China is moving quickly to make it to number one. While ports around the world are scrambling to add capacity to handle increased container traffic from China, the port of Shanghai-Yangshan is upping the stakes. Just days after opening Yangshan Phase 1, it announced APM Terminals joins the consortium for Phase 2.
Canadian Transportation & Logistics magazine featured Atlantica in the 'infrastructure' feature of its November/December 2005 edition. It based the feature on the talk delivered by AIMS president Brian Lee Crowley to Halifax Port Days 2005, where he prompted people to rethink geography and learn from history.
A significant foot forward for Atlantica with news of RFPs for two new studies. Also in this edition, a look at the federal election, a new book about Atlantic Canadian business culture, and the Kyoto Treaty.
This story in the Globe and Mail shows how shipments of Chinese goods via the Suez Canal are boosting business in the Port of Halifax. This mirrors recent AIMS' commentaries that show the increased use of the Suez Canal places Atlantica on the Pacific Rim.
The groundwork is being laid to map Atlantica, the International Northeast Economic Region. First there is the significant Northeast CANAM Connections study covering transportation and economic issues on both sides of the border. Then there is the asset mapping project between Saint John and Bangor. RFP's have now been issued for both projects.
While many in the west are talking about increasing container capacity at key ports, China is already there. It is where ports in Atlantica need to be - able to handle the kind of volume that will be moved out of China's newest container port, Yangshan.
A Request for Proposals for a significant Atlantica study made the headlines in both Saint John and Moncton newspapers. The study could be considered the blueprint for Atlantica and involves five provincial, four state and two national governments.
Request for Proposals issued for binational study.
In this issue of The Beacon, AIMS pays tribute to one of its founding fathers, J.W.E. (Bill) Mingo. There's more news out of Ontario about equalization, from Newfoundland Peter Fenwick talks about emigration and read a Commentary on the dysfunctional rules that make short sea shipping dificult in North America.
It could prove to be the blueprint for Atlantica. A Request for Proposals has been issued for a major infrastructure study of Atlantica, the international northeast economic region. The study encompasses both sides of the US-Canada border and is a significant step forward for AIMS' Atlantica concept.