, recent comments by ILA President Harold Daggett set a sobering tone to the upcoming discussions.  ILA president Harold Daggett has vowed to fight port terminal automation and has predicted this issue “will dominate” the union’s next round of bargaining with the USMA on a contract to replace the one expiring on Sept. 30, 2018.  Daggett also fired warning shots regarding automation last week, reminding shippers negotiations on a new US East and…

January Birthday's Please join us in wishing a Happy Birthday to the following employee(s): January 2 - Monica "Taty" Hamburger January 25 - Debbie Janusa January Anniversaries Please join us in wishing the following family member(s) a Happy Anniversary: January 2 - Denise Parker (Celebrating 3 Years!!!) January 5 - Cathy Alvarez (Celebrating 22 Years of Good Times!!!) January Holidays January 1 - Happy New Year!!! (Office Closed Monday January 2nd) January 16 - Martin Luther King Day (Federal Holiday ~ JWA Office Open) January Special Occasions January 16 - J.W. Allen Internal Training Sessions Best Wishes for a Joyous Holiday Season and a Safe,…

December Birthday's Please join us in wishing a Happy Birthday to the following employee(s): December 7 - Denise Parker December 21 - Peggy Barcellona December Anniversaries Please join us in wishing the following family member(s) a Happy Anniversary: December 18 - Beth Raymond (Celebrating 38 years of Good Times!!!) December Special Occasions December 18 - J.W. Allen & Co. Family Christmas Brunch December Holidays Sunday December 25 - Christmas Day (Office Closed on Monday December 26) Sunday January 1 - New Year's Day (Office Closed on Monday January 2) Best Wishes for a Joyous Holiday Season and a Safe, Prosperous New Year! ~…

November 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday (Office Closed) November 25 - Black Friday (Shopping Holiday ~ Office Closed) If you require immediate assistance during our absence, please visit our website for emergency contact information by clicking Here With sincere appreciation, we would like to wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving and Best Wishes for a Joyous Holiday Season The J.W. Allen Family

November Birthday's Please join us in wishing the following family member(s) a Happy Birthday: November 25 - Beth Raymond November Anniversaries Please join us in wishing the following family member(s) a Happy Anniversary: November 20 - Bill Yennie (Celebrating 10 Years of Fun!) November Holidays / Special Days November 1 - All Saint's Day November 6 - Daylight Savings Time Ends (Set your clocks back!) November 8 - Election Day (Don't forget to vote!) November 11 - Veteran's Day (Sincere Thanks & Appreciation to Our Veteran's for their Service & Sacrifices) November 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday (Office Closed) November 25 - Black Friday (Shopping Holiday…

October Birthday's Please join us in wishing the following family member(s) a Happy Birthday: October 12 - Jerry Becnel October Anniversaries Please join us in wishing the following family member(s) a Happy Anniversary: October 7 - Erin McBride (Celebrating 1 year!!!) October 26 - Sandra Frazier (Celebrating 7 years!!!) October 26 - Kristal Luong (Celebrating 1 year!!!) October Holidays October 10 - Columbus Day October 31 - Happy Halloween      

The 2016 Biennial Registration Renewal Period begins Saturday, October 1, 2016 and ends on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 11:59 PM. Section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) [21 U.S.C. § 350d] requires food facilities required to register with FDA to renew such registrations during the period beginning on October 1 and ending on December 31 of each even-numbered year. If you register your food facility before October 1, 2016, you must renew your registration before December 31, 2016 and provide us with any updated information, if applicable. If you updated your food facility registration…

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) on Tuesday raised shippers’ hopes for a longer period of labor peace at U.S. West Coast ports with the joint announcement that they will consider a contract extension during early November talks. In their joint statement, the ILWU and PMA proceeded cautiously by saying that at the Nov. 1 to Nov. 2 talks in San Francisco they will discuss only the “concept” of a contract extension. The exploratory talks will focus on the issues that would be addressed if the two sides agree to move into formal contract…

Five of Hanjin Shipping's vessels are being held off Chinese ports as of September 26, according to a document posted by the South Korean carrier on its website.  Only two of the five vessels being held are owned by the South Korean shipping line. Three of the five are categorized as ‘arrested’ ~ vessels detained under court orders, per a Hanjin spokesperson.  They are the Hanjin Dusseldorf and the Hanjin Sooho at the port of Ningbo, and Hanjin Rotterdam at the port of Yantian. Another two ships are categorized as ‘vessel departure/arrival not available’ ~ vessels held by ports or…

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As you are probably aware, Hanjin filed for bankruptcy protection in Korea on Wednesday August 31st. The filing came just a day after the company creditors discontinued financial assistance of more than USD $896 million to keep the company operating. The Korean bankruptcy court will determine whether Hanjin should be liquidated or given a chance to restructure. The press is reporting that one Hanjin vessel, the Hanjin Rome, was seized by a creditor in Singapore on Monday August 29th.  The press is also reporting that a number of ports, including ports in China (Shanghai, Xiamen), Spain (Valencia) and the United…

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is aware that Hanjin Shipping has advised its customers that the company’s application to engage in a voluntary restructuring process was denied by its creditors. The Commission is also aware that Hanjin Shipping has disclosed it has filed for court receivership and that these two actions combined have caused uncertainty among the American shipping community about cargo in transit with Hanjin. For U.S.-based shippers and cargo owners trying to determine what options they have, the Commission shares this initial guidance: • This is a non-United States legal matter at the moment. Hanjin Shipping is a…

The South Korean line filed under the section of the bankruptcy code dealing with international bankruptcy in US bankruptcy court in the district of Newark, New Jersey, according to various reports. If Chapter 15 protections are granted, the seventh-largest container line will be shielded from liens on its assets and arrests of its ships in the United States.  If Chapter 15 is granted, shippers will still have to secure release of their cargo from Hanjin or third parties that are demanding payment from the carrier. The stay — triggered by the filing — doesn’t force transportation providers, including marine terminals,…

Hanjin Shipping filed for receivership last week after its creditors refused to provide extra funding to the shipping line. The bankruptcy of South Korea’s Hanjin Shipping has caused turmoil with some ports and container handling facilities refusing to handle its cargo with other ocean carriers are announcing they will no longer load cargo onto Hanjin-operated vessels.  Additionally, ocean carriers with cargo presently on board Hanjin vessels are working to make arrangements for the immediate release and discharge of their cargo. The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, has written to the US secretary of commerce, Penny Pritzker…

September Birthday's Please join us in wishing the following family member(s) a Happy Birthday: September 12 - Erin Webre September Anniversaries Please join us in wishing the following family member(s) a Happy Anniversary: September 5 - Billy App (Celebrating 53 Years of Good Times!) September Holidays September 5 - Labor Day (Office Closed) September 11 - Grandparent's Day September 22 - Autumn Begins! Holiday Schedule Monday, September 5 (Labor Day) - Office Closed If you require immediate assistance during our absence, please visit our website for emergency contact information by clicking http://jwallen.com/contact-us/emergency-contacts.

A poorly organized Tropical Depression Nine was moving into the extreme southeast Gulf of Mexico early this morning. The forecast track for the next couple of days is to the west and then northwest into the east central Gulf of Mexico, possibly intensifying into a tropical storm, then curving north and northeast towards Florida by the middle of the week. A large degree of uncertainty remains regarding the depression's anticipated track and intensity; however. it is likely to develop into a tropical storm over the coming days.  This information reflects this morning's National Weather Service 5:00 am CDT advisory. J.W.…

Adverse Weather Conditions Potentially Impacting the Gulf of Mexico According to the National Hurricane Centers Friday August 26th update low pressure system "Invest 99-L" is expected to move into the eastern Gulf of Mexico early next week. This system has a medium chance (60 percent) of becoming at least a tropical depression within the next five days. Invest 99-L currently extends from eastern Cuba north to the central Bahamas and is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. "Upper-level winds are expected to remain unfavorable for significant development during the next couple of days while the system moves west-northwestward at about…

China's Zika Rules for U.S. Exports Easier Than First Disclosed Containers shipped from the U.S. to China that are subject to that country's regulations designed to prevent the spread of Zika virus won't have to be fumigated but can instead be disinsected, and government certification of the process is not required as once believed. The Foreign Commercial Service, part of the International Trade Administration, outlined the requirements of Chinese authorities after members of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing met with the Director General of China's Inspection and Quarantine Ministry, documents obtained by JOC.com show. Shippers' ability to avoid fumigation and…

August Birthdays August 5 - Kirsten Davis August 8 - J.W. Allen & Company (Celebrating 84 Years!) A special thanks to our valued clients, vendors, agents, family and friends whose continued support makes our recognition of this milestone possible.  The J.W. Allen Family August Anniversaries August 17 - Peggy Barcellona (17 Years!)